Ergo tua rura manebunt
“So your fields will remain yours.”
Virgil, Eclogues 1.46
What does “Ergo tua rura manebunt” mean?
Ergo tua rura manebunt translates as “So your fields will remain yours.”
The line expresses relief and gratitude that home and land are secure. It speaks of stability, belonging and the value of one’s own ground.
“Ergo tua rura manebunt” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Ergo | so, therefore | adverb (or conjunction) meaning “therefore, and so”, drawing a conclusion from what came before |
| tua | your | possessive adjective (2nd person singular), neuter plural, agreeing with rura; from tuus, tua, tuum |
| rura | fields, countryside | noun, neuter plural, accusative (object of manebunt), from rus, “the country, farmland” |
| manebunt | they will remain | 3rd person plural future indicative active of maneo, “I stay, remain” |
How to pronounce “Ergo tua rura manebunt”
Both pronunciations sound the same here, since there is no c or g before e or i and no v. Stress falls on the first syllable of ergo, tua and rura, and on the second-to-last syllable of manebunt.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “therefore your fields will remain”. The Latin rura is a plural for “fields, farmland”, so the English “your fields will remain yours” is a natural way to bring out the sense of ownership.
It comes from Virgil’s first Eclogue, a pastoral poem from the 30s BC. Two shepherds talk: Meliboeus is being driven from his land, while Tityrus has been allowed to keep his farm. Meliboeus says the line to Tityrus.
The Eclogues are often read against the land confiscations that followed the Roman civil wars, when farmers lost their holdings. That background gives the line its edge: one man’s relief stands beside another’s loss. Today it is quoted as a plain statement of security and belonging to one’s own ground.
How to use “Ergo tua rura manebunt”
Suits a farm gate, a garden or a housewarming gift, and works as a toast to someone who has finally bought a home or land of their own. It also fits an essay on Virgil, pastoral poetry or land and belonging.
- Latin
- Ergo tua rura manebunt
- English
- So your fields will remain yours.
- Source
- Virgil, Eclogues 1.46
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Nature
Common mistakes
- The line is spoken by Meliboeus, the shepherd who loses his land, not by Tityrus, who keeps his. It is said with some envy, and a little bitterness, as well as admiration.
- Rura is neuter plural, so the adjective must be tua and the verb manebunt. A singular field would need tuum rus manebit.
- To address several people, change tua to vestra: “Ergo vestra rura manebunt”.
- Ergo here means “therefore, and so”. Do not read it as “for the sake of” or confuse it with the English word ergo used as a joke.
Questions about “Ergo tua rura manebunt”
What does “Ergo tua rura manebunt” mean literally?
“So, therefore, your fields will remain.” The word tua means “your” and rura means “fields” or “farmland”, so the English adds “yours” to stress ownership.
Who wrote “Ergo tua rura manebunt”?
The Roman poet Virgil, in his Eclogues, poem 1, line 46. It is spoken by the shepherd Meliboeus to Tityrus.
How do you pronounce “Ergo tua rura manebunt”?
In Classical Latin: ER-goh TOO-ah ROO-rah mah-NEH-boont. The Church pronunciation is identical for this line.
Is “Ergo tua rura manebunt” correct for an inscription?
Yes, the grammar is sound as it stands. If you address more than one person, change tua to vestra.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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