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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Weaving.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Weaving.
Strait to their Posts appointed,
both repair
And fix their threaded Looms with equal Care:
Around the solid Beam the Web is ty'd,
While hollow Canes the parting Warp divide:
Thro' which with nimble Flight, the Shuttles play,
And for the Woof prepare a ready Way:
The Woof and Warp divide, prest by the toothy Slay.
Now both, their Mantles button'd to their Breast,
Their dextrous Fingers ply with eager Haste,
And work with Pleasure: while they chear the Eye
With glowing Purple of the Tyrian Dye:
Or, justly intermixing Shades with Light,
Insensibly their Colourings unite.
As when a Shower transpierc'd with sunny Rays,
It's mighty Arch along the Heav'ns displays,
From whence a thousand diff'rent Colours rise,
Whose fine Transition cheats the clearest Eyes,
So like the intermingled Shading seems,
And only differs in the last Extreams.
Then Threads of Gold both artfully dispose,
And, as each Part in just Proportion rose,
Some antique Fable in their Work disclose.—
And fix their threaded Looms with equal Care:
Around the solid Beam the Web is ty'd,
While hollow Canes the parting Warp divide:
Thro' which with nimble Flight, the Shuttles play,
And for the Woof prepare a ready Way:
The Woof and Warp divide, prest by the toothy Slay.
Now both, their Mantles button'd to their Breast,
Their dextrous Fingers ply with eager Haste,
And work with Pleasure: while they chear the Eye
With glowing Purple of the Tyrian Dye:
Or, justly intermixing Shades with Light,
Insensibly their Colourings unite.
As when a Shower transpierc'd with sunny Rays,
It's mighty Arch along the Heav'ns displays,
From whence a thousand diff'rent Colours rise,
Whose fine Transition cheats the clearest Eyes,
So like the intermingled Shading seems,
And only differs in the last Extreams.
Then Threads of Gold both artfully dispose,
And, as each Part in just Proportion rose,
Some antique Fable in their Work disclose.—
With Skill exact a Phrygian Web
she strung,
Fix'd to a Loom that in her Chamber hung,
Where in-wrought Letters upon White display'd,
In purple Notes the cruel Act betray'd.—
Fix'd to a Loom that in her Chamber hung,
Where in-wrought Letters upon White display'd,
In purple Notes the cruel Act betray'd.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |