Eclogues: Difference between revisions

The Eclogues (37 BC), also called the Bucolics, is the first of the three major works of the Latin poet Virgil.

• Sub tegmine fagi.
  • In the shade of a beech tree.
  • Book I, line 1.

• Nos patriae fines et dulcia linquimus arva.
  • Round the wide world in banishment we roam,
    Forced from our pleasing fields and native home.
  • Book I, line 3 (translated by John Dryden).

• Deus nobis haec otia fecit.
  • God has given us this ease.
  • Book I, line 6.
  • Variant translations:
    • God gave us this leisure.
    • God hath given us this tranquillity.

• Non equidem invideo, miror magis.
  • I envy not your fortune, but admire.
  • Book I, line 11 (translated by John Dryden).
    • Cf. Johnson's translation:
      My admiration only I exprest,
      No spark of envy harbours in my breast.
  • Alternate translations:
    • Think not I envy, I admire thy fate.
    • I envy not his merit, but applaud it.

• Spem gregis.
  • The hope of the flock.
  • Book I, line 15.

• Parvis componere magna.
  • To compare great things with small.
  • Book I, line 23.

• Et penitus toto divisos orbe Britannos.
  • The rest among the Britons he confined;
    A race of men from all the world disjoined.
  • Book I, lines 64-66. (translated by John Dryden).

• O formose puer, nimium ne crede colori.
  • O charming boy, trust not too much in thy beauty.
  • Book II, line 17.
  • Variant translations:
    • Ah, lovely boy, trust not too much to your bloom!
    • O my pretty boy, trust not too much in your looks.

• Trahit sua quemque voluptas.
  • Each has his dear delight which draws him on.
  • Book II, line 65.
  • Variant translations:
    • Each man is by his special pleasure led.
    • Everyone is dragged on by their favourite pleasure.
• Nunc omnis ager, nunc omnis parturit arbor;
  Nunc frondent sylvae, nunc formosissimus annus.
  • The trees are cloth'd with leaves, the fields with grass;
    The blossoms blow; the birds on bushes sing;
    And Nature has accomplish'd all the spring.
  • Book III, lines 56-57 (translated by John Dryden).

• Latet anguis in herba.
  • A snake lurks in the grass.
  • Book III, line 93.
  • Variant translations:
    • Beware of snakes in the grass.
    • A snake lies hidden in the grass.
    • There lurks a snake in the grass.
    • There's a snake hidden in the grass.

• Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites.
  • It is not for us to adjust such grave disputes.
  • Book III, line 108.
  • Variant translation: 'Tis not for us to end such great disputes.
    • Cf. Dryden's translation:
      So nice a difference in your singing lies,
      That both have won, or both deserv'd the prize.

• Sicelides Musae, paulo maiora canamus.
  Non omnis arbusta iuvant humilesque myricae.
  • Sicilian Muses, let us sing a somewhat loftier strain.
    Not all do the orchards please and the lowly tamarisks.
  • Book IV, line 1-2 (translated by H. Rushton Fairclough); marks the transition in the text to a more important subject.
  • Variant translation of Paulo majora canamus: "Let us sing of greater things."

• Magnus ab integro saeclorum.
  • The great cycle of periods is born anew.
  • Book IV, line 5.
• Redeunt Saturnia regna.
  • The kingdom of Saturn returns.
  • Book IV, line 6 (translated by Alexander Pope).

• O mihi tum longae maneat pars ultima vitae,
  Spiritus et quantum sat erit tua dicere facta.
  • To sing thy praise, would heaven my breath prolong,
    Infusing spirits worthy such a song.
  • Book IV, lines 53-54 (translated by John Dryden).

• Incipe, parve puer, risu cognoscere matrem.
  • Begin, baby boy, to recognize your mother with a smile.
  • Book IV, line 60.

• Atque deos atque astra vocat crudelia mater.
  • Calling the great gods cruel, and cruel the stars of the sky.
  • Book V, line 23.

• Tale tuum carmen nobis, divine poeta,
  Quale sopor fessis.
  • O heavenly poet, such thy verse appears,
    So sweet, so charming to my ravish'd ears,
    As to the weary swain with cares oppress'd,
    Beneath the sylvan shade, refreshing rest.
  • Book V, lines 45-46 (translated by John Dryden).
    • Cf. Alexander Pope, The Dunciad, Book I, line 93:
      "Sleepless themselves to give their readers sleep."

• Ipsi laetitia voces ad sidera jactant
  Intonsi montes: ipsae jam carmina rupes,
  Ipsa sonant arbusta.
  • The mountain-tops unshorn, the rocks, rejoice;
    The lowly shrubs partake of human voice.
  • Book V, line 62-64 (translated by John Dryden).

• Solvite me, pueri; satis est potuisse videri.
  • "Loose me," he cry'd, "'twas impudence to find
    A sleeping god, 'tis sacrilege to bind."
  • Book VI, line 24 (translated by John Dryden).

• Posthabui tamen illorum mea seria ludo.
  • And I preferr'd my pleasure to my gains.
  • Book VII, line 17 (translated by John Dryden).

• Saepibus in nostris parvam te roscida mala
  (Dux ego vester eram) vidi cum matre legentem.
  Alter ab undecimo tum me iam acceperat annus,
  Iam fragilis poteram a terra contingere ramos:
  Ut vidi, ut perii, ut me malus abstulit error!
  • First didst thou to these doting eyes appear

    

    
    Within our orchard's bound, thy mother near;
    Thy little hands the dewy apples pile:
    I was your guide—too happy I the while!
    Just enter'd on my teens, with utmost stretch
    On tiptoe rising I the boughs could reach:
    I saw, I died, by passion borne along.
  • Book VIII, lines 37-41 (translated by Francis Wrangham).

• Nunc scio quid sit Amor.
  • Now I know what Love is.
  • Book VIII, line 43. Cf. Pope's translation: "I know thee, Love!"

• Non omnia possumus omnes.
  • We cannot all do everything.
  • Book VIII, line 63.
  • Variant translations:
    • We cannot all of us do everything.
    • We are not all able to accomplish the same things.

• Numero deus impare gaudet.
  • God delights in an odd number.
  • Book VIII, line 75.
    • Cf. Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act V, scene i, line 2:
      "Good luck lies in odd numbers ... there is divinity in odd numbers."

• Sed non ego credulus illis.
  • I discern their flatt'ry from their praise.
  • Book IX, line 34 (translated by John Dryden).

• Omnia fert aetas, animum quoque.
  • Time bears away all things, even our minds.
  • Book IX, line 51.

• Cantantes licet usque (minus via laedit) eamus.
  • Let us go singing as far as we go: the road will be less tedious.
  • Book IX, line 64.

• Hic gelidi fontes, hic mollia prata, Lycori;
  hic nemus; hic ipso tecum consumerer aevo.
  • Come, see what pleasures in our plains abound:
    The woods, the fountains, and the flow'ry ground:
    Here I could live, and love, and die with only you.
  • Book X, lines 42-43 (translated by John Dryden).

• Ipsae rursus concedite, silvae.
  • Once more, ye woods, farewell!
  • Book X, line 63.

    

  • Variant translations:
    • Once more adieu, even ye woods.
    • Delight me more: ye woods, away with you!

• Omnia vincit Amor; et nos cedamus Amori.
  • Love conquers all and we must yield to Love.
  • Book X, line 69.
  • Variant translations:
    • Love conquers all things – let us yield to Love.
    • Love conquers all; let us, too, yield to love.
    • Love conquers all things: let us too give in to Love.
    • Love conquers all things; let us too surrender to love.

• Original texts of Virgil's works at The Latin Library

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