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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Metals.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Metals.
Then Brass, and Gold, and Iron too were shewn,
And Silver's valu'd Weight, and Lead were known:
When mighty Forests, first, on Mountains high,
Fierce Fires consum'd:—Or, kindled from the Sky
By Lightning, or from Man the Flames arose,
Who thought by Fire to scare his rustic Foes:
From whate'er Cause the Flames receiv'd their Birth,
With horrid Cracklings, to their deepest Roots,
They burnt the Forests up, and scorch'd the Earth.
Then Streams of Silver, Gold, and Lead, and Brass,
To where they found prepar'd a hollow Place,
Ran melted down, and form'd a glitt'ring Mass.
Soon as Mankind beheld the sparkling Ore,
Pleas'd with its Shine, each Hollow they explore:
And there observing, that it shew'd the Frame
And Figure of the Place from whence it came,
They judg'd, that run by Heat, 'twou'd take with Ease,
Whatever useful Shape or Form they please.
They found that Blows would to the Metal give
Sharp Points for Darts, or a keen Edge to cleave
Their Forest Trees: they likewise found it fit
For Tools, to knock, or chop, or pierce, or split,
To smooth, or hollow Wood, as they should manage it.
Silver and Gold no less at first were sought,
Than firmer Brass: till by Experience taught,
Men found their Strength unequal to the Task,
And yielding to the Force such Labours ask:
Then Brass became esteem'd, and chiefly priz'd,
And Gold was for its blunted Edge despis'd.—
Now Brass is look'd on as a Thing of Nought;
And Gold has all the Praise and Honour got.
Time alters thus the Dignity of Things;
Some that were long esteem'd and sought, it flings
Down into low Contempt: makes Others priz'd,
Which lay for Ages useless and despis'd.—
And Silver's valu'd Weight, and Lead were known:
When mighty Forests, first, on Mountains high,
Fierce Fires consum'd:—Or, kindled from the Sky
By Lightning, or from Man the Flames arose,
Who thought by Fire to scare his rustic Foes:
From whate'er Cause the Flames receiv'd their Birth,
With horrid Cracklings, to their deepest Roots,
They burnt the Forests up, and scorch'd the Earth.
Then Streams of Silver, Gold, and Lead, and Brass,
To where they found prepar'd a hollow Place,
Ran melted down, and form'd a glitt'ring Mass.
Soon as Mankind beheld the sparkling Ore,
Pleas'd with its Shine, each Hollow they explore:
And there observing, that it shew'd the Frame
And Figure of the Place from whence it came,
They judg'd, that run by Heat, 'twou'd take with Ease,
Whatever useful Shape or Form they please.
101
Sharp Points for Darts, or a keen Edge to cleave
Their Forest Trees: they likewise found it fit
For Tools, to knock, or chop, or pierce, or split,
To smooth, or hollow Wood, as they should manage it.
Silver and Gold no less at first were sought,
Than firmer Brass: till by Experience taught,
Men found their Strength unequal to the Task,
And yielding to the Force such Labours ask:
Then Brass became esteem'd, and chiefly priz'd,
And Gold was for its blunted Edge despis'd.—
Now Brass is look'd on as a Thing of Nought;
And Gold has all the Praise and Honour got.
Time alters thus the Dignity of Things;
Some that were long esteem'd and sought, it flings
Down into low Contempt: makes Others priz'd,
Which lay for Ages useless and despis'd.—
The Use of Brass e'er that of Steel was found,
Because 'twas softer, and did more abound:
Then Ploughs were Brass, and Trumpets heard afar
Were Brass, and Brass their Weapons for the War.
Till, by Degrees, oft melting down the Mass,
Steel Swords were forg'd, which made them scorn the Brass:
They then began with Steel to cut the Ground,
And in their Wars steel Weapons gave the Wound.—
Because 'twas softer, and did more abound:
Then Ploughs were Brass, and Trumpets heard afar
Were Brass, and Brass their Weapons for the War.
Till, by Degrees, oft melting down the Mass,
Steel Swords were forg'd, which made them scorn the Brass:
They then began with Steel to cut the Ground,
And in their Wars steel Weapons gave the Wound.—
Then greedy Mortals, rummaging her Store,
Dug from Earth's Entrails first the precious Ore,
(Which next to Hell the prudent Gods had laid)
And that alluring Ill to Sight display'd.
Then cursed Steel, and more accursed Gold,
Gave Mischief Birth, and made that Mischief bold,
And double Death did wretched Man invade,
By Steel assaulted, and by Gold betray'd.—
Dug from Earth's Entrails first the precious Ore,
(Which next to Hell the prudent Gods had laid)
And that alluring Ill to Sight display'd.
Then cursed Steel, and more accursed Gold,
Gave Mischief Birth, and made that Mischief bold,
And double Death did wretched Man invade,
By Steel assaulted, and by Gold betray'd.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |