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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Antiquity.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Antiquity.
So fond of all that's antient are we grown,
Nothing, forsooth, of modern Date will down.
O'er the Decemvir's Laws, devout, we pore,
And ancient Leagues, with Sabines made, adore:
The Augur's Leaves, transported we admire:
And Bards, grown obsolete, can never tire.
These flow'd not sure from any human Skill!
The Muses gave them from the Aonian Hill.—
Nothing, forsooth, of modern Date will down.
O'er the Decemvir's Laws, devout, we pore,
And ancient Leagues, with Sabines made, adore:
The Augur's Leaves, transported we admire:
And Bards, grown obsolete, can never tire.
These flow'd not sure from any human Skill!
The Muses gave them from the Aonian Hill.—
If Verse, like Wine, improves, mature by Age,
What Length of Years gives Value of the Page?—
Say, shall the Bard, whom certainly we know
To 'ave dy'd but just an hundred Years agoe,
Stand with the Ancients, or the Moderns, plac'd?
With Those admir'd, or with These disgrac'd?—
Why! if an hundred Years agoe he writ,
Sure he's an Ancient, and a Classic Wit!—
What Rank is his, an Age who cannot boast,
More Modern by a Month, or Year at most:
With Bards of old, or Those, whom, later born,
The present, and succeeding Times shall scorn?
Who wants a Month, or ev'n a Year, may be
Allow'd the Credit of Antiquity.
This frank Concession will my Cause avail:
By single Hairs I bare the Horse's Tail:
For thus I'll argue on, and bate one more,
And so, by one, and one, waste all the Store:
Confuting him, who values Wit by Years,
Nor living Bards, because alive, reveres.—
What Length of Years gives Value of the Page?—
67
To 'ave dy'd but just an hundred Years agoe,
Stand with the Ancients, or the Moderns, plac'd?
With Those admir'd, or with These disgrac'd?—
Why! if an hundred Years agoe he writ,
Sure he's an Ancient, and a Classic Wit!—
What Rank is his, an Age who cannot boast,
More Modern by a Month, or Year at most:
With Bards of old, or Those, whom, later born,
The present, and succeeding Times shall scorn?
Who wants a Month, or ev'n a Year, may be
Allow'd the Credit of Antiquity.
This frank Concession will my Cause avail:
By single Hairs I bare the Horse's Tail:
For thus I'll argue on, and bate one more,
And so, by one, and one, waste all the Store:
Confuting him, who values Wit by Years,
Nor living Bards, because alive, reveres.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |