It is apparent that the student still throbs with a desire to become a poet of philosophy, and that he is willing to appease the muses of lighter song only because they insist on returning.  But there is another poem addressed to Messalla that is equally full of personal interest.

Messalla, as we know from Plutarch’s Brutus, drawn partly from the young man’s diary, joined Cassius in Asia, and did noteworthy service in helping his general win the Eastern provinces from the Euxine to Syria for the Republican cause.  Later at Philippi he led the cavalry charge which broke through the triumvirate line and captured Octavius’ camp.  That was the famous first battle of Philippi, prematurely reported in Italy as a decisive victory for the Republican cause.  Three weeks later the forces clashed again and the triumvirs won a complete victory.  Messalla, who had been chosen commander by the defeated remnant, recognized the hopelessness of his position and surrendered to the victors.

Vergil’s ninth Catalepton seems to have been written as a paean in honor of Messalla on receipt of the first incomplete report.  The poem does not by any means imply that Vergil favored Brutus and Cassius or felt any ill-will towards Octavian.  Vergil’s regard for Messalla was clearly a personal matter, and of such a nature that political differences played no part in it.  The poet’s complete silence in the poem about Brutus and Cassius indicates that it is not to any extent the cause which interests him.  Nor can a eulogy of a young republican at this time be considered as implying any ill-will toward Octavian, to whom Vergil was always devoted.  At this early day Antony was still looked upon as the dominating person in the triumvirate, and for him Vergil had no love whatever.  He may, therefore, though a Caesarian and friendly to Octavian, sing the praises of a personal friend who is fighting Antony’s triumvirate.

The ninth Catalepton, like most eulogistic verse thrown off at high speed, has few good lines (indeed it was probably never finished), but it is exceedingly interesting as a document in Vergil’s life.

Since it has generally been placed about fifteen years too late and therefore misunderstood, we must dwell at length on some of its significant details.  The poem can be briefly summarized: 

“A conqueror you come, the great glory of a mighty triumph, a victor on land and sea over barbarian tribes; and yet a poet too.  Some of your verses have found a place in my pages, pastoral songs in which two shepherds lying under the spreading oak sing in honor of your heroine to whom the divinities bring gifts.  The heroine of your song shall be more famous than the themes of Greek song, yes even than the Roman Lucrece for whose honor your sires drove the tyrants out of Rome.”

“Great are the honors that Rome has bestowed upon the liberty-loving (Publicolas) Messallas for that and other deeds.  So I need not sing of your recent exploits:  how you left your home, your son, and the forum, to endure winter’s chill and summer’s heat in warfare on land and sea.  And now you are off to Africa and Spain and beyond the seas.”