Virgil, Georgics -- A Verse Translation

This translation presents a vivid new rendition of the Georgics, the second major work of the Roman poet Virgil, completed ca. 29 BC. The poem shows Virgil's mastery of composition on a grander scale than his earlier Eclogues and foreshadows the themes and monumental architecture of his epic Aeneid.Ostensibly an exegesis in verse of first-century-BC Roman practices in agriculture, Virgil's Georgics is also a broader meditation on the human condition, culminating in his sublime telling of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. The poem is rendered here in supple iambic verse that strives to bring the reader close to the experience of the original Latin. A substantial commentary and extensive appendices on Roman material culture and proper names assist the reader in appreciating the Georgics' rich details and allusions.