Deductum dicere carmen: nota a Verg. ecl. 6,5

This work focuses on the fifth line of Vergil’s 6th eclogue and on the well-known expression ‘deductum dicere carmen’, which has usually been translated as ‘to sing a thin song’ mostly referring to the metaphoric interpretation offered by Servius, which connects the expression with ‘spinning wool’. However, if considered within its context (particularly, deductum in opposition with pinguis and interacting with dicere carmen) and by examining later occurrences (especially Ov. met. 1,1-4), the whole expression has to be considered as a wider meta-poetic statement.