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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Morning.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Morning.
Lo! from the rosy East her purple Doors
The Morn unfolds, adorn'd with blushing Flow'rs:
The lessen'd Stars draw off, and disappear,
Whose bright Battalions lastly Lucifer.
Brings up, and quits his Station in the Rear.—
The Morn unfolds, adorn'd with blushing Flow'rs:
The lessen'd Stars draw off, and disappear,
Whose bright Battalions lastly Lucifer.
Brings up, and quits his Station in the Rear.—
— Now the Day
Returning, with the Morning Star arose:
And from the Pole Aurora's Dawn dispell'd
The dewy Shades.—
Returning, with the Morning Star arose:
And from the Pole Aurora's Dawn dispell'd
The dewy Shades.—
117
Now ev'ry Star before Aurora flies,
Whose glowing Blushes streak the purple Skies.—
Whose glowing Blushes streak the purple Skies.—
And now the Ocean redden'd with the Rays:
And in her rosy Car the blushing Morn
Shone from the Sky.—
And in her rosy Car the blushing Morn
Shone from the Sky.—
And now Aurora, Harbinger of Day,
Rose from the saffron Bed where Tithon lay;
And sprinkled o'er the World with new-born Light:
The Sun now shining, all Things brought to Sight.—
Rose from the saffron Bed where Tithon lay;
And sprinkled o'er the World with new-born Light:
The Sun now shining, all Things brought to Sight.—
Mean while returning Day roll'd on,
And with it's full-born Light dispell'd the Shades.—
And with it's full-born Light dispell'd the Shades.—
Mean while Aurora, with new rising Light,
Restor'd the Cares and Labours of the Day
To wretched Mortals.—
Restor'd the Cares and Labours of the Day
To wretched Mortals.—
The Morn ensuing from the Mountain's Height,
Had scarcely spread the Skies with rosy Light:
Th' Etherial Coursers bounding from the Sea,
From out their flaming Nostrils breath'd the Day.—
Had scarcely spread the Skies with rosy Light:
Th' Etherial Coursers bounding from the Sea,
From out their flaming Nostrils breath'd the Day.—
And now, o'er Ida with an early Ray,
Flames the bright Star, that leads the golden Day.—
Flames the bright Star, that leads the golden Day.—
Now thro' Night's Shade the early Dawning broke,
And changing Skies the Sun's Approach bespoke:
But yet the Morn was dress'd in dusky White,
Nor purpled o'er the East with ruddy Light.
At length the Pleiads fading Beams gave Way,
And dull Bootes languish'd into Day:
Each larger Star withdrew his fainting Head,
And Lucifer from stronger Phœbus fled.—
And changing Skies the Sun's Approach bespoke:
But yet the Morn was dress'd in dusky White,
Nor purpled o'er the East with ruddy Light.
At length the Pleiads fading Beams gave Way,
And dull Bootes languish'd into Day:
Each larger Star withdrew his fainting Head,
And Lucifer from stronger Phœbus fled.—
The Morn had chac'd the dewy Shades away,
And o'er the World advanc'd the Lamp of Day.—
And o'er the World advanc'd the Lamp of Day.—
119
The rising Morning Star, with glory bright,
Did sluggish Mortals to new Toils invite.—
Did sluggish Mortals to new Toils invite.—
Now shone the Morning Star in bright Array,
To vanquish Night, and usher in the Day.—
To vanquish Night, and usher in the Day.—
Now Day's bright Beams the various Earth disclose,
And o'er the fading Stars the Sun arose.—
And o'er the fading Stars the Sun arose.—
Aurora rising from old Tithon's Bed,
Does o'er the Eastern Skies her Roses spread.
Stay, beauteous Morning! whither dost Thou haste?
Why dost Thou drive thy Chariot on so fast?
Folded I lie in my dear Mistress' Arms,
And all her Soul is mine, and all her Charms.
I now am to her panting Bosom press'd,
And now, if ever Lover was, am bless'd.
As yet sweet Sleep sits heavy on our Eyes,
And chilling Dews, and Birds forbid to rise.
Stay, beauteous Morning! for to Lovesick Maids,
And happy Youths, how grateful are these Shades!
Ah stay! and do not from the blushing East,
With dawning Glories break our balmy Rest!
When Night's black Mantle does those Glories hide,
The Pilot by the Stars his Ship can guide:
And in mid-Sea a certain Course pursue,
As safe, as when he has thy Sun in view.
Thou dost the weary Traveller awake:
Tho' to the Down his heavy Head inclines,
Up he must lift it, for the Morning shines.
The Soldier braces on his brazen Shield,
Quits his warm Tent, and fits him for the Field.
The lab'ring Hind his Harrow takes, or now
Yokes the reluctant Oxen to the Plow.
The Boy half wak'd, and rubbing still his Eyes,
Is loath alike to go to School, or rise:
While o'er his Task, he does imperfect, nod,
He fears the Ferula, and dreads the Rod.
The Bridegroom starting from his Bride's Embrace
Runs to the Lawyer to consult his Case:
A Word is wanting in the Marriage-Deed,
And what, to save the Portion, must he plead?
Now hungry Serjeants quit their tempting Ease,
To haunt the crowded Courts, and pick up Fees,
Thy Rise brings Labour to the Female Band,
And puts the Spindle in the Spinster's Hand.
Light are these Toils, and little is the Pain
To rise to work, and rest at Night again:
But who, that knows Love's dear transporting Joys,
Can from the Arms of Beauty bear to rise?—
Does o'er the Eastern Skies her Roses spread.
Stay, beauteous Morning! whither dost Thou haste?
Why dost Thou drive thy Chariot on so fast?
Folded I lie in my dear Mistress' Arms,
And all her Soul is mine, and all her Charms.
I now am to her panting Bosom press'd,
And now, if ever Lover was, am bless'd.
As yet sweet Sleep sits heavy on our Eyes,
And chilling Dews, and Birds forbid to rise.
Stay, beauteous Morning! for to Lovesick Maids,
And happy Youths, how grateful are these Shades!
Ah stay! and do not from the blushing East,
With dawning Glories break our balmy Rest!
When Night's black Mantle does those Glories hide,
The Pilot by the Stars his Ship can guide:
And in mid-Sea a certain Course pursue,
As safe, as when he has thy Sun in view.
Thou dost the weary Traveller awake:
Tho' to the Down his heavy Head inclines,
Up he must lift it, for the Morning shines.
The Soldier braces on his brazen Shield,
Quits his warm Tent, and fits him for the Field.
The lab'ring Hind his Harrow takes, or now
Yokes the reluctant Oxen to the Plow.
The Boy half wak'd, and rubbing still his Eyes,
Is loath alike to go to School, or rise:
While o'er his Task, he does imperfect, nod,
He fears the Ferula, and dreads the Rod.
The Bridegroom starting from his Bride's Embrace
Runs to the Lawyer to consult his Case:
121
And what, to save the Portion, must he plead?
Now hungry Serjeants quit their tempting Ease,
To haunt the crowded Courts, and pick up Fees,
Thy Rise brings Labour to the Female Band,
And puts the Spindle in the Spinster's Hand.
Light are these Toils, and little is the Pain
To rise to work, and rest at Night again:
But who, that knows Love's dear transporting Joys,
Can from the Arms of Beauty bear to rise?—
Soon as Aurora ushers in the Morn,
And o'er the World displays the dawning Day:
When Birds of various Kinds fly thro' the Groves,
And with their warbling Musick fill the Skies:
How swiftly then, o'er ev'ry Thing alike,
The rising Sun pours forth his glorious Ray,
Is known full well, and manifest to All.—
And o'er the World displays the dawning Day:
When Birds of various Kinds fly thro' the Groves,
And with their warbling Musick fill the Skies:
How swiftly then, o'er ev'ry Thing alike,
The rising Sun pours forth his glorious Ray,
Is known full well, and manifest to All.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |