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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Horse.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Horse.
—High his Neck,
His Head acute, his Belly thin, his Back
Fleshy, and round: his Chest with swelling Knots
Luxuriant: (best for Colour is the Bay,
And dappled: worst the Sorrel, and the White:)
Then, if the Clank of distant Arms is heard,
He paws, impatient, quickens his sharp Ears,
And quivers ev'ry Joint, and snorting curbs
The Smoke and Fire which in his Nostrils roll.
His full thick Mane on his Right Shoulder plays:
A double spinal Bone his Chine divides:
His sounding Hoof with solid Horn upturns
The crumbling Mould, and rings against the Ground.—
His Head acute, his Belly thin, his Back
Fleshy, and round: his Chest with swelling Knots
Luxuriant: (best for Colour is the Bay,
And dappled: worst the Sorrel, and the White:)
Then, if the Clank of distant Arms is heard,
He paws, impatient, quickens his sharp Ears,
And quivers ev'ry Joint, and snorting curbs
The Smoke and Fire which in his Nostrils roll.
His full thick Mane on his Right Shoulder plays:
A double spinal Bone his Chine divides:
His sounding Hoof with solid Horn upturns
The crumbling Mould, and rings against the Ground.—
First be the Steed accustom'd to behold
The Warrior's Arms, and Courage: to endure
The Trumpet, and the rumbling Chariot's Noise,
And hear the Bridles rattle in the Stalls:
Then more and more to love the soothing Sound
Of the clap'd Chest, and proudly to rejoyce
In the fond Praises of the busy Groom.
Thus, when first sever'd from the suckling Dam,
Let him be exercis'd, and taught to bear
Soft pliant Headstalls: in his weaker Age
Yet trembling, nor experienc'd from his Years.
But when another Summer to the Third
Is added: Let him now begin to wheel
In artful Rings: with sounding Hoofs to form
His Steps: to manage his alternate Feet
Sinuous and flexile: and to paw, and bound
With seeming Labour: Then to dare the Winds
In Fleetness: and, as if unrein'd, to fly
O'er the wide Plain, nor press th' unprinted Sand.
A Steed thus train'd, or in the spacious Cirque
Will sweat, and labour round the Eleïan Goal,
And from his Mouth throw Flakes of bloody Foam:
Or more obsequious draw the Belgic Car.—
The Warrior's Arms, and Courage: to endure
The Trumpet, and the rumbling Chariot's Noise,
And hear the Bridles rattle in the Stalls:
Then more and more to love the soothing Sound
Of the clap'd Chest, and proudly to rejoyce
In the fond Praises of the busy Groom.
Thus, when first sever'd from the suckling Dam,
Let him be exercis'd, and taught to bear
Soft pliant Headstalls: in his weaker Age
Yet trembling, nor experienc'd from his Years.
But when another Summer to the Third
Is added: Let him now begin to wheel
In artful Rings: with sounding Hoofs to form
499
Sinuous and flexile: and to paw, and bound
With seeming Labour: Then to dare the Winds
In Fleetness: and, as if unrein'd, to fly
O'er the wide Plain, nor press th' unprinted Sand.
A Steed thus train'd, or in the spacious Cirque
Will sweat, and labour round the Eleïan Goal,
And from his Mouth throw Flakes of bloody Foam:
Or more obsequious draw the Belgic Car.—
First daring Ericthonius to the Car
Four Horses join'd, and rode on rapid Wheels:
The Lapithæ first, mounting on their Backs,
Added the Reins: And taught them, under Arms,
Graceful to form the Steps, to wheel, and turn,
Insult the Ground, and proudly pace the Plain.—
Four Horses join'd, and rode on rapid Wheels:
The Lapithæ first, mounting on their Backs,
Added the Reins: And taught them, under Arms,
Graceful to form the Steps, to wheel, and turn,
Insult the Ground, and proudly pace the Plain.—
So, loose with broken Reins, the sprightly Steed
Flies from his Stall, and gains the open Field:
Or to the Pastures, and the female Herd
He bends his Course: or to the wonted Stream,
To bathe his Limbs: He neighs, and bounds from Earth,
Luxuriant, prancing, with his Chest erect,
And Head high toss'd in Air: his waving Mane
Flows on his Neck, and o'er his Shoulders plays.—
Flies from his Stall, and gains the open Field:
Or to the Pastures, and the female Herd
He bends his Course: or to the wonted Stream,
To bathe his Limbs: He neighs, and bounds from Earth,
Luxuriant, prancing, with his Chest erect,
And Head high toss'd in Air: his waving Mane
Flows on his Neck, and o'er his Shoulders plays.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |