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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Amazon.
Her
Amazonian Files with lunar Shields
Penthesilea leads, and in the midst
Of Thousands Storms: Beneath her naked Pap
Her golden Belt she buckles, warlike Maid,
And, tho' a Virgin, dares engage with Men.—
Penthesilea leads, and in the midst
Of Thousands Storms: Beneath her naked Pap
Her golden Belt she buckles, warlike Maid,
And, tho' a Virgin, dares engage with Men.—
Here in the Brakes, and savage Dens of Beasts,
He nurs'd his Daughter from the Dugs of Mares,
Milking their Teats into her tender Lips.
Soon as the Infant first with doubtful Feet
Could press the Ground, her little Hands he fill'd
With pointed Darts, and on her Shoulder hung
A Bow and Quiver. No soft Caul of Gold
Her Tresses strains: nor flows her waving Gown:
Instead of these a Tyger's horrid Hide
Hangs from her Head, and o'er her Back descends.
Darts with her tender Hand e'en then she threw;
And, whirling round her Head a sounding Sling,
Struck the Strymonian Crane, or Snow-white Swan.—
He nurs'd his Daughter from the Dugs of Mares,
Milking their Teats into her tender Lips.
Soon as the Infant first with doubtful Feet
Could press the Ground, her little Hands he fill'd
45
A Bow and Quiver. No soft Caul of Gold
Her Tresses strains: nor flows her waving Gown:
Instead of these a Tyger's horrid Hide
Hangs from her Head, and o'er her Back descends.
Darts with her tender Hand e'en then she threw;
And, whirling round her Head a sounding Sling,
Struck the Strymonian Crane, or Snow-white Swan.—
—Camilla came,
And led her warlike Troops, a Warrior Dame:
Unbred to Spinning, in the Loom unskill'd,
She chose the nobler Pallas of the Field.
Mix'd with the First, the fierce Virago fought,
Sustain'd the Toils of Arms, the Danger sought:
Outstrip'd the Winds in Speed upon the Plain,
Flew o'er the Fields, nor hurt the bearded Grain:
She swept the Seas, and as she skimm'd along
Her flying Feet unbath'd on Billows hung.
Men, Boys, and Women, stupid with Surprize,
Where-e'er she passes, fix their wondring Eyes:
Longing they look, and gaping at the Sight,
Devour her o'er and o'er with vast Delight.
Her purple Habit sits with such a Grace
On her smooth Shoulders, and so suits her Face:
Her Head with Ringlets of her Hair is crown'd,
And in a golden Caul the Curls are bound.
She shakes her Myrtle Jav'lin: And, behind,
Her Lycian Quiver dances in the Wind.—
And led her warlike Troops, a Warrior Dame:
Unbred to Spinning, in the Loom unskill'd,
She chose the nobler Pallas of the Field.
Mix'd with the First, the fierce Virago fought,
Sustain'd the Toils of Arms, the Danger sought:
Outstrip'd the Winds in Speed upon the Plain,
Flew o'er the Fields, nor hurt the bearded Grain:
She swept the Seas, and as she skimm'd along
Her flying Feet unbath'd on Billows hung.
Men, Boys, and Women, stupid with Surprize,
Where-e'er she passes, fix their wondring Eyes:
Longing they look, and gaping at the Sight,
Devour her o'er and o'er with vast Delight.
Her purple Habit sits with such a Grace
On her smooth Shoulders, and so suits her Face:
Her Head with Ringlets of her Hair is crown'd,
And in a golden Caul the Curls are bound.
She shakes her Myrtle Jav'lin: And, behind,
Her Lycian Quiver dances in the Wind.—
But in the Midst the Amazonian Maid
Camilla, with her shafts, and Quiver storms,
Exulting, fierce among the slaughter'd Heaps:
With one Breast bare commodious for the Fight,
Now hurls repeated Jav'lins, now with Toil
Unweary'd snatches her well temper'd Ax.
Her gilded Bow, and all Diana's Arms
Sound from her Shoulder. Ev'n, when turn'd in Flight,
(If e'er she turn) her Arrows she directs
Shot backward, and behind her bends the Bow.—
Camilla, with her shafts, and Quiver storms,
Exulting, fierce among the slaughter'd Heaps:
With one Breast bare commodious for the Fight,
Now hurls repeated Jav'lins, now with Toil
Unweary'd snatches her well temper'd Ax.
Her gilded Bow, and all Diana's Arms
Sound from her Shoulder. Ev'n, when turn'd in Flight,
(If e'er she turn) her Arrows she directs
Shot backward, and behind her bends the Bow.—
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—With dissembled Flight
In a wide Ring, interior, wheeling round
She mocks Orsilochus, and him pursues,
From whom she flies: Then rising to the Blows
Redoubled, thro' his Arms and Bones she drives
Her massy Ax, nor ought regards his Pray'rs:
From the warm Wound his Brains besmear his Face.—
In a wide Ring, interior, wheeling round
She mocks Orsilochus, and him pursues,
From whom she flies: Then rising to the Blows
Redoubled, thro' his Arms and Bones she drives
Her massy Ax, nor ought regards his Pray'rs:
From the warm Wound his Brains besmear his Face.—
Such the fair Troop of Amazons is seen
With moony Shields, and headed by their Queen:
When trembling Tanais has their Fury try'd,
Or the fierce Getes their female Arms defy'd:
And proudly glitt'ring with their plunder'd Spoils,
The fierce Viragoes march, triumphant from their Toils.—
With moony Shields, and headed by their Queen:
When trembling Tanais has their Fury try'd,
Or the fierce Getes their female Arms defy'd:
And proudly glitt'ring with their plunder'd Spoils,
The fierce Viragoes march, triumphant from their Toils.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |