Book 10
1.55
The subject chosen by Aratus is lifeless and monotonous, affording no scope for pathos, description of character, or eloquent speeches. However, he is adequate for the task to which he felt himself equal. Theocritus is admirable in his own way, but the rustic and pastoral muse shrinks not merely from the forum, but from town-life of every kind.
1.56
I think I hear my readers on all sides suggesting the names of hosts of other poets. What? Did not Pisandros A Rhodian poet of the seventh century B.C. tell the story of Hercules in admirable style? Were there not good reasons for Virgil and Macer taking Nicander Nicander of Colophon (second century B.C.), author of didactic poems, Theriaca and Alexipharmaca and Metamorphoses ( ἑτεροιούμενα ). Virgil imitated him in the Georgics, Aenilius Macer, the friend of Ovid, in his Theriaca. as a model? Are we to ignore Euphorion? Euphorion of Chalcis (220 B.C. ) wrote elaborate short epics. See Ecl. x. 50. The words are, however, put into the mouth of Gallus with reference to his own imitations of Euphorion. Unless Virgil had admired him, he would never have mentioned verses written in Chalcidic strain in the Eclogues. Again, had Horace no justification for coupling the name of Tyrtacus See Hor. A. P. 401. Tyrtaeus, writer of war songs (seventh century B.C.). with that of Homer?
