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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Iron Age.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Iron Age.
—Hard Steel succeeded then,
And stubborn as the Metal were the Men.
Truth, Modesty, and Shame, the World forsook;
Fraud, Avarice, and Force, their Places took.
Then Sails were spread to ev'ry Wind that blew,
Raw were the Sailors, and the Depths were new:
Trees that long rooted on the Mountains stood,
Now bounded o'er the deep unpractis'd Flood.
And stubborn as the Metal were the Men.
Truth, Modesty, and Shame, the World forsook;
Fraud, Avarice, and Force, their Places took.
Then Sails were spread to ev'ry Wind that blew,
Raw were the Sailors, and the Depths were new:
Trees that long rooted on the Mountains stood,
Now bounded o'er the deep unpractis'd Flood.
Then Land-marks limited to each his Right:
For all before was common as the Light.
Nor was the Ground alone required to bear
Her annual Income to the crooked Share,
But greedy Mortals, rummaging her Store,
Digg'd from her Entrails first the precious Oar,
Which next to Hell the prudent Gods had laid:
And that alluring Ill to Sight display'd.
Then cursed Steel, and more accursed Gold,
Gave Mischief Birth, and made that Mischief bold:
The fatal Parents they of new Alarms,
Give Birth to War, and fill the World with Arms.
Now Men are broken loose from moral Bands,
And brandish'd Weapons glitter in their Hands.
No Rights of Hospitality remain:
The Guest by him who harbour'd him is slain.
The Son-in-law pursues the Father's Life,
Brothers with their own Brothers are at Strife,
The Wife her Husband murders, he the Wife:
The Stepdame Poyson for the Son prepares,
The Son inquires into his Father's Years:
Duty and Piety expiring lye,
And Justice, last of all, soars to her native Sky,
Leaving the Earth defil'd with Blood and Cruelty.
For all before was common as the Light.
Nor was the Ground alone required to bear
Her annual Income to the crooked Share,
But greedy Mortals, rummaging her Store,
Digg'd from her Entrails first the precious Oar,
Which next to Hell the prudent Gods had laid:
And that alluring Ill to Sight display'd.
Then cursed Steel, and more accursed Gold,
Gave Mischief Birth, and made that Mischief bold:
The fatal Parents they of new Alarms,
Give Birth to War, and fill the World with Arms.
Now Men are broken loose from moral Bands,
And brandish'd Weapons glitter in their Hands.
No Rights of Hospitality remain:
The Guest by him who harbour'd him is slain.
31
Brothers with their own Brothers are at Strife,
The Wife her Husband murders, he the Wife:
The Stepdame Poyson for the Son prepares,
The Son inquires into his Father's Years:
Duty and Piety expiring lye,
And Justice, last of all, soars to her native Sky,
Leaving the Earth defil'd with Blood and Cruelty.
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |