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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Bacchanals.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Bacchanals.
Thro' the mid Cities, and the madding Crowds,
Furious she urges on; and cries aloud,
Evoë! Bacchus! who alone deserv'st
The Virgin Bride: For Thee, (as Fame reports,)
The Female Train the soft Vine-Jav'lins wield;
Thee they surround: their consecrated Locks
For Thee they nourish.—All the Matrons fir'd,
With the same Furies in their Breasts, to seek
New Dwellings, leave their Houses: To the Winds
They give their Necks, and Hair: Some fill the Sky
With trembling Yells: and, clad in Skins of Beasts,
Brandish their Spears with viny Wreaths entwin'd.—
Furious she urges on; and cries aloud,
Evoë! Bacchus! who alone deserv'st
The Virgin Bride: For Thee, (as Fame reports,)
The Female Train the soft Vine-Jav'lins wield;
Thee they surround: their consecrated Locks
For Thee they nourish.—All the Matrons fir'd,
With the same Furies in their Breasts, to seek
New Dwellings, leave their Houses: To the Winds
They give their Necks, and Hair: Some fill the Sky
With trembling Yells: and, clad in Skins of Beasts,
Brandish their Spears with viny Wreaths entwin'd.—
—Distracted, wild,
She rages: and, incens'd, o'er all the Town
Roves, like a Bacchanal: when at the Name
Of Bacchus, his triennial Orgies swell
Her Breast with Madness: and Cytheron's Top
Invites her ecchoing with nocturnal Sounds.—
She rages: and, incens'd, o'er all the Town
91
Of Bacchus, his triennial Orgies swell
Her Breast with Madness: and Cytheron's Top
Invites her ecchoing with nocturnal Sounds.—
Now the triennial Celebration came,
Observ'd to Bacchus by each Thracian Dame:
When, in the Privacies of Night retir'd,
They act his Rites, with sacred Rapture fir'd.
By Night, the tinkling Cymbals ring around,
While the shrill Notes from Rhodopè resound.
By Night the Queen disguis'd forsakes the Court,
To mingle in the festival Resort:
Leaves of the curling Vine her Temples shade,
And, with a circling Wreath, adorn her Head:
A-down her Back the Stags rough Spoils appear;
Light on her Shoulder leans a Cornel-Spear.
Thus, in the Fury of the God conceal'd,
Mad, with her Gang, to the thick Wood she flies,
And with loud Yells and Howlings fills the Skies,
Which to thine Honour, Bacchus, seem to rise.—
Observ'd to Bacchus by each Thracian Dame:
When, in the Privacies of Night retir'd,
They act his Rites, with sacred Rapture fir'd.
By Night, the tinkling Cymbals ring around,
While the shrill Notes from Rhodopè resound.
By Night the Queen disguis'd forsakes the Court,
To mingle in the festival Resort:
Leaves of the curling Vine her Temples shade,
And, with a circling Wreath, adorn her Head:
A-down her Back the Stags rough Spoils appear;
Light on her Shoulder leans a Cornel-Spear.
Thus, in the Fury of the God conceal'd,
Mad, with her Gang, to the thick Wood she flies,
And with loud Yells and Howlings fills the Skies,
Which to thine Honour, Bacchus, seem to rise.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |