It engages the ancient art of pastoral poetry initiated and made famous by the great Greek poet Theocritus, which was later imitated by Moscus and then finally by the Roman poet Virgil in his celebrated pastoral eclogues.

它沿用了古老的田园诗艺术,田园文学是由希腊伟大诗人忒奥克里托斯创始并发扬开来的，后来为摩斯科斯所模仿，最终,罗马诗人维吉尔的著名田园诗也是模仿的此诗体。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选