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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God.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
God.
See Chance. Providence.
Know first, that Heav'n, and Earth's compacted Frame,
And flowing Waters, and the starry Flame,
And both the radiant Lights one common Soul
Inspires: and feeds and animates the Whole:
This active Mind infus'd thro' all the Space,
Unites and mingles with the mighty Mass.
Hence Men and Beasts the Breath of Life obtain,
And Birds of Air, and Monsters of the Main.—
And flowing Waters, and the starry Flame,
And both the radiant Lights one common Soul
Inspires: and feeds and animates the Whole:
This active Mind infus'd thro' all the Space,
Unites and mingles with the mighty Mass.
Hence Men and Beasts the Breath of Life obtain,
And Birds of Air, and Monsters of the Main.—
For GOD the whole created Mass inspires:
Through Heav'n, and Earth, and Ocean's Depth he throws
His Influence round, and kindles as he goes.
Hence Flocks, and Herds, and Men, and Beasts, and Fowls
With Breath are quicken'd, and attract their Souls:
Hence take the Forms his Prescience did ordain,
And into him, at length, resolve again.
No Room is left for Death: they mount the Sky,
And to their own congenial Planets fly.—
Through Heav'n, and Earth, and Ocean's Depth he throws
His Influence round, and kindles as he goes.
Hence Flocks, and Herds, and Men, and Beasts, and Fowls
With Breath are quicken'd, and attract their Souls:
Hence take the Forms his Prescience did ordain,
And into him, at length, resolve again.
No Room is left for Death: they mount the Sky,
And to their own congenial Planets fly.—
435
This Frame immense, in which four Parts conspire,
Of diff'rent Form, Air, Water, Earth, and Fire,
GOD, Power divine, the World's Almighty Soul,
By secret Methods rules, and guides the Whole:
By unseen Passes he himself conveys
Thro' all the Mass, and ev'ry Part obeys.—
Of diff'rent Form, Air, Water, Earth, and Fire,
GOD, Power divine, the World's Almighty Soul,
By secret Methods rules, and guides the Whole:
By unseen Passes he himself conveys
Thro' all the Mass, and ev'ry Part obeys.—
The Face, the Image of the Deity,
Can on no Metal represented be:
Within the human Soul he likes to dwell,
And our own Bosom what he is can tell.—
Can on no Metal represented be:
Within the human Soul he likes to dwell,
And our own Bosom what he is can tell.—
That Power supreme, whom Gods and Men obey,
Who Time commands, and rules the Earth and Sea;
Who claims o'er All the first and highest Place,
Whom none is like, to whom none second is.—
Who Time commands, and rules the Earth and Sea;
Who claims o'er All the first and highest Place,
Whom none is like, to whom none second is.—
For every
Deity must live at Ease,
In undisturb'd and everlasting Peace,
From Grief exempt, from Fear and Danger free;
Sufficient to its own Felicity.
Nought here below, Nought in our Pow'r it needs:
Nor smiles at good, nor frowns at wicked Deeds.—
In undisturb'd and everlasting Peace,
From Grief exempt, from Fear and Danger free;
Sufficient to its own Felicity.
Nought here below, Nought in our Pow'r it needs:
Nor smiles at good, nor frowns at wicked Deeds.—
'Tis necessary that there should be Gods,
Nor let us doubt there are:—
Before their ancient Altars let's adore,
And Incense burn, and Wine devoutly pour.
Nor madly think that on celestial Thrones,
And half asleep, they loll, like lazy Drones.
The Gods are ev'ry where, above, below,
Both Heav'n and Earth they fill, and ev'ry Thing they know.
Then innocently live: the Pledge restore:
Nor dare to violate the Oath you swore:
All Fraud detest of whate'er kind it be;
And from all Murder let your Hands be free.—
Nor let us doubt there are:—
Before their ancient Altars let's adore,
And Incense burn, and Wine devoutly pour.
Nor madly think that on celestial Thrones,
And half asleep, they loll, like lazy Drones.
The Gods are ev'ry where, above, below,
Both Heav'n and Earth they fill, and ev'ry Thing they know.
Then innocently live: the Pledge restore:
Nor dare to violate the Oath you swore:
All Fraud detest of whate'er kind it be;
And from all Murder let your Hands be free.—
Has GOD a Place? In Earth, in Seas, in Air,
In Heav'n, in Virtue, he will sure appear:
Why seek we farther then?—
Where-e'er we turn, where-e'er we look, or move,
All, all, is Him, and ev'ry where is Jove.—
In Heav'n, in Virtue, he will sure appear:
Why seek we farther then?—
437
All, all, is Him, and ev'ry where is Jove.—
—The great Creator of the Universe
All Things beholds from his exalted Throne:
Nor the Earth's Bulk, nor Night's black Shades impede
His penetrating Sight; which at one Glance
Discerns what is, what was, and what shall be.—
All Things beholds from his exalted Throne:
Nor the Earth's Bulk, nor Night's black Shades impede
His penetrating Sight; which at one Glance
Discerns what is, what was, and what shall be.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |