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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People First.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
People First.
See Golden Age.
Men did, as yet, no use of Fire know,
To dress their Food; nor round their Bodies throw
The Skins of Beasts for Cloths: but, then confin'd,
In Woods and Caves they liv'd,—
To save them from the stormy Rains and Wind.
To dress their Food; nor round their Bodies throw
The Skins of Beasts for Cloths: but, then confin'd,
In Woods and Caves they liv'd,—
To save them from the stormy Rains and Wind.
No fixt Society, no steddy Laws,
No publick Good was known, no common Cause:
But every one laid hold on what he cou'd,
By Nature taught to seek his private Good.—
No publick Good was known, no common Cause:
But every one laid hold on what he cou'd,
By Nature taught to seek his private Good.—
Then, strong and swift, they did the Beasts pursue,
And many, arm'd with Stones and Clubs, they slew:
But to their Caves from some they cautiously withdrew.
When Night came on, wrapt round with Boughs they lay,
Upon the Ground like Hogs, and rough as they.—
And many, arm'd with Stones and Clubs, they slew:
But to their Caves from some they cautiously withdrew.
When Night came on, wrapt round with Boughs they lay,
Upon the Ground like Hogs, and rough as they.—
After, when Cots were built, and Fire began,
And Skins of Beasts afforded Cloths for Man:
When one to one confin'd, in chaste Embrace
Enjoy'd sweet, Love, and saw a num'rous Race,
Then Men grew soft: the Temper of his Mind
Was chang'd from rough to mild, from fierce to kind.
And Skins of Beasts afforded Cloths for Man:
When one to one confin'd, in chaste Embrace
Enjoy'd sweet, Love, and saw a num'rous Race,
Then Men grew soft: the Temper of his Mind
Was chang'd from rough to mild, from fierce to kind.
Then Neighbours, by Degrees familiar grown,
Made Leagues and Bonds, and each secur'd his own.
Made Leagues and Bonds, and each secur'd his own.
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This made them Laws enact, and led their Choice
To Rulers: Power was giv'n by public Voice:
For Men, worn out, and tir'd by constant Strife,
Began at last to wish a quiet Life:
And so submitted, of their own accord,
To rigid Laws, and their elected Lord.—
Kings then began to build them Towns and Forts,
To Rulers: Power was giv'n by public Voice:
For Men, worn out, and tir'd by constant Strife,
Began at last to wish a quiet Life:
And so submitted, of their own accord,
To rigid Laws, and their elected Lord.—
Wherein to live secure, and keep their Courts:
'Mongst all they shar'd the Cattle and the Ground,
And round each Portion mark'd the steady Bound.
Each his Allotment had, as seem'd most fit,
According to his Beauty, Strength, or Wit:
For Beauty, then, and Strength were most esteem'd.
Before that Time Life was an artless State,
Of Reason void, and thoughtless in Debate:
Nature lay hid in deepest Night below:
None knew her Wonders, and none car'd to know.
Men Upwards look'd, they saw the circling Light,
Pleas'd with the Fires, and wonder'd at the Sight:
The Sun, when Night came on, withdrawn, they griev'd,
As dead: and joy'd next Morn, when he reviv'd.
But why the Nights grew long, or short, the Day
Was chang'd, and Shadows varied with the Ray,
Shorter at his Approach, and longer grown
At his Remove, the Causes were unknown.
Arts were not then found out, the desart Plains
Were unmanur'd, nor fed the idle Swains:
Ev'n Gold in Hills lay hid, then none resign'd
Their Lives to Seas, or Wishes to the Wind:
Confin'd their Search, they knew themselves alone,
And thought that only worthy to be known.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |