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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Zones.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Zones.
See Embroidery.
Five Zones the Heav'ns infold: with constant SunStill red, still scorch'd in torrid Heat the One:
Round This, on either Hand, wind distant Coasts,
Regions of Storm, and everlasting Frosts.
Betwixt the First, and These, by bounteous Heav'n
To feeble Mortals Two are kindly giv'n:
A-cross them both a Path oblique inclines,
Where in successive Order turn the Signs.—
And, as two equal Zones on either Side,
On Right, and Left, the measur'd Heav'n's divide,
While the Fifth rages with intenser Heat;
So Lines alike this earthly Ball compleat.
The Sun with Rays directly darting down,
Inhabitable makes the Middle Zone:
On Two, eternal Hills of Snow are seen:
And Two, indulgent Heav'n has plac'd between:
545
Temper'd with equal Parts of Heat and Cold.—
The ambient Air does this our Earth surround,
And five Divisions on its Orb are found:
Two Parts thereof in cheerless Regions lye,
Where Frost and Cold eternal fills the Sky:
There sullen Night sits brooding o'er the Ground,
And all with Darkness are invelop'd round.
No living Waters there the Lands divide,
No gentle Streams in mazy Wand'rings glide;
But everlasting Ice the Floods constrains,
And Drifts of Snow o'erspread the dreary Plains:
There never did the Sun diffuse a Ray,
Or give the chearful Promise of a Day.
And five Divisions on its Orb are found:
Two Parts thereof in cheerless Regions lye,
Where Frost and Cold eternal fills the Sky:
There sullen Night sits brooding o'er the Ground,
And all with Darkness are invelop'd round.
No living Waters there the Lands divide,
No gentle Streams in mazy Wand'rings glide;
But everlasting Ice the Floods constrains,
And Drifts of Snow o'erspread the dreary Plains:
There never did the Sun diffuse a Ray,
Or give the chearful Promise of a Day.
The middle Regions feel the scorching Sun,
Whether he nearer brings our Summer on,
Or when he does a swifter Course display,
And in short Circles wheels the wintry Day.
There then the Plough can never be in Use,
No Corn the Fields, nor Herbs the Lands produce:
No God, indulgent, makes the Fields his Care,
Bacchus and Ceres never visit there.
No Cattle there can graze the parch'd-up Ground,
There nothing that possesses Life is found.
Whether he nearer brings our Summer on,
Or when he does a swifter Course display,
And in short Circles wheels the wintry Day.
There then the Plough can never be in Use,
No Corn the Fields, nor Herbs the Lands produce:
No God, indulgent, makes the Fields his Care,
Bacchus and Ceres never visit there.
No Cattle there can graze the parch'd-up Ground,
There nothing that possesses Life is found.
Between the freezing Cold, and scorching Heat,
Our temp'rate Zone is plac'd, a happy Seat!
To this oppos'd a fellow Climate lies;
Happy alike the Temper of its Skies.
Here, first, the stubborn Steer to Toil was broke,
And Oxen bent their Necks beneath the Yoke:
Here Vines were taught to climb the neighb'ring Trees,
And annual Harvests gave a large Increase.
Here first the Soil receiv'd the iron Plough,
Here first the Ocean felt the brazen Prow:
Here well-built Towns, and mighty Cities rise,
With stately Walls, and Tow'rs that brave the Skies.—
Our temp'rate Zone is plac'd, a happy Seat!
To this oppos'd a fellow Climate lies;
Happy alike the Temper of its Skies.
Here, first, the stubborn Steer to Toil was broke,
And Oxen bent their Necks beneath the Yoke:
Here Vines were taught to climb the neighb'ring Trees,
And annual Harvests gave a large Increase.
Here first the Soil receiv'd the iron Plough,
Here first the Ocean felt the brazen Prow:
Here well-built Towns, and mighty Cities rise,
With stately Walls, and Tow'rs that brave the Skies.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |