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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Rout.
See Battle. Slaughter.
Their Queen thus slain, first flies Camilla's Wing
Light-arm'd: the Rutuli confounded fly,
And brave Atinas, and the scatter'd Chiefs,
And broken Troops: To safer Posts they run,
And spur their foaming Steeds to reach the Town.
Nor now can any force in Arms sustain
The Trojans, pressing, and dispensing Death:
Or stand oppos'd: But languid back they bear
Their Bows unbent, and o'er their Shoulders slung:
And the swift Horses shake the putrid Soil
With sounding Hoofs. A turbid Cloud of Dust
Rolls to the City: On the lofty Tow'rs
The Matrons stand, and to th' etherial Stars
Raise female Cries: And frantick beat their Breasts.
Light-arm'd: the Rutuli confounded fly,
And brave Atinas, and the scatter'd Chiefs,
And broken Troops: To safer Posts they run,
And spur their foaming Steeds to reach the Town.
Nor now can any force in Arms sustain
The Trojans, pressing, and dispensing Death:
Or stand oppos'd: But languid back they bear
Their Bows unbent, and o'er their Shoulders slung:
And the swift Horses shake the putrid Soil
With sounding Hoofs. A turbid Cloud of Dust
Rolls to the City: On the lofty Tow'rs
The Matrons stand, and to th' etherial Stars
Raise female Cries: And frantick beat their Breasts.
With Those who thro' the open Gates first croud
Into the Town, a mingled Throng of Foes
Together presses: Nor a cruel Death
Do they escape: but ev'n within their Walls,
Their Houses, and beneath their native Roofs,
Transfix'd expire their Souls. Some shut the Gates:
Nor durst permit their own imploring Friends
To enter: Those with Arms the Passes guard,
These rush against those Arms: Among them All,
A Slaughter vast, and terrible, ensues.
Others, before their weeping Parents Eyes,
Excluded, by the Rout, and Ruin urg'd,
Down the steep Trenches leap: With loosen'd Reins
Some forward spur their Steeds, and blindly tilt
Against the Gates, the Bars, and solid Posts.—
The fiery Steeds, impatient of a Wound,
Into the Town, a mingled Throng of Foes
319
Do they escape: but ev'n within their Walls,
Their Houses, and beneath their native Roofs,
Transfix'd expire their Souls. Some shut the Gates:
Nor durst permit their own imploring Friends
To enter: Those with Arms the Passes guard,
These rush against those Arms: Among them All,
A Slaughter vast, and terrible, ensues.
Others, before their weeping Parents Eyes,
Excluded, by the Rout, and Ruin urg'd,
Down the steep Trenches leap: With loosen'd Reins
Some forward spur their Steeds, and blindly tilt
Against the Gates, the Bars, and solid Posts.—
Hurl their neglected Riders to the Ground:
Or on their Friends with Rage ungovern'd turn,
And trampling o'er the helpless Foot, are born.
Hence foul Confusion and Dismay succeed,
The Victors murder, and the Vanquish'd bleed:
Their weary Hands the tir'd Destroyers ply,
Scarce can these kill, so fast as those can die.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |