Eclogues, also known as the Bucolics, is the first of three major works in the epic genre by the Latin poet Virgil. It was written sometime between 42 and 35 B. C.
Taking over the Greek bucolic epic invented by Theocritus, Virgil creates a Roman version partly by offering a dramatic and mythic interpretation of revolutionary change at Rome following Caesar's assassination. The book contains ten pieces called eclogues (i.e. 'drafts' or 'selections') populated by-and-large with herdsmen imagined suffering or embracing revolutionary change and making song in largely rural settings. Performed with great success on the Roman stage, their mix of political vision and erotic scandal made Virgil a celebrity, legendary in his own lifetime.
