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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Oath.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Oath.
See Perjury.
—She spreads abroadHer Hands to Heav'n, and to the blazing God.
By those bright Beams, she cry'd, thy Mother swears:
By Him who Us, and all Things sees, and hears!
That Phæbus whom thou seest, who blesses Earth
And Heav'n with cheering Influence, gave Thee Birth:
If not, may I this Light for ever lose,
And view that God no more, whose Name I use!—
Then good Æneas with his Sword unsheath'd,
Thus prays.—Thou Sun! be witness to my Vows!
And Thou Ausonian Land, for which I bore
Such mighty Toils! Thou Heav'n's Almighty King!
And Thou, Saturnian Juno! Goddess! hear,
Now more propitious! And Thou, potent Mars!
Whose Deity controuls, and turns all Wars:
You, Fountains! and You, Rivers! I invoke:
And whatsoe'er Divinity resides,
Or in high Heav'n above, or Seas below.
Thus prays.—Thou Sun! be witness to my Vows!
And Thou Ausonian Land, for which I bore
Such mighty Toils! Thou Heav'n's Almighty King!
And Thou, Saturnian Juno! Goddess! hear,
Now more propitious! And Thou, potent Mars!
Whose Deity controuls, and turns all Wars:
You, Fountains! and You, Rivers! I invoke:
And whatsoe'er Divinity resides,
Or in high Heav'n above, or Seas below.
— Then thus reply'd
Latinus, with his Eyes erect to Heav'n,
And his Right Hand extended to the Stars.
By the same Pow'rs! by Earth! by Heav'n! and Sea!
I swear, Æneas: by Latona's Twins!
And two-fac'd Janus! by th' infernal Gods!
And griefly Pluto's Court! Hear Thou this Oath,
Great Jove! whose Thunder ratifies our Leagues.
Upon the Altars, and the middle Fires
I lay my Hand, and thus attest the Gods.—
For by the black infernal Styx I swear,
Latinus, with his Eyes erect to Heav'n,
And his Right Hand extended to the Stars.
By the same Pow'rs! by Earth! by Heav'n! and Sea!
I swear, Æneas: by Latona's Twins!
And two-fac'd Janus! by th' infernal Gods!
And griefly Pluto's Court! Hear Thou this Oath,
Great Jove! whose Thunder ratifies our Leagues.
Upon the Altars, and the middle Fires
I lay my Hand, and thus attest the Gods.—
(That dreadful Oath which binds the Thunderer,)
159
No Force can bend me, no Perswasion move.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |