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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Sun.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Sun.
See Chance.
Palace of the Sun.
The Sun's bright Palace, on high Columns rais'd,With burnish'd Gold, and flaming Rubies blaz'd:
The Roof with polish'd Iv'ry was inlaid,
The folding Doors a silver Light display'd.
Rich was the Ground on which the Work was wrought,
But far inferior to the Workman's Thought:
For in the Portal was display'd on high,
(The Work of Vulcan) a fictitious Sky:
A waving Sea th' inferior Earth embrac'd,
And Gods and Goddesses the Waters grac'd.
Ægeon here a mighty Whale bestrode:
Triton, and Proteus, (the deceiving God)
With Doris here were carv'd, and all her Train:
Some loosely swimming in the figur'd Main,
While some on Rocks their dropping Hair divide,
And some on Fishes thro' the Waters glide.
Tho' various Features did the Sisters grace,
A Sister's Likeness was in ev'ry Face.
On Earth a different Prospect courts the Eyes,
Men, Towns, and Beasts in distant Prospect rise,
And Nymphs, and Streams, and Woods, and rural Deities.
415
And on each Gate are six refulgent Signs.—
Phoebus, or the Sun.
In purple Robes sat Phœbus on his Throne,
That with the Blaze of lucid Em'ralds shone.
The Hours, in equal Rows, on either Hand,
And Days, and Months, and Years, and Ages stand.
There stood the Spring, her Head with Flowers bound;
There Summer, naked, and with Wheat Ears crown'd:
There Autumn, stain'd with purple Juice, appear'd,
And icy Winter, with his hoary Beard.—
That with the Blaze of lucid Em'ralds shone.
The Hours, in equal Rows, on either Hand,
And Days, and Months, and Years, and Ages stand.
There stood the Spring, her Head with Flowers bound;
There Summer, naked, and with Wheat Ears crown'd:
There Autumn, stain'd with purple Juice, appear'd,
And icy Winter, with his hoary Beard.—
I am the God who measure out the Year,
The World's vast Eye, of Light the Source serene,
Which all Things sees, by which all Things are seen.—
The World's vast Eye, of Light the Source serene,
Which all Things sees, by which all Things are seen.—
Chariot of the Sun.
Gold was the Axle, and the Beam was Gold:
The Wheels, with silver spokes, on golden Circles roll'd.
Gems set in Rows adverse, and sparkling bright,
Reflected on the God the dazling Light.
The Wheels, with silver spokes, on golden Circles roll'd.
Gems set in Rows adverse, and sparkling bright,
Reflected on the God the dazling Light.
When Phœbus saw the Moon's pale Horns withdrawn,
And the World round him red'ning at the Dawn,
He bid the nimble Hours his Steeds array
With Harness: strait the Goddesses obey:
From their high Mangers with Ambrosia fed,
And breathing Flame, the gen'rous Beasts they led:
And fit the ratling Bridles.—
And the World round him red'ning at the Dawn,
He bid the nimble Hours his Steeds array
With Harness: strait the Goddesses obey:
From their high Mangers with Ambrosia fed,
And breathing Flame, the gen'rous Beasts they led:
And fit the ratling Bridles.—
Mean while hot Pyroeis, with Eöus join'd,
With Æthon Fleet, and Phlegon wild as Wind,
The Sun's swift Steeds, each other's Rage provoke,
Neighing aloud, and snorting Fire and Smoke.—
They spring together forth, and swiftly bear
With Æthon Fleet, and Phlegon wild as Wind,
The Sun's swift Steeds, each other's Rage provoke,
Neighing aloud, and snorting Fire and Smoke.—
Their rapid Course thro' Clouds and yielding Air:
With winged Speed outstrip the Eastern Wind,
And leave the Breezes of the Morn behind.—
417
Appears at first but as a bloodshot Eye:
And when his Chariot downward drives to Bed,
His Ball is with the same Suffusion red:
But mounted high in his meridian Race,
All bright he shines, and with a fairer Face:
For there, pure Particles of Ether flow,
Far from th' Infection of the World below.—
In pleasant Vales, beneath th' Hesperian Sky,
For the Sun's fiery Steeds green Pastures lie:
Ambrosia there they eat, and thence they gain
New Vigour, and their daily Toils sustain.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |