Primary sourceBook1709
The Works of Virgil: Pastorals
John Dryden · 1709
John Dryden's influential 1709 English translation of Virgil's Pastorals, a landmark of English literature.
Dryden's famous English translation bringing Virgil's pastoral poetry, including his own life story, to wide audiences.
About this source
What it is
This is John Dryden's English translation of Virgil's Pastorals, published as part of his translation of Virgil's complete works in 1709. The text includes an argument explaining the background of the first pastoral poem.
Why it matters
Dryden's translation became one of the most celebrated English versions of Virgil's poetry, shaping how English readers understood and appreciated Roman literature for generations. The argument accompanying the poem explains how Virgil used the shepherd Tityrus to represent his own experience after losing and recovering his land under Emperor Augustus.
Look closer
- According to the argument, what real historical events does Virgil represent through the characters Tityrus and Meliboeus?
- Why might Virgil have used pastoral characters and settings to comment on his own personal and political circumstances?
- What does the long popularity of Dryden's translation suggest about Virgil's lasting importance in English literary culture?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Virgil on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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