There are two characters in this 9th idyll, The first speaker is Menalcas, and he invokes Daphnis to sing a country song. Dialogue says; let the cows run free, let the ox run with the heifers (sexual content). May they all be well fed, but you come here and sing me your song.
Daphnis sings: about the sweetness of songs, Menalcas takes over the song, both are singing principally about rural life; living at the base of Etna; they don’t care about the possibility of winter storms, they are so happy in their rural existence. At the close of the song the original speaker presents the shepherds with a gift each, Daphnis with a club, and Menalcas with a conch shell. Then the speaker sings a song. There is one really nice part of his song where the speaker claims that songs are his home away from home, and so offer him comfort.
Other than this though, this idyll is lacking the double plots of pervious and later idylls, and seems subjectively much more simple. The narrator judges the two poets equal, presenting both with a gift, so there is no discrepancy between speakers, and he sings a six line song praising their efforts. It has been said that the idyll is simply a poor imitation of Idyll 8, which is richer in content and subject. This idyll is even omitted from the Oxford collection of Theocritus’ Idylls.
Whoever you are, can you please sign this piece (or add your name in the comments) -- otherwise I don't know who the author is!
ReplyDeleteThis is brief, and could usefully be expanded -- because you touch on some interesting points. What do you mean by 'sexual content'? Can you be more specific, for instance provide some close reading and analysis, of the text? (Saying 'there is one really nice part of his song' is hopelessly vague). Why do you think this Idyll was omitted from the Oxford Theocritus?