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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Chaos.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Chaos.
Before the Seas, and this terrestrial Ball,
And Heav'n's high Canopy that covers all,
Nature one Face of Things, a Chaos show'd;
An indigested, heavy, formless Load:
Where ill-cemented Seeds in Discord jarr'd,
And all the Elements together warr'd.
No Sun was lighted up, the World to view,
No Moon did yet her blunted Horns renew:
Nor Earth, self-balanc'd, in the Air was plac'd,
Nor yet kind Ocean's Arms the Ball embrac'd.
Then Sea, and Air, and Earth confounded were,
Unstable was the Earth, and dark the Air,
The Sea unnavigable.—
No certain Form on any was imprest,
All were confus'd, and each disturb'd the Rest:
The Cold and Hot, the Dry and Humid fight,
The Soft, and Hard, the Heavy and the Light.
And Heav'n's high Canopy that covers all,
Nature one Face of Things, a Chaos show'd;
An indigested, heavy, formless Load:
Where ill-cemented Seeds in Discord jarr'd,
And all the Elements together warr'd.
No Sun was lighted up, the World to view,
No Moon did yet her blunted Horns renew:
Nor Earth, self-balanc'd, in the Air was plac'd,
Nor yet kind Ocean's Arms the Ball embrac'd.
Then Sea, and Air, and Earth confounded were,
Unstable was the Earth, and dark the Air,
The Sea unnavigable.—
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All were confus'd, and each disturb'd the Rest:
The Cold and Hot, the Dry and Humid fight,
The Soft, and Hard, the Heavy and the Light.
But God and careful Nature interpose,
To reconcile the elemental Foes:
He Earth from Heav'n, and Sea from Earth disjoyns,
And from gross Air the purer Heav'n refines.
Then by his prudent Care, the Mass controul'd,
Began its blind Materials to unfold:
He to each Portion proper Seats assigns,
And all the beauteous Whole in Peace combines.—
To reconcile the elemental Foes:
He Earth from Heav'n, and Sea from Earth disjoyns,
And from gross Air the purer Heav'n refines.
Then by his prudent Care, the Mass controul'd,
Began its blind Materials to unfold:
He to each Portion proper Seats assigns,
And all the beauteous Whole in Peace combines.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |