The Eclogues of Virgil: A Bilingual Edition [Paperback]

David Ferry (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0374526966 | ISBN-13: 978-0374526962 | Publication Date: June 15, 2000 | Edition: 1st

Virgil's great lyrics, rendered by the acclaimed translator of The Odes of Horace and Gilgamesh

The Eclogues of Virgil gave definitive form to the pastoral mode, and these magically beautiful poems, which were influential in so much subsequent literature, perhaps best exemplify what pastoral can do. "Song replying to song replying to song," touchingly comic, poignantly sad, sublimely joyful, the various music that these shepherds make echoes in scenes of repose and harmony, and of hardship and trouble in work and love.

A bilingual edition, The Eclogues of Virgil includes concise, informative notes and an Introduction that describes the fundamental role of this deeply original book in the pastoral tradition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mr. Ferry is a gifted poet and much-admired translator . . . Those to whom the original is a sealed book will enjoy much of its charm through the medium of the author's accomplished translation, while those who, like Shakespeare, have 'small Latin' can experience the additional pleasure of savoring, with Mr. Ferry's help, the musical perfection of Virgil's lines."--Bernard Knox, The Washington Times

"Ferry has achieved a high degree of fidelity to what Virgil wrote . . . Simple, luminous clarity."--Richard Jenkyns, The New Republic

"Fresh-minted and sparkling . . . Ferry's translation wonderfully preserves the exquisite harmonies of the mode while giving it a vigorous edge of reality."--Robert Taylor, The Boston Globe

Language Notes

Text: English, Latin (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 1st edition (June 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374526966
• ISBN-13: 978-0374526962
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #605,267 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Poetic interpretation, September 5, 2009

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katyred (Durham, CT) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Eclogues of Virgil: A Bilingual Edition (Paperback)

A lovely poetic interpretation of the Eclogues, but remember that it is a poetical interpretation. This is not a literal translation and Ferry takes some liberties with what might be Virgils' intentions to maintain a certain level of poetical language. If one is well acquainted with Virgil's shepherds, Ferry's might seem a little less vivid. I prefer Ferry's translations of Horace as being more dynamic.