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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Spring.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Spring.
See Seasons. Venus. Year.
When
Winter ends, and Spring serenely shines;
Then fat the Lambs, and mellow are the Wines:
Then soft the Slumbers on the verdant Ground;
Then with thick Shades the lofty Mountain's crown'd.—
Then fat the Lambs, and mellow are the Wines:
Then soft the Slumbers on the verdant Ground;
Then with thick Shades the lofty Mountain's crown'd.—
The Spring to Forests yields a kindly Aid:
To Woods the Spring restores the useful Shade:
In the kind Spring the Lands abound with Juice,
And ask for Seeds that give a large Produce.
Then the All-potent Air, prolific Showers
On the soft Lap of his glad Consort pours:
From her vast Womb the mighty Store proceeds,
And all, the mighty He commix'd, with Plenty feeds.
The Birds their Songs repeat to ev'ry Grove;
And Herds perceive the Season of their Love:
Then teem the Fields, and make their Bosoms bare
To the warm Breezes of the western Air.
Then kindly Moisture over all Things sheds:
Plants trust new Suns, and boldly rear their Heads:
Nor fears the Vine lest southern Storms should rise,
Or the rough North pour Rivers from the Skies:
But boldly shoots her Buds from ev'ry Bough,
And all her Leaves displays with pompous Show.
So dawn'd the Days, such was, methinks, their Course
In the weak Childhood of the Universe:
Then Spring was all, for then the mighty Ring,
Roll'd, free from Winter's Storms, in constant Spring.—
To Woods the Spring restores the useful Shade:
387
And ask for Seeds that give a large Produce.
Then the All-potent Air, prolific Showers
On the soft Lap of his glad Consort pours:
From her vast Womb the mighty Store proceeds,
And all, the mighty He commix'd, with Plenty feeds.
The Birds their Songs repeat to ev'ry Grove;
And Herds perceive the Season of their Love:
Then teem the Fields, and make their Bosoms bare
To the warm Breezes of the western Air.
Then kindly Moisture over all Things sheds:
Plants trust new Suns, and boldly rear their Heads:
Nor fears the Vine lest southern Storms should rise,
Or the rough North pour Rivers from the Skies:
But boldly shoots her Buds from ev'ry Bough,
And all her Leaves displays with pompous Show.
So dawn'd the Days, such was, methinks, their Course
In the weak Childhood of the Universe:
Then Spring was all, for then the mighty Ring,
Roll'd, free from Winter's Storms, in constant Spring.—
And now the Fields all teem, and every Tree:
Now bloom the Groves, now smiles the beauteous Year.—
Now bloom the Groves, now smiles the beauteous Year.—
Seas then lie husht: then Earth grows bold to bear,
And trusts young Flow'rs to the serener Air:
Then Beasts in Fields, and Birds in every Grove,
Press on with Fury, to consummate Love.
With joyous Song the vocal Forests ring,
And various Leaves adorn the gaudy Spring:
With such brisk Powers are Nature's Parts possest,
When, wak'd, she rouses from her Winter's Rest.—
And trusts young Flow'rs to the serener Air:
Then Beasts in Fields, and Birds in every Grove,
Press on with Fury, to consummate Love.
With joyous Song the vocal Forests ring,
And various Leaves adorn the gaudy Spring:
With such brisk Powers are Nature's Parts possest,
When, wak'd, she rouses from her Winter's Rest.—
Sharp Winter melts, Favonius spreads his Wing,
And brings a pleasing Change, the smiling Spring.
Ships from the Docks are now drawn out again,
And spread their Canvas on the curling Main.
Nor Stalls the Ox, nor Fires the Clown delight,
Nor Frosts no longer cloth the Fields in White.
The Nymphs and Graces joyn'd, thro' flowry Meads,
By Moon-light dance, and lovely Venus leads.
Nimbly they shift their Feet, and shake the Ground,
While Vulcan lab'ring at his Forge is found.
Then crown'd with Myrtle be, or fragant Flow'rs,
Rais'd from the loos'ned Earth by balmy Show'rs:
To Faunus offer, in the sacred Groves,
A Lamb, or Kid, which e'er he best approves.—
And brings a pleasing Change, the smiling Spring.
Ships from the Docks are now drawn out again,
And spread their Canvas on the curling Main.
Nor Stalls the Ox, nor Fires the Clown delight,
Nor Frosts no longer cloth the Fields in White.
389
By Moon-light dance, and lovely Venus leads.
Nimbly they shift their Feet, and shake the Ground,
While Vulcan lab'ring at his Forge is found.
Then crown'd with Myrtle be, or fragant Flow'rs,
Rais'd from the loos'ned Earth by balmy Show'rs:
To Faunus offer, in the sacred Groves,
A Lamb, or Kid, which e'er he best approves.—
The Snows are gone, behold a World's new Face!
How Grass the Ground, how Leaves their Branches grace.
The Streams that lately over-flow'd the Grounds,
Now gently glide within their proper Bounds.
The Nymphs and Graces naked dance around,
And nimbly o'er the flow'ry Meadows bound.—
How Grass the Ground, how Leaves their Branches grace.
The Streams that lately over-flow'd the Grounds,
Now gently glide within their proper Bounds.
The Nymphs and Graces naked dance around,
And nimbly o'er the flow'ry Meadows bound.—
The Spring, the new, the warbling Spring appears,
The youthful Season of reviving Years:
In Spring the Loves enkindle mutual Heats,
The feather'd Nations chuse their tuneful Mates:
The Trees grow fruitful with descending Rain,
And drest in diff'ring Greens adorn the Plain.—
The youthful Season of reviving Years:
In Spring the Loves enkindle mutual Heats,
The feather'd Nations chuse their tuneful Mates:
The Trees grow fruitful with descending Rain,
And drest in diff'ring Greens adorn the Plain.—
Now Bulls o'er Stalks of Broom extend their Sides,
Secure of Favours from their lowing Brides.
Now stately Rams their fleecy Consorts lead,
Who bleating follow thro' the winding Shade.
And now the Goddess bids the Birds appear,
Raise all their Musick, and salute the Year:
Then deep the Swan begins, and deep the Song
Runs o'er the Water where he sails along:
While Philomela tunes a treble Strain,
And from the Poplar charms the list'ning Plain.—
Secure of Favours from their lowing Brides.
Now stately Rams their fleecy Consorts lead,
Who bleating follow thro' the winding Shade.
And now the Goddess bids the Birds appear,
Raise all their Musick, and salute the Year:
Then deep the Swan begins, and deep the Song
Runs o'er the Water where he sails along:
While Philomela tunes a treble Strain,
And from the Poplar charms the list'ning Plain.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |