Note 868 — ROME—AUGUSTUS TO NERO
Reading edition
The futility of addressing rustic readers in polished literary language (diserte) is commented on by Palladius [4th cent AD] in his opening sentences. He has been thought to have in view Columella, who by the by is Vergil’s great admirer. I cannot accept the views of Daubeny in his Lectures pp 3-5. It is possible that the use of fire in improving land may be a bit of Vergil’s own advice, but I doubt it. See Daubeny pp 91-4, georg I 84 foll.