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For example, when very recently the Bucolics of Theocritus and Virgil were being read together at table, we perceived that Virgil had omitted something that in the Greek is, to be sure, wonderfully pleasing, but neither could nor ought to have been translated. But what he has substituted for that omission is almost more charming and graceful. Theocritus writes: Idyls v. 88 f; the translation is that of Edmonds, L.C.L. But when her goatherd boy goes by you should see my Cleärist Fling apples, and her pretty lips call pouting to be kissed. Virgil has: Ed. iii. 64 ff., translation by Dryden. My Phyllis me with pelted apples plies, Then tripping to the woods the wanton hies, And wishes to be seen before she flies. Also in another place I notice that what was very sweet in the Greek was prudently omitted. Theocritus writes: Idyis iii. 3 ff. O Tityrus, well-belovéd, feed my goats, And lead them to the fount, good Tityrus; But 'ware yon buck-goat yellow, lest he butt. But how could Virgil reproduce to\ kalo\n pefilhme/ne (well-beloved), words that, by Heaven! defy translation, but have a certain native charm? He therefore omitted that expression and translated the rest very cleverly, except in using caper for Theocritus' e)no/rxas; for, according to Marcus Varro, Fr. 104, G. & S. a goat is called caper in Latin only after he has been castrated. Virgil's version is: Ecl. ix. 23. Till I return—not long—feed thou my goats; Then, Tityrus, give them drink, but as you go, Avoid the buck-goat's horn—the fellow butts'
