Medulla Poetarum Romanorum Or, the Most Beautiful and Instructive Passages of the Roman Poets. Being a Collection, (Disposed under proper Heads,) Of such Descriptions, Allusions, Comparisons, Characters, and Sentiments, as may best serve to shew the Religion, Learning, Politicks, Arts, Customs, Opinions, Manners, and Circumstances of the Antients. With Translations of the same in English Verse. By Mr. Henry Baker |
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Venus.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Venus.
Delight of Human Kind, and Gods above,
Parent of Rome, propitious Queen of Love!
Whose vital Pow'r, Air, Earth, and Sea, supplies:
And breeds whate'er is born beneath the rolling Skies.
For ev'ry Kind, by thy prolific Might,
Springs, and beholds the Regions of the Light.
Thee, Goddess! Thee, the Clouds and Tempests fear,
And at thy pleasing Presence disappear:
For Thee the Land in fragrant Flow'rs is drest,
For Thee the Ocean smiles, and smooths her wavy Breast,
And Heav'n itself with more serene and purer Light is blest.
For when the rising Spring adorns the Mead,
And a new Scene of Nature stands display'd,
When teeming Birds, and chearful Greens appear,
And western Gales unlock the lazy Year,
The joyous Birds thy Welcome first express,
Whose native Songs thy genial Pow'r confess:
Then savage Beasts bound o'er their slighted Food,
Struck with thy Darts, and tempt the raging Flood.
All Nature is thy Gift, Earth, Air, and Sea;
Of All that breathes the various Progeny,
Stung with Delight, is goaded on by Thee.
O'er barren Mountains, o'er the flow'ry Plain,
The leafy Forests, and the liquid Main,
Extends thy uncontroul'd and boundless Reign.
Thro' all the living Regions Thou dost move,
And scatter'st, where Thou go'st, the kindly Seeds of Love.—
Parent of Rome, propitious Queen of Love!
Whose vital Pow'r, Air, Earth, and Sea, supplies:
And breeds whate'er is born beneath the rolling Skies.
For ev'ry Kind, by thy prolific Might,
Springs, and beholds the Regions of the Light.
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And at thy pleasing Presence disappear:
For Thee the Land in fragrant Flow'rs is drest,
For Thee the Ocean smiles, and smooths her wavy Breast,
And Heav'n itself with more serene and purer Light is blest.
For when the rising Spring adorns the Mead,
And a new Scene of Nature stands display'd,
When teeming Birds, and chearful Greens appear,
And western Gales unlock the lazy Year,
The joyous Birds thy Welcome first express,
Whose native Songs thy genial Pow'r confess:
Then savage Beasts bound o'er their slighted Food,
Struck with thy Darts, and tempt the raging Flood.
All Nature is thy Gift, Earth, Air, and Sea;
Of All that breathes the various Progeny,
Stung with Delight, is goaded on by Thee.
O'er barren Mountains, o'er the flow'ry Plain,
The leafy Forests, and the liquid Main,
Extends thy uncontroul'd and boundless Reign.
Thro' all the living Regions Thou dost move,
And scatter'st, where Thou go'st, the kindly Seeds of Love.—
She said: And, as she turn'd, her rosy Neck
Shone bright: Her Hair a Fragancy divine
Ambrosial breath'd: Down flows her waving Robe,
And by her Walk the Goddess moves confess'd.—
Shone bright: Her Hair a Fragancy divine
Ambrosial breath'd: Down flows her waving Robe,
And by her Walk the Goddess moves confess'd.—
But Venus, as they went, around them threw
A cloudy Mantle, made of Air condens'd:
Herself to Paphos goes sublime, and pleas'd
Visits her Seat: where sacred to her stands
A Temple: With Sabæan Incense smoke
An hundred Altars, and fresh Garlands breath.—
A cloudy Mantle, made of Air condens'd:
Herself to Paphos goes sublime, and pleas'd
Visits her Seat: where sacred to her stands
A Temple: With Sabæan Incense smoke
An hundred Altars, and fresh Garlands breath.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |