WORLD SOUNDSCAPE PROJECT
SOUND REFERENCES IN LITERATURE



546.

"And I can sing, as once upon a time Theban Amphion used to sing when he was calling home the cows on Attic Aracynthus."

 

Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), The Passionate Shepherd, from the Pastoral Poems (The Eclogues), translated by E.V. Rieu, Penguin Classics, 1949, p. 28.

PLACE: Northern Italy (see also card no.542)

TIME: During Virgil's lifetime, ca. 49 B.C.

CIRCUMSTANCE: reference to a mythical hero (cited in the Odyssey) who as a youth sang to his cows when calling them home.

 

547.

With me beside you in the woods you will learn to sing like Pan. Pan taught us how to join a set of reeds with wax... I have a pipe made of seven hemlock stalks of graded length.

 

Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), The Passionate Shepherd, from the Pastoral Poems (The Eclogues), translated by E.V. Rieu, Penguin Classics, 1949, p. 28.

PLACE: Northern Italy (see also card no.542)

TIME: During Virgil's lifetime, ca. 49 B.C.

CIRCUMSTANCE: Pan, patron of shepherds and inventor of the reed-pipe

 

548.

Menaleas. What can the farmers do, when thieves become so bold? Did I not see you sneaking up to cut off one of Damon's goats? And when his mongrel barked and I called out, "Tityrus, what is that villain after now? Better round up your flock," there you were, skulking in the rushes.

Damoetas. Hadn't I beaten Damon in a match? Hadn't my pipe and singing won me a goat from him?

 

Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), The Pastoral Poems (The Eclogues), Are these Meliboeus' Sheep?, translated by E.V. Rieu, Penguin Classics, 1949, p. 33.

PLACE: Northern Italy (see also card no.542)

TIME: During Virgil's lifetime, ca. 49 B.C.

CIRCUMSTANCE: A dog barks a warning. Reference to a singing contest.

 

549.

I don't believe you ever owned a set of reed-pipes joined with wax. All you were good for was to stand at the crossroads and scrape a miserable tune out of one squeaking straw.

 

Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), The Pastoral Poems (The Eclogues), Are these Meliboeus' Sheep?, translated by E.V. Rieu, Penguin Classics, 1949, p. 34.

PLACE: Northern Italy (see also card no.542)

TIME: During Virgil's lifetime, ca. 49 B.C.

CIRCUMSTANCE: reference to reed-pipe playing.


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