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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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
365
Flight.
Swift as the Wind, the
Damsel fled away,
Nor did for these alluring Speeches stay.—
Stay, Nymph, he cry'd, I follow not a Foe,
Thus from a Lyon bounds the trembling Doe:
Thus from the Wolf the frighten'd Lamb removes,
And, from pursuing Falcons, fearful Doves:
All fly their Foes; but Thou fly'st him that loves.
Ah! lest some Thorn should pierce thy tender Foot!
Or Thou should'st fall in shunning my Pursuit!
To sharp uneven Ways thy Steps decline;
Abate thy Speed, and I will bate of mine.
Nor did for these alluring Speeches stay.—
Stay, Nymph, he cry'd, I follow not a Foe,
Thus from a Lyon bounds the trembling Doe:
Thus from the Wolf the frighten'd Lamb removes,
And, from pursuing Falcons, fearful Doves:
All fly their Foes; but Thou fly'st him that loves.
Ah! lest some Thorn should pierce thy tender Foot!
Or Thou should'st fall in shunning my Pursuit!
To sharp uneven Ways thy Steps decline;
Abate thy Speed, and I will bate of mine.
She heard not half: so furiously she flies:
And on her Ear th' imperfect Accent dies.
How lovely was she then! the Wind that blew
Expos'd her Beauties naked to his View:
And, as behind her careless Locks it bore,
Flight made her still more charming than before.
Now will the God no more Entreaties lose,
But urg'd by Love, with all his Force pursues.
She urg'd by Fear, her Feet did swiftly move,
But he more swiftly, who was urg'd by Love.
No Rest he gives, but close behind her bears,
Pants on her Neck, and breathes upon her Hairs.—
And on her Ear th' imperfect Accent dies.
How lovely was she then! the Wind that blew
Expos'd her Beauties naked to his View:
And, as behind her careless Locks it bore,
Flight made her still more charming than before.
Now will the God no more Entreaties lose,
But urg'd by Love, with all his Force pursues.
She urg'd by Fear, her Feet did swiftly move,
But he more swiftly, who was urg'd by Love.
No Rest he gives, but close behind her bears,
Pants on her Neck, and breathes upon her Hairs.—
As trembling Doves from pressing Danger fly,
When the fierce Hawk comes sousing from the Sky;
And as fierce Hawks the trembling Doves pursue,
From him I fled, and after me he flew.—
When the fierce Hawk comes sousing from the Sky;
And as fierce Hawks the trembling Doves pursue,
From him I fled, and after me he flew.—
Away she fled: Not Stags with half such Speed,
Before the prowling Wolf, scud o'er the Mead:
Not Ducks, when they the safer Flood forsake,
Pursu'd by Hawks, so swift regain the Lake.
As fast he follow'd in the hot Career:
Desire the Lover wing'd, the Virgin Fear.—
Before the prowling Wolf, scud o'er the Mead:
Not Ducks, when they the safer Flood forsake,
Pursu'd by Hawks, so swift regain the Lake.
As fast he follow'd in the hot Career:
Desire the Lover wing'd, the Virgin Fear.—
367
Now, with a Lion's Spoils, bespread,
I take
My Sire, a pleasing Burthen, on my Back:
Close clinging to my Hand, and pressing nigh,
With Steps unequal, trip'd Iülus by.
Behind, my dear Creusa took her Way:
Thro' ev'ry lonely dark Recess we stray.
And I, who late th' embattled Greeks could dare,
Their flying Darts, and whole embody'd War,
Now take Alarm, while Horrors reign around,
At ev'ry Breeze, and start at ev'ry Sound.
With fancy'd Fears my busy Thoughts were wild,
For my dear Father, and endanger'd Child.—
My Sire, a pleasing Burthen, on my Back:
Close clinging to my Hand, and pressing nigh,
With Steps unequal, trip'd Iülus by.
Behind, my dear Creusa took her Way:
Thro' ev'ry lonely dark Recess we stray.
And I, who late th' embattled Greeks could dare,
Their flying Darts, and whole embody'd War,
Now take Alarm, while Horrors reign around,
At ev'ry Breeze, and start at ev'ry Sound.
With fancy'd Fears my busy Thoughts were wild,
For my dear Father, and endanger'd Child.—
Cheerless, the flying
Chief renew'd his Speed,
And urg'd, with gory Spurs, his fainting Steed.
A thousand Terrors struggling in his Mind,
He turns where doubtful Paths obscurely wind.
He starts at ev'ry Rustling of the Trees,
And fears the Whispers of each murm'ring Breeze:
The Fellows of his Flight increase his Dread,
While hard behind their trampling Horses tread.—
And urg'd, with gory Spurs, his fainting Steed.
A thousand Terrors struggling in his Mind,
He turns where doubtful Paths obscurely wind.
He starts at ev'ry Rustling of the Trees,
And fears the Whispers of each murm'ring Breeze:
The Fellows of his Flight increase his Dread,
While hard behind their trampling Horses tread.—
Now to those Shores the hapless Pompey came,
Where hoary Peneus rolls his ancient Stream:
Red with Emathian Slaughter ran his Flood,
And dy'd the Ocean deep in Roman Blood.
There a poor Bark, whose Keel could scarcely glide
Safe down some River's smooth descending Tide,
Receiv'd the mighty Master of the Main,
Whose spreading Navies hide the liquid Plain.
In this, he braves the Winds and stormy Sea,
And to the Lesbian Isle directs his Way.—
Where hoary Peneus rolls his ancient Stream:
Red with Emathian Slaughter ran his Flood,
And dy'd the Ocean deep in Roman Blood.
There a poor Bark, whose Keel could scarcely glide
Safe down some River's smooth descending Tide,
Receiv'd the mighty Master of the Main,
Whose spreading Navies hide the liquid Plain.
In this, he braves the Winds and stormy Sea,
And to the Lesbian Isle directs his Way.—
As when the Pilot, from the black'ning Skies,
A gath'ring Storm of wintry Rain descries:
His Sails unfurl'd, and crowded all with Wind,
He strives to leave the threat'ning Cloud behind:
Full Speed he fled.—
A gath'ring Storm of wintry Rain descries:
His Sails unfurl'd, and crowded all with Wind,
He strives to leave the threat'ning Cloud behind:
Full Speed he fled.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |