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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Desolation.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Desolation.
The tott'ring Pillars nodding Roofs sustain,
And, gaping wide, half ruin'd Walls remain:
Fv'n in th' Italian Cities, once so great,
Scarcely a living Creature now you meet:
Void of Inhabitants the Houses stand,
And Desolation reigns o'er all the Land:
The Fields, for Years untill'd, vile Weeds o'ergrow,
Nor Hands are left to exercise the Plow.—
And, gaping wide, half ruin'd Walls remain:
Fv'n in th' Italian Cities, once so great,
Scarcely a living Creature now you meet:
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And Desolation reigns o'er all the Land:
The Fields, for Years untill'd, vile Weeds o'ergrow,
Nor Hands are left to exercise the Plow.—
Succeeding Nations by the Sword shall die,
And swallow'd up in dark Oblivion lye:
Almighty Latium with her Cities crown'd,
Shall like an antiquated Fable sound:
The Veïan and the Gabian Towers shall fall,
And one promiscuous Ruin cover all:
Nor, after Length of Years, a Stone betray
The Place where once the very Ruins lay:
High Alba's Walls, and the Lavinian Strand,
(A lonely Desart, and an empty Land,)
Shall scare afford, for needful Hours of Rest,
A single House to their benighted Guest.—
And swallow'd up in dark Oblivion lye:
Almighty Latium with her Cities crown'd,
Shall like an antiquated Fable sound:
The Veïan and the Gabian Towers shall fall,
And one promiscuous Ruin cover all:
Nor, after Length of Years, a Stone betray
The Place where once the very Ruins lay:
High Alba's Walls, and the Lavinian Strand,
(A lonely Desart, and an empty Land,)
Shall scare afford, for needful Hours of Rest,
A single House to their benighted Guest.—
The Place he view'd, where ever dear to Fame,
Troy's City stood, e'er 'twas by fire consum'd;
And sought to find some Footsteps of the Walls
By Phœbus rear'd: but a thick Wood of Weeds,
And blasted mossy Trunks with Branches sear,
Grew o'er the Palaces of Priam's Race;
And with their Roots, now mould'ring into Dust,
Possess'd the sacred Temples of the Gods.—
Troy's City stood, e'er 'twas by fire consum'd;
And sought to find some Footsteps of the Walls
By Phœbus rear'd: but a thick Wood of Weeds,
And blasted mossy Trunks with Branches sear,
Grew o'er the Palaces of Priam's Race;
And with their Roots, now mould'ring into Dust,
Possess'd the sacred Temples of the Gods.—
With prickly Thorns, and Brambles over-run,
All rude, all waste and desperate is laid,
And ev'n the ruin'd Ruins are decay'd.—
All rude, all waste and desperate is laid,
And ev'n the ruin'd Ruins are decay'd.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |