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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Affection Conjugal.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Affection Conjugal.
See Constancy.
The King commands his Servants to their Arms,
Resolv'd to go: but the loud Noise alarms
His lovely Queen, who from her Chamber flew,
And her half-plaited Hair behind her threw:
About his Neck she hung with loving Fears,
And now with Words, and now with pleading Tears,
Intreated that he'd send his Men alone,
And stay Himself to save two Lives in one.—
Resolv'd to go: but the loud Noise alarms
His lovely Queen, who from her Chamber flew,
And her half-plaited Hair behind her threw:
About his Neck she hung with loving Fears,
And now with Words, and now with pleading Tears,
Intreated that he'd send his Men alone,
And stay Himself to save two Lives in one.—
He, with his concave Shell his pining Love
Consol'd: and lonely, on the desart Shore,
Thee, sweet Eurydice! Thee still he sung:
Thee, at the Op'ning, Thee at Close of Day.—
No proffer'd Loves, no Hymenéal Vows
Could move his Soul: The Hyperborean Ice,
And snowy Tanais, and th' extended Fields
For ever rigid with Riphæan Frost,
Alone He travell'd o'er: Eurydice
Ravish'd away, deploring.—
The Thracian Dames enrag'd by this Contempt,
At Bacchus' Orgies, and nocturnal Rites,
With furious Madness tore the hapless Youth,
And strew'd his mangled Carcass o'er the Plains.
Then too, his Head, from the fair Neck disjoyn'd,
Œgrian Hebrus in his gulphy Tide
Rolling along, Eurydice he call'd,
With his last Accents, and his dying Tongue:
Ah! poor Eurydice! his flying Breath,
Eurydice! the Stream, and Banks resound.—
Consol'd: and lonely, on the desart Shore,
Thee, sweet Eurydice! Thee still he sung:
Thee, at the Op'ning, Thee at Close of Day.—
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Could move his Soul: The Hyperborean Ice,
And snowy Tanais, and th' extended Fields
For ever rigid with Riphæan Frost,
Alone He travell'd o'er: Eurydice
Ravish'd away, deploring.—
The Thracian Dames enrag'd by this Contempt,
At Bacchus' Orgies, and nocturnal Rites,
With furious Madness tore the hapless Youth,
And strew'd his mangled Carcass o'er the Plains.
Then too, his Head, from the fair Neck disjoyn'd,
Œgrian Hebrus in his gulphy Tide
Rolling along, Eurydice he call'd,
With his last Accents, and his dying Tongue:
Ah! poor Eurydice! his flying Breath,
Eurydice! the Stream, and Banks resound.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |