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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Creation.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Creation.
See Chaos. God.
First, that the Earth might regular appear,
He rounds the Figure to a perfect Sphere:
Then bad the Sea to roll:—and Winds he gave
To swell the Surges of the rising Wave:
The rising Wave commission'd to explore
The compass'd Earth, and bound it with a Shore.
The running Springs he adds, and standing Lakes,
And bounding Banks for winding Rivers makes:
Earth drinks in some; the rest their watry Train
Roll on, and pour their Treasures in the Main:
Where, in their narrow Banks confin'd no more,
They freer rage, and lash the sounding Shore.
He bad the Woods be cloth'd, the Plains extend,
Subside the Vallies, and the Rocks ascend.
He rounds the Figure to a perfect Sphere:
Then bad the Sea to roll:—and Winds he gave
To swell the Surges of the rising Wave:
The rising Wave commission'd to explore
The compass'd Earth, and bound it with a Shore.
The running Springs he adds, and standing Lakes,
And bounding Banks for winding Rivers makes:
Earth drinks in some; the rest their watry Train
Roll on, and pour their Treasures in the Main:
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They freer rage, and lash the sounding Shore.
He bad the Woods be cloth'd, the Plains extend,
Subside the Vallies, and the Rocks ascend.
The spacious Fields of Air, suspended high,
Inclose the Ball, and skirt it with the Sky:
Weighty, with Fire, with Earth compared, light,
The winged Air between them takes it's Flight.
Thick Clouds o'erspread, and Storms engender there,
And Thunder's Voice, which wretched Mortals fear,
And Winds with Lightnings mixt, thence shiv'ring Winter bear.
Inclose the Ball, and skirt it with the Sky:
Weighty, with Fire, with Earth compared, light,
The winged Air between them takes it's Flight.
Thick Clouds o'erspread, and Storms engender there,
And Thunder's Voice, which wretched Mortals fear,
And Winds with Lightnings mixt, thence shiv'ring Winter bear.
Far above these, in Order and in Place,
The wise Creator fix'd the heav'nly Space;
Fields of pure Æther, from all Dregs refin'd,
By Earth unclogg'd, and by no Bounds confin'd.
The wise Creator fix'd the heav'nly Space;
Fields of pure Æther, from all Dregs refin'd,
By Earth unclogg'd, and by no Bounds confin'd.
Scarce had he all in proper Limits fix'd,
When, long depress'd and with Confusion mix'd,
Each Star upshot it's explicated Head,
And Heav'ns wide Arch with new born Glories spread.
Then, that no Void in Nature might appear,
With Stars and Forms divine he fill'd the heav'nly Sphere:
The glitt'ring Fishes to the Floods repair:
Beasts to the Earth: and Birds possess the Air.
Man too was made.—
—He sung, how thro' the mighty Void
When, long depress'd and with Confusion mix'd,
Each Star upshot it's explicated Head,
And Heav'ns wide Arch with new born Glories spread.
Then, that no Void in Nature might appear,
With Stars and Forms divine he fill'd the heav'nly Sphere:
The glitt'ring Fishes to the Floods repair:
Beasts to the Earth: and Birds possess the Air.
Man too was made.—
The Seeds of Earth, and Water, Air, and Fire,
Consolidated met: how first from These
The Elements, and the World's recent Globe
Compounded rose: how then the firmer Soil
Grew hard, and in it's Channel shut the Sea,
And by Degrees, of various Things receiv'd
Th' unnumber'd Species:—how the Earth admir'd
To see the new-born Sun with Glory shine:
How Show'rs from high-hung Clouds distill'd: when first
The Woods began to rise: and thin, dispers'd,
The Animals o'er unknown Mountains rov'd.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |