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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ÆTNA.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
15
ÆTNA.
—
Ætna
thunders nigh
In dreadful Ruins. With a Whirlwind's Force
Sometimes it throws to Heav'n a pitchy Cloud,
Redden'd with Cinders, and involv'd in Smoke:
And tosses Balls of Flame, and licks the Stars.
Sometimes with loud Explosion high it hurls
The Rocks, and Entrails from the Mountain torn:
With roaring Noise slings molten Stones in Air,
And boils, and bellows, from its lowest Caves.
In dreadful Ruins. With a Whirlwind's Force
Sometimes it throws to Heav'n a pitchy Cloud,
Redden'd with Cinders, and involv'd in Smoke:
And tosses Balls of Flame, and licks the Stars.
Sometimes with loud Explosion high it hurls
The Rocks, and Entrails from the Mountain torn:
With roaring Noise slings molten Stones in Air,
And boils, and bellows, from its lowest Caves.
'Tis said the Bulk of huge Enceladus
Blasted with Lightning, by this pondrous Mount
Is crush'd: and Ætna, o'er him whelm'd, expires
Flame from it's burst Volcanos: and when e'er
He shifts his weary Side, Trinacria all
Groans trembling, and with Smoke obscures the Sky.—
Blasted with Lightning, by this pondrous Mount
Is crush'd: and Ætna, o'er him whelm'd, expires
Flame from it's burst Volcanos: and when e'er
He shifts his weary Side, Trinacria all
Groans trembling, and with Smoke obscures the Sky.—
Far stretching it's burnt Rocks, is Æna found;
Ætna for vanquish'd Gyants still renown'd:
Enceladus's Load; who crush'd beneath,
From his huge Breast does burning Tempests breathe.
Still as the Monster, weary of the Weight,
Exchanges Sides, he shakes the Mountain's Height:
Sicilia heaves, and ev'ry tott'ring Wall
Leans toward the Ground, and meditates a Fall.
It's pointed Summits from afar are shewn,
But are accessible to Sight alone.
While on it's other Parts fresh Greens appear,
And Groves of Trees their shady Branches rear,
No hardy Hind dares turn the sultry Soil
On the high Crown, and cultivate with Toil.
For now black Clouds and Tempests force their Way,
And with their loathsome Pitch pollute the Day:
Now massy Fragments of the shiver'd Stone,
Torn from it's Root, against the Stars are thrown.
Ætna for vanquish'd Gyants still renown'd:
Enceladus's Load; who crush'd beneath,
From his huge Breast does burning Tempests breathe.
Still as the Monster, weary of the Weight,
Exchanges Sides, he shakes the Mountain's Height:
Sicilia heaves, and ev'ry tott'ring Wall
Leans toward the Ground, and meditates a Fall.
It's pointed Summits from afar are shewn,
But are accessible to Sight alone.
While on it's other Parts fresh Greens appear,
And Groves of Trees their shady Branches rear,
No hardy Hind dares turn the sultry Soil
On the high Crown, and cultivate with Toil.
For now black Clouds and Tempests force their Way,
And with their loathsome Pitch pollute the Day:
Now massy Fragments of the shiver'd Stone,
Torn from it's Root, against the Stars are thrown.
But tho' the Burnings rage to such Excess,
Still with the Snows they hold a faithful Peace.
Here hoary Winter does her Seat maintain,
Secure of Thaws, and unmolested reign:
Thick Clouds of Smoke hang o'er the freezing Coast,
And the swift Flames sweep harmless o'er the Frost.
Still with the Snows they hold a faithful Peace.
17
Secure of Thaws, and unmolested reign:
Thick Clouds of Smoke hang o'er the freezing Coast,
And the swift Flames sweep harmless o'er the Frost.
What forceful Engines whirl aloft in Air
The craggy Quarries, and the Mountain tare?
From what strange Source proceeds the burning Stream,
Which on the wasted Vallies spouts the Flame?—
Or in Confinement choak'd, th'imprison'd Wind
Pushes around an open Vent to find,
And, in it's Course resisted by the Rock,
Bursts thro' it's Prison with a mighty Shock:
Or the Sea, ent'ring thro' the sulph'rous Veins,
Boils with the Fires, and on the blasted Plains
Displodes the mingled Ruin: wildly thrown,
The Stones and liquid Flames pour with Destruction down.
The craggy Quarries, and the Mountain tare?
From what strange Source proceeds the burning Stream,
Which on the wasted Vallies spouts the Flame?—
Or in Confinement choak'd, th'imprison'd Wind
Pushes around an open Vent to find,
And, in it's Course resisted by the Rock,
Bursts thro' it's Prison with a mighty Shock:
Or the Sea, ent'ring thro' the sulph'rous Veins,
Boils with the Fires, and on the blasted Plains
Displodes the mingled Ruin: wildly thrown,
The Stones and liquid Flames pour with Destruction down.
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |