Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

iINTRODUCTIONTO EINSIEDELN ECLOGUESThe Einsiedeln pastorals, so called after the tenthcenturymanuscript at Einsiedeln from Avhich H.Ilagen first published them in 1869, have alreadybeen touched upon in connexion with CalpurniusSiculus. These two incomplete poems date almostcertainly from the early years of Nero's reign(a.d. 51-68). In the hrst, the emperor is an Apolloand a Jupiter and the inspired author of a poem onthe taking of Troy. In the second, one of theshepherds is convinced that M'ith the emperor'saccession the Golden Age has returned. This poem,the earlier and the more artistic of the two, in itsopening ''quid tacitus, Mi/stes?" either echoes oris echoed by the opening of Calpurnius Siculus'fourth eclogue, " quid tacitus, Corydon " On the'^ground of the laudata chelys of i. 17, it has beenargued that the author's muse was already popularat court and that it might have been worth whilefor Calpurnius Siculus, a humbler person and a juniorpoet, to pay him the compliment of imitation.'^ Theargument proceeds to identify the author of the Einsiedelnpoems with the eminent Calpurnius Piso on theground that, if Calpurnius Siculus 'patron" Meliboeus "" This is Groag's theory, P. W. Reakncyd. III. 1379 : it iscontradicted by Skutsch, P. W. Realencycl. V. 2115.