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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Lion.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Lion.
—As when a Lion, pinch'd
With raging Hunger, ranges round the Stalls:
If chance he spy a tim'rous Goat, or Deer
Lofty with branching Horns: he yawns o'er-joy'd
With vast expanded Jaws, erects his Mane,
Sticks to the Prey, and lies upon it press'd
Close to the Ground. Black Gore, besmearing, laves
His savage Mouth.—
With raging Hunger, ranges round the Stalls:
If chance he spy a tim'rous Goat, or Deer
Lofty with branching Horns: he yawns o'er-joy'd
With vast expanded Jaws, erects his Mane,
Sticks to the Prey, and lies upon it press'd
Close to the Ground. Black Gore, besmearing, laves
His savage Mouth.—
The lordly Lion thus, on Lybia's Plain,
Gor'd by the Hunter's Spear, within his Breast
Infix'd, at length springs furious to the Fight,
And shakes with dreadful Pride his shaggy Mane:
Intrepid snaps the sticking Dart, and roars,
And foams with bloody Mouth.—
Gor'd by the Hunter's Spear, within his Breast
Infix'd, at length springs furious to the Fight,
And shakes with dreadful Pride his shaggy Mane:
Intrepid snaps the sticking Dart, and roars,
And foams with bloody Mouth.—
So foams the Lion thro' the crowded Folds,
By furious Hunger pinch'd: and rends, and drags
The tender Cattle, mute with Fear: and raves
With bloody Mouth,—
By furious Hunger pinch'd: and rends, and drags
The tender Cattle, mute with Fear: and raves
With bloody Mouth,—
29
As when a Lion seizes fome fair Cow,
The Grace of all the Herd, and with his Claws
Tares out it's reeking Bowels: o'er the Prey
Furious he stands, and growling gluts his Maw:
Besmear'd with Gore, he shakes his rugg'd Mane;
And scorns the Shepherds unavailing Rage.—
The Grace of all the Herd, and with his Claws
Tares out it's reeking Bowels: o'er the Prey
Furious he stands, and growling gluts his Maw:
Besmear'd with Gore, he shakes his rugg'd Mane;
And scorns the Shepherds unavailing Rage.—
So, when on sultry Libya's desart Sand,
The Lion spies the Hunter hard at Hand,
Couch'd on the Earth the doubtful Savage lies,
And waits a-while till all his Fury rise:
His lashing Tail provokes his swelling Sides,
And high upon his Neck his Mane with Horror rides:
Then, if at length the flying Dart infest,
Or the broad Spear invade his ample Breast,
Scorning the Wound he yawns a dreadful Roar,
And flies like Light'ning on the hostile Moor.—
The Lion spies the Hunter hard at Hand,
Couch'd on the Earth the doubtful Savage lies,
And waits a-while till all his Fury rise:
His lashing Tail provokes his swelling Sides,
And high upon his Neck his Mane with Horror rides:
Then, if at length the flying Dart infest,
Or the broad Spear invade his ample Breast,
Scorning the Wound he yawns a dreadful Roar,
And flies like Light'ning on the hostile Moor.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |