this poem, is responsible, through Vergil’s imitations, for the modern notion of the Pastoral.
Let us now return to the life of Theocritus. If, as is generally believed, the Harvest-home is autobiographical, it was written after the author had won some measure of fame—he makes himself say that he is “no match yet awhile for the excellent Sicelidas”—, and the passage about the “strutting cocks of the Muses’ yard” is a reference to Apollonius of Rhodes and his famous controversy with Callimachus, Theocritus declaring his allegiance to the latter, who maintained that the long epic poem was out of date. This controversy in all probability began upon the publication of the first edition of Apollonius’ Argonautica. The date of this is unfortunately disputed, but it can hardly have been earlier than 260. A further shred of biography may perhaps be derived from a consideration of the story of Comatas in relation to the cruel death of Sotades.[1] This brave outspoken poet denounced Ptolemy’s incestuous marriage, and was thrown into prison. After languishing there for a long time he made good his escape, but falling eventually into the hands of an admiral of the Egyptian fleet, was shut up in a leaden vessel and drowned in the sea. This strange method of execution calls for some explanation. One is tempted to think that Sotades was a friend of Theocritus—he was a writer of love-poems of the type ofXII, XXIX, and XXX—, and that after his friend
- ↑ Plut. de Puer Educ. l5, Athen. 14. 621.
