Eclogues |
Translator: James Rhoades
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ECLOGA IV . Sicelides Musae , paulo maiora canamus ! Non omnis arbusta iuvant humilesque myricae ; si canimus silvas , silvae sint consule dignae . Ultima Cumaei venit iam carminis aetas ; magnus ab integro saeclorum nascitur ordo : iam redit et Virgo , redeunt Saturnia regna ; iam nova progenies caelo demittitur alto . Tu modo nascenti puero , quo ferrea primum desinet ac toto surget gens aurea mundo , casta fave Lucina : tuus iam regnat Apollo . Teque adeo decus hoc aevi te consule inibit , Pollio , et incipient magni procedere menses . te duce , si qua manent sceleris vestigia nostri , inrita perpetua solvent formidine terras . ille deum vitam accipiet , divisque videbit permixtos heroas , et ipse videbitur illis , pacatumque reget patriis virtutibus orbem . At tibi prima , puer , nullo munuscula cultu errantis hederas passim cum baccare tellus mixtaque ridenti colocasia fundet acantho . Ipsae lacte domum referent distenta capellae ubera , nec magnos metuent armenta leones ; ipsa tibi blandos fundent cunabula flores , occidet et serpens , et fallax herba veneni occidet , Assyrium volgo nascetur amomum . at simul heroum laudes et facta parentis iam legere et quae sit poteris cognoscere virtus , molli paulatim flavescet campus arista , incultisque rubens pendebit sentibus uva , et durae quercus sudabunt roscida mella Pauca tamen suberunt priscae vestigia fraudis , quae temptare Thetim ratibus , quae cingere muris oppida , quae iubeant telluri infindere sulcos : alter erit tum Tiphys , et altera quae vehat Argo delectos Heroas ; erunt etiam altera bella , atque iterum ad Troiam magnus mittetur Achilles . Hinc , ubi iam firmata virum te fecerit aetas , cedet et ipse mari vector , nec nautica pinus mutabit merces : omnis feret omnia tellus : non rastros patietur humus , non vinea falcem ; robustus quoque iam tauris iuga solvet arator ; nec varios discet mentiri lana colores : ipse sed in pratis aries iam suave rubenti murice , iam croceo mutabit vellera luto ; sponte sua sandyx pascentis vestiet agnos . Talia saecla , suis dixerunt , currite , fusis concordes stabili fatorum numine Parcae . Adgredere o magnos —aderit iam tempus —honores , cara deum suboles , magnum Iovis incrementum ! Aspice convexo nutantem pondere mundum , terrasque tractusque maris caelumque profundum ! Aspice , venturo laetentur ut omnia saeclo ! O mihi tam longae maneat pars ultima vitae , spiritus et quantum sat erit tua dicere facta ! Non me carminibus vincet nec Thracius Orpheus , nec Linus , huic mater quamvis atque huic pater adsit , Orphei Calliopea , Lino formosus Apollo , Pan etiam , Arcadia mecum si iudice certet , Pan etiam Arcadia dicat se iudice victum . Incipe , parve puer , risu cognoscere matrem , matri longa decem tulerunt fastidia menses . Incipe , parve puer , cui non risere parentes , nec deus hunc mensa , dea nec dignata cubili est .
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POLLIO muses of Sicily, essay we now a somewhat loftier task! Not all men love coppice or lowly tamarisk: sing we woods, woods worthy of a Consul let them be. Now the last age by Cumae's Sibyl sung has come and gone, and the majestic roll of circling centuries begins anew: justice returns, returns old Saturn's reign, with a new breed of men sent down from heaven. Only do thou, at the boy's birth in whom the iron shall cease, the golden race arise, befriend him, chaste Lucina; 'tis thine own apollo reigns. And in thy consulate, this glorious age, O Pollio, shall begin, and the months enter on their mighty march. Under thy guidance, whatso tracks remain of our old wickedness, once done away, shall free the earth from never-ceasing fear. He shall receive the life of gods, and see heroes with gods commingling, and himself be seen of them, and with his father's worth reign o'er a world at peace. For thee, O boy, first shall the earth, untilled, pour freely forth her childish gifts, the gadding ivy-spray with foxglove and Egyptian bean-flower mixed, and laughing-eyed acanthus. Of themselves, untended, will the she-goats then bring home their udders swollen with milk, while flocks afield shall of the monstrous lion have no fear. Thy very cradle shall pour forth for thee caressing flowers. The serpent too shall die, die shall the treacherous poison-plant, and far and wide Assyrian spices spring. But soon as thou hast skill to read of heroes' fame, and of thy father's deeds, and inly learn what virtue is, the plain by slow degrees with waving corn-crops shall to golden grow, from the wild briar shall hang the blushing grape, and stubborn oaks sweat honey-dew. Nathless yet shall there lurk within of ancient wrong some traces, bidding tempt the deep with ships, gird towns with walls, with furrows cleave the earth. Therewith a second Tiphys shall there be, her hero-freight a second Argo bear; new wars too shall arise, and once again some great Achilles to some Troy be sent. Then, when the mellowing years have made thee man, no more shall mariner sail, nor pine-tree bark ply traffic on the sea, but every land shall all things bear alike: the glebe no more shall feel the harrow's grip, nor vine the hook; the sturdy ploughman shall loose yoke from steer, nor wool with varying colours learn to lie; but in the meadows shall the ram himself, now with soft flush of purple, now with tint of yellow saffron, teach his fleece to shine. While clothed in natural scarlet graze the lambs. “Such still, such ages weave ye, as ye run,” sang to their spindles the consenting Fates by Destiny's unalterable decree. Assume thy greatness, for the time draws nigh, dear child of gods, great progeny of Jove! See how it totters—the world's orbed might, earth, and wide ocean, and the vault profound, all, see, enraptured of the coming time! Ah! might such length of days to me be given, and breath suffice me to rehearse thy deeds, nor Thracian Orpheus should out-sing me then, nor Linus, though his mother this, and that his sire should aid—Orpheus Calliope, and Linus fair Apollo. Nay, though Pan, with Arcady for judge, my claim contest, with Arcady for judge great Pan himself should own him foiled, and from the field retire. Begin to greet thy mother with a smile, o baby-boy! ten months of weariness for thee she bore: O baby-boy, begin! For him, on whom his parents have not smiled, gods deem not worthy of their board or bed. |
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ECLOGA V . MENALCAS, MOPSUS Menalcas Cur non , Mopse , boni quoniam convenimus ambo , tu calamos inflare levis , ego dicere versus , hic corylis mixtas inter consedimus ulmos ? Mopsus Tu maior ; tibi me est aequum parere , Menalca , sive sub incertas zephyris motantibus umbras , sive antro potius succedimus : aspice , ut antrum silvestris raris sparsit labrusca racemis . Menalcas Montibus in nostris solus tibi certat Amyntas . Mopsus Quid , si idem certet Phoebum superare canendo ? Menalcas Incipe , Mopse , prior , si quos aut Phyllidis ignes , aut Alconis habes laudes , aut iurgia Codri : incipe , pascentis servabit Tityrus haedos . Mopsus Immo haec , in viridi nuper quae cortice fagi carmina descripsi et modulans alterna notavi , experiar , tu deinde iubeto ut certet Amyntas . Menalcas Lenta salix quantum pallenti cedit olivae , puniceis humilis quantum saliunca rosetis , iudicio nostro tantum tibi cedit Amyntas . sed tu desine plura , puer ; successimus antro . Mopsus Extinctum nymphae crudeli funere Daphnim flebant ; vos coryli testes et flumina nymphis ; cum complexa sui corpus miserabile nati , atque deos atque astra vocat crudelia mater . Non ulli pastos illis egere diebus frigida , Daphni , boves ad flumina ; nulla neque amnem libavit quadrupes , nec graminis attigit herbam . Daphni , tuum Poenos etiam ingemuisse leones interitum montesque feri silvaeque loquuntur . Daphnis et Armenias curru subiungere tigres instituit ; Daphnis thiasos inducere Bacchi , et foliis lentas intexere mollibus hastas . Vitis ut arboribus decori est , ut vitibus uvae , ut gregibus tauri , segetes ut pinguibus arvis , tu decus omne tuis . Postquam te fata tulerunt , ipsa Pales agros atque ipse reliquit Apollo . Grandia saepe quibus mandavimus hordea sulcis , infelix lolium et steriles nascuntur avenae ; pro molli viola , pro purpureo narcisso , carduus et spinis surgit paliurus acutis . Spargite humum foliis , inducite fontibus umbras , pastores , mandat fieri sibi talia Daphnis ; et tumulum facite , et tumulo superaddite carmen : DAPHNIS EGO IN SILVIS HINC VSQUE AD SIDERA NOTVS FORMONSI PECORIS CVSTOS FORMONSIOR IPSE . Menalcas Tale tuum carmen nobis , divine poeta , quale sopor fessis in gramine , quale per aestum dulcis aquae saliente sitim restinguere rivo : nec calamis solum aequiparas , sed voce magistrum . Nos tamen haec quocumque modo tibi nostra vicissim dicemus , Daphnimque tuum tollemus ad astra ; Daphnin ad astra feremus : amavit nos quoque Daphnis . Mopsus An quicquam nobis tali sit munere maius Et puer ipse fuit cantari dignus , et ista iam pridem Stimichon laudavit carmina nobis . Menalcas Candidus insuetum miratur limen Olympi , sub pedibusque videt nubes et sidera Daphnis . ergo alacris silvas et cetera rura voluptas Panaque pastoresque tenet , Dryadasque puellas ; nec lupus insidias pecori , nec retia cervis ulla dolum meditantur : amat bonus otia Daphnis . ipsi laetitia voces ad sidera iactant intonsi montes ; ipsae iam carmina rupes , ipsa sonant arbusta : “Deus , deus ille , Menalca .” Sis bonus O felixque tuis ! En quattuor aras : ecce duas tibi , Daphni , duas altaria Phoebo . pocula bina novo spumantia lacte quotannis , craterasque duo statuam tibi pinguis olivi , et multo in primis hilarans convivia Baccho ,— ante focum , si frigus erit , si messis , in umbra ,— vina novum fundam calathis Ariusia nectar . cantabunt mihi Damoetas et Lyctius Aegon ; saltantis satyros imitabitur Alphesiboeus . Haec tibi semper erunt , et cum solemnia vota reddemus Nymphis , et cum lustrabimus agros . Dum iuga montis aper , fluvios dum piscis amabit , dumque thymo pascentur apes , dum rore cicadae , semper honos nomenque tuum laudesque manebunt ; ut Baccho Cererique , tibi sic vota quotannis agricolae facient : damnabis tu quoque votis . Mopsus Quae tibi , quae tali reddam pro carmine dona ? Nam neque me tantum venientis sibilus austri , nec percussa iuvant fluctu tam litora , nec quae saxosas inter decurrunt flumina valles . Menalcas Hac te nos fragili donabimus ante cicuta : haec nos , “Formosum Corydon ardebat Alexim ,” haec eadem docuit , “Cuium pecus , an Meliboei ?” Mopsus At tu sume pedum , quod , me cum saepe rogaret , non tulit Antigenes —et erat tum dignus amari — formosum paribus nodis atque aere , Menalca .
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MENALCAS MOPSUS MENALCAS Why, Mopsus, being both together met, you skilled to breathe upon the slender reeds, I to sing ditties, do we not sit down here where the elm-trees and the hazels blend? MOPSUS You are the elder, 'tis for me to bide your choice, Menalcas, whether now we seek yon shade that quivers to the changeful breeze, or the cave's shelter. Look you how the cave is with the wild vine's clusters over-laced! MENALCAS None but Amyntas on these hills of ours can vie with you. MOPSUS What if he also strive to out-sing Phoebus? MENALCAS Do you first begin, good Mopsus, whether minded to sing aught of Phyllis and her loves, or Alcon's praise, or to fling taunts at Codrus. Come, begin, while Tityrus watches o'er the grazing kids. MOPSUS Nay, then, I will essay what late I carved on a green beech-tree's rind, playing by turns, and marking down the notes; then afterward bid you Amyntas match them if he can. MENALCAS As limber willow to pale olive yields, as lowly Celtic nard to rose-buds bright, so, to my mind, Amyntas yields to you. But hold awhile, for to the cave we come. MOPSUS “For Daphnis cruelly slain wept all the Nymphs— ye hazels, bear them witness, and ye streams— when she, his mother, clasping in her arms the hapless body of the son she bare, to gods and stars unpitying, poured her plaint. Then, Daphnis, to the cooling streams were none that drove the pastured oxen, then no beast drank of the river, or would the grass-blade touch. Nay, the wild rocks and woods then voiced the roar of Afric lions mourning for thy death. Daphnis, 'twas thou bad'st yoke to Bacchus' car armenian tigresses, lead on the pomp of revellers, and with tender foliage wreathe the bending spear-wands. As to trees the vine is crown of glory, as to vines the grape, bulls to the herd, to fruitful fields the corn, so the one glory of thine own art thou. When the Fates took thee hence, then Pales' self, and even Apollo, left the country lone. Where the plump barley-grain so oft we sowed, there but wild oats and barren darnel spring; for tender violet and narcissus bright thistle and prickly thorn uprear their heads. Now, O ye shepherds, strew the ground with leaves, and o'er the fountains draw a shady veil— so Daphnis to his memory bids be done— and rear a tomb, and write thereon this verse: ‘I, Daphnis in the woods, from hence in fame am to the stars exalted, guardian once of a fair flock, myself more fair than they.’” MENALCAS So is thy song to me, poet divine, as slumber on the grass to weary limbs, or to slake thirst from some sweet-bubbling rill in summer's heat. Nor on the reeds alone, but with thy voice art thou, thrice happy boy, ranked with thy master, second but to him. Yet will I, too, in turn, as best I may, sing thee a song, and to the stars uplift thy Daphnis—Daphnis to the stars extol, for me too Daphnis loved. MOPSUS Than such a boon what dearer could I deem? the boy himself was worthy to be sung, and many a time hath Stimichon to me your singing praised. MENALCAS “In dazzling sheen with unaccustomed eyes daphnis stands rapt before Olympus' gate, and sees beneath his feet the clouds and stars. Wherefore the woods and fields, Pan, shepherd-folk, and Dryad-maidens, thrill with eager joy; nor wolf with treacherous wile assails the flock, nor nets the stag: kind Daphnis loveth peace. The unshorn mountains to the stars up-toss voices of gladness; ay, the very rocks, the very thickets, shout and sing, ‘A god, a god is he, Menalcas’ Be thou kind, propitious to thine own. Lo! altars four, twain to thee, Daphnis, and to Phoebus twain for sacrifice, we build; and I for thee two beakers yearly of fresh milk afoam, and of rich olive-oil two bowls, will set; and of the wine-god's bounty above all, if cold, before the hearth, or in the shade at harvest-time, to glad the festal hour, from flasks of Ariusian grape will pour sweet nectar. Therewithal at my behest shall Lyctian Aegon and Damoetas sing, and Alphesiboeus emulate in dance the dancing Satyrs. This, thy service due, shalt thou lack never, both when we pay the Nymphs our yearly vows, and when with lustral rites the fields we hallow. Long as the wild boar shall love the mountain-heights, and fish the streams, while bees on thyme and crickets feed on dew, thy name, thy praise, thine honour, shall endure. Even as to Bacchus and to Ceres, so to thee the swain his yearly vows shall make; and thou thereof, like them, shalt quittance claim.” MOPSUS How, how repay thee for a song so rare? For not the whispering south-wind on its way so much delights me, nor wave-smitten beach, nor streams that race adown their bouldered beds. MENALCAS First this frail hemlock-stalk to you I give, which taught me “Corydon with love was fired for fair Alexis,” ay, and this beside, “Who owns the flock?—Meliboeus?” MOPSUS But take you this shepherd's crook, which, howso hard he begged, antigenes, then worthy to be loved, prevailed not to obtain—with brass, you see, and equal knots, Menalcas, fashioned fair! |
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ECLOGA VI . Prima Syracosio dignata est ludere versu , nostra nec erubuit silvas habitare Thalia . Cum canerem reges et proelia , Cynthius aurem vellit , et admonuit : “Pastorem , Tityre , pinguis pascere oportet ovis , deductum dicere carmen .” Nunc ego —namque super tibi erunt , qui dicere laudes , Vare , tuas cupiant , et tristia condere bella — agrestem tenui meditabor arundine Musam . Non iniussa cano : si quis tamen haec quoque , si quis captus amore leget , te nostrae , Vare , myricae , te nemus omne canet ; nec Phoebo gratior ulla est , quam sibi quae Vari praescripsit pagina nomen . Pergite , Pierides ! Chromis et Mnasyllos in antro Silenum pueri somno videre iacentem , inflatum hesterno venas , ut semper , Iaccho : serta procul tantum capiti delapsa iacebant , et gravis attrita pendebat cantharus ansa . Adgressi —nam saepe senex spe carminis ambo luserat —iniciunt ipsis ex vincula sertis : addit se sociam , timidisque supervenit Aegle ,— Aegle , Naiadum pulcherrima ,—iamque videnti sanguineis frontem moris et tempora pingit . Ille dolum ridens , “Quo vincula nectitis ?” inquit ; “ solvite me , pueri ; satis est potuisse videri : carmina , quae voltis , cognoscite ; carmina vobis , huic aliud mercedis erit .” Simul incipit ipse . Tum vero in numerum Faunosque ferasque videres ludere , tum rigidas motare cacumina quercus ; nec tantum Phoebo gaudet Parnasia rupes , nec tantum Rhodope miratur et Ismarus Orphea . Namque canebat , uti magnum per inane coacta semina terrarumque animaeque marisque fuissent , et liquidi simul ignis ; ut his exordia primis omnia et ipse tener mundi concreverit orbis ; tum durare solum et discludere Nerea ponto coeperit , et rerum paulatim sumere formas ; iamque novum terrae stupeant lucescere solem , altius atque cadant submotis nubibus imbres ; incipiant silvae cum primum surgere , cumque rara per ignaros errent animalia montis . Hinc lapides Pyrrhae iactos , Saturnia regna , Caucasiasque refert volucres , furtumque Promethei : his adiungit , Hylan nautae quo fonte relictum clamassent , ut litus “Hyla , Hyla !” omne sonaret . et fortunatam , si numquam armenta fuissent , Pasiphaen nivei solatur amore iuvenci . ah , virgo infelix , quae te dementia cepit ! Proetides inplerunt falsis mugitibus agros : at non tam turpis pecudum tamen ulla secuta est concubitus , quamvis collo timuisset aratrum , et saepe in levi quaesisset cornua fronte . ah , virgo infelix , tu nunc in montibus erras : ille , latus niveum molli fultus hyacintho , ilice sub nigra pallentis ruminat herbas , aut aliquam in magno sequitur grege . “Claudite , nymphae , Dictaeae nymphae , nemorum iam claudite saltus , si qua forte ferant oculis sese obvia nostris errabunda bovis vestigia ; forsitan illum , aut herba captum viridi , aut armenta secutum , perducant aliquae stabula ad Gortynia vaccae .” Tum canit Hesperidum miratam mala puellam ; tum Phaethontiades musco circumdat amaro corticis , atque solo proceras erigit alnos . Tum canit , errantem Permessi ad flumina Gallum Aonas in montis ut duxerit una sororum , utque viro Phoebi chorus adsurrexerit omnis ; ut Linus haec illi , divino carmine pastor , floribus atque apio crinis ornatus amaro , dixerit : “Hos tibi dant calamos , en accipe , Musae , Ascraeo quos ante seni , quibus ille solebat cantando rigidas deducere montibus ornos : his tibi Grynei nemoris dicatur origo , ne quis sit lucus , quo se plus iactet Apollo .” Quid loquar aut Scyllam Nisi , quam fama secuta est candida succinctam latrantibus inguina monstris Dulichias vexasse rates , et gurgite in alto , ah , timidos nautas canibus lacerasse marinis , aut ut mutatos Terei narraverit artus ; quas illi Philomela dapes , quae dona pararit , quo cursu deserta petiverit , et quibus ante infelix sua tecta supervolitaverit alis ? Omnia , quae Phoebo quondam meditante , beatus audiit Eurotas , iussitque ediscere laurus , ille canit : pulsae referunt ad sidera valles ; cogere donec ovis stabulis numerumque referri iussit , et invito processit Vesper Olympo .
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TO VARUS first my Thalia stooped in sportive mood to Syracusan strains, nor blushed within the woods to house her. When I sought to tell of battles and of kings, the Cynthian god plucked at mine ear and warned me: “Tityrus, beseems a shepherd-wight to feed fat sheep, but sing a slender song.” Now, Varus, I— for lack there will not who would laud thy deeds, and treat of dolorous wars—will rather tune to the slim oaten reed my silvan lay. I sing but as vouchsafed me; yet even this if, if but one with ravished eyes should read, of thee, O Varus, shall our tamarisks and all the woodland ring; nor can there be a page more dear to Phoebus, than the page where, foremost writ, the name of Varus stands. Speed ye, Pierian Maids! Within a cave young Chromis and Mnasyllos chanced to see silenus sleeping, flushed, as was his wont, with wine of yesterday. Not far aloof, slipped from his head, the garlands lay, and there by its worn handle hung a ponderous cup. Approaching—for the old man many a time had balked them both of a long hoped-for song— garlands to fetters turned, they bind him fast. Then Aegle, fairest of the Naiad-band, aegle came up to the half-frightened boys, came, and, as now with open eyes he lay, with juice of blood-red mulberries smeared him o'er, both brow and temples. Laughing at their guile, and crying, “Why tie the fetters? loose me, boys; enough for you to think you had the power; now list the songs you wish for—songs for you, another meed for her”—forthwith began. Then might you see the wild things of the wood, with Fauns in sportive frolic beat the time, and stubborn oaks their branchy summits bow. Not Phoebus doth the rude Parnassian crag so ravish, nor Orpheus so entrance the heights of Rhodope or Ismarus: for he sang how through the mighty void the seeds were driven of earth, air, ocean, and of liquid fire, how all that is from these beginnings grew, and the young world itself took solid shape, then 'gan its crust to harden, and in the deep shut Nereus off, and mould the forms of things little by little; and how the earth amazed beheld the new sun shining, and the showers fall, as the clouds soared higher, what time the woods 'gan first to rise, and living things to roam scattered among the hills that knew them not. Then sang he of the stones by Pyrrha cast, of Saturn's reign, and of Prometheus' theft, and the Caucasian birds, and told withal nigh to what fountain by his comrades left the mariners cried on Hylas till the shore then re-echoed “Hylas, Hylas!” soothed pasiphae with the love of her white bull— happy if cattle-kind had never been!— o ill-starred maid, what frenzy caught thy soul the daughters too of Proetus filled the fields with their feigned lowings, yet no one of them of such unhallowed union e'er was fain as with a beast to mate, though many a time on her smooth forehead she had sought for horns, and for her neck had feared the galling plough. O ill-starred maid! thou roamest now the hills, while on soft hyacinths he, his snowy side reposing, under some dark ilex now chews the pale herbage, or some heifer tracks amid the crowding herd. Now close, ye Nymphs, ye Nymphs of Dicte, close the forest-glades, if haply there may chance upon mine eyes the white bull's wandering foot-prints: him belike following the herd, or by green pasture lured, some kine may guide to the Gortynian stalls. Then sings he of the maid so wonder-struck with the apples of the Hesperids, and then with moss-bound, bitter bark rings round the forms of Phaethon's fair sisters, from the ground up-towering into poplars. Next he sings of Gallus wandering by Permessus' stream, and by a sister of the Muses led to the Aonian mountains, and how all the choir of Phoebus rose to greet him; how the shepherd Linus, singer of songs divine, brow-bound with flowers and bitter parsley, spake: “These reeds the Muses give thee, take them thou, erst to the aged bard of Ascra given, wherewith in singing he was wont to draw time-rooted ash-trees from the mountain heights. With these the birth of the Grynean grove be voiced by thee, that of no grove beside apollo more may boast him.” Wherefore speak of Scylla, child of Nisus, who, 'tis said, her fair white loins with barking monsters girt vexed the Dulichian ships, and, in the deep swift-eddying whirlpool, with her sea-dogs tore the trembling mariners? or how he told of the changed limbs of Tereus—what a feast, what gifts, to him by Philomel were given; how swift she sought the desert, with what wings hovered in anguish o'er her ancient home? All that, of old, Eurotas, happy stream, heard, as Apollo mused upon the lyre, and bade his laurels learn, Silenus sang; till from Olympus, loth at his approach, vesper, advancing, bade the shepherds tell their tale of sheep, and pen them in the fold. |