Oaten Reeds and Trumpets: Pastoral and Epic in Virgil, Spenser, and Milton

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Bucknell University Press, 1981 - Literary Criticism - 287 pages
Thorough study of the essential interdependence of the pastoral and epic genres. Proceeds historically from Virgil tracing the evolution of the heroic toward the increasing accommodation of the pastoral. Establishes principles for interpreting the works of major poets who set out to resolve the tensions between imagination and reality, contemplation and action, poetry and prophecy.

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Contents

Virgil
17
The Eclogues
20
The Georgics
35
The Aeneid
43
Spenser and the Pastoral
55
The Shepheardes Calender
59
The Faerie Queene
89
Miltons Pastoral Poetry
134
Milton and the Epic Tradition
186
Miltonic Variations on the Pastoral
191
Perspectives and Pastoral Modes
209
Creation as Pastoral
220
Paradise Lost II
228
Judgment and the Georgic
244
History and the Return of the Epic
249
The ShepherdHero
260

On the Morning of Christs Nativity
135
LAllegro and II Penseroso
146
Arcades
154
A Mask Presented at Ludlow Castle
158
Lycidas
173
Paradise Lost I
185
The Transformation of the Pastoral
264
Notes
269
List of Works Cited
276
Index
282
Copyright

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Page 216 - But neither breath of Morn when she ascends With charm of earliest Birds, nor rising Sun On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, flow'r, Glist'ring with dew, nor fragrance after showers, Nor grateful Ev'ning mild, nor silent Night With this her solemn Bird, nor walk by Moon Or glittering Star-light without thee is sweet.
Page 229 - her loveliness, ... so absolute she seems And in herself complete, so well to know Her own, that what she wills to do or say, Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best; All higher knowledge in her presence falls Degraded, Wisdom in discourse with her Loses discount'nanc't, and like folly shows; Authority and Reason on her wait.
Page 181 - The glowing Violet, The Musk-rose, and the well-attir'd Woodbine, With Cowslips wan that hang the pensive head, And every flower that sad embroidery wears; Bid Amaranthus all his beauty shed, And Daffadillies fill their cups with tears, To strew the Laureate Hearse where Lycid lies.
Page 253 - O flow'rs That never will in other Climate grow, My early visitation, and my last At Ev'n, which I bred up with tender hand From the first op'ning bud, and gave ye Names, Who now shall rear ye to the Sun, or rank Your Tribes, and water from th
Page 136 - The lonely mountains o'er And the resounding shore, A voice of weeping heard, and loud lament; From haunted spring and dale Edg'd with poplar pale, The parting Genius is with sighing sent; With flow'r-inwov'n tresses torn The Nymphs in twilight shade of tangled thickets mourn.
Page 250 - Must I thus leave thee Paradise? thus leave Thee Native Soil, these happy Walks and Shades, Fit haunt of Gods? where I had hope to spend, Quiet though sad, the respite of that day That must be mortal to us both.
Page 152 - flow'rs, and hear Such strains as would have won the ear Of Pluto, to have quite set free His half-regain'd Eurydice. These delights if thou canst give Mirth, with thee I mean to live.
Page 253 - Whom thus the Angel interrupted mild. Lament not Eve, but patiently resign What justly thou hast lost; nor set thy heart, Thus over-fond, on that which is not thine; Thy going is not lonely, with thee goes Thy Husband, him to follow thou art bound; Where he abides, think there thy native soil.

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