Year of the Rhine with an army: it, maft have been with Rome that very army, that Lycoris ran away over the 717. fnows of the Alps, and the frofts of the Rhine (e).

Caefar in the mean time had bufinefs enough to en-
gage himself, and all his friends, in defending the
fea-coaft of Italy against the invafions of Pompey.
Among these it is highly probable, that Gallus was
employed, for we find, that he was detained in
arms at the fame time (f). We have feen already
that the Silenus was begun, at the command of
Varus;
and the Pharmaceutria at that of Pollio.
Thus the tenth Eclogue feems to have been under-
taken, at the request of Gallus. Perhaps he de-
fired Virgil to imitate the firft Idyllium of Theocri-
tus; and the Poet, complying with his direction,
reprefented Gallus himself, as a fhepherd dying for
love, like the Daphnis of the Greek Poet (g).

(e) Tu procul a patria, nec fit mihi credere, tantum
Alpinas, ah dura, nives, et frigora Rheni
Me fine fola vides.
Ibid. ver. 46, 47, 48,

(f) Nunc infanus amor duri me Martis in armis
Tela inter media atque adverfos detinet hoftes.

(g) It will be objected per haps by fome, that a longer time is here affigned for Virgil's occupation in writing the Eclogue, than is confiftent with the faith of Hiftory. Both Donatus and Servius affirm, that the Bucolicks were finished in three years whereas I have fuppofed him to have begun writing before the death of Julius Caefar, and not to have finished them before the year of Rome 717, a fpace of time containing no lefs than feven

Ibid. ver: 44, 45.

years. But both thefe Authors are irreconcileable with each other, and in fome measure with themselves. Donatus fays, that the Bucolicks, on their publication, were fo well received, as to be frequently recited by the fingers on the theatre; and that Cicero himfelf having heard fome of the verfes, called out to have the whole repeated; and when he had heard the whole, cried out in an extafy, that the Author was the fecond great hope of

Rome,

It seems to have been about this time, that Vir- Year of gil began his GEORGICKS; under the patron

"dicio intellexiffet non com-fufficerent, his addidit agros

Rome

717.

Year of age of Maecenas, to whom he dedicated every part Rome of that noble work. Caius Cilnius Maecenas was 717 defcended from the ancient kings of Etruria; whose

pofterity, after many unfuccefsful wars, were at laft incorporated into the Roman State, and admitted into the Equeftrian order. He was an Epicurean, and wrote feveral pieces both in profe and verse, which are now loít. But he is best known as a favourer and patron of learned men, particularly of the two best of the Roman Poets, Virgil and Horace (b). He was high in the favour of Caefar, which probably began about this time: for Virgil does not mention his name in any of the Eclogues; and in the next year, we find, that except a few magiftracies which were continued, the adminiftration of publick affairs in Rome, and all over Italy, was committed to him (i). This wife minifter, having well confidered what difficulties the Romans had lately met with for want of corn; what tu→ mults, and infurrections had been thereby raised

cenas, if he had any share in
recommending the Poet to the
protection of Caefer at that
time, it is ftrange that his name
fhould not be mentioned in any
one Bucolick. We fee how
irreconcileable thefe old Gram-
marians are for if, as they
both agree, Virgil wrote his
Bucolicks in three years; he
muft have finifhed them, ac-
cording to Donatus, not later
than in 714, and according to
Servius, not earlier than 717
or 718. Therefore, if there is
any poffibility of reconciling
them, it muft be by fuppofing
the space of three years to be a
miftake; and that, according

among the populace; and how poorly the lands of Italy, lately divided among the veteran foldiers, would in all probability be cultivated, by those who had known nothing but war and defolation for fo many years; engaged Virgil in writing for their inftruction. The Poet readily undertook the work; and being juft returned with triumph, from the contention with Theocritus; was ready to engage in a new one with the celebrated Hefiod. The love of conqueft was the darling paffion of the Romans: they had long fhewed their fuperiority over other nations in arms: and had been for fome time ftruggling for the maftery alfo in the arts of peace. Cicero had raised the Roman Eloquence to a very great heighth; and Virgil was endeavouring to give as great a reputation to their Poetry. He acknowledges indeed himself, that other nations ex⚫celled the Romans in Statuary, Oratory, and Aftronomy; and mentions the arts of Government as particularly belonging to them (k): but yet he plainly declares, that he aims at gaining a compleat victory over the Greek Poets (/). He was not dif→ appointed; for the Georgicks are univerfally allowed to be the finest Poem of their kind.

(k) Excudent alii fpirantia mollius aera,

Credo equidem: vivos ducent de marmore vultus;
Orabunt caufas melius; caelique meatus
Defcribent radio, et furgentia fidera dicent:
Tu regere imperio populos, Romane, memento:
Hae tibi erunt artes: pacifque imponere morem,
Parcere fubjectis, et debellare fuperbos.

Aen. VI. ver. 847, &c.

Tentanda via eft, qua me quoque paffim

Tollere humo, victorque virum volitare per ora.
Primus ego in patriam mecum, modo vita fuperfit,
Aonio rediens deducam vertice Mufas.

Year of

Rome

717

Georg. III. ver. 7, &c.

€ 2

Agrippa,

Year of Agrippa, being appointed by Caefar, to guard. Rome the fea-coafts against the depredations of Sextus 717 Pompey; fet about the work with great diligence, immediately after his return from Gaul (m). But as there were no ports, where a number of fhips could ride in fecurity; he began and perfected a noble work, which gave fafety to his country, and did honour to himself. Near Cumae, a city of Campania, between Mifenum and Puteoli, was a place formed like a half moon: for it was almoft furrounded by small, bare mountains. Within this compass were three bays; of which the outer one was near the cities, and was called the Tyrrhene bay, as it belonged to the Tyrrhene fea. At a fmall distance within this was the Lucrine bay; and fill farther within land was a third, which had the appearance of a lake, and was called Avernus. Agrippa made a communication of these three waters, repairing the banks, where they had formerly been broken down, ftrengthening them with moles, and leaving only a narrow paffage juft big enough for fhips to enter. This port being thus made convenient and fecure, had the name of the Julian port bestowed on it, in honour of Julius Caefar. This

great work is mentioned by our Poet, in the third Georgick;

An memorem portus, Lucrinoque addita clauftra,
Atque indignatum magnis ftridoribus aequor,
Julia qua ponto longe fonat unda refufo,
Tyrrhenufque fretis immittitur aeftus Avernis.

By these means Agrippa was able to provide a 718. fleet fufficient to keep the fea; and the next year

(m) Dio Caff. lib. 48.

engaging