ECLOGA TERTIA. MENALCAS, DAMŒTAS, PALÆMON. THE subject of this pastoral is a trial of skill in music between the shepherds Menalcas and Damætas; who after rallying each other a while, resolve to try a song in the presence of their neighbor Palemon, whom they constitute judge of their performances. Having heard each of them attentively, he declared he was unable to decide so weighty a controversy; but pronounced each one to be deserving of the pledge. This beautiful pastoral is in imitation of the fifth and eighth of the Idylls of Theocritus. It is conjectured that under the character of Damætas, we are to understand Virgil; and under that of Menalcas, some rival poet at Rome. 1. Cujum pecus est istud? an est pecus Melibai? non: verùm cst pecus Ægonis. MEN. DIC mihi, Damota, cujum pecus? an Melibœi? DA. Parciùs ista viris tamen objicienda memento. 8. Novimus et qui Novimus et qui te, transversà tuentibus hircis, corruperini te et in quo Et quo, sed faciles Nymphæ risêre, sacello. 5 sacello, hircis tuentibus ME. Tum, credo, cùm me arbustum vidêre Myconis, 10 10. Tum, credo, illa Atque malâ vites incidere falce novellas. transversà, sed riserunt, cum vidêre me incidere arbustum lia. DA. Aut hic ad veteres fagos, cùm Daphnidis arcum 16. Audent facere ta- Et, si non aliquà nocuisses, mortuus esses. ME. Quid domini facient, audent cùm talia fures ? NOTES. 1. Cujum: an adj. agreeing with pecus: in the sense of cujus. 2. Egon. The name of a shepherd, the rival of Menalcas in the love of Neæra. It is derived from a Greek word signifying a goat. 3. O oves, infelix pecus. The sheep are called unhappy, because their master Ægon, while in love with Neara, had given up all care of them; and because they had fallen into the hands of a hireling, who treated them so inhumanly. 5. Alienus. An alien, or hireling shepherd-custos. 6. Succus: may mean the same with lac mentioned just after. By milking the dams, the natural food (lac) of the young would be taken from then, and they suffered to starve. Or succus may mean nourishinent in general. It being taken away or diminished to the dams, the milk would be di 15 minished or taken away proportionably from their young. This was a heavy charge brought against Damætas. He highly resented it. An 8. Transversà: crosswise-asquint. adv. from the adj. of the neu. plu. in imitation of the Greeks. 9. Sacello: any place consecrated to the worship of God-a cave or grotto; as in the present case. 10. Arbustum: properly, a place planted with trees for vines to grow up by. By meton. the trees themselves. See Ecl. I. 40. Novellas: new, or young. 13. Quæ tu, &c. Which (bow and arrows) when you saw given to the boy, you both grieved, and would have died, if you had not, in some way, injured him. 16. Fures: slaves. They were sometimes so called, because notorious for stealing. Sianý Non ego te vidi Damonis, pessime, caprum DA. An mihi cantando victus non redderet ille, 1 20 ME. Cantando tu illum? aut unquam tibi fistula cerâ 25 25. Tu vicisti illum Juncta fuit? non tu in triviis, indocte, solebas Stridenti miserum stipulâ disperdere carmen? DA. Vis ergò inter nos, quid possit uterque, vicissim 30 ME. De grege non ausim quicquam deponere tecum; NOTES. 18. Lycisca. A mongrel dog-an animal half dog and half wolf. 20. Post carecta: behind the sedges. See Ecl. I. 68. 21. An non victus cantando: vanquished in singing, should he not return to me the goat which, &c. 26. Triviis. Trivium, a place in which three ways met. So Bivium and Quadrivium, places in which two and four ways met. Disperdere miserum carmen: to murder a sorry, or wretched tune, on a squeaking strawpipe. 30. Ubere: the udder. By meton. for the milk contained in it. Fatus: calves. 31. Quo pignore: with what pledge or bet. Tell me what pledge you will put against my heifer. 34. Ambo numerant: they both count the flock twice in a day; and one counts the kids. Pecus is properly a flock or herd of neatcattle, as here. Alter, properly is one of two -unus, one of many. 36. Insanire: to be beside yourself to play the fool; by contending with me, who am so much more skilful than you. Pocula fagina: beechen bowls-made of the beechwood. 37. Alcimedontis. The name of a very skilful and ingenious carver. Mr. Martin thinks he was some intimate friend of Virgil, who wished to transmit his name to posterity. History is silent respecting him. cantando? 35 35. Verum, quoniam libet tibi insanire, ponam id quod tute ipse fatebere esse multò majus pignus, nempe, duo fagina pocula, cœlatum opus 40 38. Lenta vitis quibus: around which a limber vine, superadded by the easy carving instrument, covers over (mantles) the diffused (loosely hanging) clusters with pale ivy.These lines are somewhat intricate, and have divided the opinions of commentators. Ruæus takes quibus in the abl. and interprets facili torno by ope facilis torni. Dr. Trapp and some others take facili torno in the dat. and understand by it the wood after it is smoothed and polished in the turner's lathe, by meton. Davidson, on the other hand, takes quibus for the dat. and facili torno for the abl. but then he takes these last for the ingenious carver, or easy skilful workman, which he might do by meton. The sense I have given is the most natural and easy. The meaning of the poet is this: That each of these bowls was engraved or carved with vine and ivy boughs, so curiously interwoven, that the ivy-berries were shaded or mantled with the limber or pliant vine. 40. Conon. The name of a famous mathematician and astronomer of Samos, a cotemporary and friend of Archimedes. Signa: figures. Et quis fuit alter? This is a very pleasant turn. There is something agreeable in this picture of pastoral simplicity. He had mentioned the name of one, but had forgotten the name of the other. He turns to himself and asks: quis fuit altér? but the name not recurring to him, he goes on to describe him by his works: It was he, Descripsit radio totum qui gentibus orbem? DA. Et nobis idem Alcimedon duo pocula fecit, 45 Si ad vitulam spectes, nihil est quòd pocula laudes. 51 DA. Quin age, si quid habes; in me mora non erit ulla : Nec quemquam fugio: tantùm, vicine Palæmon, NOTES. who, &c. It is supposed that Aratus or Archimedes is meant. The former wrote in Greek a treatise concerning the situation and motions of the heavenly bodies: which was translated into Latin. The latter was a famous mathematician and astronomer of Syracuse, in Sicily. By the help of his burning-glasses and engines, he nobly defended that city when besieged by the Romans under Marcellus. After a siege of three years, however, it was taken by stratagem. Archimedes was slain by a soldier, while in the act of demonstrating a proposition. 45. Amplexus est ansas: he encircled the handles around with soft acanthus. The parts of the verb are here separated for the sake of the verse, by Tmesis. Acantho: a plant called Bear's-foot. 46. Orphea: acc. of Greek ending.Orpheus was a most ancient and excellent poet, the son of Eagrus, king of Thrace. But according to fable, he was the son of Apollo and Caliope, one of the Muses. He received a lyre from Apollo, some say from Mercury, upon which he performed in such a masterly manner, that the rivers ceased to flow-the savage beasts forgot their ferocity -and the lofty oaks bowed their heads and listened to his song. He was beloved by all the nymphs. Eurydice alone could make an impression on his mind. He married her; but their happiness was short. For Aristaus fell in love with her; and fleeing from him, a serpent lying in the way wounded her in the foot, of which she died. Orpheus was so much afflicted at the loss, that he resolved to recover her, or perish in the attempt. For this purpose, he descended to Hell, and gained admittance to Pluto, who was so charmed with his music, that he consented to restore to him his wife, upon the condition that he would forbear to look behind him till he passed the bounds of his empire. The condition was accepted; but as they were very near the region of light, the unhappy lover turned his eyes to behold his long-lost Eurydice. He saw her, but she immediately vanished away. He attempted to follow her, but was refused. The only consolation he could find, was in the sound of his lyre in groves and mountains apart from society. The Thracian women, whom by his neglect and coldness he had offended, set upon him, while they were celebrating the orgies of Bacchus, and having torn his body in pieces, they threw his head into the river Hebrus, which continued to articulate Eurydice! Eurydice! as it was carried down the stream into the Ægean sea. After his death, some say, he received divine honors. His lyre was transferred to the heavens, and made a constellation. Sequentes: obedient to his lyre. 47. Condita: laid up safe: a part. from condo, agreeing with pocula. 49. Nunquam effugies hodie: you shall by no means avoid the trial this day. Damotas had proposed to stake a heifer which Menalcas said he could not do through fear of his father and step-mother; but proposed to pledge his bowls. Damatas insisted upon the heifer, and so seemed to avoid the contest, because the conditions could not be accepted by Menalcas. At length, however, confident of victory, and laying aside his fear, he says: Veniam quocunque vocâris : I will come to any conditions you shall propose. Accordingly the bowls are laid aside, and a heifer is the prize. 50. Tantum vel qui venit, &c. Only (I have nothing more to say) even let him who comes yonder, hear these things. Menalcas was so sure of victory, that he was willing to submit to the decision of any third person; and accordingly seeing some person at a distance, says: even let him, who is coming there, be the judge of our controversy, whoever he may be. Upon his near approach, discovering who he was, he says: behold, it is Palemon our neighbor. Voce : in the sense of cantu. 51. Efficiam: I will cause. Sensibus hæc imis, res est non parva, reponas. 56 PAL. Dicite: quando quidem in molli consedimus herba : DA. Ab Jove principium, Musæ; Jovis omnia plena: 60. O muss, princiIlle colit terras; illi mea carmina curæ. 61 pium omnium est ab Jove : apud [me ME. Et me Phoebus amat: Phobo sua semper 65 DA. Parta meæ Veneri sunt munera: namque notavi ME. Quod potui, puero sylvestri ex arbore lecta DA. O quoties, et quæ nobis Galatea locuta est! 70 [Amynta, 76 DA. Phyllida mitte mihi, meus est natalis, Iola. NOTES. 54. Imis sensibus: your deepest attention, or thoughts. Res: the controversy. 59. Alternis: in alternate verses. This is called carmen amabæum. It consists not solely in the dialogue; but requires that what the first says shall be replied to by the other upon the same or similar subject. Carmina verses, is understood, Camana: the Muses. It was formerly written Carmena and Casmena. Theme, carmen. 60. Musa. They were nine in number, the daughters of Jupiter and Mnemosyne. They were supposed to preside over the arts and sciences. They were born in Pieria in Macedonia, and were said to reside on mount Helicon and mount Parnassus, the former in Beotia, the latter in Phocis.— Their names are: Calliope, Clio, Erato, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Euterpe, Polyhymnia, and Urania. 61. le colit: he regards the earth; he regards my verses. 62. Phœbus. The same as Apollo and Sol; the son of Jupiter and Latona. The laurel and hyacinth were sacred to him. Hence they are called sua munera, his own gifts. See Ecl. IV. 10. 66. Ignis: properly a fire or flamé. By meton. love--also the object of love; as in the present case. 67. Ut jam Delia non: so that Delia now is not better known, &c. Diana is some 62. Sunt Phobo semper apud me sua munera, nempe, lauri 71. Quod solum potui facere ba 72. Et quæ dulcia ver times called Delia from Delos, the place of her birth. She was the goddess of hunting, and protectress of Dogs. Ruæus and Dr. Trapp understand by Delia, not Diana, but a servant of Menalcas by that name. 68. Meæ veneri: for my love-the dear object of affections. my 69. Congessere: in the sense of nidifica verunt. 71. Aurea: yellow-ripe. 72. Venti, referatis: bear some part of them, O winds, &c. Either because her words were so sweet that they would delight even the ears of the gods: or that the gods might be witnesses to her promises. 74. Quid prodest, &c. Damotas had been just before expressing his joy at the conversation which he had with his mistress. Menalcas now endeavors to go beyond him in sentiments of tenderness and affection; and intimates that he cannot have any enjoyment while Amyntas is absent; nay, unless he share with him his dangers. 75. Retia: plu. of rete: toils, or snares set to take any prey. 76.- Phillida: a Greek acc. of Phillis. She was the slave of Iolas, and mistress both to Damætas and Menalcas. 77. Faciam vitulâ: that is, faciam sacra ex vitula: I will make the sacrifice of a heifer for the fruits. Et, "longum, formose, vale, vale, inquit, Iola. ME. Dulce satis humor; depulsis arbutus hædis, DA. Pollio amat nostram, quamvis est rustica, Musam. 85 86. Pascite taurum illi, Pierides, vitulam lectori pascite vestro. qui jam ME. Pollio et ipse facit nova carmina; pascite taurum, Jam cornu petat, et pedibus qui spargat arenam. 88. Veniat quoque quò DA. Qui te, Pollio, amat; veniat quò te quoque gaudet : gaudet eum te pervenisse. Mella fluant illi, ferat et rubus asper amomum. 92. O pueri, qui legitis flores et fraga nascentia humi, fugite ME. Qui Bavium non odit, amet tua carmina, Mævi. DA. Qui legitis flores, et humi nascentia fraga, 91 ME. Parcite, oves, nimiùm procedere: non benè ripa Creditur ipse aries etiam nunc vellera siccat. Da. Tityre, pascentes à flumine reice capellas: ME. Cogite oves pueri: si lac præceperit æstus, 95 DA. Eheu, quàm pingui macer est mihi tauros in arvo! Idem amor exitium pecori est, pecorisque magistro. 102. Neque est amor certè causa his meis oviME. His certè neque amor causa est: vix ossibus hæ bus, cur sint tam macra. Nescio quis teneros oculus mihi fascinat agnos. NOTES. 79. Longum, formose, &c. These are not the words of Phillis, addressed to Iolas, but of Menalcas; and first addressed to Menalcas by Phillis. They made a deep impression on his mind-they stole his affections. O beautiful youth, said she, farewell -farewell, a long time. Stabulis: sheepfolds. By meton. the sheep. Triste is to be supplied with each member of the sentence following, as also the verb est. 82. Arbutus: the strawberry tree, so called from the resemblance of its fruit to a strawberry. Depulsis: the words à lacte are understood. 82. Satis. The dat. plu. a substantive from the part. pass. of the verb sero, I sow. It signifies any thing sown or planted-standing corn. Depulsis hadis: to the weaned kids. Dulcis is to be supplied in each member of the sentence; as also the verb est. 85. Pierides. The Muses are so called from Pieria, the place of their birth. See 60. supra. 86. Pollio. A noble Roman, the friend and patron of Virgil. See next Ecl. Nova: good-excellent. 88. Veniat quò gaudet, &c. May he also arrive at those honors to which it delighteth him that thou hast arrived. Pollio was invested with the consulate in the year of Rome 714, and in the following year he received a triumph. He was also a poet and historian; and considered among the most [rent learned men of his time. See Ecl. IV. 12. 89. Amomum. An aromatic fruit of great value. The Assyrian was considered the best. Rubus: the blackberry bush. 90. Qui Bavium non odit. Bavius and Mævius were two contemptible poets, and very inimical to Virgil and Horace. These two lines are wonderfully satirical. Let the same persons yoke oxen and milk hegoats. But this would be a useless, as well as a ridiculous employment. 93. Frigidus: deadly, by meton. or cold, descriptive of the nature of the snake. 95. Creditur. It is not easy to translate impersonal verbs always literally. They frequently occur in sentences, when such a version would be very awkward English. This is the case here. Menalcas is cautioning his sheep not to proceed too far; and adds as a reason for so doing, that it is not well to trust to the bank. To give force to this caution, he mentions the case of the ram that had just recovered of a fall from it into the river, and was then drying his fleece. |