The Bucolics and Eclogues of Virgil

What it is

This is a full English translation of Virgil's Eclogues, a set of pastoral poems written in the first century BC. The poems are structured as dialogues between shepherds discussing exile, love and rural life.

Why it matters

The Eclogues helped establish Virgil's reputation as a major Roman poet and created a lasting model for pastoral poetry in later European literature. They offer a window into how educated Romans imagined and idealized countryside life during a period of political upheaval.

Look closer

• What feelings do the shepherds in the poem express about their lives and their land?
• Why might a poet choose to write about simple country life during a time of political change in Rome?
• How might reading a translation change your experience of the original poem's rhythm and sound?