‘Exercetque frequens tellurem atque imperat arvis,’
and the whole passage i. 118-159. Lucretian science is borrowed in passages like i. 89,
‘Seu pluris calor ille vias et caeca relaxat
spiramenta, novas veniat qua sucus in herbas’;
l. 415-423 (of the habits of birds); iii. 242 sqq. (on the passion of love). Notice also, with Munro, Lucretian phrases like principio, quod superest, his animadversis, nunc age, praeterea, nonne vides, contemplator, genitalia semina.
Political purpose of the Georgics.—The political purpose of the Georgics is to help the policy of Augustus, which aimed at checking the depopulation of the country districts. Cf. i. 498-514, and especially ll. 506-7,
‘Non ullus aratro
dignus honos: squalent abductis arva colonis.’
The Emperor is introduced throughout as the object of veneration. Cf. i. 24-42.
Natural scenery.—Virgil dwells on Nature in her softer aspects. Cf. phrases like ii. 470, ‘mollesque sub arbore somni,’ and the passage ii. 458-540 in praise of a country life. For the praise of Italy see the beautiful passage ii. 136-176, where special districts are mentioned.
Aeneid.—Even before the Eclogues were written, Virgil had meditated the composition of an epic, perhaps, as Servius suggests, on the kings of Alba. Cf. Ecl. 6, 3,
‘Cum canerem reges et proelia, Cynthius aurem
vellit et admonuit: “pastorem, Tityre, pingues
pascere oportet oves, deductum dicere carmen.”’