The Pastorals of Vergil: A Verse Translation of the Eclogues

This the original University of Kansas, Lawrence printing (copyright 1960) of Jeffrey Johnson’s verse translation of The Eclogues (also known as ‘The Pastorals’). Written by the Roman poet Virgil (also spelled ‘Vergel’) in the 1st century BC. Though Virgil is best known for his epic poem, The Aeneid’, ‘The Eclogues’ were Virgil’s first published works and were extremely well received. They launched the career of the author, Virgil, who came to be regarded by the Romans as their greatest poet; an estimation that subsequent generations have upheld. Johnson’s important interpretation of ‘The Eclogues’ is a fine scholarly translation, well supported by L.R. Lind’s accompanying commentary notes and excellent background introduction.