Forms: 6–8 eglog(ue, (6, 9 æglogue, -ge), 6– eclogue. [ad. L. ecloga, a. Gr. ἐκλογή selection, f. ἐκλέγειν to select.
The spelling æglogue (med.L. ægloga, Fr. églogue) was associated with a fanciful derivation from αἴξ, αἱγ-ός goat (as if ‘discourse of goatherds’).]
1. A short poem of any kind, esp. a pastoral dialogue, such as Virgil’s Bucolics.
1514. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (heading), The fyfte Eglog of Alexandre Barclay of the Cytizen & Uplondyshman.
1579. E. K., in Spenser’s Sheph. Cal., Gen. Arg. § 2. They be not termed Eclogues.
1591. Florio, 2nd Fruites, Ep. Ded. 1. Some … deuising how to … blanche their passions with æglogues, songs and sonnets.
1605. Camden, Rem., 172. His meaning might be perceyved out of the last Eglogue of Virgill.
1704. Pope, Disc. Past. Poetry, 55. It is not sufficient that the sentences only be brief, the whole Eclogue should be so too.
1876. Green, Short Hist., i. § 4 (1882), 37. A little eclogue descriptive of the approach of spring.
¶ 2. Erroneously for: Conversation, discourse.
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Eglogue, a talking together.
a. 1670. Hacket, Cent. Serm. (1675), 288. The Shepherds in the Eclogue which they had together about going to Bethlem to find Christ, use this speech.
3. attrib., also eclogue-wise adv., as in an eclogue.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia (1613), 219. Which gaue occasion to Histor and Damon … to present Basilius with some other of their complaints Eclogue-wise. Ibid., 388. In eclogue wise.
Hence Ecloguey a. nonce-wd., pertaining to, or of the nature of, an eclogue or pastoral poem.
18[?]. Barnes, Poems Dorset Dial. They poems … fill my heart wi’ … The most ecloguey thoughts they do!
