Eclogues

Virgil

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

  1. that drove the pastured oxen, then no beast
  2. drank of the river, or would the grass-blade touch.
  3. Nay, the wild rocks and woods then voiced the roar
  4. of Afric lions mourning for thy death.
  5. Daphnis, 'twas thou bad'st yoke to Bacchus' car
  6. armenian tigresses, lead on the pomp
  7. of revellers, and with tender foliage wreathe
  8. the bending spear-wands. As to trees the vine
  9. is crown of glory, as to vines the grape,
  10. bulls to the herd, to fruitful fields the corn,
  11. so the one glory of thine own art thou.
  12. When the Fates took thee hence, then Pales' self,
  13. and even Apollo, left the country lone.
  14. Where the plump barley-grain so oft we sowed,
  15. there but wild oats and barren darnel spring;
  16. for tender violet and narcissus bright
  17. thistle and prickly thorn uprear their heads.