Gallus and Alfenus Varus must have been a “bread and butter” poem written in gratitude for value received.  Of the close literary associations of the time they seem to be unaware.  To suit such purposes Pollio[1] is at times made governor of Cisalpine Gaul, and at times placed on the commission to colonize Cremona, Alfenus is made Pollio’s “successor” in a province that does not exist, and Gallus is also made a colonial commissioner.  If, however, we examine these statements in the light of facts provided by independent sources we shall find that the whole structure based upon the subjective inferences of the scholiasts falls to the ground.

[Footnote 1:  See Diehl, Vitae Vergilianae, pp. 51 ff.]

We must first follow Pollio’s career through this period.  When the triumvirate was formed in 43, Pollio was made Antony’s legatus in Cisalpine Gaul and promised the consulship for the year 40.[2] After Philippi, however, in the autumn of 42, Cisalpine Gaul was declared a part of Italy and, therefore, fell out of Pollio’s control.[3] Nevertheless, he was not deprived of a command for the year remaining before his consulship (41 B.C.), but was permitted to withdraw to the upper end of the Adriatic with his army of seven legions.[4] His duty was doubtless to guard the low Venetian coast against the remnants of the republican forces still on the high seas, and, if he had time, to subdue the Illyrian tribes friendly to the republican cause.[5] During this year, in which Octavian had to besiege Lucius Antony at Perusia, Pollio, a legatus of Mark Antony, was naturally not on good terms with Octavian, and could hardly have used any influence in behalf of Vergil or any one else.  After the Perusine war he joined Antony at Brundisium in the spring of 40, and acted as his spokesman at the conference which led to the momentous treaty of peace.  We may, therefore, safely conclude that Pollio was neither governor nor colonial commissioner in Cisalpine Gaul when Cremona and Mantua were disturbed, nor could he have been on such terms with Octavian as to use his influence in behalf of Vergil.  The eighth and fourth Eclogues which do honor to him, seem to have nothing whatever to do with material favors.  They doubtless owe their origin to Pollio’s position as a poet, and Pollio’s interest in young men of letters.

[Footnote 2:  Appian, IV. 2 and V. 22.]

[Footnote 3:  Appian, V. 3 and V. 22.]

[Footnote 4:  Velleius Paterculus, II. 76.2; Macrobius, Sat.  I. XI. 22]

[Footnote 5:  A task which he performed in 39.]

With regard to Alfenus and Gallus, the scholiasts remained somewhat nearer the truth, for they had at hand a speech of Callus criticizing the former for his behavior at Mantua.  By quoting the precise words of this speech Servius[6] has provided us with a solid criterion for accepting what is consistent in the statements of Vergil’s earlier biographers and eliminating some conjectures.  The passage