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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Soul.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Soul.
See Druids. Elysium. Hell. Manes. Purgatory.
—Souls for ever live:
But often their old Habitations leave,
To dwell in new; which them, as Guests, receive.
All alter, Nothing finally decays;
Hither, and thither, still the Spirit strays:
Free to all Bodies; out of Beasts it flies
To Men, from Men to Beasts: and never dies.
As pliant Wax each new Impression takes,
Fixt to no Form, but still the Old forsakes,
Yet is the same: so Souls the same abide,
Tho' various Figures their Reception hide.—
But often their old Habitations leave,
To dwell in new; which them, as Guests, receive.
All alter, Nothing finally decays;
Hither, and thither, still the Spirit strays:
Free to all Bodies; out of Beasts it flies
To Men, from Men to Beasts: and never dies.
As pliant Wax each new Impression takes,
Fixt to no Form, but still the Old forsakes,
Yet is the same: so Souls the same abide,
Tho' various Figures their Reception hide.—
We know not yet the Soul: how 'tis produc'd:
Whether with Body born, or else infus'd:
Whether, in Death, breath'd out into the Air,
She mix confus'dly with't, and perish there:
Or thro' vast Shades, and horrid Silence go,
To visit Brimstone Caves, and Pools below:
Or into Beasts retires.—
Whether with Body born, or else infus'd:
Whether, in Death, breath'd out into the Air,
She mix confus'dly with't, and perish there:
Or thro' vast Shades, and horrid Silence go,
To visit Brimstone Caves, and Pools below:
Or into Beasts retires.—
Brave Souls when loos'd from this ignoble Chain
Of Clay, and sent to their own Heav'n again,
From Earth's gross Orb on Virtue's Pinions rise,
In Æther wanton, and enjoy the Skies.—
Of Clay, and sent to their own Heav'n again,
From Earth's gross Orb on Virtue's Pinions rise,
In Æther wanton, and enjoy the Skies.—
Who could know Heav'n, unless that Heav'n bestow'd
The Knowledge? or find God, but Part of God?
How could the Space immense be e'er confin'd
Within the Compass of a narrow Mind?
How could the Skies, the Dances of the Stars,
Their Motions adverse, and eternal Wars,
Unless kind Nature in our Breasts had wrought,
Proportion'd Souls, be subject to our Thought.—
The Knowledge? or find God, but Part of God?
How could the Space immense be e'er confin'd
Within the Compass of a narrow Mind?
How could the Skies, the Dances of the Stars,
Their Motions adverse, and eternal Wars,
Unless kind Nature in our Breasts had wrought,
Proportion'd Souls, be subject to our Thought.—
383
Can any doubt that God resides in Man,
That Souls from Heav'n descend, and when the Chain
Of Life is broke, return to Heav'n again?
As in the greater World, aspiring Flame,
Earth, Water, Air, make the material Frame:
And thro' the Members a commanding Soul
Infus'd, directs the Motion of the Whole:
So 'tis in Man, the lesser World: the Case
Is Clay, unactive, and an earthly Mass:
But the Blood's Streams the ruling Soul convey
Thro ev'ry Part, to actuate the Clay.
Then who can wonder that the World is known
So well by Man, since he himself is One?
The same Composure in his Form is shew'd,
And Man's the little Image of the God.—
That Souls from Heav'n descend, and when the Chain
Of Life is broke, return to Heav'n again?
As in the greater World, aspiring Flame,
Earth, Water, Air, make the material Frame:
And thro' the Members a commanding Soul
Infus'd, directs the Motion of the Whole:
So 'tis in Man, the lesser World: the Case
Is Clay, unactive, and an earthly Mass:
But the Blood's Streams the ruling Soul convey
Thro ev'ry Part, to actuate the Clay.
Then who can wonder that the World is known
So well by Man, since he himself is One?
The same Composure in his Form is shew'd,
And Man's the little Image of the God.—
When once th' appointed Years are roll'd away,
The passing Minds their former Load sustain,
Are born a-new, and sheath'd in Flesh again.—
The passing Minds their former Load sustain,
Are born a-new, and sheath'd in Flesh again.—
Mean while whate'er was in the Pow'r of Flame
Was all consum'd: his Body's nervous Frame
No more was known, of human Form bereft:
Th' eternal Part of Jove was only left.
As an old Serpent, cast his scaly Vest,
Writhes in the Sun, in youthful Glory drest:
So when Alcides' mortal Mold resign'd,
His better Part enlarg'd, and grew refin'd:
August his Visage shone: Almighty Jove
In his swift Car his honour'd Offspring drove:
High o'er the hollow Clouds the Coursers fly,
And lodge the Hero in the starry Sky.—
Was all consum'd: his Body's nervous Frame
No more was known, of human Form bereft:
Th' eternal Part of Jove was only left.
As an old Serpent, cast his scaly Vest,
Writhes in the Sun, in youthful Glory drest:
So when Alcides' mortal Mold resign'd,
His better Part enlarg'd, and grew refin'd:
August his Visage shone: Almighty Jove
In his swift Car his honour'd Offspring drove:
High o'er the hollow Clouds the Coursers fly,
And lodge the Hero in the starry Sky.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |