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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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
547
Italy.
But neither Media's wealthy Groves, and Soil,
Nor far-fam'd Ganges, nor rich Hermus' Stream,
Turbid with Gold, can match Italia's Praise:
Nor Bactra, India, nor Panchaia fat,
All o'er, with Frankincense producing Glebe.
—Here swelling Grain
Abounds, and Bacchus' Massic Juice, and Oils,
And Herds of shining Neat. The Warrior Steed
Prances, with lofty Port, into the Field:
White Flocks, and stately Bulls, of Victims chief,
Oft plung'd, Clitumnus, in thy sacred Stream,
To Jove's high Fane the Roman Triumphs lead.
Here blooms perpetual Spring: and Summer shines
In Months not Her's: Here twice the Cattle teem,
The Trees twice yield their Fruit: But far from hence
Is the fell Tyger, and the savage Breed
Of Lions: Nor does Aconite deceive
The wretched Simplers. No huge scaly Snake
Snatches his Orb immense along the Ground:
Nor into Spires so vast himself convolves.
Add that Variety of Cities fam'd:
And Labour of Artificers: on Tops
Of craggy Rocks so many Towns uprear'd:
And Rivers gliding under ancient Walls.
Nor far-fam'd Ganges, nor rich Hermus' Stream,
Turbid with Gold, can match Italia's Praise:
Nor Bactra, India, nor Panchaia fat,
All o'er, with Frankincense producing Glebe.
—Here swelling Grain
Abounds, and Bacchus' Massic Juice, and Oils,
And Herds of shining Neat. The Warrior Steed
Prances, with lofty Port, into the Field:
White Flocks, and stately Bulls, of Victims chief,
Oft plung'd, Clitumnus, in thy sacred Stream,
To Jove's high Fane the Roman Triumphs lead.
Here blooms perpetual Spring: and Summer shines
In Months not Her's: Here twice the Cattle teem,
The Trees twice yield their Fruit: But far from hence
Is the fell Tyger, and the savage Breed
Of Lions: Nor does Aconite deceive
The wretched Simplers. No huge scaly Snake
Snatches his Orb immense along the Ground:
Nor into Spires so vast himself convolves.
Add that Variety of Cities fam'd:
And Labour of Artificers: on Tops
Of craggy Rocks so many Towns uprear'd:
And Rivers gliding under ancient Walls.
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |