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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Banquet.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Banquet.
See Hospitality.
Rich as some Fane by lavish Zealots rear'd,
For the proud Banquet, stood the Hall prepar'd:
Thick golden Plates the latent Beams infold,
And the high Roof was fretted o'er with Gold:
Of solid Marble all the Walls were made,
And Onyx ev'n the meaner Floor inlay'd:
While Porphyry, and Agate, round the Court,
In massy Columns rose, a proud Support.
Of solid Ebony each Post was wrought,
From swarthy Meroë profusely brought:
With Iv'ry was the Entrance crusted o'er,
And polish'd Tortoise hid each shining Door;
While on the cloudy Spots enchas'd was seen
The lively Em'ralds never-fading Green.
For the proud Banquet, stood the Hall prepar'd:
Thick golden Plates the latent Beams infold,
And the high Roof was fretted o'er with Gold:
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And Onyx ev'n the meaner Floor inlay'd:
While Porphyry, and Agate, round the Court,
In massy Columns rose, a proud Support.
Of solid Ebony each Post was wrought,
From swarthy Meroë profusely brought:
With Iv'ry was the Entrance crusted o'er,
And polish'd Tortoise hid each shining Door;
While on the cloudy Spots enchas'd was seen
The lively Em'ralds never-fading Green.
Within, the royal Beds and Couches shone,
Beamy and bright with many a costly Stone:
In glowing Purple rich the Cov'rings lye:
Twice had they drank the noblest Tyrian Dye:
Others, as Pharian Artists have the Skill,
To mix the parti-colour'd Web at Will,
With winding Trails of various Silk were made,
Where branching Gold set off the rich Brocade.—
Beamy and bright with many a costly Stone:
In glowing Purple rich the Cov'rings lye:
Twice had they drank the noblest Tyrian Dye:
Others, as Pharian Artists have the Skill,
To mix the parti-colour'd Web at Will,
With winding Trails of various Silk were made,
Where branching Gold set off the rich Brocade.—
Around, of ev'ry Colour, Age, and Form,
Huge Crowds, whole Nations of Attendants swarm:
Some wait with yellow Rings of golden Hair,
The vanquish'd Rhine shew'd Cæsar none so fair:
Others were seen with swarthy frizled Heads,
And Others Black, as Night's unchanging Shades.
There too a hapless Train, by Steel unman'd,
And soften'd from their Sex, a beardless Band!
Stout comely Youths were plac'd in adverse Rows,
Whose blooming Cheeks scarce the first Down disclose.
Huge Crowds, whole Nations of Attendants swarm:
Some wait with yellow Rings of golden Hair,
The vanquish'd Rhine shew'd Cæsar none so fair:
Others were seen with swarthy frizled Heads,
And Others Black, as Night's unchanging Shades.
There too a hapless Train, by Steel unman'd,
And soften'd from their Sex, a beardless Band!
Stout comely Youths were plac'd in adverse Rows,
Whose blooming Cheeks scarce the first Down disclose.
The Princes round the Board recline in State,
With mighty Cæsar, more than Princes great.
With mighty Cæsar, more than Princes great.
What Earth, and Air, and Sea, and Nile afford,
In golden Vessels heap the plenteous Board:
What e'er ambitious Luxury could find
Thro' the search'd Globe, and more than Want enjoyn'd;
Variety of Birds, and Beasts of ev'ry Kind.
Not ev'n the Gods are spar'd whom they adore.
The Nile's sweet Wave capacious Christals pour,
And Gems of Price, the Grape's delicious Store:
No Growth of Mareotis' marshy Fields,
But such as Meroë maturer yields:
Where the warm Sun the racy Juice refines,
And mellows into Age the infant Wines.
With Wreaths of Nard the Guests their Temples bind,
And blooming Roses of immortal Kind:
Their dropping Locks with oily Odours flow,
Recent, from near Arabia, where they grow:
The vig'rous Spices breathe their strong Perfume,
And the rich Vapour fills the spacious Room.—
The King once more the solemn Rites requires,
In golden Vessels heap the plenteous Board:
What e'er ambitious Luxury could find
Thro' the search'd Globe, and more than Want enjoyn'd;
Variety of Birds, and Beasts of ev'ry Kind.
Not ev'n the Gods are spar'd whom they adore.
The Nile's sweet Wave capacious Christals pour,
And Gems of Price, the Grape's delicious Store:
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But such as Meroë maturer yields:
Where the warm Sun the racy Juice refines,
And mellows into Age the infant Wines.
With Wreaths of Nard the Guests their Temples bind,
And blooming Roses of immortal Kind:
Their dropping Locks with oily Odours flow,
Recent, from near Arabia, where they grow:
The vig'rous Spices breathe their strong Perfume,
And the rich Vapour fills the spacious Room.—
And bids renew the Feasts, and wake the Fires.
His Train obey, while all the Courts around
With noisy Care, and various Tumult sound.
Embroider'd Purple clothes the golden Beds:
This Slave the Floor, and that the Table spreads:
A Third dispels the Darkness of the Night,
And fills depending Lamps with Beams of Light.
These pile the Loaves in Canisters on high,
And those in Flames the slaughter'd Victims fry.
Sublime, in regal State, Adrastus shone,
Stretch'd on rich Carpets, on his Iv'ry Throne:
A lofty Couch receives each princely Guest:
Around, at aweful Distance, wait the rest.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |