Conversing with Virgil in the 19th Century. A Testimony of the Reception of Eclogue V in La Moda (Argentina, 1837-1838)

Abstract

On 10th March 1838, an article entitled “La conversación” (The Conversation) and attributed to Juan María Gutiérrez; was published in La Moda. Gacetín semanal de Música, de Poesía, de Literatura, de Costumbres (La Moda. A Newsletter on Music, Poetry, Literature and Traditions). To illustrate the virtues and features of conversation, Juan María Gutiérrez uses images, comparisons, literary references, and quotations; among these a quote from Virgil stands out. Gutiérrez transcribes a brief passage in Spanish prose without stating the specific source; however, this quotation constitutes, in our opinion, a valuable evidence of the reception of Virgil’s Eclogues in Argentine literature. This paper aims to analyze this passage and the operations that Gutierrez made to recontextualize it.