VIRGIL sirnamed Maro , was borne but of meane parentage , especially on the fatherside , who was called Maro , whom some suppose to haue bin a potter , but moe thinke that he was at the first , couenaunt seruant with a traueilinge wyseman , and afterward for his towardnes , by mariadge of his daughter : became his soonne in lawe , whom when his father in lawe had put in trust with his husbandrie , and his catteyle , and byinge of wooddes , and lookinge to Bées , therby he increased his smale substance . He was borne the yéere that Cn. Pompeius , and M. Licinius Crassus were first Consuls the .15 . day of Octobre , in a village called Andes , not far from Mantua . His mother Maia , beinge great with childe with him , and dreaminge that she was deliuered of a laurell bowe , which prickt into the grownde grew forthwith to a great trée , replenyshed with sundrie kindes of Frutes , and Flowers : the next morning walking forth into the countrey with her husband , stept a side , and was deliuered therby , in a ditche . The report goeth , that the childe so soone as he was borne neuer cried , but looked so pleasantly , that he gaue an assured hope that by his birth some notable thinge should chaunce .

There befell also another strange token , for a Poplar trée branch , which was prickt into the grownd accordinge as the manner of the countrey at womens traueiles is , so grewe vp in short space , that it matched in bignes many great Poplar trées , that were set there long before , whiche was afterwarde consecrated , and called by the name of Virgils trée , and had in great reuerence amongst téemynge women , and such as were with child , which daily made prayers , and offringes there . His infancie , that is to say , vntill he was seauen yeare old , he passed in Cremona , and when he was thirtéene yéere of age he receaued the garment of manstate , when those were made Consuls agayne that were when he was borne , and it fortuned that Lucretius the poet departed the same day . But Virgil , from Cremona went to Millain , and shortly after from thence to Naples , where diligently applying the studie of the Greeke , and Latine toonges : at length betooke himself to Physicke , and knowledge of the Mathematicals , wherin he surpassed all other in skill , and departinge to Rome , fell in fauour with the M. of the horse to Augustus , and cured the horses of manie , and sundrie diseases . Who commaunded therfore that Virgill shuld haue such allowance of bread , as other of the stable had .

Duringe this tyme the Crotoniati sent vnto Caesar for a present , a goodlye horsecolt , that in all mens iudgment would proue both verie couragious , and woonderfull swift . When Virgil beheld him he told the M. of the stable , that he was fooled of a sicke , and infected mare , and that he would proue nether stronge nor swift , as afterward it appeared , wherof when the M. of the stable had enformed the Emperour : he commaunded that his bread shuld be dubled , for reward . Lykewyse , when there were certen Dogges sent to Augustus foorth of Spayne , Virgil both told what maner ones the siers were , & what stomack and swiftnes they would be of . Which when he vnderstoode ▪ he then commaunded agayne that Virgil should haue so much more bread as he had before . The Emperour Augustus doubtinge of himself whether he were sunne to Octauius or to some man else , and supposinge that Virgil Maro could resolue him , that knew so well the natures and siers of horses , and dogges : remoouing all companye aside Augustus called him into the priuie chambre , and asked him there alone , if he knew what he was , and what abilitie he had to make men happie ? I knowe ( qd Maro ) that thou art Augustus Caesar , and thou hast almost equall power with the immortall goddes and that thou mayst make happie whom thou liste . Surely ( qd Caesar ) I am of this mind , that if thou answer mée truly to that I shall aske , I will make thée happie , and blessed . I wold to god ( qd Maro ) that I could answere truly to that thou demaundest . Then sayd the Emperour , some say I am sunne to Octauius , and some suspect that I am some other mans sunne . Wherat Maro smylinge : I will sone tell you that ( qd he ) yf you pardon me in answeringe that you commaund . The Emperour swore by an Oth that he wold take neuer a worde in ill part , yea and that he shuld not depart vnrewarded . Therwithall Maro fixinge his eyes fast on the Emperours : it is an easie matter ( qd he ) by other lyuinge thinges to discerne the disposition of the parentes , through skill of Mathematickes , and Philosophie , but in men it is not possible . Howbeit I am able to giue some probable iudgment , what trade of lyfe thy father exercised . To this Augustus gaue diligent eare what he wold say . Then Virgil , so far as I can perceaue ( qd he ) thou art a Bakers sun . The Emperour thereat was astunned , and marueiled much in his mind how that could come to passe . Marie then ( qd Virgil ) I will tell you why I iudge so . When as I foretold certen thinges which could nether be knowne , nor vnderstoode but by such as be very wel lerned : thou that art prince of all the wordle commaundidst that I shuld haue a certen of bread giuen mée for a reward , which is the vse ether of bakers , or els of such as are bakers children . This merie iest , pleased the Emperour wel , but henceforth ( qd he ) thou shalt not be rewarded by a baker but by a most valient prince , & estéemed him much , and commendid him to Pollio . He was of bodie and stature bigge , of colour tawnie , hardfauoured , sycklie , for he was manytimes gréeued with payne in the stomack , iawes , and head , and some tymes he did spet blood . He frequented but litle the vse of deyntie meates and wyne . Some report that he was prone to the detestable sinne with boyes . But the better sort suppose rather that he loued them as Socrates loued Alcibiades , and Plato also . Aboue the rest he loued most Cebetes , and Alexander , whom in the second Ecloge of his Bucolikes he termeth Alexis , giuen vnto him by Asinius Pollio . When they came vnto him they were nether of them vnlearned . For Alexander was a good Grammarian , and Cebetes a Poet. Some likewyse affirme that he had carnall companie with Plotia Hieria . But Asconius Pedianus sayth that he was woont to declare to some auntient men , that indéede he was requested by Varius iointly to kéepe her , howbeit he ernestly refused so to doe . In all other respectes he was of lyfe , language , and conuersation so vpright : that through all Naples he was called , commonly Virginitie . And when haply he was séene at Rome , ( whether as he came very seldom ) going abroade in the open streetes if eny followed , or noted him : he wold turne away into the next house . When Augustus offred him the goods of one that was banished , he vtterly refused them He was worth in substance an hundred Sestertia , which were giuen him through the liberalitie of his fréendes , & he had an house in Rome in a place called Aesquiliae neare to Mecoenas gardaynes , although he was accustomed much to withdrawe him self into Campania and Scicil. Whatsoeuer he requested of Augustus : he neuer had deniall therof . Euery yéere he sent monie abundantly to succour his parentes which died when he was of lawfull yéeres , his father beinge blinde when he died , & his two brethren the one surnamed Silo died while he was a child , and Flacchus when he was come to manstate , whose death he bewayleth vnder the name of Daphnis . Amonge other studies ( as I haue sayd before ) he chéefly applied himself to Physick and Mathematickes . He neuer plead at barre more then one cause , and that but once , whom Melissus reporteth to haue bin very slow of toongue , & as though he were altogither vnlearned , when he first began Poëtrie , he made this Disthic , or these two verses vpon one Balista a scholemaster , that for reporte of théeuery was couerid with an heape of stones .

After this he wroat Moretum , Priapus , Epigrammes , Dirae , and Culex when he was yet but fiftéene yéere old , the argument wherof is this . A shepheard wearyed with heat , and sleapinge vnder a trée , when a serpent was cumming fast towards him , there came a Gnat flying out of the Fenne nearby , and lighted on the sheapheardes forhead betwéene his temples , and there stunge him . Then he lyftinge vp his handes crushed the gnat , and when he espied the serpent : killed him also , and made a tombe for the gnat with this superscription .

He wroat Aetna also , wherof some men doubt . But shortly after when he had begun Romane matters mislikynge the sharpnes , and roughnes both of the argument , and names , he fell to the Bucolickes but cheifly to celebrate the name of Asinius , Pollio , Alphenus Varus and Cornelius Gallus , by cause that in the deuision of land beyond Padus amongst the old souldiours after the conquest at Philippe made , at the commaundment of the Triumuiri , or the Thre conspiratours , they had saued him harmlesse . Afterward he made his worke called Georgica in the honour of Mecoenas by whose meanes , when he was yet scarce knowne vnto him , he was assisted against the old soldiours of Claudius , or rather as some suppose , against the violence of Arius the Centurian , by whom in that hurlyburly about deuiding of landes , he was very neare slayne . Last of all he tooke the Aeneidos in hand , a worke of a diuerse , and manifold argument , and resemblinge , in a maner both the workes of Homere . Besides that it contayneth indifferenly both wordes , and matter aswell Greeke as Latine , and that cheife is which he most endeuored , it comprehendeth both the originall of the citie of Rome , and Augustus the Emperour . When he wroate the Georgica , it is reported , how that euerie morninge he was accustomed to write a certen numbre of verses , which he would all the day longe ouerlooke , and so abbridginge them , bringe them vnto a very fewe , not vnfitly sayinge that he brought forth verses , as the femall Bear doth her young and bringeth them into due fashion by lickinge . The worke called Aeneidos he wrote first in twelue bookes in prose ( as some thinke ) and afterward digested it into verse . And othersome iudge that if he had liued longer , he wold haue lengthned it vnto xxiiij . bookes euen vnto the time of Augustus , and wold haue touched many other thinges therin , and with great diligence haue set forth Augustus tyme , since that in writing , least he shuld be vainly troubled with eny thinge : he left some thinges imperfect . And some thinges he wroate in very slender verse , which ( as he was woont , to iest ) he sayd he put in for Iesters , and Minstrels , to hold vp the worke , vntill the sownd pillers were framed . He absolued his Bucoliks in thrée yéere , at Asinius Pollios request . The same at that tyme ruled the prouince beyond Padus , by whose meanes and sute , when the Cremonenses , and Mantuans lands were distributed vnto Augustus auntient souldiours , yet notwithstandinge Virgil lost not his . This Pollio , Virgil loued entierly , and was likewise of him very welbeloued agayne , and greatly rewarded , for when he was vpon a tyme desiered by him to supper , and there sodenlye surprised with the singulare beutie , and diligence of Alexander , Pollios boye : receaued him of gift . Likewise he loued dearly C. Asinius , Pollios sunne , and Cornelius Gallus a noble Oratour and a singulare Poet , who translated Euphorion into Latin , and wroate in fouer bookes his loue of Cytheris . At the first he was in good credite with the Emperour Augustus , but afterward vpon suspition of conspiracie against him , he was slayne . Of whom Propertius speaketh thus :

Virgil loued this Gallus so well , that the fouerth booke of Georgikes from the middle to the end contayned his prayse , which afterward at Augustus commaundment he changed into the fable of Aristaeus . He finished the Georgiks in seuen yéere at Naples , and the Aeneidos he made partly in Sicilia , partly in Campania , in eleuen yéere . And his Bucoliks he made with so good successe that they were oftentimes sunge openly by Musitians in playes . When Cicero had heard certen of the verses , and by and by through sharpe iudgment perceaued that they procéeded from no commune veyne : he willed that the whole Ecloge shuld be reade from the beginninge . Wherto when he had attended diligently , in the end he said these words Of mighty Rome a second hope , as though himself were the first hope of the Latine toongue , and Maro wolde be the second , which wordes also he reciteth in the Aeneidos . The Georgikes , when Augustus returned from the Actiacan victorie , and for recreationsake soiourned at Atella , he read there vnto him continually the space of fouer dayes , and when his voice failed him at eny time : Mecoenas supplied his romth in readiynge . He pronunced with meruelous swéetnes , and great delectation . Seneca writeth that Iulius Montanus the Poet was wount to say , that he wold take away by force some thinge from Virgil if he could set them forth with the same voice , countnance , and gesture ▪ And that the selfsame verses if he pronounced them , wold sound well , but without him : wold be drie and dumbe . Of the Aeneidos scarce yet begunne , there was spread such a fame : that Sextus Propertius doubted not thus to foretell .

When Augustus by fortune was absent from the Cantabrick expedition , and partly by requestinge and partly by manacinge letters , merely required of Virgil that he shuld send to him if it were but the verie title or some one full sentence of Aeneidos , for those were his words : he refused so to doe . To whom yet not longe after when the matter was fully perfected , he recited thre bookes , namely the Second , the Fourth and the Sixt. And that especially , bycause of Octauia , who beinge there present at the recitall , at those verses of her sunne , Marcellus thou shalt be , is reported to haue fainted for sorowe , and when by much labour she was recouered agayne , she commaunded that Virgil shuld haue to the value of fiue pounds for euerie verse . He read his bookes also to diuerse , but not oft , & those places only wherof he stoode in eny doubt , therby to heare the iudgment of men Yt is sayd that Erotes his secretarie , whom he also made frée , when he was very aged was woont to report , that once in the readinge of his worke he made two of his half verses out of hand , and that Misenus Aolides added , was better none then he .

Lykewyse vnto this verse , In kindlinge men with noyse , with like heat he adioyned , And fightinge fields to cheere with brasse , & that he was commaunded strayt wayes to wryte those ij . additions so in the worke . He perused both his Bucoliks and Georgiks . And when he was 52. yeare old , to th intent to finish the Aeneidos , he was determined to withdrawe him self into Greece , and Asie , and there to employe whole thre yeares in correctinge and perusinge , that he might bestowe all the resdue of his life only in the studye of Philosophie . But when he was in his iourney , and met with Augustus at Athens who was returninge forth of the East cuntreyes towards Rome : he purposed to goe home agayne with him . And trauailinge to Megara , a towne nigh Athens , only to sée it , tooke there a sicknesse , which continuall trauaile on sea augmented , and encreasinge more and more vntill he came to Brundusium with in fewe dayes after dyed there , the xxj . day of September when Cn. Plautius , and Q. Lucretius were Consuls . Who when he felt him self mortally assaulted with the maladie : he called often , and very ernestly for his deske , that he might burne the Aeneidos . Which beinge deneid him , he willed notwtstandinge by his last testament that it shuld be burned , as a work both faultie , and vnperfect . But Tucca and Varrus told him that Augustus wold in no wyse suffre that . Wherruppon he bequeathed the same worke , and his other writinges vnto Varrus and Tucca vpon this condition , that they shuld set forth nothinge but that which he wold haue set forth , and such verses as were vnperfect : they shuld so leaue them . He willed also that his bones shuld be borne to Naples , wheras he had lyued longe tyme , and merely . His bones therfore were translated to Naples , at Augustus commaundment , as he apointed , and were buried in the way to Puteol . at the second stone , and vpon his tumbe was writen this disthick , which he made him self .

He made heyers of half his goods Valerius Proculus his half brother by another father , & of the fourth part , Augustus , of the twelfth part Mecoenas , of all the remainder L. Varrus , and Plocius Tucca , who after his decease as he requested at Caesars commaundment corrected , the Aeneidos . For no man iudged the Aeneidos worthy to be burned , wherof these verses of Sulpitius the Carthagian are extant .

There remayne also many noble verses made by Augustus vppon the same matter , whose beginning is this .

And shortly after .

Wherfore Varrus at Augustus commaundment did set forth nothinge , as Virgil willed he shuld not : but generally perused all , leauing also those verses as they were , still vnperfect . Whiche verses diuers afterward tooke in hand to make vp , but they could not for the difficulty therof , for they be all Hemistichia , that is to say half verses , besides this : Whom Troy vntimely bare thee , which séemeth to carie with it perfect sense . Nisius the Grammarian said that he had heard of his elders , that Varrus had changed the order of two bookes , and that which was then the Second he transposed into the third place . And that he changed also the beginninge of the First booke , takinge these verses cleane away :

Virgil also amongst other , who was one of the pillers of the Latin toongue , lacked not slaunderers . In his Bucolickes , Paro , but very foolyshly , mocketh at two Ecloges , and thus he beginneth to flout .

And in the next .

Another also when he read this place out of the Georgiks : Eare naked , naked sowe : he added , then cold , and feuer thou shalt take . There is also extant a boke made by Carpilius Pictor vnder this title , The Aeneidos scourge . M. Vipranus sayde that Mecoenas had set vp a finder out of an euell imitation , and that he was nether loftie in Stile , nor low , but that he made that worke with commune vulgare wordes . Herennius only gathered togither his faultes , and Perilius Faustinus , that which he stole of others . There are also certen volumes of Quintus Octauius Auitus , in the which are obserued what verses , and from whome he tooke them . Asconius Pedanus in his booke which he writeth against the slaunderers of Virgil , setteth downe a fewe thinges which were obiected against him , and this chiefly , that he tied not wel his historie togither , and that he borowed much of Homere . But this fault ( as they say ) he was woont thus to defend , saiyng why do not they likewyse attempt the lyke théeft ? But they if they wayghed it vprightly shuld vnderstand that it were an easear matter to pulle the club out of Hercules hand , then to take a verse away from Homere , and that notwithstandinge he determined to withdrawe himself for a time to amend euerie thinge that his ilwillers found fault withall .

Pedianus also reporteth , that he was very curteous , and a louer of all good and honest men , and so far from Enuie , that if he sawe eny thinge done , or spoken lernedly by eny , he reioyced therat , none otherwyse then if it were his owne : that he dispraysed no man , praysed goodmen , and was of so gentle nature : that there was no man , vnlesse he were ouer stubberne and malicious , that not only fauored him , but also hartely loued him . He séemed to haue nothinge priuate to himselfe . His library stoode as ready open to othermen as to himself , and he oftentimes vsed the sayinge of Euripides : All thinges amongst freendes are commune . He had all the Poetes of his tyme so freendlye , and beholdinge vnto him , that although they much enuied one another , yet him they all reuerenced , as Varrus , Tucca , Horace , Gallus , Propertius , But Anser , by cause he tooke not part with Antonius , dyd not regard him . Comificius could not abyde him , such was his froward nature . He so much contemned glorie , that when some ascribed to them selues certen of his verses , and therfore were accoumpted the better learned , he tooke it not only not displeasantly , but he much reioysed therat . And makinge a couple of verses contayninge the prayse and felicitie of Augustus , which were set vpon the gates with out name , the verses were these .

The authour of which verses Augustus longe made enquirie for , but he could not finde him . At length when none came , Bathyllus an indifferent good Poet , ascribed them vnto himself , and was therefore encoraged , and rewarded by Caesar , which Virgill not takynge well , set vpon the same gates this beginning foure times : So you , not for your selues . Augustus required that these verses should bée by some finished , which many assaying in vayne : Virgil thus replied , to the forewritten Disthic .

Which beyng once knowne : Bathyllus for a time was all the iest ingstocke to the whole citie of ROME . When on a time he had the workes of Ennius in his hande , and beyng demaunded by one what he did with them : answered that he gathered golde out of Ennius dounge . For that authour expresseth worthy sentences & matter , vnder words not of the finest . Vnto Augustus that demaunded of him how a Citie might best be gouerned : he answered , if the wisest men did holde the helme , and good men were set in aucthoritie ouer euell , and so that the best men may haue their due honour , and the rest be not in iuriously dealt withall . Then Mecoenas , what thing is it ( qd he ) that neuer bringeth lothsomnesse to man ? The likenesse , answered Virgil , or the abundance of euery thinge , anoyeth vs , except of vnderstandyng . He asked moreouer , how a man might alwayes preserue his happie and fortunate state ? To whom then Maro , if by how much he excell other in Honour , and Ritches : he endeuour to excell them in Liberalitie an Iustice . He was wount also to say , that there was nothyng more méet nor commodious for a man then Pacience , and that there was no fortune so sharpe which by wisely tolleratyng a valient man might not ouercome . Which opinion of his , he hath expressed in the fist of the Aeneidos .

There was familiar with Augustus one named Filistus , an oratour , and méetly wel learned in Poetrie , and had a pleasant , and variable witte , and vsed to carpe the saiynges of all men , not to th' intent thereby to learne the truth ( for so Socrates was woont to do ) but therby to appeare the better learned . The same , wheresoeuer he had occasion to méete with Virgil or be in his companie , vsed to prouoke him with reproches , and floutes . Wherfore , either he departed commonly with silence , or els with blusshing held his peace . Then when as in presence of Augustus , he sayde that Virgil was dumbe , and that if he had a toongue he coulde not defend himself : hold thy peace babler ( qd he ) for this taciturnitie of myne causeth Augustus , and Mecoenas to be the patrones of my cause , and when I list I will speake with suche a trumpet , that shall euerywhere , and very longe be heard . And thou with thy pratlyng dost not only breake mens eares , but walles also . Then the Emperour looked vpon Filistus with a fierce countenance , and rebuked him . And Virgil , Caesar ( qd he ) if this man knew a time to holde his peace : he would seldome speake . For a man ought alwaies to be silent , vntill such time as his silence shall either hurt himself , or his talke may profit others .

When Augustus had obtayned the Empire , he debated with him self whether it were better to resigne vp the Dominion , and commit the state to yéerely Consuls , and the gouernment of the Common-wealth to the Senate . In which case he called to counsell twayne , of two seuerall opinions , Mecoenas , and Agrippa . Agrippa in longe discourse shewed , that although it were not very decent for him to do , yet would it be profitable , which contrarie , Mecoenas very much diswaded him from . By occasion wherof , Augustus minde was brought into great perplexitie , for their sundrie opinions , were confirmed by sundrie reasons . Wherfore he demaunded of Maro , whether it were expedient for a priuate man , to vsurpe a gouernment in his common wealth or not ? Then Virgil , vnto all ( qd he ) that haue vsurped the state of their commonwealth , the gouernment hath bin wearysom both vnto them , and to the subiectes , bycause that of necessitie through hatred of the people , or suspicion growinge to them of their owne great iniustice : they do liue in much feare . But if the citizens could finde eny one , whom they do loue entierly : it should be profitable to the citie , if he were set in auctoritie . Wherfore , if you do continue to execute iustice to all men , without regard of eny person , as you haue alredie begunne , it shal be most profitable both for your self , and all the worlde that you ruled , for you haue so much the goodwill of all men , that they honour you , and repute you for a God . Whose opinion Caesar allowinge : retayned still the Empire .

But since wée haue now breifly spoken of the auctour , it séemeth good wée speake of the kind of verse , which commonly is handled two maner wayes , that is to say , before the worke , and in the worke . Before the worke are , the Title , the Cause , the Intention . The Title , in which is asked , whose it is . The cause , from whence it rose , and for what cause cheifly they Poet tooke this in hand to write . The Intention , in the which is knowne his drift , & where about the Poet goeth . In the worke thrée thinges are marked , the Numbre , the Ordre , the Explanation . Although therfore by falsification , manie workes are caried abroade vnder othermens names , as the tragedie of Thiestes made by this Poet , which Varrus setforth for his owne , & manie such like : yet we cannot doubt but that cléerly the Bucolickes are Virgills , especially since the Poete , doubtinge some such matter , both in the beginninge of the Aeneidos , and in another place witnesseth that they are his , sayinge :

That they be fitly termed Bucolickes , and so accompted : if nothing els declared , yet this might be proofe sufficient , that in Theocritus they be called by the same name . But we must shew also some reason . There be thrée kindes of Sheapheardes that are famous in Bucolickes . Wherof the vilest sort are termed Caprarii , or Goatheardes . The Opiliones , or Sheapheards are next of dignity , but the Bubulci , or Cowheardes are the best and chiefest . Wherof therfore was it most conuenient that the Sheapheardes verse shuld be named , but of that degrée which is found most excellent amongst Sheapheardes ?

The cause may be two wayes considered , of the beginninge of the verse , and of the minde of the writer . Of the beginninge , and Originall of the Bucolick verse : diuers haue assigned diuerse causes . There are some that saye this kinde of verse was first instituted to Diana , by the Sheapheardes of Lacedaemonia , when through occasion of warre , which at that tyme the Persians made vpon all Greece , the virgins could not do sacrafice accordinge to their custome . Others some say , that the same kynde of verse was made to Diana by Orestes , when he wandred about Sicilia . What euer they all say , this is most certen , that the Bucolik verse , tooke beginninge of great antiquitie , when men ledde only sheapheardes liues , and therefore the simplicitie of such personages doth represent a shewe of the golden wordle . Wherfore Virgil begunne very commendably with those , verses , as it were , with that life , which was first in the earth . For afterward the fieldes were tilled , and last of all , for earable and fertyle ground : contention rose , and warres ensued , which Virgil , that he would expresse : sange first of sheapheardes , next of Husbandmen , and last of warriours . It remayneth now that wée consider what cause mooued the Poet cheifly to write the Bucolickes . Ether he was entised by the swéetnes to haue Theocritus verse in admiration , or else for orders sake he sought to expresse the life of man , as wée haue sayd before . Or rather that Virgil would setfoorth the thrée kindes of Elocution , which the Greekes call Carecters , Ischnon that is , lowe , Adron which is loftie , Meson , that is the mean or middle . Whefore beinge likely that he which was right cunninge in all the kindes : endited his Bucolickes in the first , the Georgikes in the second , and the Aeneidos in the third . Or therfore it is to be supposed he wroat the Bucolickes first , to th intent in that kind of verse which is more frée and rough then the rest he might take opportunitie to currie the Emperours fauour , and to recouer his lande which he had lost , for this cause . The third day of the Ides of March , when C. Caesar was stayne , and the old souldiours had taken vp Augustus Caesar beinge but a child to be their captayne , the senate not much repugninge against it , a ciuile warre risinge therof , the Cremonenses with other of the same faction , aided the aduersaries of Augustus Caesar . Wherby it came to passe that when Augustus had the victory he commaunded that the old souldiours shuld be brought in to the Cremonenses fieldes , to deuide , and possesse them . And when their fieldes were not sufficient for them all : their neighbours the Mantuans , amonge whom was Virgil , lost a great part of their landes , by cause they lay neare vnto the Cremonenses . But Virgil , presuminge on the familiaritie which he had with Augustus , and on his owne verses : durst resist Arius the Centurian . He strait wayes , like a souldyour , put his hand to his sword . And when Virgil had betake himself to flight : he left not of followinge him , vntill Virgil had cast himself into a riuer , and so escaped . But afterward through the fauour of Mecoenas , and Pollio , and Augustus himself , he was restoared to his landes . The Intention of the booke which the Graetians call Scopus , is grounded on the imitation of Theocritus the Poet , who was both a Sicilian and a Syracusian . The intention also is to be reduced into the praise of Caesar , and other princes and noblemen by whose meanes he was brought againe into his former seat , & liuing . Wherby that the end might containe both delectation , & profect : he did althinge accordinge to ordre , & precept .

This question is sometime asked why he wroate no moe then ten Ecloges , which wil be no meruayle vnto him that shall waigh the antiquitie of the pastorall Scenes , which cannot be stretched beyonde this numbre , and since this Poet more circumspect then Theocritus as the matter it self declareth , séemeth to doubt least that Ecloge which is intituled Pollio , will not appeare rusticklike enough , whiche he beginneth after this maner , saying :

And so likewise doth he in other twayne . And this wée foretell to be obserued in al the Bucolikes of Virgil , that they are neither wholy destitute of figures , neither altogither full of figures , that is to say Allagories . These thinges are scarce to be graunted vnto Virgis , for the prayse of Caesar , and to recouer his landes , since Theocritus , whom Virgil sought by all endeuour to imitate : wroate altogether plainly , and simply .

As touchyng such thinges as accustomably are handled in the verse are these : Numbre , Order , Explanation The numbre of the Eclogs is apparant , for there are Ten , of which , seuen are thought properly to deserue the name of Bucolickes . For the last thrée ought not to be called Bucolickes , namely Pollio , Silenus , and Gallus . The first therfore contayneth a publique complaint , and a priuate thankes gouyng for land , and is called Tityrus . The second , the loue of a boy , and is termed Alexis . The third , a contention of Sheapheards , and is called Paloemon . The fourth , Genethliacum , and is named Pollio . The fift , Epitaphium , and is termed Daphnis . The sixt , Metamorphosis , and is called , Varus , and Cilenus . The seuenth Pharmacentria . The eight , the loues of diuers sexes , and is named Damon . The ninth contayneth a complaynt for his lost landes , and is termed Moeris . The tenth , the disier of Gallus , and is called Gallus . As touchynge the order of them , wée must vnderstand this , that only in the first and last Ecloges the Poete would keep due order , for in the one he began , as he witnesseth in the Georgickes :

In the other he shewed the end , when he sayth ,

But amongst the Eclogs that there is no sheapheardly , or prescript order obserued , it is most certen . Wherefore there are some , that say the Bucolikes begin not at Tityrus , but :