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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Deluge.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Deluge.
See Flood.
The Skies from Pole to Pole with Peals resound,
And Show'rs enlarg'd, come pouring on the Ground.
Th' expanded Waters gather on the Plain:
And float the Fields, and overtop the Grain:
Then rushing onwards, with a sweepy Sway,
Bear Flocks, and Folds, and lab'ring Hinds away.
Nor safe their Dwellings were, for, sapp'd by Floods,
Their Houses fell upon their Household Gods.
The solid Piles too strongly built to fall,
High o'er their Heads behold a watry Wall:
Now Seas and Earth were in Confusion lost,
A World of Waters, and without a Coast.
And Show'rs enlarg'd, come pouring on the Ground.
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And float the Fields, and overtop the Grain:
Then rushing onwards, with a sweepy Sway,
Bear Flocks, and Folds, and lab'ring Hinds away.
Nor safe their Dwellings were, for, sapp'd by Floods,
Their Houses fell upon their Household Gods.
The solid Piles too strongly built to fall,
High o'er their Heads behold a watry Wall:
Now Seas and Earth were in Confusion lost,
A World of Waters, and without a Coast.
One climbs a Cliff: one in his Boat is born:
And plows above, where late he sow'd his Corn.—
One sails where Village-Tops the Waves o'erwhelm,
One Fishes takes amidst a lofty Elm.
In Fields they Anchor cast, if Chance so guide,
While crooked Keels oppress the Vineyard's Side.
Where on the Grass, the Kids but lately fed,
The monstrous Sea-Calf forms his oosy Bed.
Beneath the deep, the Nereids, in Surprize,
See Woods, and Groves, and Towns, and Temples rise.
The Dolphins now amidst the Forests glide,
Shake the tall Oaks, and beat the Boughs aside.
The frighted Wolf now swims amongst the Sheep;
Lions and Tygers mingle in the deep:
His Swiftness now avails the Hart no more,
Nor Force of Light'ning aids the tusked Boar.—
And plows above, where late he sow'd his Corn.—
One sails where Village-Tops the Waves o'erwhelm,
One Fishes takes amidst a lofty Elm.
In Fields they Anchor cast, if Chance so guide,
While crooked Keels oppress the Vineyard's Side.
Where on the Grass, the Kids but lately fed,
The monstrous Sea-Calf forms his oosy Bed.
Beneath the deep, the Nereids, in Surprize,
See Woods, and Groves, and Towns, and Temples rise.
The Dolphins now amidst the Forests glide,
Shake the tall Oaks, and beat the Boughs aside.
The frighted Wolf now swims amongst the Sheep;
Lions and Tygers mingle in the deep:
His Swiftness now avails the Hart no more,
Nor Force of Light'ning aids the tusked Boar.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |