Eclogues of Calpurnius Siculus

The Eclogues is a book of Latin poetry attributed to Calpurnius Siculus and inspired by the similarly named poems of the Augustan-age poet Virgil.

The date of writing is disputed. Some scholars argue in favor of a Neronian date (54 – 68 AD), while others arguing for a later date (possibly during the reign of Severus (193 – 211 AD)).

The Eclogues consist of seven separate poems, each written in hexameters:

Goodyear notes that "Calpurnius' book of eclogues has an intentionally patterned structure". Hubbard and others note that, whereas Virgil's Eclogues consists of an even number of poems (10) Calpurnius' Eclogues consists of an odd number of poems (7), enabling the creation of a sense of symmetry. Various symmetries and other patterns in the arrangement of the book have been identified:

Eclogue I is inscribed Delos in certain editions.

Eclogue I takes the form of a short dialogue between two brothers (Corydon and Oryntus), framing an ecphrasis of a poem purportedly written by the god Faunus which takes up 55 of the poem’s 94 lines.

It is a sunny day in summer or early autumn, somewhere in the countryside; Corydon and Oryntus decide to take shade in a nearby grove, sacred to Faunus.

Corydon says that a woman called Leuce has recently been rejecting his sexual advances, and that he is therefore permitted to enter the holy place. Corydon suggests that Oryntus should sing a song and play the pipes, and Corydon explains that has recently been given a reed pipe made by someone called Ladon.

At the grove of Faunus, Oryntus notices that a poem has very recently been inscribed on a sacred beech tree. Oryntus is taller and so Corydon asks him to read out the poem to him.

The poem on the tree purports to be composed by Faunus. He declares the rebirth of a Golden Age, bringing a new era of peace; an end to political corruption; the restoration of law and order and happiness for people all across the world. There is a bright comet in the sky, which presages peace, and the reign of a new Caesar.

Corydon claims to be awestruck and praises Faunus. Oryntus suggests setting the poem to music and disseminating it, via a man called Meliboeus.

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