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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Portents. Prodigies.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Portents. Prodigies.
See Omens.
The Gods can't alter Fate's resistless Will:
But They, by Signs, foretell th' approaching Ill.
Dreadful were heard, among the Clouds, Alarms
Of ecchoing Trumpets, and of clashing Arms.
The Sun's pale Image gave so faint a Light,
That the sad Earth was almost veil'd in Night.
The starry Sky with fiery Meteors glow'd,
And with the Rain were mingled Drops of Blood,
A dusky Hue the Morning Star o'erspread,
And the Moon's Orb was stain'd with Spots of Red.
In ev'ry Place portentous Shrieks were heard,
The fatal Warnings of th' infernal Bird:
In ev'ry Place the Marble melts to Tears:
While in the Groves, rever'd thro' length of Years,
Boding and aweful Sounds the Ear invade,
And solemn Music warbles thro' the Shade.
No Victims can the Wrath of Heav'n asswage:
The Intrails of the Sacrifice presage
Our Head cut off, and Tumult, War, and Rage.
Around each hallow'd Shrine, and sacred Dome,
Night-howling Dogs disturb the peaceful Gloom:
Their silent Seats the wandring Shades forsake,
And fearful Tremblings the rock'd City shake.—
But They, by Signs, foretell th' approaching Ill.
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Of ecchoing Trumpets, and of clashing Arms.
The Sun's pale Image gave so faint a Light,
That the sad Earth was almost veil'd in Night.
The starry Sky with fiery Meteors glow'd,
And with the Rain were mingled Drops of Blood,
A dusky Hue the Morning Star o'erspread,
And the Moon's Orb was stain'd with Spots of Red.
In ev'ry Place portentous Shrieks were heard,
The fatal Warnings of th' infernal Bird:
In ev'ry Place the Marble melts to Tears:
While in the Groves, rever'd thro' length of Years,
Boding and aweful Sounds the Ear invade,
And solemn Music warbles thro' the Shade.
No Victims can the Wrath of Heav'n asswage:
The Intrails of the Sacrifice presage
Our Head cut off, and Tumult, War, and Rage.
Around each hallow'd Shrine, and sacred Dome,
Night-howling Dogs disturb the peaceful Gloom:
Their silent Seats the wandring Shades forsake,
And fearful Tremblings the rock'd City shake.—
The Sun, at Cæsar's Murder, pitying Rome,
With dusky Scurf obscur'd his beamy Head,
And impious Mortals fear'd eternal Night.
Tho' at that Time Earth too, and spacious Seas,
And Dogs obscene, and ill-presaging Birds
Gave dire Portents. How oft have we beheld
Loud thund'ring Ætna from Volcanos burst,
Deluge with liquid Fire Cyclopean Fields,
And toss huge Balls of Flame, and molten Stones?
O'er all the Sky Germania heard the Clank
Of Arms: Unusual shudd'rings rock'd the Alps:
And oft in silent Woods were Voices more
Than human heard: And Spectres wondrous pale
Seen in the Dusk of Ev'ning: Oxen spoke,
(Horrid to tell!) Earth yawn'd, and Streams stood still:
In Temples mourning Iv'ry wept: and Brass
Sweated: Eridanus, supreme of Rivers,
With roaring Inundation, o'er the Plains,
Swept Woods away, and Cattle, with their Stalls.
Nor did, mean-while, th' ill-boding Fibres cease
To menace Fate: nor Blood to rise in Wells:
Nor Cities loudly to resound with Wolves
Howling by Night. Ne'er, from unclouded Sky,
Did Lightnings with more nimble Flashes glare:
Nor e'er so thick did baleful Comets blaze.—
With dusky Scurf obscur'd his beamy Head,
And impious Mortals fear'd eternal Night.
Tho' at that Time Earth too, and spacious Seas,
And Dogs obscene, and ill-presaging Birds
Gave dire Portents. How oft have we beheld
Loud thund'ring Ætna from Volcanos burst,
Deluge with liquid Fire Cyclopean Fields,
And toss huge Balls of Flame, and molten Stones?
O'er all the Sky Germania heard the Clank
Of Arms: Unusual shudd'rings rock'd the Alps:
And oft in silent Woods were Voices more
Than human heard: And Spectres wondrous pale
Seen in the Dusk of Ev'ning: Oxen spoke,
(Horrid to tell!) Earth yawn'd, and Streams stood still:
In Temples mourning Iv'ry wept: and Brass
Sweated: Eridanus, supreme of Rivers,
265
Swept Woods away, and Cattle, with their Stalls.
Nor did, mean-while, th' ill-boding Fibres cease
To menace Fate: nor Blood to rise in Wells:
Nor Cities loudly to resound with Wolves
Howling by Night. Ne'er, from unclouded Sky,
Did Lightnings with more nimble Flashes glare:
Nor e'er so thick did baleful Comets blaze.—
The Gods by dreadful Omens straight disclos'd
The deathful Horrors of approaching Fate.
The Sun in gloomy Clouds obscur'd his Rays,
As if he mourn'd our civil Wars begun:
While trembling Cynthia fled the impious Sight,
Hid her full Orb, and from the World withdrew.
Mountains by sudden Storms were over-turn'd:
And erring Rivers left their Channels dry.
The Noise of Armour rattles thro' the Air,
And from the Clouds shrill Trumpets sound a Charge.
Fierce Ætna belches forth uncommon Fires,
And darts it's Lightnings upwards to the Skies.
Unbury'd Ghosts wander amongst the Tombs,
With horrid Screams denouncing dreadful Woes.
A fiery Comet shakes it's blazing Hair:
And wond'ring Jove descends in Show'rs of Blood.—
The deathful Horrors of approaching Fate.
The Sun in gloomy Clouds obscur'd his Rays,
As if he mourn'd our civil Wars begun:
While trembling Cynthia fled the impious Sight,
Hid her full Orb, and from the World withdrew.
Mountains by sudden Storms were over-turn'd:
And erring Rivers left their Channels dry.
The Noise of Armour rattles thro' the Air,
And from the Clouds shrill Trumpets sound a Charge.
Fierce Ætna belches forth uncommon Fires,
And darts it's Lightnings upwards to the Skies.
Unbury'd Ghosts wander amongst the Tombs,
With horrid Screams denouncing dreadful Woes.
A fiery Comet shakes it's blazing Hair:
And wond'ring Jove descends in Show'rs of Blood.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |