The Eclogues

Eclogue 4 marks an abrupt shift in genre, moving from woodland poems to a more elevated topic. “Sicilian Muses,” the speaker says, addressing the goddesses who inspire art and song, “Let us sing a nobler theme. / Orchards and humble tamarisk do not please all” (Lines 104-5).

The speaker claims that the current cosmic age is coming to an end—and a new one will take its place. A “Maiden” will return, marking the “reign of Saturn,” the Roman god of time (Line 6). However, the true catalyst for this new age will be a child, “in whose time the iron race / shall cease and a golden race shall inherit the whole earth” (Lines 8-11). The speaker places the poem in Virgil’s own day, addressing the Roman consul at the time, Pollio, and telling him that this new age will begin in his consulate.

The child will bring back a time when the gods commingled freely with humans (Lines 15-17). The earth itself will bring forth beautiful plants in celebration of the child’s arrival; poisonous plants and animals will die and predators will stop killing their prey (Lines 18-25). As the child grows into a man, so too will agriculture ripen (Lines 25-30).