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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Comets.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Comets.
Whether from Earth the active Seeds of Flame
May rise on high, and fiery Comets frame,
Or Emanations from the Stars may fly,
And join to form them, blazing thro' the Sky:
Or God, in pity to our mortal State,
Hangs out these Lights, to shew approaching Fate:
They never shine in vain, but still presage
Some coming Plague on the unhappy Age.
No Crop rewards the cheated Farmer's Toil,
He mourns, and curses the ungrateful Soil:
The meager Ox to the successless Plow
He yokes, and scarce dares make another Vow:
Or wasting Plagues their deadly Poisons spread,
And wide extend the Empire of the Dead:
Then Heaps on Heaps unhappy Mortals fall,
And mighty Cities make one Funeral.—
May rise on high, and fiery Comets frame,
Or Emanations from the Stars may fly,
And join to form them, blazing thro' the Sky:
Or God, in pity to our mortal State,
Hangs out these Lights, to shew approaching Fate:
They never shine in vain, but still presage
Some coming Plague on the unhappy Age.
No Crop rewards the cheated Farmer's Toil,
He mourns, and curses the ungrateful Soil:
The meager Ox to the successless Plow
He yokes, and scarce dares make another Vow:
Or wasting Plagues their deadly Poisons spread,
And wide extend the Empire of the Dead:
Then Heaps on Heaps unhappy Mortals fall,
And mighty Cities make one Funeral.—
So threatning Comets glaring from an high
With sanguine Beams, dart swiftly thro' the Sky:
They stream a ruddy Trail, and, not in vain,
The Sailor fears them on the watry Plain,
And trembling Nations dread the long malignant Train.
The bearded Blaze th' impending Ill foreshows
Of wrecking Tempests, or invading Foes.—
With sanguine Beams, dart swiftly thro' the Sky:
They stream a ruddy Trail, and, not in vain,
The Sailor fears them on the watry Plain,
And trembling Nations dread the long malignant Train.
The bearded Blaze th' impending Ill foreshows
Of wrecking Tempests, or invading Foes.—
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| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |