Eclogue 2 (Ecloga II; Bucolica II) is a pastoral poem by the Latin poet Virgil, one of a series of ten poems known as the Eclogues. In this Eclogue the herdsman Corydon laments his inability to win the affections of the young Alexis.[1] It is an imitation of the eleventh Idyll of Theocritus, in which the Cyclops Polyphemus laments the cruelty of the sea-nymph Galatea.[1] After a 5-line introduction, the rest of the poem consists of a single speech by Corydon. The poem has 73 lines, and is written in the dactylic hexameter metre.
The subject of this poem is the complaint of a herder of sheep and goats, Corydon, who is in love with a handsome blond boy Alexis. Alexis, however, is the delicias domini ('boss's darling') (line 2) and Corydon realises that his quest is hopeless: "You are just a peasant, Corydon. Alexis does not care for gifts; and even if you were to try to win him with gifts, Iollas would not allow it" (lines 56–57). Having wasted the whole day singing, therefore, he realises that he could put his time to better use, telling himself "You will find another Alexis, if this one spurns you" (line 73).
The poem is said to represent the admiration of Virgil for a young slave whom he saw at the house of his patron Asinius Pollio, and whose beauty he thus celebrates, in the conventional style of pastoral verse.[4] The story further goes that Pollio, charmed with the poem, made a gift of the slave to the author; and that the slave, being carefully educated, became a celebrated grammarian under his real name Alexander.[4] According to J. B. Greenough, "This story, though not certain, is natural and probable."[4] Some parts of the poem are imitations of Theocritus.[5]
Apostol, Ricardo (2015). "'Urbanus Es, Corydon': Ecocritiquing Town and Country in Eclogue 2". Vergilius. 61: 3–28.
Greenough, J. B., ed. (1883). Publi Vergili Maronis: Bucolica. Aeneis. Georgica. The Greater Poems of Virgil. Vol. 1. Boston, MA: Ginn, Heath, & Co. pp. 1–4. (Public domain)
Leach, E. W. (1966). "Nature and Art in Vergil's Second Eclogue". The American Journal of Philology. 87 (4): 427–45. doi:10.2307/292755. JSTOR 292755.
Nisbet, R. (1995). Review of W V Clausen, A Commentary on Virgil, Eclogues. The Journal of Roman Studies, 85, 320-321.
Otis, B. (1964). Virgil: A Study in Civilized Poetry. Oxford.
Page, T. E., ed. (1898). P. Vergili Maronis: Bucolica et Georgica. Classical Series. London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd. pp. 102–11. (Public domain)
Van Sickle, John (1987). "'Shepheard Slave': Civil Status & Bucolic Conceit in Virgil, 'Eclogue' 2". Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica. 27 (3): 127–9. doi:10.2307/20546927. JSTOR 20546927.
April 18, 2024
eclogue, ecloga, bucolica, pastoral, poem, latin, poet, virgil, series, poems, known, eclogues, this, eclogue, herdsman, corydon, laments, inability, affections, young, alexis, imitation, eleventh, idyll, theocritus, which, cyclops, polyphemus, laments, cruelt. Eclogue 2 Ecloga II Bucolica II is a pastoral poem by the Latin poet Virgil one of a series of ten poems known as the Eclogues In this Eclogue the herdsman Corydon laments his inability to win the affections of the young Alexis 1 It is an imitation of the eleventh Idyll of Theocritus in which the Cyclops Polyphemus laments the cruelty of the sea nymph Galatea 1 After a 5 line introduction the rest of the poem consists of a single speech by Corydon The poem has 73 lines and is written in the dactylic hexameter metre Engraving of Pastoral 2 Dryden s Virgil 1709Eclogues 2 and 3 are thought to be the earliest of Virgil s Eclogues to be written 2 and so the poem dates to about 42 BC 3 Contents 1 Summary 2 See also 3 References 4 Sources and further readingSummary editThe subject of this poem is the complaint of a herder of sheep and goats Corydon who is in love with a handsome blond boy Alexis Alexis however is the delicias domini boss s darling line 2 and Corydon realises that his quest is hopeless You are just a peasant Corydon Alexis does not care for gifts and even if you were to try to win him with gifts Iollas would not allow it lines 56 57 Having wasted the whole day singing therefore he realises that he could put his time to better use telling himself You will find another Alexis if this one spurns you line 73 The poem is said to represent the admiration of Virgil for a young slave whom he saw at the house of his patron Asinius Pollio and whose beauty he thus celebrates in the conventional style of pastoral verse 4 The story further goes that Pollio charmed with the poem made a gift of the slave to the author and that the slave being carefully educated became a celebrated grammarian under his real name Alexander 4 According to J B Greenough This story though not certain is natural and probable 4 Some parts of the poem are imitations of Theocritus 5 See also editCorydon character Slavery in ancient RomeReferences edit a b Page 1898 p 102 Otis 1964 p 131 Nisbet 1995 dates the Eclogues as a whole to 42 39 BC a b c Greenough 1883 p 4 Idylls iii xi Sources and further reading editApostol Ricardo 2015 Urbanus Es Corydon Ecocritiquing Town and Country in Eclogue 2 Vergilius 61 3 28 Greenough J B ed 1883 Publi Vergili Maronis Bucolica Aeneis Georgica The Greater Poems of Virgil Vol 1 Boston MA Ginn Heath amp Co pp 1 4 Public domain Leach E W 1966 Nature and Art in Vergil s Second Eclogue The American Journal of Philology 87 4 427 45 doi 10 2307 292755 JSTOR 292755 Nisbet R 1995 Review of W V Clausen A Commentary on Virgil Eclogues The Journal of Roman Studies 85 320 321 Otis B 1964 Virgil A Study in Civilized Poetry Oxford Page T E ed 1898 P Vergili Maronis Bucolica et Georgica Classical Series London Macmillan amp Co Ltd pp 102 11 Public domain Van Sickle John 1987 Shepheard Slave Civil Status amp Bucolic Conceit in Virgil Eclogue 2 Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica 27 3 127 9 doi 10 2307 20546927 JSTOR 20546927 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eclogue 2 amp oldid 1214461044, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
