Virgil: Ecologa Prima
Installment two!
Tityrus
Urbem quam dicunt Romam, Meliboee, putavi
stultus ego huic nostrae similem, cui saepe solemus 20
pastores ovium teneros depellere fetus.
sic canibus catulos similes, sic matribus haedos
noram, sic parvis componere magna solebam.
verum haec tantum alias inter caput extulit urbes
quantum lenta solent inter viburna cupressi. 25
Meliboeus
Et quae tanta fuit Romam tibi causa videndi?
Tityrus
Libertas, quae sera tamen respexit inertem,
candidior postquam tondenti barba cadebat,
respexit tamen et longo post tempore venit,
postquam nos Amaryllis habet, Galatea reliquit. 30
namque - fatebor enim - dum me Galatea tenebat,
nec spes libertatis erat nec cura peculi.
quamvis multa meis exiret victima saeptis
pinguis et ingratae premeretur caseus urbi,
non umquam gravis aere domum mihi dextra redibat. 35
Meliboeus
Mirabar quid maesta deos, Amarylli, vocares,
cui pendere sua patereris in arbore poma.
Tityrus hinc aberat. ipsae te, Tityre, pinus,
ipsi te fontes, ipsa haec arbusta vocabant.
My translation:
Tityrus
The city they call Rome, Meliboeus, I stupidly
thought that it was like ours, to which the shepherds
often were accustomed to herd the tender lambs of our sheepfold.
Thus I was accustomed to know puppies like dogs,
thus kids like mothers, thus small was built into large.
Truly this city raised its head so far between others
as cypress trees are accustomed to do among weeping willows.
Meliboeus
And what was the great cause for you to see Rome?
Tityrus
Liberty, which finally gazed, though late, in my idleness,
after the whiskers of my beard fell clear,
she gazed finally and came after a long time,
after Amaryllis had us, and Galatea left.
In fact - that is to say I will admit - while Galatea held me,
there was neither hope of liberty nor care of savings.
My hand never returned home heavy with money,
however much sacrifice put forth from my sheepfolds
and rich cheese pressed for the ungrateful city.
Meliboeus
Amaryllis, I wondered why you called so mournfully on the gods,
for whom you left the apples on the trees.
Tityrus was not here. For you, Tityrus, the pines themselves,
the very springs, the orchards themselves were calling out.
