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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Fountain. Lake. |
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
385
Fountain. Lake.
A spring there was, whose silver Waters show,
As Chrystal clear, the Bottom fair below:
Which neither Man, nor tame, nor savage Beast,
Nor wandring Fowls, nor falling Leaves molest.
Grown round with Grass by it's kind Moisture fed,
And lofty Trees, which yield a constant Shade:
So thick, the Sun can never penetrate,
Or warm the Waters with it's fiercest Heat.—
As Chrystal clear, the Bottom fair below:
Which neither Man, nor tame, nor savage Beast,
Nor wandring Fowls, nor falling Leaves molest.
Grown round with Grass by it's kind Moisture fed,
And lofty Trees, which yield a constant Shade:
So thick, the Sun can never penetrate,
Or warm the Waters with it's fiercest Heat.—
A Fountain here he found, so lovely bright,
It shew'd the Bottom in a fairer Light,
Nor kept a Sand conceal'd from human Sight.
The Stream produc'd nor shiny Ooze, nor Weeds,
Nor miry Rushes, nor the spiky Reeds;
But dealt enriching Moisture all around,
The fruitful Sides with chearful Verdure crown'd,
And kept the Spring eternal on the Ground.—
It shew'd the Bottom in a fairer Light,
Nor kept a Sand conceal'd from human Sight.
The Stream produc'd nor shiny Ooze, nor Weeds,
Nor miry Rushes, nor the spiky Reeds;
But dealt enriching Moisture all around,
The fruitful Sides with chearful Verdure crown'd,
And kept the Spring eternal on the Ground.—
Not far from hence a spreading Lake there lay,
And on the shaded Margin tow'ring stood
The leafy Shelter of a verdant Wood.
The limpid Pool, transparent to the Sight,
Did to the Bottom ev'ry Eye admit,
And thro' the pure and chrystal Water show
The shining Pebbles, and the Sand below.—
And on the shaded Margin tow'ring stood
The leafy Shelter of a verdant Wood.
The limpid Pool, transparent to the Sight,
Did to the Bottom ev'ry Eye admit,
And thro' the pure and chrystal Water show
The shining Pebbles, and the Sand below.—
A Spring there is, whose silver Waters show,
Clear as a Glass, the shining Sands below:
A flow'ry Lotos spread it's Arms above,
Shades all the Banks, and seems itself a Grove.
Eternal Greens the mossy Margin grace,
Watch'd by the Sylvan Genius of the Place.—
Clear as a Glass, the shining Sands below:
A flow'ry Lotos spread it's Arms above,
Shades all the Banks, and seems itself a Grove.
Eternal Greens the mossy Margin grace,
Watch'd by the Sylvan Genius of the Place.—
Near Enna's Walls a spacious Lake is spread,
Fam'd for the sweetly singing Swans it bred:
Pergusa is it's Name: And, never more
Were heard, or sweeter, on Cayster's Shore.
Woods crown the Lake: and Phœbus ne'er invades
The tufted Fences, or offends the Shades.
Fresh fragant Breezes fan the verdant Bow'rs,
And the moist Ground smiles with enamel'd Flow'rs:
Which always in their Beauty's Prime appear,
For the mild Spring continues all the Year.—
Fam'd for the sweetly singing Swans it bred:
Pergusa is it's Name: And, never more
Were heard, or sweeter, on Cayster's Shore.
Woods crown the Lake: and Phœbus ne'er invades
The tufted Fences, or offends the Shades.
387
And the moist Ground smiles with enamel'd Flow'rs:
Which always in their Beauty's Prime appear,
For the mild Spring continues all the Year.—
I, walking on, a silent Current found,
Which gently glided o'er the Gravel-Ground.
The chrystal Water was so smooth and clear,
That to the Eye each Pebble did appear:
So soft it's Motion, one could scarce perceive
The running Stream, or that it ran believe.
The hoary Willow, and the Poplar made
Along it's shelving Bank a grateful Shade.—
Which gently glided o'er the Gravel-Ground.
The chrystal Water was so smooth and clear,
That to the Eye each Pebble did appear:
So soft it's Motion, one could scarce perceive
The running Stream, or that it ran believe.
The hoary Willow, and the Poplar made
Along it's shelving Bank a grateful Shade.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |