Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

CALPUllNIUS SICULUSafter the manner of \'irgirs seventh eeloffue, theanioebean praises of the pretty Crocale by two rivals,a herd and a gardener; and v, the aged Micon'sexpert advice to a young rustic on the managementof flocks, based on Georgics III. 295-456. Thethree " courtly " poems, i, iv, vii, were \vi-itten afterthese four and placed at the beginning, middle andend of the collection. In eclogue i, roughly modelledon Virgil's " Messianic " eclogue, the tuneful shepherdsare imagined to discover a prophecy by Faunusheralding a renewal of the Golden Age under a new" Prince Charming," and they hope their poetrymay reach the imperial ears through the good officesof their patron Meliboeus : in iv, the longest of theseven, hopes are expressed that the poetic eulogieson the emperor will be recommended to his majestyby Meliboeus, and it is indicated that some successhad been already gained through his patronagefinally, in vii Corydon, newly back to the countryfrom Rome, relates to Lycotas his impressions ofthe amphitheatre and of the handsome emperor.Another feature of the arrangement may be noted.Eclogues ii, iv, vi are amoebean in form, and aresandwiched between eclogues which are not versedialoguesin structure. In thought and manner,though there are, as we have seen, contemporaryallusions, the pervasive influence is that of Virgil,and in a less degree that of Theocritus. The stylealso owes something to Ovid. Without being in theleast deeply poetic, and in spite of the artificialityinherent in pastorals, the eclogues of Calpurniusbreathe a rural atmosphere which makes thempleasant to read. Historically, they pass on theVirgilian tradition to Nemesianus.213