Proem

Near-synonyms: foretale, prologue; see also Thesaurus:foreword

Thus much may serve by way of proem; / Proceed we therefore to our poem.

The natural coherence and connection of the proem with the account of our Saviour's ministry, lead us to adopt this explication, which is pertinent and consistent.

On our first reading, we obviously cannot know of the role that Aristaeus will play at the end of the work, but when we do encounter him there, we should remember his appearance in the proem: a clear link between the georgic and the pastoral […]