This paper deals with Rufinus' translation of chapter 9 from Gregory of Nazianzus' second Oration and reaches some innovative conclusions about his translation techniques. In or. 2,9, in order to demonstrate the assumption that grazing animal is different from leading souls, the Cappadocian delved into the shepherd' s life and its duties, drawing basically from Theocritus' poetry. As true to its Vorlage as it might appear at first sight, Rufinus' version of the oration bears nonetheless the typical marks of Roman literary translation: explicative additions, more vivid and tangible descriptions, a moralistic attitude, enriching allusions to auctores of renown. In this respect, whereas Gregory alludes to Theocritus as his primary source, Rufinus depends on Virgil' s works, especially the Bucolica and Georgica, which he reads along the lines of ancient Virgilian exegesis as taught in the school of Donatus and then transmitted to us by Servius and Servius Danielinus. In addition to this, Rufinus aims at emphasizing the shepherd' s care for the flock, thus betraying the influences of both the text of the Gospels and the representation of the Good Shepherd in the mosaics of the Aquileia Basilica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]