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ASinius Pollio Lea∣der of the Ger∣maine armie had a sonne borne the same yeare in which he won Salone a citie of Dalmatia; which sonne he called Sa∣loninus by the name of the citie which he had taken.
a Vnto this [Sa∣loninus] the Poet in this Eclogue singeth a Ge∣nethliacum, detorting to that purpose those things which Sibyl had prophe∣cied of the future felicitie of the golden age: yet ‖ by the way, he ‖ mix∣eth the praises of Pollio
[‖ his] father and also of Augustus then Em∣perour of Rome.
‖ YE b Sicilian Mu∣ses, let vs sing of matters somewhat more ‖ high.
Groues and low heath ‖ do not delight all sorts.
[Notwithstanding] if we do sing of woods, ‖ the [very] woods may beseeme a Consull for to reade.
c The last age of Si∣byls song is now alrea∣die come.
d The great order of ages doth begin a∣new.
e Now euen f the virgin doth returne, Sa∣turnes kingdome comes againe.
Oh chaste g Lucina, ‖ fauour thou the babe that's now in birth, by whom the iron [age] shall first haue end, and the golden age shall be∣gin again in all the world. ‖ Thy [brother] h Apollo now reigneth.
‖ And thus (oh Pollio) this glorie of the world ‖ shall enter in, whilest thou art Consull, [I say] in thy Consulship, and i the great moneths shall begin to take their place.
In thy reigne the prints ‖ of our wicked∣nesse, if any do remaine,
Being vtterly taken away, shall ‖ free the earth ‖ from perpetuall feare.
He shall ‖ receiue the life of the [immor∣tall] Gods, and shall see the ‖ Nobles [of former ages] mixt in company amongst the Gods, and shall himselfe [likewise] be seene of them.
k And he shall go∣uerne the world being set in peace by his fa∣thers ‖ valour.
l But vnto thee [oh child] the earth shall send forth [her] first gifts without any labour, [to wit] spreading ivies, with Ladies gloues, and Egyptian beanes in∣termixed with pleasant branke vrsine.
The litle goates shall returne home, [hauing] their dugs strut out with milk: the herds of cattel shall not feare the ‖ fell Lions.
Thy very cradle shal yeeld thee pleasant flow∣ers.
Both the serpent shall perish, and the deceitfull venimous herbe shall die; the As∣fyrian vine shall grow euery where.
m But so soone as
euer thou shalt be able to reade the praises of worthy Nobles, and the famous acts of thy fa∣ther; ‖ and to know what valour is:
n ‖ The field shall wax yellow by little and little with tender eares of corne:
And the red grape shall hang vpon the rough bramble:
The hard oakes like∣wise ‖ shall sweate hony dewes.
o Yet [some] few prints of ancient guile shall secretly remaine:
Which can ‖ com∣mand to trie the p Sea with ships, and com∣passe townes with walls, [and] which [will in∣force] to till the ground.
Then shall there be another q Tiphys, and an∣other Argo too, which may carrie the chosen Nobles; there shall be al∣so ‖ other warres:
And valiant Achilles ‖ shall be sent againe to Troy.
But after this when thou shalt come to mans estate,
Al. The ship-man himselfe shall leaue the sea. The r ship of pine-tree shall not change her merchandize; euery countrey shall beare all things.
The ground shall not need harrowes, nor the vineyard the pru∣ning hooke.
And now the stur∣die plow man ‖ shall loose the yoakes from his buls.
Neither * shall the wooll learne to counter∣fet diuers colours.
But the Ram himselfe in the medowes * shall one while change his fleece with a sweete red s purple, another while with t a yellow saffron colour.
the lambes feeding, of it owne accord.
x The fatall Ladies agreeing in a stable de∣cree of destinies, haue spoken to their spindles [thus:] ‖ Runne ye out such like times.
‖ Oh deare of spring of the Gods, oh great increase of Ioue, enter vpon thy high renowne, now the time will be at hand.
Behold the world [now] reeling with a bending weight:
Both the earth and the sea coasts, and also the high heauen:
Behold how all things do reioyce for this [gol∣den] ‖ age to come.
‖ Oh that the last part of [my] life may last so long to me:
[And] of my breath as may suffice to record thy worthy acts.
Neither y Orpheus of Thracia shal passe me [then] in song:
Nor yet z Li••, al∣though the mother of the one were by, and the father of the other.
[To wit, ‖ though] Calliopeia [were present] vnto Orpheus, and faire Apollo to Linus.
‖ [Yea though] Pan also should contend with me, ‖ Archadia be∣ing iudge:
Yet Pan would ac∣knowledge himself ouer∣come, euen Archadia being iudge.
Begin [oh litle boy] to know thy mother by [thy] smiling:
‖ [For] ten moneths haue brought long wea∣rinesse to her.
‖ Oh litle boy ‖ begin, at whom [his] parents haue not smiled,
Neither God [a Ge∣nius [vouchsafed] him [his] table, nor the God∣desse [Iuno] accounted [him] worthy of [her] bed.
A sonne is borne to Asinius Pollio Captaine of the Germaine armie, the same yeare in which he conquered Salone a citie of Dalmatia, whom he called Saloninus, from the name of the citie taken.
Those things which Sibyl prophecied con∣cerning Christ, Virgil turneth and applieth to Saloninus Pollios sonne now borne; and to the felicitie of Au∣gustus gouernment.
The Poet singeth a Genethliacum to him [viz. maketh a Poeme of his natiuitie and future hopes,] in this Eclogue, wresting thither those things which Sibyl had sung of the future felicitie of the golden age.
Incidently or vpon occasion.
Intermingleth or putteth betweene here and there.
Father of Salonicus.
Of Augustus himselfe.
Ye Muses, or ye Goddesses of Sici∣l•• viz. of Theocritus.
Sicelides, casus grae∣canicus pro Sicilienses.
Let vs sing greater things by a li∣tle, [viz. let vs handle an argument somewhat more stately or loftie then our Pasiorals, and so writtē in a stile somewhat more loftie, as two other Eclogues are.
Groues of trees, or thickets, or bu∣she•• and shrubs, [viz. verses of such base matters.
Wilde Tamariske.
All are not delighted in such base matters as our pastorall songs are.
All [men.]
Our pastorals.
May be worthy of a Consull [viz. not vnmeete or vnbeseeming a Con∣sull.
The iron age▪ wherof Sibyl the Prophetesse of Cuma writ long be∣fore, is now come and gone.
Of the Cumean verse [or song] viz. wherof Sibyl of Cuma writ in verse] or foretold.
Hath come now, and is as it were past.
The foure ages of the world (which Sibyl is said to haue set out by foure kind of met∣tals, viz the golden, sil∣uer, brazen, and iron age, wherof see Ouid in his Metamorphosis) are now beginning again.
Is borne from the whole, [viz. is begun or restored againe anew, as it was from the very first beginning of the world, [or is renewed.]
[Now] viz. now that Saloninus is borne.
The virgin also doth returne [to the earth] to wit, iustice being ba∣nished long before and gone to heauē.
Virgo] by virgo here may seem to be meant the virgin Ma•• bea∣ring our Sauior, thogh the Poet take it for E∣rigone or Astraea, which as the Poets faine, was the last of these, which went to heauen, being placed among the hea uenly signes.
Kingdomes returne. [viz. the gol∣den age wherin Saturne first reigned.
Now [that] new progenie [viz. whereof Sibyl spake] is sent downe from the high heauen.
Issue.
From God.
Lucina] Diana, who is therfore named Lu∣cina, because she and Iuno are said to bring forth the birth into the light.
Preserue.
The child being now in the birth, [or to be now presently borne.]
Who [being safely borne] [or, who liuing and being in saf••tie]
Nation [or people] shall end first.
Shall arise in the whole world.
Caesar Augustus the true Apollo of this age.
By Apollo he mea∣neth Augustus the Em∣perour, who was as it were the Apollo of that age, hauing then the chiefe Empire of all the world. Or because he was thought to be descended from Apollo. Apollo and Diana being the children of Iupiter by Latona.
And thus.
This renowne [or honour] of the age, viz. this golden age.
Shall first begin.
Thee [being Consull] I say] thee being Consull.
By the great moneths are either meant Iuly and August, which be∣fore were called Quin∣tilis and Sextilis, and had not yet taken their names of Iulius and Augustus, to maintaine the memorie in their names: or else thereby are vnderstood the moneths of the great yeare, wherein all the starres should returne to their first placing or constitution.
To proceed [or go forward.
Thee being Captaine or guide.
Footsteps, tracks, or traces, or re∣mainders.
[Of the ciuill warres by Augustus, viz.] the punishments and plagues due vnto vs for our former wickednes
Made voide or frustrate [viz. pur∣ged.
Deliuer all nations.
From feare of vengeance, which was continuall before.
He [viz. Augustus, or Saloninus Pollios sonne.
Liue as a God, or be made a God.
Worthy Nobles of Rome.
Mixed [or mingled] with the Gods.
And he himselfe shall be seene to them.
This he vnderstan∣deth of Augustus Cae∣sar, that he should thus gouerne the world, subdued and quieted by Iulius Caesar his fa∣ther, by whom he was adopted.
Rule the [whole] world being quieted
By his fathers vertues.
Brought to quietnesse by the va∣lour and wisedome of his father.
These things which follow, the Poet mea∣neth of Saloninus, whose infancie he ma∣keth the infancie of the golden age, where∣in all good things should begin to a∣bound of their owne accord.
But, oh child, [viz. oh Salo••ine] the earth shall powre out vnto thee her first litle gifts with no tillage [or dressing] viz. of her owne accord.
Erring [or wandring ivies.]
Some call it Nardus rusticus: o∣thers, Sage of Ierusalem, others Lon∣don buttons.
And [it shall powre forth] Egyp∣tian beanes, &c.
Smiling bearefoote.
The litle goate themselues shall be take [them] home [or bring backe [themselues] home, referent [se] do∣mum.
Or the litle goates shall bring home their vdders [or dugs or teates] stret∣••ed out with milke [or filled with milke.
Neither shall the heards of cattell feare, &c.
Fierce or cruell Lions.]
Great Lions, [viz.
The cradles themselues shall powre out to thee fawning [or flattering, viz. sweete] flowers. [That is, in the time of thy infancie shall be all plea∣sant delights.
Also.
Die.
And the deceitfull herbe of venim [or poison] shall die, viz. all euill shall depart, as venimous herbs & serpents.
The rose of Ierusalem [or our La∣dies Rose, or the Grape of Armenia, [viz. all kind of most excellent plants shall spring vp in all countries.
Here Saloninus youth and first yeares are decribed by his studies and acts, and in it a second degree of the golden age by the adiuncts of it, viz. a∣bundance of all good things.
Commonly.
* But as soone as th•• shalt be able now to reade the praises of noble men, [viz. men noble for the loue of vertue, which were reputed halfe Gods.
And the deeds of thy parent, [viz. his renowned acts.
To vnderstand true and heauenly vertue.
Vertue.
Campu•• pro arisr•• campi flaues••ent. Hy∣pallage.
The tender eares of corne shall wax yellow in the fields by litle and litle of their owne accord.
With the soft beard of corne. The beard being put for the eare in the corne, and so for the whole corne, and finally for many cornes. Metalepsis.
And the red grape shall hang vpon the great brambles vnhusbanded [or vntrimmed, or not cut] but wilde.
Sen••is is the great blamble or blacke berry bush.
Shall drop.
Dewy hony [viz hony made of the dew of heauen [shall hang vpon the oakes] or hony falling with the dew.
A third degree of the golden age followeth.
Yet a few footsteps of the old de∣ceit [or fraud, or wickednesse] shall be vnder [or continue closely.
Old] viz. of the former ages.
Inforce men to go to sea through co∣uetousnes, or to vse nauigation again.
Thetys a Goddesse of the sea, wise of Nep∣tune, put for the s••a. Met. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Which [prints]
Floatboates or lighters made of peeces of timber pinned together for a shift.
Which [may command] to com∣passe &c.
Which may command to cut in fur∣rowes to the earth, [viz. to plow or tre••h the earth.
Tiphys was a notable shipwright, and gouer∣nour of the ship which caried the noble Gre∣cians into Colchis.
* Then there shall be another Tiphys, &c. [viz. other notable shipwrights and mariners. Syn. spe.
* Argo was a famous ship, wherein Iaso•• and 54 chosen nobles of Greece sailed to Colchis, [here put for other excellent ships.]
New warres.
Great [or worthy] Achilles shall be sent, &c.
There shall be valiant souldiers and renowned warres againe. Syn. spec.
From hence [or afterwards] when [thy] confirmed age [or age confir∣med, viz thy ••iper àge shall make thee a man.
The very carier [by sea] [or ••e that is car••ed.]
Shall giue place to the sea.
Neither the pine tree belonging to ships [or seruing to make ships] shall change her wares.
Al. The conquerour by sea.
Euery earth shall beare [or bring forth] all things▪ viz all things shall grow euery where abundantly.
Na••tiça pinus pro ••aui, nauis pro nautis. Metalepsis.
Suffer or endure.
Harrowes, [viz. rakes, or any thing wherewith the cl••ds are broken.]
The vineyard [shall] not [suffer] the hooke, viz the vinehooke.
Strong or lastie pl••wer [or hus∣band man.]
The wooll shall learne to lie [viz. to make shew of, or be coloured into] diuers colours, that is, it shall not need to be died.
N••w [or one while] shall change his fleeces with [or into] a purple co∣lour sweetly red: now [or another while] he shall change 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fleeces] with a saffarnish [or saffron colou∣red] yellow.
Shall vnyoke his buls [or oxen] viz shall leaue off his husbandrie, for that there shall be no need thereof.
L••tum is an herbe wherewith yellow is died: some take it for the marsh marigold.
Murex is a shel-fish, of the licour whereof purple is made, here put for the purple co∣lour it selfe.
Cro••o luto for luteo ••roco.
A fine red colour shall adorne [or beautifie] of it owne accord the fee∣ding lambes, viz. the sheepe shall change their colours of their owne ac∣cord.
Sand•• is a colour called Pa••se-red or Arsenick, made of Ce∣ruse or white lead and rudd••e, taken here for an herbe.
Parcae are the three Ladies of destinie, Clo∣tho, Lachesis and Atro∣pos, whereof the first is said to beare the distaff▪ the second to spin the thread of mans life, the third to cut off the same thread, according to that verse▪
Fert Clotho ipsa colum, Lachesis net, at Atropos occat.
Called Parcae, à non parcendo, quia nomini parcant; or a par••u, qua••i partae, because they conferre good or euill to them that are borne. They are said to be three, as there are three times, viz past, present, to come; or three prin∣cipall ages, childhood or youth, middle age, and old age, in which they cut off mans life.
The three Ladies of destinie, or the Goddesses of life.
Diuine power.
Haue said.
Spin ye, or draw ye out.
Such ages.
Oh the renowned sonne of Iupiter.
Vndertake [or take in hand] [thy] great honours.
The time [ordained] will be pre∣sent now.
Nodding, [viz. staggering, or in∣clining as readie to fall] with a weight bending downeward, [that is, with the present euils.]
Earths or lands.
The tracts [or coasts] of the sea.
Deepe or profound.
Time.
About to come [or now comming] by thee, or with thee.]
Oh that I might liue so long.
And how much breath, [viz. so much breath as] shall be enough [or suffice] to tell thy deeds.
Neither the Thracian Orpheus shall ouercome me in verses, [viz. in setting forth thy praises.
Orpheus an ancient Poet, and very cunning on the harpe: sonne to Apollo and Calliope, who as the Poets report, could by his excellent musick draw the wilde beasts, woods & moun∣taines after him, mea∣ning that by his elo∣quence he could per∣swade all sorts.
Neither Linus, although [his] mother [be present] to this, viz. to Orpheus, and the father [be presens] to this [viz. to Linus.
Linus a most anci∣ent Thebane Poet, son to Apollo and Vrania.
Though Calliope one of the nine Muses, mother of Orpheus were pre∣sent to helpe him, and glorious Apollo the father of Linus were present to assist him likewise.
Yea though Pan the God of the sheepheards and first inuenter of the rurall verse.
Should striue with me [in verse.]
Archadia [the country where Pan is worshipped, put for the Archadians who were excellent musicians.
Oh litle boy begin to know [viz to acknowledge] thy mother by laugh∣ing, [viz. by smiling at her, [so to comfort her after her wearinesse and paine.
Thy mother hath endured ten mo∣neths wearinesse in going with child with thee.
Lothsomnesse, as in lothing meate or drinke.
To [thy] mother.
Begin to comfort thy parents by smiling at them.
[For] neither the God [Genius] hath vouchsafed] him [his table, nor the Goddesse [Iuno] hath accounted [him] worthy of [her] bed, at whom [his] parents haue not laughed [or smiled.]
The heathen•• ascri bed their pleasures and delights in feasting and belly cheare vnto Ge∣nius, whom they made the God thereof: and the preseruation of chil dren in their birth and ••nfancie, vnto Iuno, and likewise the mariage bed. Whence, as the most learned think, by the God here is meant Genius, & by the God∣desse Iuno: That nei ther of thē vouchsafed the childe a••y fauour, because he liued not long after he was born. Whereupon also some thinke that these two verses were added by Virgil after the death of the child: and that God suffred him not to liue, because the Poet, of so great authoritie, had turned and applied that to this child, viz. to Sa∣lonin•• Pollio's sonne, which Sibyl had pro∣ph••d concerning Christ the Son of God.