Eclogues

Virgil

Vergil. The Poems of Vergil. Rhoades, James, translator. London: Oxford University Press, 1921.

  1. first my Thalia stooped in sportive mood
  2. to Syracusan strains, nor blushed within
  3. the woods to house her. When I sought to tell
  4. of battles and of kings, the Cynthian god
  5. plucked at mine ear and warned me: “Tityrus,
  6. beseems a shepherd-wight to feed fat sheep,
  7. but sing a slender song.” Now, Varus, I—
  8. for lack there will not who would laud thy deeds,
  9. and treat of dolorous wars—will rather tune
  10. to the slim oaten reed my silvan lay.
  11. I sing but as vouchsafed me; yet even this
  12. if, if but one with ravished eyes should read,
  13. of thee, O Varus, shall our tamarisks
  14. and all the woodland ring; nor can there be
  15. a page more dear to Phoebus, than the page
  16. where, foremost writ, the name of Varus stands.
  17. Speed ye, Pierian Maids! Within a cave
  18. young Chromis and Mnasyllos chanced to see
  19. silenus sleeping, flushed, as was his wont,
  20. with wine of yesterday. Not far aloof,