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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Boxing.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Boxing.
—Forthwith uprises stern,
Dares: and with the Murmur of the Croud,
Rears his rough Visage, and prodigious Strength:
Shews his broad Shoulders, his Alternate Arms
Protends, and in mock Duel beats the Air.
For him a Match is sought: nor dares ev'n One
From all that vast Assembly to approach
The Challenger, or arm his Hands for Fight.
Acestes then Entellus thus upbraids:
Entellus, bravest Hero once in vain,
Where is our Eryx, vainly boasted God,
Your Master? Where your Fame thro' all this Isle
Renown'd? And Trophies hanging round your Roof?
To whom Entellus; 'Tis not that the Love
Of Praise and Glory has my Breast thro' Fear
Abandon'd; But my Blood by freezing Age
Is cold, retarded: And my Strength benumb'd
Within my sapless Trunk.—This said, He flings
Into the Midst two Gauntlets huge, of Weight
Enormous: Those which warlike Eryx wore
In Fight, and whose stiff Leather brac'd his Arms.
Amaz'd were All: so vast the sev'n tough Hides
Of Bulls, with Lead and Iron sewn between:
But more than all the rest, the Champion's Self,
Dares, aghast, and at a Distance stands,
Refusing.—Him thus the aged Sire bespeaks:
If Trojan Dares thinks these Arms unequal,
Let Us have due Proportion in the Strife.
—Thus he spoke:
And from his Shoulders flings his double Vest,
Strips his huge Limbs, huge Bones, and brawny Arms:
And in the Midst with mighty Stature stands.—
Then Prince Æneas equal Gauntlets brings,
And binds the Wrists of both with equal Weight.
Dares: and with the Murmur of the Croud,
Rears his rough Visage, and prodigious Strength:
Shews his broad Shoulders, his Alternate Arms
Protends, and in mock Duel beats the Air.
127
From all that vast Assembly to approach
The Challenger, or arm his Hands for Fight.
Acestes then Entellus thus upbraids:
Entellus, bravest Hero once in vain,
Where is our Eryx, vainly boasted God,
Your Master? Where your Fame thro' all this Isle
Renown'd? And Trophies hanging round your Roof?
To whom Entellus; 'Tis not that the Love
Of Praise and Glory has my Breast thro' Fear
Abandon'd; But my Blood by freezing Age
Is cold, retarded: And my Strength benumb'd
Within my sapless Trunk.—This said, He flings
Into the Midst two Gauntlets huge, of Weight
Enormous: Those which warlike Eryx wore
In Fight, and whose stiff Leather brac'd his Arms.
Amaz'd were All: so vast the sev'n tough Hides
Of Bulls, with Lead and Iron sewn between:
But more than all the rest, the Champion's Self,
Dares, aghast, and at a Distance stands,
Refusing.—Him thus the aged Sire bespeaks:
If Trojan Dares thinks these Arms unequal,
Let Us have due Proportion in the Strife.
—Thus he spoke:
And from his Shoulders flings his double Vest,
Strips his huge Limbs, huge Bones, and brawny Arms:
And in the Midst with mighty Stature stands.—
Then Prince Æneas equal Gauntlets brings,
And binds the Wrists of both with equal Weight.
Forthwith, erect, and high upon their Toes,
Both stand, and fearless raise their Arms in Air:
Lean back their lofty Heads, to shun the Stroke,
Mix Hands with Hands, and irritate the Fight.
The One excelling in his nimble Feet,
And confident in Youth: The Other strong
In Limbs, and Bulk: but slow with trembling Knees
He staggers, and the panting Labour shakes
His huge-built Trunk. In vain repeated Wounds
They aim alternate: On their hollow Flanks
The Strokes redoubled ring: Their throbbing Breasts
Are batter'd with loud Noise: The bandy'd Blows
Err round their Ears and Temples: And beneath
The rigid Lead their cracking Jaws resound.
Both stand, and fearless raise their Arms in Air:
Lean back their lofty Heads, to shun the Stroke,
Mix Hands with Hands, and irritate the Fight.
The One excelling in his nimble Feet,
And confident in Youth: The Other strong
In Limbs, and Bulk: but slow with trembling Knees
He staggers, and the panting Labour shakes
His huge-built Trunk. In vain repeated Wounds
129
The Strokes redoubled ring: Their throbbing Breasts
Are batter'd with loud Noise: The bandy'd Blows
Err round their Ears and Temples: And beneath
The rigid Lead their cracking Jaws resound.
Firm by his Weight, in one fix'd Posture stands
Entellus: With his Body and quick Eyes
Alone, eluding his Assailant's Strokes.
He, like a Warrior, who some lofty Town
Assaults by Storm; or under Arms besets
A Castle on a Hill, now These, now Those
Approaches tries, the Place all round with Art
Exploring: and with various Efforts vain
Urges his Foe.—Entellus shews his Arm
Rais'd high: The Other swift foresees the Blow
Descending from his Head, and nimbly slips
Aside: Entellus on the empty Air
Loses his Strength, and heavy to the Ground
Falls with vast Weight.—
Heav'n rings with Shouts. But, not at all dismay'd,
Nor by his Fall retarded, to the Fight
The Hero with redoubled Force returns:
Rouses his Strength with Rage: Shame fires his Soul,
And conscious Worth: O'er all the Field he drives
Dares precipitate: now with the Right,
Now with the Left, reit'rating his Blows:
Nor Pause, nor Respite. Thick as Hail in Storms
Rattles on Roofs, with such repeated Strokes,
This Way, and That, the Hero with both Hands
Buffets his Foe: and turns, and whirls him round.
Entellus: With his Body and quick Eyes
Alone, eluding his Assailant's Strokes.
He, like a Warrior, who some lofty Town
Assaults by Storm; or under Arms besets
A Castle on a Hill, now These, now Those
Approaches tries, the Place all round with Art
Exploring: and with various Efforts vain
Urges his Foe.—Entellus shews his Arm
Rais'd high: The Other swift foresees the Blow
Descending from his Head, and nimbly slips
Aside: Entellus on the empty Air
Loses his Strength, and heavy to the Ground
Falls with vast Weight.—
Heav'n rings with Shouts. But, not at all dismay'd,
Nor by his Fall retarded, to the Fight
The Hero with redoubled Force returns:
Rouses his Strength with Rage: Shame fires his Soul,
And conscious Worth: O'er all the Field he drives
Dares precipitate: now with the Right,
Now with the Left, reit'rating his Blows:
Nor Pause, nor Respite. Thick as Hail in Storms
Rattles on Roofs, with such repeated Strokes,
This Way, and That, the Hero with both Hands
Buffets his Foe: and turns, and whirls him round.
Then Prince Æneas could no longer bear
Such Fury to proceed, but ends the Fight,
And rescues fainting Dares—
—Him, with tott'ring Pace
Trailing his Legs along, on either Side
Swagging his Head, and belching from his Throat
Thick Clots of Gore, and Teeth commix'd with Blood,
His Mates, officious to their vanquish'd Friend,
Lead—
Such Fury to proceed, but ends the Fight,
And rescues fainting Dares—
—Him, with tott'ring Pace
Trailing his Legs along, on either Side
Swagging his Head, and belching from his Throat
Thick Clots of Gore, and Teeth commix'd with Blood,
His Mates, officious to their vanquish'd Friend,
Lead—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |