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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Ambassador.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Ambassador.
An
Attic Vessel reach'd the friendly Shore,
Which Cephalus, his Country's Envoy, bore.
The Sons of Æacus the Hero knew,
Tho' long remov'd and absent from their View.
Their Hands they join, in close Embraces meet,
And lead him to their royal Father's Seat.—
The Hero much remaining Beauty held,
(In Youth for Beauty greatly he excell'd:)
And ent'ring, bore the Olive in his Hand,
The precious Product of his native Land.
On either Side, from heav'nly Pallas sprung,
Young Clytus, and young Buten march along.
Which Cephalus, his Country's Envoy, bore.
The Sons of Æacus the Hero knew,
Tho' long remov'd and absent from their View.
Their Hands they join, in close Embraces meet,
And lead him to their royal Father's Seat.—
The Hero much remaining Beauty held,
(In Youth for Beauty greatly he excell'd:)
And ent'ring, bore the Olive in his Hand,
The precious Product of his native Land.
On either Side, from heav'nly Pallas sprung,
Young Clytus, and young Buten march along.
First Salutations o'er, the Chief relates
His Embassy, from the Athenian States,
And Succour asks: insisting on the Ties
Of Leagues, and Friendship, with their old Allies:
The general Danger too he shews, to wake
Their Fears, and his Address successful make.
His Embassy, from the Athenian States,
And Succour asks: insisting on the Ties
Of Leagues, and Friendship, with their old Allies:
The general Danger too he shews, to wake
Their Fears, and his Address successful make.
49
For timely Aid, his Country's just Pretence,
He pleaded thus, with artful Eloquence.
The King reply'd (his Scepter in his Hand,)
Our Help, Athenians, ask not, but command:
Your own you may this Island's Forces call,
For in your Cause I will adventure all:
Nor Armies do I want, that can oppose
My own Invaders, and repel your Foes.—
He pleaded thus, with artful Eloquence.
The King reply'd (his Scepter in his Hand,)
Our Help, Athenians, ask not, but command:
Your own you may this Island's Forces call,
For in your Cause I will adventure all:
Nor Armies do I want, that can oppose
My own Invaders, and repel your Foes.—
Cephalus was sent Ambassador from the Athenians, to Æacus King of Ægina, to demand Assistance against Minos King of Crete.
Then Prince Æneas sends from every Rank
An hundred chos'n Ambassadors, dispatched
To the Imperial Walls, with Olive Boughs
All wreath'd to bear his Presents to the King,
And sue for Peace.—
An hundred chos'n Ambassadors, dispatched
To the Imperial Walls, with Olive Boughs
All wreath'd to bear his Presents to the King,
And sue for Peace.—
And now, their destin'd Journey having pass'd,
Th' Ambassadors beheld the Latin Towers,
And lofty Palaces, and reach'd the Walls.
—To the aged Monarch's Ears,
Swift on his Steed, a Messenger relates,
That Men of awful Port, in foreign Garb,
Were moving towards the Walls: He gives Command
To call them to the Court, and in the Midst
Sits lofty on th' hereditary Throne.
—Enthron'd
On his paternal Seat, Latinus calls
The Trojans to his Presence in the Court:
And Thus with pleasing Accent first began.
Th' Ambassadors beheld the Latin Towers,
And lofty Palaces, and reach'd the Walls.
—To the aged Monarch's Ears,
Swift on his Steed, a Messenger relates,
That Men of awful Port, in foreign Garb,
Were moving towards the Walls: He gives Command
To call them to the Court, and in the Midst
Sits lofty on th' hereditary Throne.
—Enthron'd
On his paternal Seat, Latinus calls
The Trojans to his Presence in the Court:
And Thus with pleasing Accent first began.
Tell us, ye Trojans, (for your Name and Race
Are not to Us unknown, nor come You here
Unheard of:) say, what seek You? or what Cause
Has urg'd your Navy to th' Ausonian Shore
Thro' such a Space of Ocean? Whether driv'n
By Error of the Way, or Stress of Storms,
(Variety of Perils on the Deep,
Obvious to Mariners,) You enter here
Our River's Mouth, and rest within the Port.
Fly not our Hospitality: nor judge
Erroneous of the Latins, Saturn's Race:
Just of themselves, without Restraint, or Laws,
And by th' Example of their ancient God.
Are not to Us unknown, nor come You here
Unheard of:) say, what seek You? or what Cause
Has urg'd your Navy to th' Ausonian Shore
Thro' such a Space of Ocean? Whether driv'n
By Error of the Way, or Stress of Storms,
(Variety of Perils on the Deep,
Obvious to Mariners,) You enter here
Our River's Mouth, and rest within the Port.
Fly not our Hospitality: nor judge
Erroneous of the Latins, Saturn's Race:
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And by th' Example of their ancient God.
He spoke; and thus Ilioneus reply'd.
O King! from Faunus' Blood illustrious sprung:
Neither by stormy Billows hither toss'd,
Nor by the Stars, or Shores unknown, deceiv'd,
Arrive we on your Confines: With Design,
And willing Minds this City We approach.
A little Mansion for our Country-Gods,
And safe from Danger a Retreat We ask,
And Air, and Water, common Gifts to All.
On your Dominions nothing of Disgrace
Shall We reflect: nor small will be your Fame:
Nor shall by length of Time the grateful Sense
Of such an Obligation be effac'd:
Nor shall the Ausonian Nation e'er repent
To have receiv'd the Trojans.—
Some Gifts, besides, preserv'd from burning Troy,
The little Relicks of his former State,
Our Prince presents You. In this Gold his Sire
Anchises at the Altars sacrific'd:
These, By the Rite accustom'd, giving Laws
To the assembled Nations, Priam wore:
This Scepter, this Tiara, and these Robes,
The Labour of the Trojan Dames.—
O King! from Faunus' Blood illustrious sprung:
Neither by stormy Billows hither toss'd,
Nor by the Stars, or Shores unknown, deceiv'd,
Arrive we on your Confines: With Design,
And willing Minds this City We approach.
A little Mansion for our Country-Gods,
And safe from Danger a Retreat We ask,
And Air, and Water, common Gifts to All.
On your Dominions nothing of Disgrace
Shall We reflect: nor small will be your Fame:
Nor shall by length of Time the grateful Sense
Of such an Obligation be effac'd:
Nor shall the Ausonian Nation e'er repent
To have receiv'd the Trojans.—
Some Gifts, besides, preserv'd from burning Troy,
The little Relicks of his former State,
Our Prince presents You. In this Gold his Sire
Anchises at the Altars sacrific'd:
These, By the Rite accustom'd, giving Laws
To the assembled Nations, Priam wore:
This Scepter, this Tiara, and these Robes,
The Labour of the Trojan Dames.—
So spake Ilioneus. Latinus fix'd,
Sits in one Posture, musing, on the Ground
Rolling his Eyes intent.—At length replies:
Sits in one Posture, musing, on the Ground
Rolling his Eyes intent.—At length replies:
—Trojan, what Thou ask'st
Is granted: nor your Gifts do I refuse:
While King Latinus reigns, You shall not want
The fertile Glebe, and Opulence of Troy.
Let ev'n Æneas (if he so desires
Our Friendship and Alliance) hither come,
Nor shun the Interview: to me 'twill prove
A Pledge of Peace, to touch that Monarch's Hand.
Is granted: nor your Gifts do I refuse:
While King Latinus reigns, You shall not want
The fertile Glebe, and Opulence of Troy.
Let ev'n Æneas (if he so desires
Our Friendship and Alliance) hither come,
Nor shun the Interview: to me 'twill prove
A Pledge of Peace, to touch that Monarch's Hand.
Thus having said, the aged King selects
From all his Number chosen Steeds: There stood
Three hundred shining in their lofty Stalls:
To all the Trojans he commands to lead
The wingy-footed Coursers, cover'd o'er
With rich embroidered Crimson: Down their Breasts
Hang golden Collars: and adorn'd with Gold
They champ the yellow Gold between their Teeth.
Next to the absent Trojan Prince he sends
A Chariot, and its harness'd Pair, of Breed
Celestial, from their Nostrils snorting Fire.
Thus with the Gifts and Speeches of the King,
Th' Ambassadors, high on their stately Steeds,
Return exulting, and report the Peace.—
And now from King Latinus' Court arriv'd
From all his Number chosen Steeds: There stood
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To all the Trojans he commands to lead
The wingy-footed Coursers, cover'd o'er
With rich embroidered Crimson: Down their Breasts
Hang golden Collars: and adorn'd with Gold
They champ the yellow Gold between their Teeth.
Next to the absent Trojan Prince he sends
A Chariot, and its harness'd Pair, of Breed
Celestial, from their Nostrils snorting Fire.
Thus with the Gifts and Speeches of the King,
Th' Ambassadors, high on their stately Steeds,
Return exulting, and report the Peace.—
Ambassadors, with Olive Branches wreath'd,
And Grace imploring: that he would permit
The Corps, which slain in Battle, o'er the Field
Lay scatter'd, to be quietly interr'd:
War with the Dead he wag'd not: Let him spare
A Nation, once by hospitable Tyes,
And plighted Spousals, to himself ally'd.
Them good Æneas, and their Suit so just,
Receives with gracious Air: and thus proceeds.
What Fortune, unpropitious, undeserv'd,
Plung'd You, ye Latins, in so deep a War,
And urg'd You from our Friendship to decline?
Peace to the Dead desire You? for the Corps
Which fell in Battle by the Chance of Arms?
Peace to the Living gladly would I grant.—
Go You: and grace your Friends in Battle slain,
With the last Rites, and fire their fun'ral-Piles.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |