Eclogues

Virgil

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

  1. beseems a shepherd-wight to feed fat sheep,
  2. but sing a slender song.” Now, Varus, I—
  3. for lack there will not who would laud thy deeds,
  4. and treat of dolorous wars—will rather tune
  5. to the slim oaten reed my silvan lay.
  6. I sing but as vouchsafed me; yet even this
  7. if, if but one with ravished eyes should read,
  8. of thee, O Varus, shall our tamarisks
  9. and all the woodland ring; nor can there be
  10. a page more dear to Phoebus, than the page
  11. where, foremost writ, the name of Varus stands.
  12. Speed ye, Pierian Maids! Within a cave
  13. young Chromis and Mnasyllos chanced to see
  14. silenus sleeping, flushed, as was his wont,
  15. with wine of yesterday. Not far aloof,
  16. slipped from his head, the garlands lay, and there
  17. by its worn handle hung a ponderous cup.
  18. Approaching—for the old man many a time
  19. had balked them both of a long hoped-for song—
  20. garlands to fetters turned, they bind him fast.