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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Purgation of Souls, and their return into Bodies. |
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Purgation of Souls, and their return into Bodies.
—
Æneas
sees
A Grove, secluded, in a secret Vale,
Shrubs rattling in the Woods, and Lethe's Stream,
Which near the peaceful Mansions glides along:
Round which unnumber'd Crowds, and Nations flew.
As when the Bees in Meads, while Summer shines,
On various Flowers alight, and hover o'er
The Snow-white Lillies: all the Field resounds
With humming Noise.—Struck at the sudden Sight,
Surpriz'd, and ignorant, Æneas asks
The Cause: enquires, what River That? and who
The thronging Ghosts that crouded to the Shore?
A Grove, secluded, in a secret Vale,
Shrubs rattling in the Woods, and Lethe's Stream,
Which near the peaceful Mansions glides along:
Round which unnumber'd Crowds, and Nations flew.
As when the Bees in Meads, while Summer shines,
On various Flowers alight, and hover o'er
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With humming Noise.—Struck at the sudden Sight,
Surpriz'd, and ignorant, Æneas asks
The Cause: enquires, what River That? and who
The thronging Ghosts that crouded to the Shore?
Anchises then: Those Souls, to whom by Fate
New Bodies are decreed, at Lethe's Stream
Drink long Oblivion from the drowsy Waves.
New Bodies are decreed, at Lethe's Stream
Drink long Oblivion from the drowsy Waves.
O Father, is it then to be conceiv'd,
That any of these Spirits so sublime,
Would go to upper Light, and re-assume
Their sluggish Bodies? whence such fond Desire,
Such miserable Love of wretched Life?
That any of these Spirits so sublime,
Would go to upper Light, and re-assume
Their sluggish Bodies? whence such fond Desire,
Such miserable Love of wretched Life?
Yes; all, my Son, to thee I will explain,
Replies Anchises.—
Replies Anchises.—
First,
Heaven, and Earth, and Oceans liquid Plains,
The Moon's bright Globe, the Sun, and shining Stars,
A Soul within enlivens: and a Mind
Diffus'd thro' all it's Parts, the gen'ral Mass
Invigorates, and mingles with the Whole.
Hence Men, and Beasts, and all the feather'd Kind
Proceed, and Monsters of the boundless Deep.
A fiery Force and Origine divine
These Seeds inspires: so far as not controul'd
By their terrestrial Bodies, clog'd and damp'd
By their dull Flesh, and cumbrous mortal Frame.
Hence they desire, and fear, rejoice, and grieve:
Nor see the Light, in Prison dark confin'd
Nor, ev'n when Life is fled, do all their Ills,
And all their Pests corporeal wear away:
But many Stains, in such a Length of Time
Contracted, marvellously must inhere.
Therefore with Punishment they are explor'd,
And pay due Penance for their former Crimes.
Some hang expanded to the empty Winds:
The Guilt, ingrain'd, of Other's in th' Abyss
Of Seas is wash'd: or burnt away with Fire.
Each of Us from our several
Manes bear
Purgation: to Elysium then we go,
And here We few enjoy these blissful Fields.
When tract of Time (it's fatal Round at length
Revolv'd) has quite work'd off the blended Stain,
Leaving defecated th' etherial Ray,
And simple Energy of heav'nly Fire:
All These (the Circle of a thousand Years
Compleat) the God to Lethe's River calls
Assembl'd: that, forgetful of the past,
They may return to Life, and re-ascend,
Contented, to their first embodied State.—
The Moon's bright Globe, the Sun, and shining Stars,
A Soul within enlivens: and a Mind
Diffus'd thro' all it's Parts, the gen'ral Mass
Invigorates, and mingles with the Whole.
Hence Men, and Beasts, and all the feather'd Kind
Proceed, and Monsters of the boundless Deep.
A fiery Force and Origine divine
These Seeds inspires: so far as not controul'd
By their terrestrial Bodies, clog'd and damp'd
By their dull Flesh, and cumbrous mortal Frame.
Hence they desire, and fear, rejoice, and grieve:
Nor see the Light, in Prison dark confin'd
Nor, ev'n when Life is fled, do all their Ills,
And all their Pests corporeal wear away:
But many Stains, in such a Length of Time
Contracted, marvellously must inhere.
Therefore with Punishment they are explor'd,
And pay due Penance for their former Crimes.
Some hang expanded to the empty Winds:
The Guilt, ingrain'd, of Other's in th' Abyss
Of Seas is wash'd: or burnt away with Fire.
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Purgation: to Elysium then we go,
And here We few enjoy these blissful Fields.
When tract of Time (it's fatal Round at length
Revolv'd) has quite work'd off the blended Stain,
Leaving defecated th' etherial Ray,
And simple Energy of heav'nly Fire:
All These (the Circle of a thousand Years
Compleat) the God to Lethe's River calls
Assembl'd: that, forgetful of the past,
They may return to Life, and re-ascend,
Contented, to their first embodied State.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |