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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Silver Age.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
27
Silver Age.
But when good Saturn, banish'd from above,
Was driv'n to Hell, the World was under Jove.
Succeeding Times a Silver Age behold,
Excelling Brass, but more excell'd by Gold.
Then Summer, Winter, Autumn did appear:
And Spring was but a Season of the Year.
The Sun his annual Course obliquely made,
Good Days contracted, and enlarg'd the bad.
Then glow'd the Air with sultry Heats, the Wind
Began with Ice and Snow the Rains to bind.
Mortals to Houses then for Shelter fled:
Caves were their Houses, or an Osier-Shed.
Then Furrows for the quick'ning Grain were broke,
And Oxen labour'd first beneath the Yoke.—
Was driv'n to Hell, the World was under Jove.
Succeeding Times a Silver Age behold,
Excelling Brass, but more excell'd by Gold.
Then Summer, Winter, Autumn did appear:
And Spring was but a Season of the Year.
The Sun his annual Course obliquely made,
Good Days contracted, and enlarg'd the bad.
Then glow'd the Air with sultry Heats, the Wind
Began with Ice and Snow the Rains to bind.
Mortals to Houses then for Shelter fled:
Caves were their Houses, or an Osier-Shed.
Then Furrows for the quick'ning Grain were broke,
And Oxen labour'd first beneath the Yoke.—
E'er Jove was King no Hinds subdu'd the Glebe:
Nor lawful was it held to sever Lands,
Or mark their Bounds: in common all Things lay:
And Earth without Compulsion yielded Food.—
He baneful Poyson to fell Serpents gave:
Commanded Wolves to prowl, the Sea to toss:
From Trees the Honey shook: conceal'd the Fire:
And all in Streams repress'd the running Wine:
That Want by Thought might strike out various Arts,
Gradual; in Furrows seek the Blade of Corn:
And by Collision from the Veins of Flint
Extund the latent Fire.—Then Rivers first
Felt hollow'd Timber: the sea-faring Crew
Then first gave Names and Numbers to the Stars,
The Pleïads, Hyads, and the northern Bear.
'Twas then invented to intangle Beasts
In Toils, and Fowls in Bird-lime to deceive:
And with stanch Hounds the Thicket to inclose.
One with his Casting-net, lanch'd on the deep,
Beats the broad River: from the deeper Sea
Another drags along his dropping Twine.
Then rigid Iron, and the grating Saw,
(With Wedges, first, the splitting Wood they riv'd)
Then various Arts ensu'd.—
Nor lawful was it held to sever Lands,
Or mark their Bounds: in common all Things lay:
And Earth without Compulsion yielded Food.—
He baneful Poyson to fell Serpents gave:
Commanded Wolves to prowl, the Sea to toss:
From Trees the Honey shook: conceal'd the Fire:
And all in Streams repress'd the running Wine:
That Want by Thought might strike out various Arts,
Gradual; in Furrows seek the Blade of Corn:
And by Collision from the Veins of Flint
Extund the latent Fire.—Then Rivers first
Felt hollow'd Timber: the sea-faring Crew
Then first gave Names and Numbers to the Stars,
The Pleïads, Hyads, and the northern Bear.
'Twas then invented to intangle Beasts
In Toils, and Fowls in Bird-lime to deceive:
And with stanch Hounds the Thicket to inclose.
One with his Casting-net, lanch'd on the deep,
Beats the broad River: from the deeper Sea
Another drags along his dropping Twine.
29
(With Wedges, first, the splitting Wood they riv'd)
Then various Arts ensu'd.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |