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 |  |
Oak was his Heart, his Breast with Steel
Thrice mail'd, that first the brittle Keel
Committed to the murd'rous Deep:
Nor dreaded battling Winds, that sweep
The Flood, the Hyads stormy Train,
Nor the fierce South, of Adria's Main
The lawless Monarch, be his Will
T' enrage the gulfy Wave, or still.
All Fear of Death did he repel,
Who, fearless, saw the Billows swell:
Saw the fell Monsters floating by,
And Rocks, deaf to the Seaman's Cry!
Vain has Almighty Wisdom plac'd,
For Earth's fixt Borne, the watry Waste:
If impious Men the Art have found
T' o'erleap the inviolable Mound.—
Thrice mail'd, that first the brittle Keel
Committed to the murd'rous Deep:
Nor dreaded battling Winds, that sweep
The Flood, the Hyads stormy Train,
Nor the fierce South, of Adria's Main
The lawless Monarch, be his Will
T' enrage the gulfy Wave, or still.
All Fear of Death did he repel,
Who, fearless, saw the Billows swell:
Saw the fell Monsters floating by,
And Rocks, deaf to the Seaman's Cry!
Vain has Almighty Wisdom plac'd,
For Earth's fixt Borne, the watry Waste:
If impious Men the Art have found
T' o'erleap the inviolable Mound.—
Who in a Ship began to plow the Main,
And ruffled with rude Oars the watry Plain:
Tim'rous at first, the Sea's calm Billows try'd,
And row'd, securely, by the Shore's known Side.
Then, vent'ring on, thro' wide-stretch'd Bays he sails,
And spreads his Canvas to the gentle Gales:
At length, by often daring, bolder grown,
Scorning the Fears which he before had known,
The Deep he takes, Heav'n his sole Guide, and braves
Ægean Storms, and the Ionian Waves.—
And ruffled with rude Oars the watry Plain:
Tim'rous at first, the Sea's calm Billows try'd,
And row'd, securely, by the Shore's known Side.
Then, vent'ring on, thro' wide-stretch'd Bays he sails,
And spreads his Canvas to the gentle Gales:
At length, by often daring, bolder grown,
Scorning the Fears which he before had known,
The Deep he takes, Heav'n his sole Guide, and braves
Ægean Storms, and the Ionian Waves.—
From thence, e'er yet the Seaman's Art was taught,
Rude Argo thro' the Deep a Passage sought:
She first explor'd the distant foreign Land,
And shew'd her Strangers to the wond'ring Strand:
Then Nations Nations knew, in Leagues were join'd,
And universal Commerce mix'd Mankind.
By her made bold, the daring Race defy'd
The Winds tempestuous, and the swelling Tide:
Much she enlarg'd Destruction's ample Pow'r,
And open'd Ways to Death, unknown before.—
Rude Argo thro' the Deep a Passage sought:
She first explor'd the distant foreign Land,
And shew'd her Strangers to the wond'ring Strand:
Then Nations Nations knew, in Leagues were join'd,
And universal Commerce mix'd Mankind.
139
The Winds tempestuous, and the swelling Tide:
Much she enlarg'd Destruction's ample Pow'r,
And open'd Ways to Death, unknown before.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |