iltfcrarp of #lti &utf)ors. HOMER’S BATRACHOMYOMACHIA, HYMNS AND EPIGRAMS. HESIOD’S WORKS AND DAYS. M USEE US’ HERO AND LEANDER. JUVENAL’S FIFTH SATIRE. TRANSLATED BY GEORGE CHAPMAN. WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES, BY THE REV. RICHARD HOOPER, M.A. VICAR OP UPTON AND ASTON UPTHORPE, BERKS. SECOND EDITION , TO WHICH IS ADDED A GLOSSARIAL INDEX TO THE WHOLE OF chapman’s CLASSICAL TRANSLATIONS. LONDON: JOHN RUSSELL SMITH. 1888. boston college LIBRARY CHESTNUT H'l I . . ' n EE, JiAWy, r, o; •- ri m 7't' r & I! (/( . ' ft f " > > (l* ,>l> m ffi W2S 41 c$~ TO SAMUEL WELLER SINGER, ESQ., F.S.A. THROUGH WHOSE LABOURS THE EDITOR WAS INTRODUCED TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF GEORGE CHAPMAN AND HIS WORKS, THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED ADVERTISEMENT. In accordance with a promise made in the Adver¬ tisement to the Second Edition of Chapman’s Odyssey, the Editor here adds a Glossarial Index to the whole of Chapman’s Classical Translations, which he trusts will give a valuable completeness to a set of volumes which appear to have established themselves in public favour. Upton, BePvKs, May 12, 1888. I INTRODUCTION. T length, reader, you have the fifth, and concluding, volume of George Chapman’s Translations. Besides its literary value, it is a bibliographical curiosity ; and I cannot permit it to appear without expressing my ad¬ miration of the spirit and enterprise of the Publisher. He has spared no expense in endeavouring to give to the world, for the first time , a complete collection of the labours of one of the greatest Translators of the Eliza¬ bethan period. Hitherto Chapman’s Translations, from their rarity, were known to a few only, and were sup¬ posed by the multitude to be so antiquated—nay, ob¬ solete—and obscure, as to be hardly worth the labour of search. I trust, now that they are within the reach of all, that it will be found that they are of genuine value ; and amongst the noblest monuments of a pre-eminently great age. I am quite sensible of their many defects— nay, I am free to confess that they are frequently harsh and rugged ; but at the same time, as I have carefully read through the originals with them, I am wonderfully struck with their many exquisite beauties. When I first saw the sentence of William Godwin, that “the Vlll INTRODUCTION. Translation of Homer, published by George Chapman in the reigns of Q. Elizabeth and K. James, is one of the greatest treasures the English language has to boast f I confess I was inclined to demur; but when I attentively read it, and marked the spirit, the roughness and sim¬ plicity, the singular sweetness of the epithets, the richness of the language in many of the lines, the grand¬ eur of many of the scenes, and when I compared these with Pope, Cowper, and Sotheby, and with the new translation by Professor F. "VV. Newman (whose metre, by the bye, however adapted for short passages, sadly wearies in a long perusal*), I could not but be impressed with the superiority of Chapman, and not only with his work as a representation of the Homeric mind, but as a most valuable contribution to our English poetry. I am sometimes inclined to think that his readers are not apt to realize (to use a modern term) the metre of his Iliads, that it is in truth simply our common ballad- metre. I am quite conscious that he has not a com¬ plete mastery over it—such, for instance, a3 Arthur Golding has in his “ Ovid’s Metamorphoses ”—but still if we would read his long lines throughout as two—thus : John Gilpin was a citizen, of credit and renown ; A trained-band Captain eke was he, of famous London town ; the measure would soon accustom itself to our ear, and we should see, w r ith Lamb, that it is “capable of all sweetness and grandeur,” and that “ Chapman gallops off with you his own free pace, &c.” That Chapman re¬ quires study, I consider one of his merits. So do all our best old writers. It is this study that makes them * Mr. Newman’s version may be accurate and valuable, but vve can hardly call it poetical. INTRODUCTION. IX valuable, that instils into us their nerve and vigour, that enables us to draw from them freshness and health in ideas and language. But it must not be supposed that I wish to offer an apology or defence for good old George He is perfectly able to defend himself; and the reader must beware lest (as hearty Christopher North warns him) he rouse the ghost of Master Chapman, who will assuredly call him “ a certain envious windsucker, that hovers up and down, laboriously engrossing all the air with his luxurious ambition, and buzzing into every ear my detraction ”—and again, “ a castrill with too hot a liver, and lust after his own glory, and, to devour all himself, discouraging all appetites to the fame of an¬ other.” * But as I have spoken so much on this sub¬ ject in the “ Introductions ” to the Iliad and Odyssey, it is time to return to the present volume. It is a bibliographical curiosity, inasmuch as all the pieces in it are of more or less rarity. Chapman seems to have been determined to translate every possible, or probable, portion of Homer. Hence, having finished the Iliad and Odyssey, he published “ The Crowne of all Homer’s Workes , Batrachomyomachia; or the Battaile of Frogs and Mise. His Hymnes and Epi¬ grams. Translated according to the originally by George Chapman. London. Printed by John Bill , his Maiestie’s Printer .” + This very rare volume is a thin folio, the contents of which are here presented to the reader. It has an exquisitely engraved title, by William Pass ; of which we have endeavoured to give a * See Preface to Iliads, pp. LXVII-VIII. t He considers it his destiny,— “ The work that I was born to do is done ! ” X INTRODUCTION. facsimile. It is not necessary to inquire into the authen¬ ticity of the (so-styled) Homeric Hymns. It will be sufficient to inform the reader that Chapman is the only writer who has translated the whole of the works ascribed to Homer. The original folio has been entirely followed in the present edition. Copies are now only to be purchased by those who can indulge in the luxuries of literature, if books of extreme rarity may be so called. Of this folio, a large paper copy is in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth ; the only one I have seen. Messrs. Boone of Bond Street, whose collection of fine books is as well known as the liberality with which they com¬ municate information on them, have permitted me to transcribe a dedication, in Chapman’s autograph, from a beautiful copy in their possession (since sold). It is as follows :—“ In love & honor of y e Righte virtuouse and worthie Gent: M r Henry Reynolds , and to crowne all his deservings with eternall memorie, Geo. Chapman formes this Crowne d? conclusion of all the Homericall meritts w th his accomplisht Improvementsj advising that if at first sighte he seeme darcke or too fierie , He will yet holde him fast (like Proteus ) till he appere in his propper similitude , and he will then shelve himselfe —vatem egregium, cui non sit publica vena, Qui nihil expositum soleat dedncere ; nec qui Communi feriat carmen triviale moneta.” * This book has been wrongly described in a former “ Introduction,” as having a presentation Sonnet. Chap¬ man has with his pen made an alteration in his portrait, as possessing too much beard ; and in the Preface, in * Juvenal. Sat. vii. 53. INTRODUCTION. xi \ the passage “all for devouring a mouse,” he writes drowning ; and in the final Poem (line 17) for All is extuberance and excretion all, he reads “ and tumor all.” The date of the folio is probably about 1624. In the year 1818, my friend Mr. Singer* (to whom I dedicate this volume with the sincerest gratification) published an elegant edition of these Hymns, &c. at Chiswick. It contained two fine original poems by Chapman (first printed 1594) entitled “ The Shadowe of Night: con¬ taining two poetical hymnes, devised hy G. C. Gent.” It formed one of Mr. Singer’s series of “ Select Early English Poets,” and has long since been numbered amongst scarce books, as but a limited impression was given. The original edition of “ The Shadowe of Night ” is very rare. The version of the “ Georgies of Hesiod ” was so dif¬ ficult to find in Warton’s time, that he doubted its ex¬ istence, (see Hist, of English Poetry, hi. 360. ed. 1840,) although he discovered its entry in the Stationers’ Ke- gisters. It is a small 4to. of 40 pp. As may be pre¬ sumed from its extreme rarity, its price is usually very * I avail myself of this opportunity of congratulating this veteran in Elizabethan Literature on his having lived to see the day when all Chapman’s Translations have been re¬ published. His many reprints of early books (all testifying, by the eagerness with which they are sought, to his ability and accuracy) led the public to look back to our sterling old writers. Nor should we forget that Mr. Singer was the associate of Sir Egerton Brydges, Haslewood, and others, who loved these writers when they were comparatively unknown. Mr. Singer expressed a wish in the preface to the above-cited work, “ that sufficient encouragement might be given to print Chapman’s entire translation of Homer in a compressed and unostenta¬ tious portable form.” Xll INTRODUCTION. great. A good copy may be worth ten guineas ; it has reached eighteen. The largest I have seen is that in the Malone Collection in the Bodleian. There is a fair one in the General Library of the British Museum; that in the Grenville (as has my own) has been much injured by the binder cutting into the notes, which are in the margin. Of this work, which is sadly misprinted in the original 4to., the present edition is the first reprint; and I have spared no pains to make it as accurate as possible. Its value as a Translation has been acknow¬ ledged by our best Translator of Hesiod, Elton. I trust, both from its rarity, and its intrinsic merits, it will be found an acceptable addition to the present volume. The title is a facsimile of the original edition. The “ Hero and Leander ” of Musseus is perhaps one of the rarest books in the whole range of English Literature. I have never heard of any copy but that in the Bodleian Library at Oxford; and I presume it to be unique. Dr. Bliss has given a full account of this very diminutive volume in vol. II. col. 9. of his edition of Wood’s “Athense Oxonienses.” It is about two inches long, and one broad. I most carefully transcribed it, and twice visited Oxford to ensure the accuracy of this re¬ print. Chapman, it will be remembered, had continued Marlow’s poem on the same subject; but this is a trans¬ lation from the Greek of (the so-called) Musoeus. The original edition being so extremely small, the lines are printed thus :— “ Goddess, relate The witnesse-bearing light Of loves, that would not beare A human sight. INTRODUCTION. xm The sea-man That transported marriages, Shipt in the night, His bosom ploughing the seas.” The title prefixed to this present edition is a facsimile (in a larger size) of the original. The translation of the Fifth Satire of Juvenal is ap¬ pended to “ A Justification of a Strange action of Nero in burying with a solemne Funerall one of the cast hayres of his Mistress Poppoeaj also a just Reproofe of a Rornane Smellfeast, being the fifth Satyre of Juve- nall.” 4to. 1629. The Tract was not worth reprinting. The Juvenal has "been given to complete Chapman’s Classical Translations. It is very scarce, and fetches a high price. Thus, reader, are you presented with this Chapmannic garland of rarities. In your hands I leave them. By the usual kindness of J. Payne Collier, Esq. I am enabled to give a copy of the Sonnet to Sir Thomas Walsingham, prefixed to one or two copies of Chap¬ man’s “All Fools.” (See Odyssey, p. xxii.) It is printed verbatim. TO MY LONG LOU’D AND HONOURABLE FRIEND, SIR THOMAS WALSINGHAM, KNIGHT. Should I expose to euery common eye, The least allow’d birth of my shaken braine ; And not entitle it perticulerly To your acceptance, I were wurse then vaine. And though I am most loth to passe your sight with any such light marke of vanitie, XIV INTRODUCTION. Being markt witli Age for Aimes of greater weight, and drownd in darke Death-vshering melancholy, Yet least by others stealth it be imprest, without my pasport, patcht with others wit, Of two enforst ills I elect the least; and so desire your loue will censure it ; Though my old fortune keepe me still obscure, The light shall still bewray my ould loue sure. The reader is requested to correct the following “ Faults escaped,” before perusing the volume. FAULTS ESCAPED. Hymn to Venus, 1.121, place comma after past, and destroy it after beast in next line. P. 136,1. 10, destroy comma after nostrorum. Hesiod, p. 172, notes, 1. 2, read partum ; p. 178,1. 1, after hir'd place semicolon ; p. 184, notes, 1. 5, for bother r. brother ; p. 186,1. 5, after Hellenians place semicolon ; p. 188,1. 6, put comma after observing, and destroy it after remain; p. 189, 1. 4, destroy comma after beds ; p. 191, 1. 4, r. seasons'. Mus^us, in title put full-stop after originall; 1. 29, then Love, is the true reading in the original, therefore destroy note ; 198, r. earthly ; 234, for should speed, r. shall ; 244, r. “ At last this sweet voice past, and out did break ; ” 259, for loose to scandal, v. friend; annotations, p. 235, last line but two, r. tam iorjam. ADDITIONAL NOTES. Batrachomyomachia, line 100, for thither the true reading is doubtless th' other, notwithstanding the authority of the folio. Hymn to Hermes, 442, shrouds, i. e. recesses, see line 695. Hesiod. In consequence of Chapman’s own notes being so numerous, I was unwilling to interpolate explanations of words (save here and there), but the following may be noted. Drayton’s Introd. Poem, line 1, fraught , i. e. freight. 5,1 print travell, as it is in the original, as it may bear either meaning of travail or travel. Bk. I. 570, rode, I do not remem¬ ber the word, but, if genuine, it would appear to mean supply. Bk. II. Ill, clanges ; the original 4to. has changes, but Chapman twice uses the word clanges for the cry of the crane, see Iliad, hi. 5, x. 244. 310, horn'd house-bearer —snail. 382, imp —add to, assist. A term in falconry, when a new feather is inserted in place of a broken one. In Chapman’s Iliad, v. 498-9, occur the words dites and diters in reference to winnowing. Nares gives them in his Glossary citing Chapman as the only authority. It will be found, however, that the word is nothing more than dights. See Hesiod, Georgies, Bk. n. 343, and Days, 67. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page S PISTLE Dedicatory.xxi The Batrachomyomachia.1 Hymn to Apollo.18 Hymn to Hermes.46 First Hymn to Venus.79 Second Hymn to Venus.95 Bacchus or the Pirates.96 Hymn to Mars.100 -to Diana.101 Third Hymn to Venus.102 Hymn to Pallas.102 -to Juno.103 -- to Ceres.103 -to Cybele.103 -to Hercules.104 -to iEsculapius.105 -to Castor and Pollux.105 -to Mercury.106 -to Pan.106 --to Vulcan.109 -to Phoebus.110 -to Neptune.110 -to Jove.Ill -to Vesta.Ill -to the Muses and Apollo.112 -to Bacchus.112 -to Diana.113 -to Pallas.114 -to Vesta and Mercury.115 -to Earth.116 b XV111 CONTENTS . Page Hymn to the Sun.118 -to the Moon.119 -to Castor and Pollux.120 -to Men of Hospitality.121 EPIGRAMS AND OTHER POEMS. To Cuma.122 In his Return to Cuma.122 Upon the Sepulchre of Midus.123 Cuma, refusing to eternize their State, &c.123 An Essay of his begun Iliads.125 To Thestor’s Son inquisitive about the Causes of Things . 125 To Neptune.125 -To the City of Erythraea.126 To Mariners.126 The Pine.127 To Glaucus.128 Against the Samian Ministress or Nun.128 Written on the Council Chamber.129 The Furnace called in to sing by Potters.129 Eiresione, or the Olive Branch.131 To certain Fisher-Boys pleasing him with Riddles . . . 132 The Translator s Epilogue .133 END OF THE TRANSLATIONS OF HOMER. The Georgies of Hesiod.137 Hesiod’s Book of Days ..201 The Hero and Leander of Musaeus.207 The Fifth Satire of Juvenal.237 THE CROWNE of all HOMER’S WORKES, Batrachomyomachia; OR, The Battaile of Frogs and Mife. HIS HYMNES AND EPIGRAMS. Tranjlated according to y e Originall By George Chapman. London : Printed by Iohn Bill, his MAIESTIE’S Printer. TO MY EVER MOST-WORTHY-TO-BE-MOST HONOURED LORD, THE EARL OF SOMERSET, &c. OT forc’d by fortune , but since your free mind {Made by affliction) rests in choice re¬ signed To calm retreat, laid quite beneath the wind Of grace and glory, I well know, my Lord, You would riot be entitled to a word s That might a thought remove from your repose, To thunder and sp>it flames, as greatness does, For all the trumps that still tell where he goes. Of which trumps Dedication being one, Methinks I see you start to hear it blown. 10 But this is no such trump as summons lords ’Gainst Envy’s steel to draw their leaden swo 7 ’ds, Or’gainst hare-lipp’d Detraction, Contempt, All which from all resistance stand exempt, It being as hard to sever wrong from merit, i r > As meat-indiCd from blood, or blood from spirit. Nor in the spirit’s chariot rides the soul In bodies chaste, with more divine control, xxii THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. Nor virtue shines more in a lovely face, Than true desert is stuck off with disgrace. 20 And therefore Truth itself that had to bless The merit of it all, Almightiness, Would not protect it from the bane and ban Of all moods most distraught and Stygian ; As counting it the crown of all desert, 25 Borne to heaven, to take of earth, no part Of false joy here, for joys-there-endless troth, Nor sell his birthright for a mess of broth. But stay and still sustain, and his bliss bring, Like to the hatching of the blackthorns spring, 30 With bitter frosts, and smarting hailstorms, forth. Fates love bees' labours ; only Pain crown's Worth. This Dedication calls no greatness, then, To patron this greatness-creating pen, Nor you to add to your dead calm a breath, 35 For those arm'd angels, that in spite of death Inspir'd those Jlow'rs that wrought this Poet's wreath, Shall keep it ever, Poesy's steepest star, As in Earth's flaming walls, Heaven's sevenfold Car. From all the wilds of Neptune's wat'ry sphere, 40 For ever guards the Erymanthian bear. Since then your Lordship settles in your shade A life retir’d, and no retreat is made But to some strength, {for else 'tis no retreat, But rudely running from your battle's heat) 45 I give this as your strength ; your strength, my Lord, In counsels and examples, that afford More guard than ivhole hosts of corporeal poiv'r, And more deliverance teach the fatal hour. Turn not your med'cine then to your disease, so THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. xxiii By your too set and slight repulse of these , The adjuncts of your matchless Odysses ; Since on that wisest mind of man relies Refuge from all life's infelicities. Nor sing these such division from them , But that these spin the thread of the same stream From one self distaff's stiff; for Poesy's pen , Through all themes , is t' inform the lives of men ; All whose retreats need strengths of all degrees ; Without which , had you even Herculean knees, Your foes' fresh charges would at length prevail , To leave your noblest suff'rance no least sail. Strength then the object is of all retreats ; Strength needs no friends' trust; strength your foes defeats. Retire to strength , then , of eternal things , And y'are eternal; for our knowing springs Flow into those things that we truly know , Which being eternal , we are render'd so. And though your high-fix'd light pass infinite far Th' adviceful guide of my still-trembling star , Yet hear what my discharg'd piece must foretel , Standing your poor and perdue sentinel. Kings may perhaps wish even your beggar's-voice To their eternities, how scorn'd a choice Soever now it lies ; and {dead) I may Extend your life to light's extremest ray. If not, your Homer yet past doubt shall make Immortal , like himself your bounty's stake Put in my hands , to propagate your fame ; Such virtue reigns in such united name. Retire to him then for advice, and skill , 55 60 65 70 75 80 xxiv THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. To know things call’d ivorst, best; and best, most ill. Which known, truths best choose, and retire to still. And as our English general, (ivhose name Shall equal interest find in th’ house of fame With all Earth’s great’st commanders,) in retreat To Belgian Gant, stood cdl Spain’s armies’ heat By Parma led, though but one thousand strong ; Three miles together thrusting through the throng Ofth’ enemy’s horse, still pouring on their fall ’Twixt him and home, and thunder’d through them The Gallic Monsieur standing on the wall, And wond’ring at his dreadful discipline, Fir’d with a valour that spit spirit divine ; In five battallions ranging cdl his men, Bristl'd with pikes, and flank’d with flankers ten ; Gave fire still in his rear j retir'd, and wrought Down to his fix’d strength still; retir’d and fought; All the battallions of the enemy’s horse Storming upon him still their fieriest force ; 100 Charge upon charge laid fresh; he, fresh as day, Repulsing cdl, and forcing glorious ivay Into the gates, that gasp’d, (as sivoons for air,) And took their life in, ivith untouch’d repair :— So fight out, sweet Earl, your retreat in peace; 105 No ope-war equals that where privy prease Of never-number’d odds of enemy, Arm’d all by envy, in blind ambush lie , To rush out like an opening threatning sky, Broke cdl in meteors round about your ears. no 84 A simile illustrating the most renowned service of General Norris in his retreat before Gant, never before made sacred to memory.— Chapman. 85 90 cdl; 95 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY, xxv ’Gainst which, though far from hence, through all your rears, Have fires prepaf d ; wisdom with wisdom /lank, And all your forces range in present rank; Retiring as you now fought in your strength, From cdl the force laid, in time's utmost length, 115 To charge, and basely come on you behind. The doctrine of all which you here shall find, And in the true glass of a human mind. Your Odysses, the body letting see All his life past, through infelicity, 120 And manage of it all. In which to friend, The full Muse brings you both the prime and end Of all arts ambient in the orb of man; Which never darhiess most Cimmerian Can give eclipse, since, blind, he all things saiv, 125 And to all ever since liv'd lord and law. And though our mere-learn'd men, and modern ivise, Taste not poor Poesy's ingenuities, Being crusted with their covetous leprosies, But hold her pains worse than the spiders' work, 130 And lighter than the shadow of a cork, Yet th' ancient team'd, heat with celestial fire, Afirms her flames so sacred and entire, That not without God's greatest grace she can Fall in the wid'st capacity of man. 135 If yet the vile soul of this verminous time Love more the sale-muse, and the squirrel's chime, Than this full sphere of poesy's sweetest prime, Give them unenvied their vain vein and vent, 135 Ut non sine maximo favore Dei comparari queat. Platonis in Ione. xxvi THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. And rest your wings in his approv'd ascent ho That yet was never reach'd, nor ever fell Into affections bought with things that sell, Being the sun's flow'r, and wrapt so in his sky lie cannot yield to every candle's eye. Whose most worthy discoveries, to your lordship’s judicial perspective, in most subdue humility submitteth, GEORGE CHAPMAN. NOTE. On this Epistle Dedicatory, Coleridge remarks : “ Chap¬ man’s identification of his fate with Homer’s, and his complete forgetfulness of the distinction between Christianity and idol¬ atry, under the general feeling of some religion, is very in¬ teresting. It is amusing to observe, how familiar Chapman’s fancy has become with Homer, his life and circumstances, though the very existence of any such individual, at least with regard to the Iliad and Hymns, is more than problematic.” THE OCCASION OF THIS IMPOSED CROWNE. FTER this not only Prime of Poets, but Philosophers, had written his two great ' poems of Iliads and Odysses ; which (for their first lights born before all learning) were worthily called the Sun and Moon of the Earth ; finding no compensation, he writ in contempt of men this ridiculous poem of Vermin, giving them nobility of birth, valorous elocution not inferior to his heroes. At which the Gods themselves, put in amaze, called councils about their assistance of either army, and the justice of their quarrels, even to the mounting of Jove’s artillery against them, and discharge of his three-forked Hashes ; and all for the drowning* of a mouse. After which slight and only recreative touch, he betook him seriously to the honour of the Gods, in Hymns resounding all their peculiar titles, jurisdictions, and dignities ; which he illustrates at all parts, as he had been continually conversant amongst them ; and whatsoever authentic Poesy he omitted in the episodes contained in his Iliads and Odysses, he comprehends and concludes in his * This is Chapman’s MS. correction for devouring in the folio. xxvm Hymns and Epigrams. All liis observance and honour of the Gods, rather moved their envies against him, than their rewards, or respects of his endeavours. And so like a man verecundi ingenii (which he witnesseth of himself) he lived unhonoured and needy till his death; and yet notwithstanding all men’s servile and manacled miseries, to his most absolute and never-equalled merit, yea even bursten profusion to imposture and impiety, hear our ever-the-same intranced, and never-sleeping, Master of the Muses, to his last accents, incomparably singing. BATRACHOMY OMACHIA. NT’RING the fields, first let my vows call on The Muses’ whole quire out of Helicon Into my heart, for such a poem’s sake, As lately I did in my tables take, And put into report upon my knees. 5 A fight so fierce, as might in all degrees Fit Mars himself, and his tumultuous hand, Glorying to dart to th’ ears of every land Of all the voice-divided ; and to show How bravely did both Frogs and Mice bestow 10 In glorious fight their forces, even the deeds Daring to imitate of Earth’s Giant Seeds. Thus then men talk’d ; this seed the strife begat: The Mouse once dry, and ’scaped the dangerous cat, Drench’d in the neighbour lake her tender beard, 15 To taste the sweetness of the wave it rear’d. 9 Intending men : being divided from all other creatures by the voice ; being a periphrasis, signifying voce divisus, of fieipw ( pLeipop.a.L ) divido, and 6\f/, oiros , vox. —Chapman. The notes marked C. are Chapman’s. A 2 BA TEA CHO MYOMA CHI A. The far-famed Fen-affecter, seeing him, said : “ Ho, stranger ! What are you, and whence, that tread This shore of ours ? Who brought you forth 1 Reply What truth may witness, lest I find you lie. 20 If worth fruition of my love and me, I’ll have thee home, and hospitality Of feast and gift, good and magnificent, Bestow on thee ; for all this confluent Resounds my royalty ; my name, the great 25 In blown-up-count’nances and looks of threat, a Physignathus, adored of all Frogs here All their days’ durance, and the empire bear Of all their beings ; mine own being begot By royal b Peleus, mix’d in nuptial knot 30 With fair c Hydromedusa, on the bounds Near which Eridanus his race resounds. And thee mine eye makes my conceit inclined To reckon powerful both in form and mind, A sceptre-bearer, and past others far 35 Advanc’d in all the fiery fights of war. Come then, thy race to my renown commend.” The Mouse made answer : “ Why inquires my friend ? For what so well know men and Deities, And all the wing’d affecters of the skies ? 40 d Psicharpax I am call’d ; e Troxartes’ seed, Surnamed the mighty-minded. She that freed Mine eyes from darkness was f Licliomyle, 27 a QvaLyvaOos, Genas et buccas inflans. C. 30 b Il^Xei^s, qui ex Into nascitur. C. 31 c ’Topo/j.eoovcra. Aquarum regina. C. 32 The river Po, in Italy. C. 41 d 'i't.'X'dpiral;. Gather-crum, or ravish-crum. C. 41 e Shear-crust. C. ** f Lick-mill. C. BA TRA CHOMYOMA CHI A. 3 King a Pternotroctes’ daughter, showing me, Within an aged hovel, the young light, 45 Fed me with figs and nuts, and all the height Of varied viands. But unfold the cause, Why, ’gainst similitude’s most equal laws Observed in friendship, thou mak’st me thy friend? Thy life the waters only help t’ extend ; 50 Mine, whatsoever men are used to eat, Takes part with them at shore ; their purest cheat, Thrice boulted, kneaded, and subdued in paste, In clean round kymnels, cannot he so fast From my approaches kept but in I eat ; 55 Nor cheesecakes full of finest Indian wheat, That crusty-weeds wear, large as ladies’ trains ; Liverings, white-skinn’d as ladies ; nor the strains Of press’d milk, renneted ; nor collops cut Fresh from the flitch ; nor junkets, such as put eo Palates divine in appetite ; nor any Of all men’s delicates, though ne’er so many Their cooks devise them, who each dish see deckt With all the dainties all strange soils affect. Yet am I not so sensual to fly 65 Of fields embattled the most fiery cry, 44 a Bacon-flitch-devourer, or gnawer. C. 52 Cheat —the second sort of wheaten bread, according to Halliwell, who has well illustrated the word. See also Nares. 54 Kymnels —household tubs. Chaucer has Jcemelin. 57 ^avvireir\os. Extensa et promissopeploamictus. A metaphor taken from ladies’ veils, or trains, and therefore their names are here added. C. 58 "HiraTaXevKoxlTwva. Liveringpuddingswhite-skinn’d. C. Livering , i. e. made of liver. 60 Junkets —cheese pressed on rushes. Ital. giuncata. See Odyssey, Bk. vi. 107. 84 UavTodavoLcriv. Whose common exposition is only variis, when it properly signifies ex omni solo. C. 4 BA TRA CHOMYOMA CHI A. But rush out straight, and with the first in fight Mix in adventure. No man with affright Can daunt my forces, though his body be Of never so immense a quantity, But making up, even to his bed, access, His fingers’ ends dare with my teeth compress, His feet taint likewise, and so soft seize both They shall not taste th’ impression of a tooth. Sweet sleep shall hold his own in every eye Where my tooth takes his tartest liberty. But two there are, that always, far and near, Extremely still control my force with fear, The Cat, and Night-hawk, who much scathe confer On all the outrays where for food I err. Together with the straits-still-keeping trap, Where lurks deceitful and set-spleen’d mishap. But most of all the Cat constrains my fear, Being ever apt t’ assault me everywhere ; Eor by that hole that hope says I shall ’scape, At that hole ever she commits my rape. The best is yet, I eat no pot-herb grass, Nor radishes, nor coloquintidas, Nor still-green beets, nor parsley ; which you make Your dainties still, that live upon the lake.” The Frog replied : “ Stranger, your boasts creep all Upon their bellies ; though to our lives fall Much more miraculous meats by lake and land, Jove tend’ring our lives with a twofold hand, Enabling us to leap ashore for food, 73 Taint. —i. e. touch, assault. See Iliad, Bk. hi. 374. 80 Outrays —see Iliad, Bk. v. 793. 81 ^Tovoeaaav, of arerbs, angustius. C. 88 Coloquintidas —pumpkins. 70 75 80 85 90 95 BA TRA GHO MYOMA CHI A. 5 And hide us straight in our retreatful flood. Which, if you will serve, you may prove with ease. I’ll take you on my shoulders; which fast seize, If safe arrival at my house y’ intend.” He stoop’d, and thither spritely did ascend, 100 Clasping his golden neck, that easy seat Gave to his sally ; who was jocund yet, Seeing the safe harbours of the king so near, And he a swimmer so exempt from peer. But when he sunk into the purple wave, 105 He mourn’d extremely, and did much deprave Unprofitable penitence ; his hair Tore by the roots up, labour’d for the air With his feet fetch’d up to his belly close ; His heart within him panted out repose, no For th’ insolent plight in which his state did stand ; Sigh’d bitterly, and long’d to greet the land, Forced by the dire need of his freezing fear. First, on the waters he his tail did stere, Like to a stern ; then drew it like an oar, 115 Still praying the Gods to set him safe ashore ; Yet sunk he midst the red waves more and more, And laid a throat out to his utmost height; Yet in forced speech he made his peril slight, And thus his glory with his grievance strove : 120 “ Not in such choice state was the charge of love Borne by the bull, when to the Cretan shore He swum Europa through the wavy roar, As this Frog ferries me, his pallid breast 106 Deprave —vilify, abuse. See Iliad, Bk. vi. 564. 114 Stere —this is the old orthography for stir in Chapman, but it may probably mean steer. 115 Stern — rudder. 6 BA TRA GHOMYOMA CHI A. Bravely advancing, and his verdant crest 125 (Submitted to my seat) made my support, Through his white waters, to his royal court.” But 011 the sudden did apparance make An horrid spectacle,—a Water-snake Thusting his freckled neck above the lake. 130 Which seen to both, away Physignathus Dived to his deeps, as no way conscious Of whom he left to perish in his lake, But shunn’d black fate himself, and let him take The blackest of it; who amidst the fen 135 Swum with his breast up, hands held up in vain, Cried Peepe, and perish’d ; sunk the waters oft, And often with his sprawlings came aloft, Yet no way kept down death’s relentless force, But, full of water, made an heavy corse. 140 Before he perish’d yet, he threaten’d thus : “ Thou lurk’st not yet from heaven, Physignathus, Though yet thou hid’st here, that hast cast from thee, As from a rock, the shipwrack’d life of me, Though thou thyself no better was than I, 145 0 worst of things, at any faculty, Wrastling or race. But, for thy perfidy In this my wrack, Jove bears a wreakful eye ; And to the host of Mice thou pains shalt pay, Past all evasion.” This his life let say, iso And left him to the waters. Him beheld a Lichopinax, placed in the pleasing field, Who shriek’d extremely, ran and told the Mice ; Who having heard his wat’ry destinies, 126 Submitted —see Iliad, Bk. xix. 258. 152 a Lickdish. C. BA TRA CHO MYOMA GUI A, 7 Pernicious anger pierced the hearts of all, iss And then their heralds forth they sent to call A council early, at Troxartes’ house, Sad father of this fatal shipwrack’d Mouse ; "Whose dead corse upwards swum along the lake, Nor yet, poor wretch, could be enforced to make igo The shore his harbour, but the mid-main swum. When now, all haste made, with first morn did come All to set council; in. which first rais’d head Troxartes, angry for his son, and said : “ 0 friends, though I alone may seem to bear igs All the in fortune, yet may all met here Account it their case. But ’tis true, I am In chief unhappy, that a triple flame Of life feel put forth, in three famous sons: The first, the chief in our confusions, 170 The Cat, made rape of, caught without his hole : The second, Man, made with a cruel soul, Brought to his ruin with a new-found sleight, And a most wooden engine of deceit, They term a Trap, mere murtli’ress of our Mice. 175 The last, that in my love held special price, And his rare mother’s, this Physignathus (With false pretext of wafting to his house) Strangled in chief deeps of his bloody stream. Come then, haste all, and issue out on them, iso Our bodies deck’d in our Daedalean arms.” This said, his words thrust all up in alarms, 166 Infortune — Odyssey, Bk. xx. 119 . 175 ’OXtreipa. Inter/ectrix,perditrix. C. Mere —see Odyssey, Bk. vin. 115 . 181 Dcedalean —simply variegated , (oacdaXtoiai.) 8 BA TRA C HO MYOMA OH I A. And Mars himself, that serves the cure of war, Made all in their appropriates circular. First on each leg the green shales of a bean 185 They closed for boots, that sat exceeding clean ; The shales they broke ope, boothaling by night, And ate the beans; their jacks art exquisite Had shown in them, being cats’ skins, everywhere Quilted with quills ; their fenceful bucklers were 190 The middle rounds of can’sticks ; but their spear A huge long needle was, that could not bear The brain of any but be Mars his own Mortal invention ; their heads’ arming crown Was vessel to the kernel of a nut. 195 And thus the Mice their powers in armour put. This the Frogs hearing, from the water all Issue to one place, and a council call Of wicked war; consulting what should be Cause to this murmur and strange mutiny. 200 While this was question’d, near them made his stand An herald with a sceptre in his hand, a Embasichytrus call’d, that fetch’d his kind From b Tyroglyplius with the mighty mind, Denouncing ill-named war in these high terms : 20s “ 0 Frogs ! the Mice send threats to you of arms, 184 Appropriates —proper arms. 186 T ’ daKrjaavTes, ab atr/c^w, elaborate concinno. C. 187 Boothaling —foraging for booty, plundering. Halliwell has well explained it; but this is a good example. Probably Chapman meant a pun on boots and &oo£-haling : they foraged for booty to make boots. 188 Jades —buff Jerkins. See Chapman’s Commentary on Iliad, xiii. 637. 191 Can 1 sticks — candlesticks. See Halliwell. 203 a Enter-pot, or search-pot. C. 204 bCheese-miner. Qui caseum rodendo cavat. C. (Tyro- glyphus.) BA TRA CHO MYOMA Oil I A. 9 And bid me bid ye battle and fix’d fight; Their eyes all wounded with Psicharpax’ sight Floating your waters, whom your king hath kill’d. And therefore all prepare for force of field, 210 You that are best born whosoever held.” * This said, he sever’d : his speech firing th’ ears Of all the Mice, but freez’d the Frogs with fears, Themselves conceiting guilty ; whom the king Thus answer’d, rising, “ Friends ! I did not bring 215 Psicharpax to his end ; he, wantoning Upon our waters, practising to swim, Aped us, and drown’d without my sight of him. And yet these worst of vermin accuse me, Though no way guilty. Come, consider we 220 How we may ruin these deceitful Mice. For my part, I give voice to this advice, As seeming fittest to direct our deeds : Our bodies decking with our arming weeds, Let all our pow’rs stand rais’d in steep’st repose 225 Of all our shore ; that, when they charge us close, We may the helms snatch off from all so deckt, Daring our onset, and them all deject Down to our waters ; who, not knowing the sleight To dive our soft deeps, may be strangled straight, 230 And we triumphing may a trophy rear, Of all the Mice that we have slaughter’d here.” These words put all in arms ; and mallow leaves They drew upon their legs, for arming greaves. Their curets, broad green beets ; their bucklers were Good thick-leaved cabbage, proof ’gainst any spear ; 23c 218 Mtyuoi^ei'os. Aping, or imitating us. C. 224 Weeds —i. e. garments ; a very common word. 234 Boots of war. C. 10 BA TRA CHO MYOMA CHI A. Their spears sharp bulrushes, of which, were all Fitted with long ones ; their parts capital They hid in subtle cockleshells from blows. And thus all arm’d, the steepest shores they chose 240 T’ encamp themselves; where lance with lance they lined, And brandish’d bravely, each Frog full of mind. Then Jove call’d all Gods in his flaming throne, And show’d all all this preparation For resolute war ; these able soldiers, 245 Many, and great, all shaking lengthful spears, In show like Centaurs, or the Giants’ host. When, sweetly smiling, he inquired who, most Of all th’ Immortals, pleased to add their aid To Frogs or Mice ; and thus to Pallas said : 250 “ 0 Daughter ! Must not your needs aid these Mice, That, with the odours and meat sacrifice Used in your temple, endless triumphs make, And serve you for your sacred victuals’ sake 1 ” Pallas replied : “0 Father, never I 255 Will aid the Mice in any misery. So many mischiefs by them I have found, Eating the cotton that my distaffs crown’d, My lamps still haunting to devour the oil. But that which most my mind eats, is their spoil 200 Made of a veil, that me in much did stand, On which bestowing an elaborate hand, A fine woof working of as pure a thread, Such holes therein their petulancies fed That, putting it to darning, when ’twas done, 265 The darner a most dear pay stood upon 238 Parts capital —heads. 258 'Zrip.jiaTa, Lanas , eo quod coluscing ant seu cor orient. Which our learned sect translate eating the crowns that Pallas wore. C. BA TEA CHOMYOMA CHI A. 11 For his so dear pains, laid down instantly ; Or, to forbear, exacted usury. So, borrowing from my fane the weed I wove, I can by no means th’ usurous darner move 270 To let me have the mantle to restore. And this is it that rubs the angry sore Of my offence took at these petulant Mice. Nor will I yield the Frogs’ wants my supplies, For their infirm minds that no confines keep ; 275 For I from war retired, and wanting sleep, All leap’d ashore in tumult, nor would stay Till one wink seized mine eyes, and so I lay Sleepless, and pain’d with headache, till first light The cock had crow’d up. Therefore, to the fight 280 Let no God go assistant, lest a lance Wound whosoever offers to advance, Or wishes but their aid, that scorn all foes, Should any God’s access their spirits oppose. Sit we then pleased to see from heaven their fight.” 285 She said, and all Gods join’d in her delight. And now both hosts to one field drew the jar, Both heralds bearing the ostents of war. And then the wine-gnats, that shrill trumpets sound, Terribly rung out the encounter round ; 290 Jove tliund’red; all heaven sad war’s sign resounded. And first a Hypsiboas b Lichenor wounded, Standing th’ impression of the first in fight. His lance did in his liver’s midst alight, Along his belly. Down he fell; his face 295 268 T6/cos, Partus, et id quod partu edidit mater. Mctap. hie appeUatur feenus quod ex usurd ad nos redit. C. 289 Kdopco\p. Culex vinarius. C. 292 a Loud-mouth. C. 292 b Kitchen-vessel licker. C. 12 BATRA CHO MYOMA CHI A. His fall on that part sway’d, and all the grace Of his soft hair fil’d with disgraceful dust. Then a Troglodytes his thick javelin thrust In b Pelion’s bosom, bearing him to ground, Whom sad death seized; his soul flew through his wound. c Seutlseus next Embasichytros slew, 301 His heart through-thrusting. Then d Artophagus threw His lance at e Polyphon, and struck him quite Through his mid-belly ; down he fell upright, And from his fair limbs took his soul her flight. 305 f Limnocharis, beholding Polyphon Thus done to death, did, with as round a stone As that the mill turns, Troglodytes wound, Near his mid-neck, ere he his onset found ; Whose eyes sad darkness seized. s Lichenor cast 310 A flying dart off, and his aim so placed Upon Limnocharis, that sure he thought The wound he wish’d him ; nor untruly wrought The dire success, for through his liver flew The fatal lance ; which when h Crambophagus knew, 315 Down the deep waves near shore he, diving, fled ; But fled not fate so ; the stern enemy fed Death with his life in diving ; never more The air he drew in; his vermilion gore Stain’d all the waters, and along the shore 320 298 a Hole-dweller. Qui foramina subit. C. Chapman, as is constantly the case, has altered the quantity of the word. 299 b Mud-born. C. 301 c Beet-devourer. C. 302 d The great bread eater. C. 3°3 e IIoAt^wi'oi'. The great-noise-maker, shrill or big¬ voiced. C. 306 f The lake-lover. C. 310 s Qui lambit culinaria vasa. C. 312 TiTvcrKOfjLcu intentissime dirig0 ut certum ictum inferam. C. 315 bq'he cabbage-eater. C. BA TRA CHOMYOMA CHI A. 13 He laid extended ; his fat entrails lay (By his small guts’ impulsion) breaking way Out at his wound. a Limnisius near the shore Destroy’d Tyroglyphus. Which frighted sore The soul of b Calaminth, seeing coming on, 325 For wreak, c Pternoglyphus ; who got him gone With large leaps to the lake, his target thrown Into the waters. d Hydrocharis slew King e Pternophagus, at whose throat he threw A huge stone, strook it high, and beat his brain 330 Out at his nostrils. Earth blush’d with the stain His blood made on her bosom. For next prise, Lichopinax to death did sacrifice f Borboroccetes’ faultless faculties ; His lance enforced it; darkness closed his eyes. 335 On which when g Prassophagus cast his look, h Cnissodioctes by the heels he took, Dragg’d him to fen from off his native ground, Then seized his throat, and soused him till he drown’d. But now Psicharpax wreaks his fellows’ deaths, 340 And in the bosom of 4 Pelusius sheaths, In centre of his liver, his bright lance. He fell before the author of the chance ; His soul to hell fled. Which k Pelobates Taking sad note of, wreakfully did seize 345 His hand’s gripe full of mud, and all besmear’d 323 a Paludis incola. Lake-liver. C. 325 b q u i i n calamintha, herbd palustri, habitat. C. 326 c Bacon-eater. C. 328 d Qui aquis delectatur. C. 329 e Collup-devourer. C. Another of Chapman’s false quantities. 334 f Mud-sleeper. C. 3a( > g Leek or scallion lover. C. A similar error. 337 h Kitchin-smell haunter, or hunter. C. 341 i Fenstalk. C. 344 k Qui per lutum it. C. 14 BA TRA CHOMYOMA CHI A. His forehead with it so, that scarce appear’d The light to him. Which certainly incensed His fiery spleen ; who with his wreak dispensed No point of time, but rear’d with his strong hand 350 A stone so massy it oppress’d the land, And hurl’d it at him ; when below the knee It strook his right leg so impetuously It piecemeal brake it; he the dust did seize, Upwards everted. But a Craugasides 355 Revenged his death, and at his enemy Discharged a dart that did his point imply In his mid-belly. All the sharp-pil’d spear Got after in, and did before it bear His universal entrails to the earth, 360 Soon as his swoln hand gave his jav’lin birth. b Sitophagus, beholding the sad sight, Set on the shore, went halting from the fight, Vex’d with his wounds extremely ; and, to make Way from extreme fate, leap’d into the lake. 365 Troxartes strook, in th’ instep’s upper part, Physignathus ; who (privy to the smart His wound imparted) with his utmost haste Leap’d to the lake, and fled. Troxartes cast His eye upon the foe that fell before, 370 And, seeing him half-lived, long’d again to gore His gutless bosom ; and, to kill him quite, Ran fiercely at him. Which c Prassaeus’ sight Took instant note of, and the first in fight Thrust desp’rate way through, casting his keen lance Off at Troxartes ; whose shield turn’d th’ advance 376 355 a Vociferator. C. 362 b Eat-corn. C. 373 c Scallion-devourer. C. BATE A OHO MYOMA CHI A. 15 The sharp head made, and check’d the mortal chance. Amongst the Mice fought an egregious Young springall, and a close-encount’ring Mouse, Pure a Artepibulus’s dear descent; 3so A prince that Mars himself show’d where he went. (Call’d b Meridarpax,) of so huge a might, That only he still domineer’d in fight Of all the Mouse-host. He advancing close Up to the lake, past all the rest arose 385 In glorious object, and made vaunt that he Came to depopulate all the progeny Of Frogs, affected with the lance of war. And certainly he had put on as far As he advanced his vaunt, he was endu’d 390 With so unmatch’d a force and fortitude, Had not the Father both of Gods and men Instantly known it, and the Frogs, even then Given up to ruin, rescued with remorse. Who, his head moving, thus began discourse : 395 “No mean amaze affects me, to behold Prince Meridarpax rage so uncontroll’d, In thirst of Frog-blood, all along the lake. Come therefore still, and all addression make, Despatching Pallas, with tumultuous Mars, 400 Down to the field, to make him leave the wars, How potently soever he be said Where he attempts once to uphold his head.” Mars answer’d : “ 0 Jove, neither She nor I, With both our aids, can keep depopulacy 405 380 a Bread-betrayer. C. (Artepibulus.) 382 b Scrap, or broken-meat-eater. C. 402 Kparepor, validus seu potens in retinendo. C. 16 BATRA CHOMYOMA CHI A. From off the Frogs ! And therefore arm we all, Even thy lance letting brandish to his call From off the field, that from the field withdrew The Titanois, the Titanois that slew, Though most exempt from match of all earth’s Seeds, So great and so inaccessible deeds 4ii It hath proclaim’d to men ; bound hand and foot The vast Enceladus ; and rac’d by th’ root The race of upland Giants.” This speech past, Saturnius a smoking lightning cast 415 Amongst the armies, thund’ring then so sore, That with a rapting circumflex he bore All huge heaven over. But the terrible ire Of his dart, sent abroad, all wrapt in fire, (Which certainly his very finger was) 420 Amazed both Mice and Frogs. Yet soon let pass Was all this by the Mice, who much the more Burn’d in desire t’ exterminate the store Of all those lance-loved soldiers. Which had been, If from Olympus Jove’s eye had not seen 425 The Frogs with pity, and with instant speed Sent them assistants. Who, ere any heed Was given to their approach, came crawling on With anvils on their backs, that, beat upon Never so much, are never wearied yet; 430 Crook-paw’d, and wrested on with foul cloven feet, Tongues in their mouths, brick-back’d, all over bone, 414 Upland is constantly used in Chapman for rough, rude ; up-land i. e. from the country, as distinguished from the civilization of the town. 429 (i)t$ Kfioves. Incudes ferentes, or anvil-backed. "Ak/uwv. Incus, dicta per syncopen quasi nullis ictibus fatigetur. C. 432 TaXiooo<777x0s. Forcipem in ore habeas. C. BATRA CHOMYOMA CHI A. 17 Broad shoulder’d, whence a ruddy yellow shone, Distorted, and small-thigh’d ; had eyes that saw Out at their bosoms ; twice four feet did draw 435 About their bodies ; strong-neck’d, whence did rise Two heads ; nor could to any hand be prise ; They call them lobsters ; that ate from the Mice Their tails, their feet, and hands, and wrested all Their lances from them, so that cold appall 440 The wretches put in rout, past all return. And now the Fount of Light forbore to burn Above the earth ; when, which men’s laws commend, Our battle in one day took absolute end. THE END OF HOMER’S BATTLE OF FROGS AND MICE. B I ALL THE HYMNS OF HOMER. A HYMN TO APOLLO. WILL remember and express the praise Of heaven’s Far-darter, the fair King of days, Whom even the Gods themselves fear when he goes Through Jove’s high house ; and when his goodly bows He goes to bend, all from their thrones arise, 5 And cluster near, t’ admire his faculties. Only Latona stirs not from her seat Close by the Thund’rer, till her Son’s retreat From his dread archery ; but then she goes, Slackens his string, and shuts his quiver close, 10 And (having taken to her hand his bow, From off his able shoulders) doth bestow Upon a pin of gold the glorious tiller, The pin of gold fix’d in his father’s pillar. Then doth She to his throne his state uphold, 15 Where his great Father, in a cup of gold, 13 Tiller —how. A HYMN TO APOLLO . 19 Serves him with nectar, and shows all the grace Of his great son. Then th’ other Gods take place ; His gracious mother glorying to hear So great an archer, and a son so clear. 20 All hail, 0 blest Latona ! to bring forth An issue of such all-out-shining worth, Royal Apollo, and the Queen that loves The hurls of darts. She in th’ Ortygian groves, And he in cliffy Delos, leaning on 25 The lofty Oros, and being built upon By Cynthus’ prominent, that his head rears Close to the palm that Inops’ fluent cheers. How shall I praise thee, far being worthiest praise, 0 Phoebus ? To whose worth the law of lays 30 In all kinds is ascrib’d, if feeding flocks By continent or isle. All eminent’st rocks Did sing for joy, hill-tops, and floods in song Did break their billows, as they flow’d along To serve the sea ; the shores, the seas, and all 35 Did sing as soon as from the lap did fall Of blest Latona thee the joy of man. Her child-bed made the mountain Cynthian In rocky Delos, the sea-circled isle, On whose all sides the black seas brake their pile, 40 And overflow’d for joy, so frank a gale The singing winds did on their waves exhale. Here born, all mortals live in thy commands, Whoever Crete holds, Athens, or the strands Of th’ isle iEgina, or the famous land 45 For ships (Euboea), or Eresia, Or Peparethus bord’ring on the sea, 23 Viz. Diana. 20 A HYMN TO APOLLO. iEgas, or Athos that doth Thrace divide And Macedon ; or Pelion, with the pride Of his high forehead ; or the Samian isle, so That likewise lies near Thrace ; or Scyrus’ soil; Ida’s steep tops ; or all that Phocis fill; Or Autocanes, with the heaven-high hill; Or populous Imber ; Lemnos without ports ; Or Lesbos, fit for the divine resorts ; 55 And sacred soil of blest iEolion ; Or Chios that exceeds comparison For fruitfulness ; with all the isles that lie Embrac’d with seas ; Mimas, with rocks so high ; Or lofty-crown’d Corycius ; or the bright eo Cbaros ; or iEsagseus’ dazzling height; Or watery Samos ; Mycale, that bears Her brows even with the circles of the, spheres ; Miletus ; Cous, that the city is Of voice-divided-choice humanities ; 65 High Cnidus ; Carpathus, still strook with wind ; Naxos, and Paros ; and the rocky-min’d Rugged Rhensea. Yet through all these parts Latona, great-grown with the King of darts, Travell’d ; and tried if any would become to To her dear birth an hospitable home. All which extremely trembled, shook with fear, Nor durst endure so high a birth to bear In their free states, though, for it, they became Never so fruitful; till the reverend Dame 75 Ascended Delos, and her soil did seize With these wing’d words : “ 0 Delos ! Wouldst thou please To be my son Apollo’s native seat, 53 Autocanes. A HYMN TO APOLLO. 21 And build a wealthy fane to one so great, No one shall blame or question thy kind deed. so Nor think I, thou dost sheep or oxen feed In any such store, or in vines exceed, Nor bring’st forth such innumerable plants, Which often make the rich inhabitants Careless of Deity. If thou then shouldst rear ss A fane to Phoebus, all men would confer Whole hecatombs of beeves for sacrifice, Still thronging hither ; and to thee would rise Ever unmeasur’d odours, shouldst thou long Nourish thy King thus ; and from foreign wrong 90 The Gods would guard thee ; which thine own address Can never compass for thy barrenness.” She said, and Delos joy’d, replying thus : " Most happy sister of Saturnius ! I gladly would with all means entertain 95 The King your son, being now despised of men, But should be honour’d with the greatest then. Yet this I fear, nor will conceal from thee : Your son, some say, will author misery In many kinds, as being to sustain 100 A mighty empire over Gods and men, Upon the holy-gift-giver the Earth. And bitterly I fear that, when his birth Gives him the sight of my so barren soil, He will contemn, and give me up to spoil, 105 Enforce the sea to me, that ever will Oppress my heart with many a wat’ry hill. And therefore let him choose some other land, Where he shall please, to build at his command Temple and grove, set thick with many a tree. 110 22 A HYMN TO APOLLO. For wretched polypuses breed in me Retiring chambers, and black sea-calves den In my poor soil, for penury of men. And yet, 0 Goddess, wouldst thou please to swear The Gods’ great oath to me, before thou bear 115 Thy blessed son here, that thou wilt erect A fane to him, to render the effect Of men’s demands to them before they fall, Then will thy son’s renown be general, Men will his name in such variety call, 120 And I shall then be glad his birth to bear.” This said, the Gods’ great oath she thus did swear : “ Know this, 0 Earth ! broad heaven’s inferior sphere, And of black Styx the most infernal lake, (Which is the gravest oath the Gods can take) 125 That here shall ever rise to Phoebus’ name An odorous fane and altar ; and thy fame Honour, past all isles else, shall see him employ’d.” Her oath thus took and ended, Delos joy’d In mighty measure that she should become 130 To far-shot Phoebus’ birth the famous home. Latona then nine days and nights did fall In hopeless labour ; at whose birth were all Heaven’s most supreme and worthy Goddesses, Dione, Rhsea, and th’ Exploratress 135 Themis, and Amphitrite that will be Pursu’d with sighs still ; every Deity, Except the snowy-'wristed wife of Jove, Who held her moods aloft, and would not move ; Only Lucina (to whose virtue vows no Each childbirth patient) heard not of her throes, 112 Den —i. e. make dens. A HYMN TO APOLLO. 23 But sat, by Juno’s counsel, on the brows Of broad Olympus, wrapp’d in clouds of gold. Whom Jove’s proud wife in envy did withhold, Because bright-lock’d Latona was to bear W5 A son so faultless and in force so clear. The rest Thaumantia sent before, to bring Lucina to release the envied king, Assuring her, that they would straight confer A carcanet, nine cubits long, on her, 150 All woven with wires of gold. But charg’d her, then, To call apart from th’ ivory-wristed Queen The childbirth-guiding Goddess, for just fear Lest, her charge utter’d in Saturnia’s ear, She, after, might dissuade her from descent. 155 When wind-swift-footed Iris knew th’ intent Of th’ other Goddesses, away she went, And instantly she pass’d the infinite space ’Twixt earth and heaven ; when, coming to the place Where dwelt th’ Immortals, straight without the gate She gat Lucina, and did all relate ici The Goddesses commanded, and inclin’d To all that they demanded her dear mind. And on their way they went, like those two doves That, walking highways, every shadow moves 165 Up from the earth, forc’d with their natural fear. When ent’ring Delos, She, that is so dear To dames in labour, made Latona straight Prone to delivery, and to wield the weight Of her dear burthen with a world of ease. no When, with her fair hand, she a palm did seize, And, staying her by it, stuck her tender knees 147 Thaumantia —Iris. 24 A HYMN TO APOLLO. Amidst the soft mead, that did smile beneath Her sacred labour ; and the child did breathe The air in th’ instant. All the Goddesses Brake in kind tears and shrieks for her quick ease, And thee, 0 archer Phoebus, with waves clear Wash’d sweetly over, swaddled with sincere And spotless swathbands ; and made then to flow About thy breast a mantle, white as snow, Pine, and new made ; and cast a veil of gold Over thy forehead. Nor yet forth did hold Thy mother for thy food her golden breast, But Themis, in supply of it, address’d Lovely Ambrosia, and drunk off to thee A bowl of nectar, interchangeably With her immortal fingers serving thine. And when, 0 Phoebus, that eternal wine Thy taste had relish’d, and that food divine, No golden swathband longer could contain Thy panting bosom ; all that would constrain Thy soon-eas’d Godhead, every feeble chain Of earthy child-rites, flew in sunder all. And then didst thou thus to the Deities call: “ Let there be given me my lov’d lute and bow, I’ll prophesy to men, and make them know Jove’s perfect counsels.” This said, up did fly From broad-way’d Earth the unshorn Deity, Par-shot Apollo. All th’ Immortals stood In steep amaze to see Latona’s brood. All Delos, looking on him, all with gold Was loaden straight, and joy’d to be extoll’d By great Latona so, that she decreed 178 Sincere —pure, unmixed ; the true Latin sense. A HYMN TO APOLLO. 25 Her barrenness should bear the fruitful’st seed Of all the isles and continents of earth, 205 And lov’d her from her heart so for her birth. For so she flourish’d, as a hill that stood Crown’d with the flow’r of an abundant wood. And thou, 0 Phoebus, bearing in thy hand Thy silver bow, walk’st over every land, 210 Sometimes ascend’st the rough-hewn rocky hill Of desolate Cynthus, and sometimes tak’st will To visit islands, and the plumps of men. And many a temple, all ways, men ordain To thy bright Godhead ; groves, made dark with trees. And never shorn, to hide the Deities, 216 All high-lov’d prospects, all the steepest brows Of far-seen hills, and every flood that flows Forth to the sea, are dedicate to thee. But most of all thy mind’s alacrity 220 Is rais’d with Delos ; since, to fill thy fane, There flocks so many an Ionian, With ample gowns that flow down to their feet, With all their children, and the reverend sweet Of all their pious wives. And these are they 225 That (mindful of thee) even thy Deity Render more spritely with their champion fight, Dances, and songs, perform’d to glorious sight, Once having publish’d, and proclaim’d their strife. And these are acted with such exquisite life 230 That one would say, “ Now, the Ionian strains 213 Plumps —crowds, collection. A common old word. 224 Sweet —so spelt in the folio ; but the word is doubtless suite, attendance, retinue. Todd gives an example of suite from Sir Philip Sydney. 227 Champion fight —7riry gaxiy, boxing. 231 Strains —families, descent. See Odyssey, Bk. 1. 344 . 26 A HYMN TO APOLLO . Are turn’d Immortals, nor know what age means. 55 His mind would take such pleasure from his eye, To see them serv’d by all mortality, Their men so human, women so well grac’d, Their ships so swift, their riches so increas’d, Since thy observance, who, being all before Thy opposites, were all despis’d and poor. And to all these this absolute wonder add, Whose praise shall render all posterities glad : The Delian virgins are thy handmaids all, And, since they serv’d Apollo, jointly fall Before Latona, and Diana too, In sacred service, and do therefore know How to make mention of the ancient trims Of men and women, in their well-made hymns, And soften barbarous nations with their songs, Being able all to speak the several tongues Of foreign nations, and to imitate Their musics there, with art so fortunate That one would say, there every one did speak, And all their tunes in natural accents break, Their songs so well compos’d are, and their art To answer all sounds is of such desert. But come, Latona, and thou King of flames, With Phoebe, rect’ress of chaste thoughts in dames, Let me salute ye, and your graces call Hereafter to my just memorial. And you, 0 Delian virgins, do me grace, When any stranger of our earthy race, Whose restless life affliction hath in chace, Shall hither come and question you, who is, To your chaste ears, of choicest faculties 255 240 245 250 255 260 A HYMN TO APOLLO. 27 In sacred poesy, and with most right Is author of your absolutist delight, 265 Ye shall yourselves do all the right ye can To answer for our name :—“ The sightless man Of stony Chios. All whose poems shall In all last ages stand for capital.” This for your own sakes I desire, for I 270 Will propagate mine own precedency As far as earth shall well-built cities bear, Or human conversation is held dear, Not with my praise direct, but praises due, And men shall credit it, because ’tis true. 275 « However, I’ll not cease the praise I vow To far-shot Phoebus with the silver bow, Whom lovely-hair’d Latona gave the light. 0 King ! both Lycia is in rule thy right, Fair Moeony, and the maritimal 280 Miletus, wish’d to be the seat of all. But chiefly Delos, girt with billows round, Thy most respected empire doth resound. Where thou to Pythus went’st, to answer there, As soon as thou wert born, the burning ear 285 Of many a far-come, to hear future deeds, Clad in divine and odoriferous weeds, And with thy golden fescue play’dst upon Thy hollow harp, that sounds to heaven set gone. Then to Olympus swift as thought he flew, 290 288 Fescue —the lexicographers give the derivation from the Latin festuca , a young shoot or stalk. It was generally used for a stick for pointing to the letters in teaching children to read. The word in this sense occurs in Dryden and Swift. Here it seems to be an instrument (the 'plectrum ) with which Apollo touched the strings of his harp ; a sense which does not seem to have been noted as occurring elsewhere. I 28 A HYMN TO APOLLO. To Jove’s high house, and had a retinue Of Gods t 5 attend him ; and then straight did fall To study of the harp, and harpsical, All th’ Immortals. To whom every Muse With ravishing voices did their answers use, Singing th’ eternal deeds of Deity, And from their hands what hells of misery Poor humans suffer, living desperate quite, And not an art they have, wit, or deceit, Can make them manage any act aright, Nor find, with all the soul they can engage, A salve for death, or remedy for age. But here the fair-hair’d Graces, the wise Hours, Harmonia, Hebe, and sweet Venus’ pow’rs, Danc’d, and each other’s palm to palm did cling. And with these danc’d not a deformed thing, No forespoke dwarf, nor downward witherling, But all with wond’rous goodly forms were deckt, And mov’d with beauties of unpriz’d aspect. Dart-dear Diana, even with Phcebus bred, Danc’d likewise there ; and Mars a march did tread With that brave bevy. In whose consort fell Argicides, th’ ingenious sentinel. Phcebus-Apollo touch’d his lute to them Sweetly and softly, a most glorious beam Casting about him, as he danc’d and play’d, And even his feet were all with rays array’d ; His weed and all of a most curious trim With no less lustre grac’d and circled him. By these Latona, with a hair that shin’d 298 Unmans —mortals. 307 ForespoJce —see Iliad, Blc. xvi. 792 ; xvii. 32. 295 300 305 310 315 320 A HYMN TO APOLLO. 29 Like burnish’d gold, and, with the mighty mind, Heaven’s counsellor, Jove, sat with delightsome eyes, To see their son new rank’d with Deities. How shall I praise thee, then, that art all praise ? Amongst the brides shall I thy Deity raise ? Or being in love, when sad thou went’st to woo The virgin Aza, and didst overthrow The even-with-Gods, Elation’s mighty seed, That had of goodly horse so brave a breed, And Phorbas, son of sovereign Triopus, Valiant Leucippus, and Ereutheus, And Triopus himself with equal fall, Thou but on foot, and they on horseback all 1 Or shall I sing thee, as thou first didst grace Earth with thy foot, to find thee forth a place Fit to pronounce thy oracles to men ? First from Olympus thou alightedst then Into Pieria, passing all the land Of fruitless Lesbos, chok’d with drifts of sand, The Magnets likewise, and the Perrhsebes ; And to Iolcus variedst thy access, Censeus’ tops ascending, that their base Make bright Euboea, being of ships the grace, And fix’d thy fair stand in Lelantus’ field, That did not yet thy mind’s contentment yield To raise a fane on, and a sacred grove. Passing Euripus then, thou mad’st remove Up to earth’s ever-green and holiest hill. Yet swiftly thence, too, thou transcendedst still To Mycalessus, and didst touch upon Teumessus, apt to make green couches on, And flowery field-beds. Then thy progress found 325 330 335 340 345 350 30 A HYMN TO APOLLO. Thebes out, whose soil with only woods was crown’d. For yet was sacred Thebes no human seat, And therefore were no paths nor highways beat 355 On her free bosom, that flows now with wheat, But then she only wore on it a wood. From hence (even loth to part, because it stood Fit for thy service) thou putt’st on remove To green Onchestus, Neptune’s glorious grove, 360 Where new-tam’d horse, bred, nourish nerves so rare That still they frolic, though they travell’d are Never so sore, and hurry after them Most heavy coaches, but are so extreme (In usual travel) fiery and free, 355 That though their coachman ne’er so masterly Governs their courages, he sometimes must Forsake his seat, and give their spirits their lust, When after them their empty coach they draw, Foaming, and neighing, quite exempt from awe. 370 And if their coachman guide through any grove Unshorn, and vow’d to any Deity’s love, The lords encoach’d leap out, and all their care Use to allay their fires, with speaking fair Stroking and trimming them, and in some queach, 375 Or strength of shade, within their nearest reach, Reining them up, invoke the deified King Of that unshorn and everlasting spring, And leave them then to her preserving hands, Who is the Fate that there the God commands. 380 And this was first the sacred fashion there. From hence thou went’st, 0 thou in shafts past peer, 375 Queach —bushy place. See note on Odyssey, Bk. xix. 610. Hymn to Pan, 12. A HYMN TO APOLLO. 31 And found’st Cephissus with thy all-seeing beams, Whose flood affects so many silver streams, And from Liheus pours so bright a wave. 385 Yet forth thy foot flew, and thy fair eyes gave The view of Ocale the rich in tow’rs ; Then to Amartus that abounds in flow’rs, Then to Delphusa putt’st thy progress on, Whose blessed soil nought harmful breeds upon ; 390 And there thy pleasure would a fane adorn, And nourish woods whose shades should ne’er be shorn. Where this thou told’st her, standing to her close : “ Delphusa, here I entertain suppose To build a far-fam’d temple, and ordain 395 An oracle t’ inform the minds of men, Who shall for ever offer to my love Whole hecatombs ; even all the men that move In rich Peloponnesus, and all those Of Europe, and the isles the seas enclose, 400 Whom future search of acts and beings brings. To whom I’ll prophesy the truths of things In that rich temple where my oracle sings.” This said, the All-bounds-reacher, with his bow, The fane’s divine foundations did foreshow ; 405 Ample they were, and did huge length impart, With a continuate tenour, full of art. But wdien Delphusa look’d into his end, Her heart grew angry, and did thus extend Itself to Phoebus : “ Phoebus, since thy mind 410 A far-fam’d fane hath in itself design’d To bear an oracle to men in me, That hecatombs may put in fire to thee, This let me tell thee, and impose for stay 32 A HYMN TO APOLLO. Upon thy purpose : Th’ inarticulate neigh Of fire-hov’d horse will ever disobey Thy numerous ear, and mules will for their drink Trouble my sacred springs, and I should think That any of the human race had rather See here the hurries of rich coaches gather, And hear the haughty neighs of swift-liov’d horse, Than in his pleasure’s place convert recourse T’a mighty temple ; and his wealth bestow On pieties, where his sports may freely flow, Or see huge wealth that he shall never owe. And, therefore, wouldst thou hear my free advice,— Though mightier far thou art, and much more wise, O king, than I, thy pow’r being great’st of all In Orissa, underneath the bosom’s fall Of steep Parnassus,—let thy mind be given To set thee up a fane, where never driven Shall glorious coaches be, nor horses’ neighs Storm near thy well-built altars, but thy praise Let the fair race of pious humans bring Into thy fane, that Io-pseans sing. And those gifts only let thy deified mind Be circularly pleas’d with, being the kind And fair burnt-offerings that true Deities bind.” With this his mind she altered, though she spake Not for his good, but her own glory’s sake. From hence, O Phoebus, first thou mad’st retreat, And of the Phlegians reached the walled seat, Inhabited with contumelious men, Who, slighting Jove, took up their dwellings then Within a large cave, near Cephissus’ lake. 425 Oive —own. Odyssey, Bk. n. 190. 415 420 425 430 435 440 445 A HYMN TO APOLLO. 33 Hence, swiftly moving, thou all speed didst make Up to the tops intended, and the ground Of Orissa, under the-with-snow-still-crown’d Parnassus, reach’d, whose face affects the West; Above which hangs a rock, that still seems prest 450 To fall upon it, through whose breast doth run A rocky cave, near which the King the Sun Cast to contrive a temple to his mind, And said, “ Now here stands my conceit inclin’d To build a famous fane, where still shall be 455 An oracle to men, that still to me Shall offer absolute hecatombs, as well Those that in rich Peloponnesus dwell As those of Europe, and the isles that lie Wall’d with the sea, that all their pains apply 400 T’ employ my counsels. To all which will I True secrets tell, by way of prophecy, In my rich temple, that shall ever be An oracle to all posterity.” This said, the fane’s form he did .straight present, 4i>5 Ample, and of a length of great extent; In which Trophonius and Agamede, Who of Erginus were the famous seed, Impos’d the stony entry, and the heart Of every God had for their excellent art. 470 About the temple dwelt of human name Unnumber’d nations, it acquired such fame, Being all of stone, built for eternal date. And near it did a fountain propagate A fair stream far away ; when Jove’s bright seed, 475 The King Apollo, with an arrow, freed 450 p rcs t —ready. Frequently used in the Odyssey. C 34 A HYMN TO APOLLO. From his strong string, destroy'd the Dragoness That wonder nourish’d, being of such excess In size, and horridness of monstrous shape, That on the forc’d earth she wrought many a rape, 4so Many a spoil made on it, many an ill On crook-haunch’d herds brought, being impurpled still With blood of all sorts ; having undergone The charge of Juno, with the golden throne, To nourish Typhon, the abhorr’d affright 485 And bane of mortals, whom into the light Saturnia brought forth, being incensed with Jove, Because the most renown’d fruit of his love (Pallas) he got, and shook out of his brain. For which majestic Juno did complain 490 In this kind to the Bless’d Court of the skies : “ Know all ye sex-distinguish’d Deities, That Jove, assembler of the cloudy throng, Begins with me first, and affects with wrong My right in him, made by himself his wife, 495 That knows and does the honour’d marriage life All honest offices ; and yet hath he Unduly got, without my company, Blue-eyed Minerva, who of all the sky Of blest Immortals is the absolute grace ; 500 Where I have brought into the Heavenly Race A son, both taken in his feet and head, So ugly, and so far from worth my bed, That, ravish’d into hand, I took and threw Down to the vast sea his detested view ; 505 Where Nereus’ daughter, Thetis, who her way With silver feet makes, and the fair array Of her bright sisters, saved, and took to guard. A HYMN TO APOLLO. 35 But, would to heaven, another yet were spared The like grace of his godhead ! Crafty mate, What other scape canst thou excogitate ? How could thy heart sustain to get alone The grey-eyed Goddess ? Her conception Nor bringing forth had any hand of mine, And yet, know all the Gods, I go for thine To such kind uses. But I’ll now employ My brain to procreate a masculine joy, That ’mongst th’ Immortals may as eminent shine, With shame affecting nor my bed nor thine. Nor will I ever touch at thine again, But far fly it and thee ; and yet will reign Amongst th’ Immortals ever.” This spleen spent (Still yet left angry) far away she went From all the Deathless, and yet pray’d to all, Advanced her hand, and, ere she let it fall, Used these excitements : “ Hear me now, 0 Earth ! Broad Heaven above it, and beneath, your birth, The deified Titanois, that dwell about Vast Tartarus, from whence sprung all the rout Of Men and Deities ! Hear me all, I say, With all your forces, and give instant way T’ a son of mine without Jove, who yet may Nothing inferior prove in force to him, But past him spring as far in able limb As he past Saturn.” This pronounced, she strook Life-bearing Earth so strongly, that she shook Beneath her numb’d hand. Which when she beheld Her bosom with abundant comforts swell’d, In hope all should to her desire extend. From hence the year, that all such proofs gives end, 510 515 520 525 530 535 36 A HYMN TO APOLLO. Grew round ; yet all that time the bed of Jove She never touch’d at, never was her love Enflam’d to sit near his Daedalian throne, As she accustomed, to consult upon Counsels kept dark, with many a secret skill, But kept her vow-frequented temple still, Pleas’d with her sacrifice ; till now, the nights And days accomplish’d, and the year’s whole rig! In all her revolutions being expired, The hours and all run out that were required To vent a birth-right, she brought forth a son, Like Gods or men in no condition, But a most dreadful and pernicious thing, Call’d Typhon, who on all the human spring Conferr’d confusion. Which received to hand By Juno, instantly she gave command (Ill to ill adding) that the Dragoness Should bring it up ; who took, and did oppress With many a misery (to maintain th’ excess Of that inhuman monster) all the race Of men that were of all the world the grace, Till the far-working Phoebus at her sent A fiery arrow, that invoked event Of death gave to her execrable life. Before which yet she lay in bitter strife, With dying pains, grovelling on earth, and drew Extreme short respirations ; for which flew A shout about the air, whence no man knew, But came by power divine. And then she lay Tumbling her trunk, and winding every way 543 Dcedalian —variegated, tto\v 5aida\ov. 554 Spring —race. A HYMN TO APOLLO . 37 About her nasty nest, quite leaving then Her murderous life, embrued with deaths of men. Then Phoebus gloried, saying : “ Thyself now lie On men-sustaining earth, and putrefy, Who first of putrefaction was inform’d. 575 Now on thy life have death’s cold vapours storm’d, That storm’dst on men the earth-fed so much death, In envy of the offspring they made breathe Their lives out on my altars. Now from thee Not Typhon shall enforce the misery sso Of merited death, nor She, whose name implies Such scathe (Chimsera), but black earth make prise To putrefaction thy immunities, And bright Hyperion, that light all eyes shows, Thine with a night of rottenness shall close.” 585 Thus spake he glorying. And then seiz’d upon Her horrid heap, with putrefaction, Hyperion’s lovely pow’rs ; from whence her name Took sound of Python, and heaven’s Sovereign Flame Was surnam’d Pytliius, since the sharp-eyed Sun 590 Affected so with putrefaction The hellish monster. And now Phoebus’ mind Gave him to know that falsehood had strook blind Even his bright eye, because it could not find The subtle Fountain’s fraud ; to whom he flew, 595 Enflamed with anger, and in tli’ instant drew Close to Delphusa, using this short vow : “Delpliusa ! You must look no longer now To vent your frauds on me ; for well I know Your situation to be lovely, worth 595 A temple’s imposition, it pours forth 575 Informed —made, formed out of. A common word. 38 A HYMN TO APOLLO. So delicate a stream. But your renown Shall now no longer shine here, but mine own.” This said, he thrust her promontory down, And damm’d her fountain up with mighty stones, A temple giving consecrations In woods adjoining. And in this fane all On him, by surname of Delphusius, call, Because Delphusa’s sacred flood and fame His wrath affected so, and hid in shame. And then thought Phoebus what descent of men To be his ministers he should retain, To do in stony Pytlios sacrifice. To which his mind contending, his quick eyes He cast upon the blue sea, and beheld A ship, on whose masts sails that wing’d it swell’d, In which were men transferr’d, many and good, That in Minoian Cnossus ate their food, And were Cretensians ; who now are those That all the sacrificing dues dispose, And all the laws deliver to a word Of Day’s great King, that wears the golden sword, And oracles (out of his Delphian tree That shrouds her fair arms in the cavity Beneath Parnassus’ mount) pronounce to men. These now his priests, that lived as merchants then, In traffics and pecuniary rates, Por sandy Pylos and the Pylian states Were under sail. But now encounter’d them Phoebus-Apollo, who into the stream Cast himself headlong, and the strange disguise Took of a dolphin of a goodly size. Like which he leap’d into their ship, and lay 605 610 615 620 625 630 A HYMN TO APOLLO . 39 As an ostent of infinite dismay. For none with any strife of mind could look 635 Into the omen, all the ship-masts shook, * And silent all sat with the fear they took, Arm’d not, nor strook they sail, but as before Went on with full trim, and a foreriglit blore, Stiff, and from forth the south, the ship made fly. 640 When first they stripp’d the Malean promont’ry, Touch’d at Laconia’s soil, in which a town Their ship arrived at, that the sea doth crown, Called Tenarus, a place of much delight To men that serve Heaven’s Comforter of sight. 645 In which are fed the famous flocks that bear The wealthy fleeces, on a delicate lair Being fed and seated. Where the merchants fain Would have put in, that they might out again To tell the miracle that chanced to them, cso And try if it would take the sacred stream, Rushing far forth, that he again might bear Those other fishes that abounded there Delightsome company, or still would stay Aboard their dry ship. But it fail’d t’ obey, 655 And for the rich Peloponnesian shore Steer’d her free sail; Apollo made the blore Directly guide it. That obeying still Reach’d dry Arena, and (what wish doth fill) Fair Argyphaea, and the populous height 660 Of Thryus, whose stream, siding her, doth wait 639 Blore — gale. 641 Stripp'd —passed rapidly. 645 Heaven's Comforter of sight — the Sun ; repfi/i[3poTov rjeXloio. 653 It fail'd t' obey—i. e. the ship would not obey the rudder. 40 A HYMN TO APOLLO. With safe pass on Alphseus, Pylos’ sands, And Pylian dwellers ; keeping by the strands On which th’ inhabitants of Crunius dwell, And Helida set opposite to hell ; 665 Chalcis and Dymes reach’d, and happily Made sail by Pheras ; all being overjoy’d With that frank gale that Jove himself employ’d. And then amongst the clouds they might descry The hill, that far-seen Ithaca calls her Eye, 670 Dulichius, Samos, and, with timber graced, Shady Zacynthus. But when now they past * Peloponnesus all, and then when show’d The infinite vale of Crissa, that doth shroud All rich Morea with her liberal breast, 675 So frank a gale there flew out of the West As all the sky discover’d ; ’twas so great, And blew so from the very council seat Of Jove himself, that quickly it might send The ship through full seas to her journey’s end. cso From thence they sail’d, quite opposite, to the East, And to the region where Light leaves his rest, The Light himself being sacred pilot there, And made the sea-trod ship arrive them near The grapeful Crissa, where he rest doth take 685 Close to her port and sands. And then forth brake The far-sliot King, like to a star that strows His glorious forehead where the mid-day glows, That all in sparkles did his state attire, Whose lustre leap’d up to the sphere of fire. 690 He trod where no way oped, and pierced the place That of his sacred tripods held the grace, 684 Arrive —i. e. cause to arrive. A HYMN TO APOLLO. 41 In which he lighted such a fluent flame As gilt all Crissa ; in which every dame, And dame’s fair daughter, cast out vehement cries 695 At those fell fires of Phoebus’ prodigies, That shaking fears through all their fancies threw. Then, like the mind’s swift light, again he flew Back to the ship, shaped like a youth in height Of all his graces, shoulders broad and straight, 700 And all his hair in golden curls enwrapp’d ; And to the merchants thus his speech he shap’d : “Ho! Strangers! What are you? And from what seat Sail ye these ways that salt and water sweat ? To traffic justly ? Or use vagrant scapes 705 Void of all rule, conferring wrongs and rapes, Like pirates, on the men ye never saw, With minds project exempt from list or law ? Why sit ye here so stupefied, nor take Land while ye may, nor deposition make 710 Of naval arms, when this the fashion is Of men industrious, who (their faculties Wearied at sea) leave ship, and use the land For food, that with their healths and stomachs stand ? ” This said, with bold minds he their breast supplied, And thus made answer the Cretensian guide: 716 “ Stranger ! Because you seem to us no seed Of any mortal, but celestial breed For parts and person, joy your steps ensue, And Gods make good the bliss we think your due. 720 Vouchsafe us true relation, on what land We here arrive, and what men here command. We were for well-known parts bound, and from Crete (Our vaunted country) to the Pylian seat 42 A HYMN TO APOLLO. Vow’d our whole voyage ; yet arrive we here, Quite cross to those wills that our motions steer, "Wishing to make return some other way, Some other course desirous to assay, To pay our lost pains. But some God hath fill’d Our frustrate sails, defeating what we will’d.” Apollo answer’d : “ Strangers ! Though before Ye dwelt in woody Cnossus, yet no more Ye must be made your own reciprocals To your loved city and fair severals Of wives and houses, but ye shall have here My wealthy temple, honour’d far and near Of many a nation ; for myself am son To Jove himself, and of Apollo won The glorious title, who thus safely through The sea’s vast billows still have held your plough, No ill intending, that will yet ye make My temple here your own, and honours take Upon yourselves, all that to me are given. And more, the counsels of the King of Heaven Yourselves shall know, and with his will receive Ever the honours that all men shall give. Do as I say then instantly, strike sail, Take down your tackling, and your vessel hale Up into land ; your goods bring forth, and all The instruments that into sailing fall ; Make on this shore an altar, fire enflame, And barley white cakes offer to my name ; And then, environing the altar, pray, And call me (as ye saw me in the day When from the windy seas I brake swift way Into your ship) Delphinius, since I took 725 730 735 740 745 750 755 A HYMN TO APOLLO. 43 A dolphin’s form then. And to every look That there shall seek it, that my altar shall Be made a Delphian memorial From thence for ever. After this, ascend 700 Your swift black ship and sup, and then intend Ingenuous offerings to the equal Gods That in celestial seats make blest abodes. When, having stay’d your healthful hunger’s sting, Come all with me, and Io-pseans sing 765 All the way’s length, till you attain the state Where I your opulent fane have consecrate.” To this they gave him passing diligent ear, And vow’d to his obedience all they were. First, striking sail, their tacklings then they losed, 770 And (with their gables stoop’d) their mast imposed Into the mast-room. Forth themselves then went, And from the sea into the continent Drew up their ship ; which far up from the sand They rais’d with ample rafters. Then in hand 775 They took the altar, and inform’d it on The sea’s near shore, imposing thereupon White cakes of barley, fire made, and did stand About it round, as Phoebus gave command, Submitting invocations to his will. 780 Then sacrific’d to all the heavenly hill Of pow’rful Godheads. After which they eat Aboard their ship, till with fit food replete They rose, nor to their temple used delay. Whom Phoebus usher’d, and touch’d all the way 785 761 Intend —See Odyssey, Bk. in. 648. 779 Informed — suprd, 575. 783 Food —the folio and Mr. Singer, foot. 44 A HYMN TO APOLLO. His heavenly lute with art above admired, Gracefully leading them. When all were fired With zeal to him, and follow’d wond’ring all To Pythos ; and upon his name did call With Io-pseans, such as Cretans use. And in their bosoms did the deified Muse Voices of honey-harmony infuse. With never-weary feet their way they went, And made with all alacrity ascent Up to Parnassus, and that long’d-for place Where they should live, and be of men the grace. When, all the way, Apollo show’d them still Their far-stretch’d valleys, and their two-topp’d hill, Their famous fane, and all that all could raise To a supreme height of their joy and praise. And then the Cretan captain thus inquired Of King Apollo : “ Since you have retired, 0 sovereign, our sad lives so far from friends And native soil (because so far extends Your dear mind’s pleasure) tell us how we shall , Live in your service ? To which question call Our provident minds, because we see not crown’d This soil with store of vines, nor doth abound In wealthy meadows, on which we may live, As well as on men our attendance give.” He smiled, and said : “ 0 men that nothing know, And so are follow’d with a world of woe, That needs will succour care and curious moan, And pour out sighs without cessation, Were all the riches of the earth your own ! Without much business, I will render known 802 Retired —i. e. caused to retire. A HYMN TO APOLLO. 45 To your simplicities an easy way To wealth enough : Let every man purvey A skeane, or slaught’ring steel, and his right hand, Bravely bestowing, evermore see mann’d 820 With killing sheep, that to my fane will flow From all far nations. On all which bestow Good observation, and all else they give To me make you your own all, and so live. For all which watch before mj^ temple well, 825 And all my counsels, above all, conceal. If any give vain language, or to deeds, Yea or as far as injury, proceeds, Know that, at losers’ hands, for those that gain, It is the law of mortals to sustain. 830 Besides, ye shall have princes to obey, Which still ye must, and (so ye gain) ye may. All now is said ; give all thy memory’s stay.” And thus to thee, Jove and Latona’s son, Be given all grace of salutation ! S 35 Both thee and others of th’ Immortal State My song shall memorize to endless date. 819 Slceane —generally used as a sword. A Celtic word. See Nares. THE END OF THE HYMN TO APOLLO. A HYMN TO HERMES. ERMES, the son of Jove and Maia, sing, 0 Muse, th ; Arcadian and Cyllenian king, They rich in flocks, he heaven enriching still In messages return’d with all his will. Whom glorious Maia, the nymph rich in hair, s Mixing with Jove in amorous affair, Brought forth to him, sustaining a retreat From all th’ Immortals of the blessed seat, And living in the same dark cave, where Jove Inform’d at midnight the effect of love, 10 Unknown to either man or Deity, Sweet sleep once having seized the jealous eye Of Juno deck’d with wrists of ivory. But when great Jove’s high mind was consummate, The tenth month had in heaven confined the date 15 Of Maia’s labour, and into the sight She brought in one birth labours infinite ; For then she bore a son, that all tried ways Could turn and wind to wish’d events assays, A fair tongu’d, but false-hearted, counsellor, 20 Rector of ox-stealers, and for all stealths bore 10 Inform'd —Hymn to Apollo, 575. A HYMN TO HERMES. 47 A varied finger ; speeder of night’s spies, And guide of all her dreams’ obscurities ; Guard of door-guardians ; and was born to be, Amongst th’ Immortals, that wing’d Deity 25 That in an instant should do acts would ask The powers of others an eternal task. Born in the morn, he form’d his lute at noon, At night stole all the oxen of the Sun ; And all this in his birth’s first day was done, 30 Which was the fourth of the increasing moon. Because celestial limbs sustain’d his strains, His sacred swatli-bands must not be his chains, So, starting up, to Phoebus’ herd he stept, Found straight the high-roof’d cave where they were kept, And th’ entry passing, he th’ invention found 3c Of making lutes ; and did in wealth abound By that invention, since he first of all Was author of that engine musical, By this means moved to the ingenious work : 40 Near the cave’s inmost overture did lurk A tortoise, tasting th’ odoriferous grass, Leisurely moving; and this object was The motive to Jove’s son (who could convert To profitablest uses all desert 45 That nature had in any work convey’d) To form the lute; when, smiling, thus he said: “ Thou mov’st in me a note of excellent use, Which thy ill form shall never so seduce T’ avert the good to be inform’d by it, , so In pliant force, of my form-forging wit.” Then the slow tortoise, wrought on by his mind, 41 Overture —hidden recess. 48 A HYMN TO HERMES. He thus saluted: “ All joy to the kind Instinct of nature in thee, horn to he The spiriter of dances, company 55 For feasts, and following banquets, graced and blest For hearing light to all the interest Claim’d in this instrument! From whence shall spring Play fair and sweet, to which may Graces sing. A pretty painted coat thou putt’st on here, 60 0 Tortoise, while thy ill-bred vital sphere Confines thy fashion ; hut, surprised by me, I’ll hear thee home, where thou shalt ever be A profit to me ; and yet nothing more Will I contemn thee in my merited store. 65 Goods with good parts got worth and honour gave, Left goods and honours every fool may have, And since thou first shall give me means to live, I’ll love thee ever. Virtuous qualities give To live at home with them enough content, 70 Where those that want such inward ornament Fly out for outward, their life made their load. ’Tis best to be at home, harm lurks abroad. And certainly thy virtue shall he known, ’Gainst great-ill-causing incantation 75 To serve as for a lance or amulet. And where, in comfort of thy vital heat, Thou now hreath’st hut a sound confus’d for song, Expos’d by nature, after death, more strong Thou shalt in sounds of art he, and command so Song infinite sweeter.” Thus with either hand He took it up, and instantly took flight Back to his cave with that his home delight. Where (giving to the mountain tortoise vents 84 A Chapmannic periphrasis for killing the tortoise. A HYMN TO HERMES. 49 Of life and motion) with fit instruments Forged of bright steel he straight inform’d a lute, Put neck and frets to it, of which a suit He made of splitted quills, in equal space Impos’d upon the neck, and did embrace Both back and bosom. At whose height (as gins T’ extend and ease the string) he put in pins. Seven strings of several tunes he then applied, Made of the entrails of a sheep well-dried, And throughly twisted. Kext he did provide A case for all, made of an ox’s hide, Out of his counsels to preserve as well As to create. And all this action fell Into an instant consequence. His word And work had individual accord, All being as swiftly to perfection brought As any worldly man’s most ravish’d thought, Whose mind care cuts in an infinity Of varied parts or passions instantly, Or as the frequent twinklings of an eye. And thus his house-delight given absolute end, He touch’d it, and did every string extend (With an exploratory spirit assay’d) To all the parts that could on it be play’d. It sounded dreadfully ; to which he sung, As if from thence the first and true force sprung That fashions virtue. God in him did sing. His play was likewise an unspeakable thing, Yet, but as an extemporal assay, Of what show it would make being the first way, It tried his hand ; or a tumultuous noise, Such as at feasts the first-fiower’d spirits of boys D 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 50 A HYMN TO HERMES. Pour out in mutual contumelies still, As little squaring with his curious will, Or was as wanton and untaught a store. Of Jove, and Maia that rich shoes still wore, 120 He sung ; who suffer’d ill reports before, And foul stains under her fair titles bore. But Hermes sung her nation, and her name Did iterate ever ; all her high-flown fame Of being Jove’s mistress ; celebrating all 125 Her train of servants, and collateral Sumpture of houses ; all her tripods there, And caldrons huge, increasing every year. All which she knew, yet felt her knowledge stung With her fame’s loss, which (found) she more wish’d sung. But now he in his sacred cradle laid 131 His lute so absolute, and straight convey’d Himself up to a watch-tow’r forth his house, Rich, and divinely odoriferous, A lofty wile at work in his conceit, 135 Thirsting the practice of his empire’s height. And where impostors rule (since sable night Must serve their deeds) he did his deeds their right. For now the never-resting Sun was turn’d For th’ under earth, and in the ocean burn’d ho His coach and coursers ; when th’ ingenious spy Pieria’s shady hill had in his eye, Where the immortal oxen of the Gods In air’s flood solaced their select abodes, And earth’s sweet green flow’r, that was never shorn, Fed ever down. And these the witty-born, ue Argicides, set serious spy upon, Severing from all the rest, and setting gone A HYMN TO HERMES. 51 Fall fifty of the violent bellowers. Which driving through the sands, he did reverse iso (His birth’s-craft straight reinemb’ring) all their hoves, And them transpos’d in opposite removes, The fore behind set, the behind before, T’ employ the eyes of such as should explore. And he himself, as sly-pac’d, cast away 155 His sandals on the sea sands ; past display And unexcogitable thoughts in act Putting, to shun of his stol’n steps the tract, Mixing both tamrisk and like-tamrisk sprays In a most rare confusion, to raise ieo His footsteps up from earth. Of which sprays he (His armful gathering fresh from off the tree) Made for his sandals ties, both leaves and ties Holding together ; and then fear’d no eyes That could affect his feet’s discoveries. iw The tamrisk boughs he gather’d, making way Back from Pieria, but as to convey Provision in them for his journey fit, It being long and, therefore, needing it. An old man, now at labour near the field no Of green Onchestus, knew the verdant yield Of his fair armful; whom th’ ingenious son Of Maia, therefore, salutation Did thus begin to : “ Ho, old man ! that now Art crooked grown with making plants to grow, 175 Thy nerves will far be spent, when these boughs shall To these their leaves confer me fruit and all. But see not thou whatever thou dost see, Nor hear though hear, but all as touching me Conceal, since nought it can endamage thee.” 180 52 A HYMN TO HERMES. This, and no more, he said, and on drave still His broad-brow’d oxen. Many a shady hill, And many an echoing valley, many a field Pleasant and wishful, did his passage yield Their safe transcension. But now the divine 185 And black-brow’d Night, his mistress, did decline Exceeding swiftly ; Day’s most early light Fast hasting to her first point, to excite Worldlings to work ; and in her watch-tow’r shone King Pallas-Megamedes’ seed (the Moon) ; 190 When through th’ Alphaean flood Jove’s powerful son Phoebus-Apollo’s ample-foreheaded herd (Whose necks the lab’ring yoke had never sphered) Drave swiftly on ; and then into a stall (Hilly, yet pass’d to through an humble vale 195 And hollow dells, in a most lovely mead) He gather’d all, and them divinely fed With odorous cypress, and the ravishing tree That makes his eaters lose the memory Of name and country. Then he brought withal 200 Much wood, whose sight into his search let fall The art of making fire ; which thus he tried : He took a branch of laurel, amplified Past others both in beauty and in size, Yet lay next hand, rubb’d it, and straight did rise 205 A warm fume from it ; steel being that did raise (As agent) the attenuated bays To that hot vapour. So that Hermes found Both fire first, and of it the seed close bound In other substances ; and then the seed He multiplied, of sere-wood making feed 198 The lotus. 210 A HYMN TO HERMES . 53 The apt heat of it, in a pile combined Laid in a low pit, that in flames straight shined, And cast a sparkling crack up to the sky, All the dry parts so fervent were, and high 215 In their combustion. And how long the force Of glorious Vulcan kept the fire in course, So long was he in dragging from their stall Two of the crook-haunch’d herd, that roar’d withal, And raged for fear, t’ approach the sacred fire, 220 To which did all his dreadful pow’rs aspire. When, blust’ring forth their breath, he on the soil Cast both at length, though with a world of toil, For long he was in getting them to ground After their through-thrust and most mortal wound. 225 But work to work he join’d, the flesh and cut, Cover’d with fat, and, on treen broches put, In pieces roasted ; but in th’ intestines The black blood, and the honorary chines, Together with the carcases, lay there, 230 Cast on the cold earth, as no Deities’ cheer ; The hides upon a rugged rock he spread. And thus were these now all in pieces shred, And undistinguish’d from earth’s common herd, Though born for long date, and to heaven endear’d, 235 And now must ever live in dead event. But Hermes, here hence having his content, Cared for no more, but drew to places even The fat-works, that, of force, must have for heaven Their capital ends, though stol’n, and therefore were 240 In twelve parts cut, for twelve choice Deities’ cheer, By this devotion. To all which he gave 227 Treen broches —branches of trees. 54 A HYMN TO HERMES. Their several honours, and did wish to have His equal part thereof, as free and well As th’ other Deities ; hut the fatty smell Afflicted him, though he Immortal were, Playing mortal parts, and being like mortals here. Yet his proud mind nothing the more obey’d For being a God himself, and his own aid Having to cause his due, and though in heart He highly wish’d it; but the weaker part Subdued the stronger, and went on in ill. Even heavenly pow’r had rather have his will Than have his right; and will’s the worst of all, When but in least sort it is criminal, One taint being author of a number still. And thus, resolved to leave his hallow’d hill, First both the fat parts and the fleshy all Taking away, at the steep-entried stall He laid all, all the feet and heads entire, And all the sere-wood, making clear with fire. And now, he leaving there then all things done, And finish’d in their fit perfection, The coals put out, and their black ashes thrown From all discovery by the lovely light The cheerful moon cast, shining all the night, He straight assumed a novel voice’s note, And in the whirl-pit-eating flood afloat He set his sandals. When now, once again The that-morn-born Cyll'enius did attain His home’s divine height ; all the far-stretch’d way No one bless’d God encount’ring his assay, Nor mortal man ; nor any dog durst spend His born-to-bark mouth at him ; till in th’ end % 24.5 250 255 260 265 270 A HYMN TO HERMES. 55 He reach’d his cave, and at the gate went in 275 Crooked, and wrapt into a fold so thin That no eye could discover his repair, But as a darkness of th’ autumnal air. When, going on fore-right, he straight arrived At his rich fane ; his soft feet quite deprived 280 Of all least noise of one that trod the earth, They trod so swift to reach his room of birth. Where, in his swath-bands he his shoulders wrapt, And (like an infant, newly having scap’t The teeming straits) as in the palms he lay 285 Of his loved nurse. Yet instantly would play (Freeing his right hand) with his bearing cloth About his knees wrapt, and straight (loosing both His right and left hand) with his left he caught His most-loved lute. His mother yet was taught 290 His wanton wiles, nor could a God’s wit lie Hid from a Goddess, who did therefore try His answer thus : “ Why, thou made-all-of-sleight, And whence arriv’st thou in this rest of night ? Improvident impudent! In my conceit 295 Thou rather shouldst be getting forth thy gate, With all flight fit for thy endanger’d state, (In merit of th’ inevitable bands To be impos’d by vex’d Latona’s hands, Justly incens’d for her Apollo’s harms) 300 Than lie thus wrapt, as ready for her arms, To take thee up and kiss thee. Would to heaven, In cross of that high grace, thou hadst been given Up to perdition, ere poor mortals bear Those black banes, that thy Father Thunderer 305 Hath planted thee of purpose to confer 56 A HYMN TO HERMES. On them and Deities ! ” He returned reply : “ As master of the feats of policy, Mother, why aim you thus amiss at me, As if I were a son that infancy 310 Could keep from all the skill that age can teach, Or had in cheating hut a childish reach, And of a mother’s mandates fear’d the breach ? I mount that art at first, that will be best When all times consummate their cunningest, 315 Able to counsel now myself and thee, In all things best, to all eternity. We cannot live like Gods here without gifts, No, nor without corruption and shifts, And, much less, without eating ; as we must 320 In keeping thy rules, and in being just, Of which we cannot undergo the loads. ’Tis better here to imitate the Gods, And wine or wench out all time’s periods, To that end growing rich in ready heaps, 325 Stored with revenues, being in corn-field reaps Of infinite acres, than to live enclosed In caves, to all earth’s sweetest air exposed. I as much honour hold as Phoebus does ; And if my Father please not to dispose 330 Possessions to me, I myself will see 1 If I can force them in ; for I can be Prince of all thieves. And, if Latona’s son Make after my stealth indignation, I’ll have a scape as well as he a search, 335 And overtake him with a greater lurch ; For I can post to Pythos, and break through 336 Lurch — deceit, falsehood. A HYMN TO HERMES. 57 His huge house there, where harbours wealth enough, Most precious tripods, caldrons, steel, and gold, Garments rich wrought, and full of liberal fold. 340 All which will I at pleasure own, and thou Shalt see all, wilt thou but thy sight bestow.” Thus changed great words the Goat-liide-wearer’s son, And Maia of majestic fashion. And now the air-begot Aurora rose 345 From out the Ocean great-in-ebbs-and-flows, When, at the never-shorn pure-and-fair grove (Onchestus) consecrated to the love Of round-and-long-neck’d Neptune, Phoebus found A man whom heavy years had press’d half round, 350 And yet at work in plashing of a fence About a vineyard, that had residence Hard by the highway ; whom Latona’s son Made it not strange, but first did question, And first saluted : “ Ho you ! aged sire, 355 That here are hewing from the vine the briar, For certain oxen I come here t’ inquire Out of Pieria ; females all, and rear’d All with horns wreath’d, unlike the common herd ; A coal-black bull fed by them all alone ; 360 And all observ’d, for preservation, Through all their foody and delicious fen With four fierce mastiffs, like one-minded men. These left their dogs and bull (which I admire) And, when was near set day’s eternal fire, 3G5 343 Goat-hide-wearer —Jupiter. 351 Plashing —to plash a fence is still used for half-cutting down the saplings and loftier branches of a hedge, and entwin¬ ing them horizontally. 364 Which I admire —which I am astonished at. 58 A HYMN TO HERMES. From their fierce guardians, from their delicate fare, Made clear departure. To me then declare, 0 old man, long since born, if thy grave ray Hath any man seen making stealthful way With all those oxen.” Th’ old man made reply : 370 “ ’Tis hard, 0 friend, to render readily Account of all that may invade mine eye, For many a traveller this highway treads, Some in much ills search, some in noble threads, Leading their lives out; but I this young day, 375 Even from her first point, have made good display Of all men passing this abundant hill Planted with vines, and no such stealthful ill ✓ Her light hath shown me ; but last evening, late, I saw a thing that show’d of childish state 380 To my old lights, and seem’d as he pursued A herd of oxen with brave heads endued, Yet but an infant, and retain’d a rod ; Who wearily both this and that way trod, His head still backwards turn’d.” This th’old man spake; Which he well thought upon, and swiftly brake ; 386 Into his pursuit with abundant wing, That strook but one plain, ere he knew the thing That was the thief to be tli’ impostor born ; Whom Jove yet with his son’s name did adorn. 390 In study and with ardour then the King (Jove’s dazzling son) placed his exploring wing O 11 sacred Pylos, for his forced herd, His ample shoulders in a cloud enspher’d Of fiery crimson. Straight the steps he found 395 Of his stol’n herd, and said : “ Strange sights confound 368 Ray —vision, eye. A HYMN TO HERMES. 59 My apprehensive powers, for here I see The tracks of oxen, hut aversively Converted towards the Pierian hills, As treading to their mead of daffodils : 400 But nor mine eye men’s feet nor women’s draws, Nor hoary wolves’, nor bears’, nor lions’, paws, Nor thick-neck’d bulls, they show. But he that does These monstrous deeds, with never so swift shoes Hath pass’d from that hour hither, but from hence 405 His foul course may meet fouler consequence.” With this took Phoebus wing ; and Hermes still, For all his threats, secure lay in his hill Wall’d with a wood ; and more, a rock, beside, Where a retreat ran, deeply multiplied no In blinding shadows, and where th’ endless Bride Bore to Saturnius his ingenious son ; An odour, worth a heart’s desire, being thrown Along the heaven-sweet hill, on whose herb fed Rich flocks of sheep, that bow not where they tread 4is Their horny pasterns. There the Light of men (Jove’s son, Apollo) straight descended then The marble pavement, in that gloomy den. On whom when Jove and Maia’s son set eye, Wroth for his oxen, on then, instantly, 420 His odorous swath-bands flew ; in which as close Th’ impostor lay, as in the cool repose Of cast-on ashes hearths of burning coals Lie in the woods hid, under the controls Of skilful colliers ; even so close did lie 425 Inscrutable Hermes in Apollo’s eye, Contracting his great Godhead to a small 411 Endless —immortal, vu/juprj d/x^poalr/. 60 A HYMN TO HERMES. And infant likeness, feet, liands, head, and all. And as a hunter hath been often view’d, From chase retired, with both his hands embrued 30 In his game’s blood, that doth for water call To cleanse his hands, and to provoke withal Delightsome sleep, new-wash’d and laid to rest; So now lay Hermes in the close-compress’d Chace of his oxen, his new-found-out lute 435 Beneath his arm held, as if no pursuit But that prise, and the virtue of his play, His heart affected. But to Phoebus lay His close heart open ; and he likewise knew The brave hill-nymph there, and her dear son, new- Born, and as well wrapt in his wiles as weeds. 441 All the close shrouds too, for his rapinous deeds, In all the cave he knew ; and with his key He open’d three of them, in which there lay Silver and gold-beaps, nectar infinite store, 445 And dear ambrosia ; and of weeds she wore, Pure white and purple, a rich wardrobe shined, Fit for the bless’d states of Pow’rs so divined. All which discover’d, thus to Mercury He offer’d conference : “Infant! You that lie 450 Wrapt so in swath-bands, instantly unfold In what conceal’d retreats of yours you hold My oxen stol’n by you ; or straight we shall Jar, as beseems not Pow’rs Celestial. For I will take and hurl thee to the deeps 455 Of dismal Tartarus, where ill Death keeps His gloomy and inextricable fates, And to no eye that light illuminates 435 Chace —enclosure for cattle, like the Latin saltus. A HYMN TO HERMES. 61 Mother nor Father shall return thee free, But under earth shall sorrow fetter thee, 46o And few repute thee their superior.” On him replied craft’s subtlest Counsellor : “ What cruel speech hath past Latona’s care ! Seeks he his stol’n wild-cows where Deities are ? I have nor seen nor heard, nor can report 465 From others’ mouths one word of their resort To any stranger. Nor will I, to gain A base reward, a false relation feign. Nor would I, could I tell. Resemble I An ox-thief, or a man 1 Especially 470 A man of such a courage, such a force As to that labour goes, that violent course ? No infant’s work is that. My pow’rs aspire To sleep, and quenching of my hunger’s fire With mother’s milk, and, ’gainst cold shades, to arm With cradle-cloths my shoulders, and baths warm, 476 That no man may conceive the war you threat Can spring in cause from my so peaceful heat. And, even amongst th’ Immortals it would bear Event of absolute miracle, to hear 4so A new-born infant’s forces should transcend The limits of his doors ; much less contend With untam’d oxen. This speech nothing seems To savour the decorum of the beams Cast round about the air Apollo breaks, 485 Where his divine mind her intention speaks. I brake but yesterday the blessed womb, My feet are tender, and the common tomb Of men (the Earth) lies sharp beneath their tread. But, if you please, even by my Father’s head 490 62 A HYMN TO HERMES. I’ll take the great oath, that nor I protest Myself to author on your interest Any such usurpation, nor have I Seen any other that feloniously Hath forced your oxen. Strange thing ! What are those Oxen of yours ? Or what are oxen ? Knows 496 My rude mind, think you ? My ears only touch At their renown, and hear that there are such.” This speech he pass’d ; and, ever as he spake, Beams from the hair about his eyelids brake, 500 His eyebrows up and down cast, and his eye Every way look’d askance and carelessly, And he into a lofty whistling fell, As if he idle thought Apollo’s spell. Apollo, gently smiling, made reply : sos “ 0 thou impostor, whose thoughts ever lie In labour with deceit! For certain, I Betain opinion, that thou (even thus soon) Hast ransack’d many a house, and not in one Night’s-work alone, nor in one country neither, 510 Hast been besieging house and man together, Rigging and rifling all ways, and no noise Made with thy soft feet, where it all destroys. Soft, therefore, well, and tender, thou may’st call The feet that thy stealths go and fly withal, 515 For many a field-bred herdsman (unheard still) Hast thou made drown the caverns of the hill, Where his retreats lie, with his helpless tears, When any flesh-stealth thy desire endears, And thou encount’rest either flocks of sheep, 520 Or herds of oxen ! Up then ! Do not sleep 612 Rigging —tricking. A HYMN TO HERMES. 63 Thy last nap in thy cradle, but come down, Companion of black night, and, for this crown Of thy young rapines, bear from all the state And style of Prince Thief, into endless date.” 525 This said, he took the infant in his arms, And with him the remembrance of his harms, This presage utt’ring, lifting him aloft: “ Be evermore the miserably-soft Slave of the belly, pursuivant of all, 530 And author of all mischiefs capital.” He scorn’d his prophecy so he sneezed in’s face Most forcibly ; which hearing, his embrace He loathed and hurl’d him ’gainst the ground ; yet still Took seat before him, though, with all the ill 535 He bore by him, he would have left full fain That hewer of his heart so into twain. Yet salv’d all thus : “ Come, you so-swaddled thing ! Issue of Maia, and the Thunder’s King ! Be confident, I shall hereafter find 540 My broad-brow’d oxen, my prophetic mind So far from blaming this thy course, that I Foresee thee in it to posterity The guide of all men, always, to their ends.” This spoken, Hermes from the earth ascends, 545 Starting aloft, and as in study went, Wrapping himself in his integument, And thus ask’d Phoebus : “ Whither force you me, Far-shot, and far most powerful Deity ? I know, for all your feigning, you ’re still wroth 550 About your oxen, and suspect my troth. O Jupiter ! I wish the general race Of all earth’s oxen rooted from her face. 64 A HYMN TO HERMES . I steal your oxen ! I again profess That neither I have stol’n them, nor can guess 555 Who else should steal them. What strange beasts are these Your so-loved oxen % I must say, to please Your humour thus far, that even my few hours Have heard their fame. But be the sentence yours Of the debate betwixt us, or to Jove 560 (For more indifferency) the cause remove.” Thus when the solitude-affecting God, And the Latonian seed, had laid abroad All things betwixt them ; though not yet agreed, Yet, might I speak, Apollo did proceed 565 Nothing unjustly, to charge Mercury With stealing of the cows he does deny. But his profession was, with filed speech, And craft’s fair compliments, to overreach All, and even Phoebus. Who because he knew 570 His trade of subtlety, he still at view Hunted his foe through all the sandy way Up to Olympus. Nor would let him stray From out his sight, but kept behind him still. And now they reach’d the odorif’rous hill 575 Of high Olympus, to their Father Jove, To arbitrate the cause in which they strove. Where, before both, talents of justice were Propos’d for him whom Jove should sentence clear, In cause of their contention. And now 580 About Olympus, ever crown’d with snow, The rumour of their controversy flew. All the Incorruptible, to their view, 568 Filed speech —see Odyssey, Bk. vi. 219. A HYMN TO HERMES. 65 On Heaven’s steep mountain made return’d repair. Hermes, and He that light hurls through the air, 586 Before the Thund’rer’s knees stood ; who begun To question thus far his illustrious Son : “ Phoebus ! To what end bring’st thou captive here Him in whom my mind puts delights so dear ? This new-born infant, that the place supplies 590 Of Herald yet to all the Deities ? This serious business, you may witness, draws The Deities’ whole Court to discuss the 'cause.” Phoebus replied : “ And not unworthy is The cause of all the Court of Deities, 595 For, you shall hear, it comprehends the weight Of devastation, and the very height Of spoil and rapine, even of Deities’ rights. Yet you, as if myself loved such delights, Use words that wound my heart. I bring you here coo An infant, that, even now, admits no peer In rapes and robb’ries. Finding out his place, After my measure of an infinite space, In the Cyllenian mountain, such a one In all the art of opprobration, cos As not in all the Deities I have seen, Nor in th’ oblivion-mark’d whole race of men. In night he drave my oxen from their leas, Along the lofty roar-resounding seas, From out the road-way quite ; the steps of them cio So quite transpos’d, as would amaze the beam Of any mind’s eye, being so infinite much Involv’d in doubt, as show’d a deified touch Went to the work’s performance ; all the way, Through which my cross-hoved cows he did convey, cis E 66 A HYMN TO HERMES. Had dust so darkly-hard to search, and he So past all measure wrapt in subtilty. For, nor with feet, nor hands, he form’d his steps, In passing through the dry way’s sandy heaps, But used another counsel to keep hid 620 His monstrous tracts, that show’d as one had slid On oak or other boughs, that swept out still The footsteps of his oxen, and did fill Their prints up ever, to the daffodill (Or dainty-feeding meadow) as they trod, 025 Driven by this cautelous and infant God. A mortal man, yet, saw him driving on His prey to Pylos. Which when he had done, And got his pass sign’d, with a sacred fire, In peace, and freely (though to his desire, 630 Not to the Gods, he offer’d part of these My ravish’d oxen) he retires, and lies, Like to the gloomy night, in his dim den, All hid in darkness ; and in clouts again Wrapp’d him so closely, that the sharp-seen eye 635 Of your own eagle could not see him lie. For with his hands the air he rarified (This way, and that moved) till bright gleams did glide About his being, that, if any eye Should dare the darkness, light appos’d so nigh 640 Might blind it quite with her antipathy. Which wile he wove, in curious care t’ illude Tli’ extreme of any eye that could intrude. On which relying, he outrageously (When I accus’d him) trebled his reply : 645 ‘ I did not see, I did not hear, nor I 620 Cautelous —artful. A common w r ord. 645 Trebled —whined, spoke in a whining tone. A HYMN TO HERMES. 67 Will tell at all, that any other stole Your broad-brow’d beeves. Which an impostor’s soul Would soon have done, and any author fain Of purpose only a reward to gain.’ cso And thus he colour’d truth in every lie.” This said, Apollo sat; and Mercury The Gods’ Commander pleased with this reply : 11 Father ! I’ll tell thee truth (for I am true, And far from art to lie) : He did pursue ess Even to my cave his oxen this self day, The sun new-raising his illustrious ray ; But brought with him none of the Bliss-endued, Nor any ocular witness, to conclude His bare assertion ; but his own command ceo Laid on with strong and necessary hand, To show his oxen ; using threats to cast My poor and infant powers into the vast Of ghastly Tartarus ; because he bears Of strength-sustaining youth the flaming years, 665 And I but yesterday produced to light. By which it fell into his own free sight, That I in no similitude appear’d Of power to be the forcer of a herd. And credit me, 0 Father, since the grace 670 Of that name, in your style, you please to place, I drave not home his oxen, no, nor prest Past mine own threshold ; for ’tis manifest, I reverence with my soul the Sun, and all The knowing dwellers in this heavenly Hall, 675 Love you, observe the least; and ’tis most clear In your own knowledge, that my merits bear No least guilt of his blame. To all which I 68 A HYMN TO HERMES. Dare add heaven’s great oath, boldly swearing by All these so well-built entries of the Blest. And therefore when I saw myself so prest With his reproaches, I confess I burn’d In my pure gall, and harsh reply return’d. Add your aid to your younger then, and free The scruple fixt in Phoebus’jealousy.” This said he wink’d upon his Sire ; and still His swathbands held beneath his arm ; no will Discern’d in him to hide, but have them shown. Jove laugh’d aloud at his ingenious Son, Quitting himself with art, so likely wrought, As show’d in his heart not a rapinous thought; Commanding both to bear atoned minds And seek out th’ oxen; in which search he binds Hermes to play the guide, and show the Sun (All grudge exil’d) the shrowd to which he won His fair-eyed oxen ; then his forehead bow’d For sign it must be so ; and Hermes show’d His free obedience ; so soon he inclined To his persuasion and command his mind. Now, then, Jove’s jarring Sons no longer stood, But sandy Pylos and th’ Alphsean flood Beach’d instantly, and made as quick a fall On those rich-feeding fields and lofty stall Where Plicebus’ oxen Hermes safely kept, Driven in by night. When suddenly he stept Up to the stony cave, and into light Drave forth the oxen. Phoebus at first sight Knew them the same, and saw apart dispread 695 Shrowd —den, caves underground. The crypt of church sometimes so called. A HYMN TO HERMES. 69 Upon a high-rais’d rock the hides new dead Of th’ oxen sacrific’d. Then Phoebus said : 710 “ 0 thou in crafty counsels undisplaid ! How couldst thou cut the throats, and cast to earth Two such huge oxen, being so young a birth, And a mere infant ? I admire thy force, And will, behind thy back. But this swift course 715 Of growing into strength thou hadst not need Continue any long date, 0 thou Seed Of honour’d Maia ! ” Hermes (to show how He did those deeds) did forthwith cut and bow Strong osiers in soft folds, and strappled straight 720 One of his hugest oxen, all his weight Lay’ng prostrate on the earth at Phoebus’ feet, All his four cloven hoves eas’ly made to greet Each other upwards, all together brought. In all which bands yet all the beast’s powers wrought To rise, and stand ; when all the herd about 726 The mighty Hermes rush’d in, to help out Their fellow from his fetters. Phoebus’ view Of all this up to admiration drew Even his high forces ; and stern looks he threw 730 At Hermes for his herd’s wrong, and the place To which he had retir’d them, being in grace And fruitful riches of it so entire ; All which set all his force on envious fire. All whose heat flew out of his eyes in flames, 735 Which fain he would have hid, to hide the shames Of his ill-govern’d passions. But with ease Hermes could calm them, and his humours please Still at his pleasure, were he ne’er so great In force and fortitude, and high in heat. 740 70 A HYMN TO HERMES. In all which he his lute took, and assay’d A song upon him, and so strangely play’d, That from his hand a ravishing horror flew. Which Phoebus into laughter turn’d, and grew Pleasant past measure ; tunes so artful clear 745 Strook even his heart-strings, and his mind made hear. His lute so powerful was in forcing love, As his hand rul’d it, that from him it drove All fear of Phoebus ; yet he gave him still The upper hand ; and, to advance his skill 750 To utmost miracle, he play’d sometimes Single awhile ; in which, when all the climes Of rapture he had reach’d, to make the Sun Admire enough, 0 then his voice would run Such points upon his play, and did so move, 755 They took Apollo prisoner to his love. And now the deathless Gods and deathful Earth He sung, beginning at their either’s birth To full extent of all their empery. And, first, the honour to Mnemosyne, 7eo The Muses’ mother, of all Goddess states He gave ; even forced to’t by the equal fates. And then (as it did in priority fall Of age and birth) he celebrated all. And with such elegance and order sung 765 (His lute still touch’d, to stick more off his tongue) That Phoebus’ heart with infinite love he eat. Who, therefore, thus did his deserts entreat: “ Master of sacrifice ! Chief soul of feast ! Patient of all pains ! Artizan so blest, 770 That all things thou canst do in any one ! Worth fifty oxen is th’ invention A HYMN TO HERMES. 71 Of this one lute. We both shall now, I hope, In firm peace work to all our wishes’ scope. Inform me (thou that every way canst wind, 775 And turn to act, all wishes of thy mind) Together with thy birth came all thy skill 1 Or did some God, or God-like man, instill This heavenly song to thee ? Methinks I hear A new voice, such as never yet came near 7so The breast of any, either man or God, Till in thee it had prime and period. What art, what Muse that med’cine can produce For cares most cureless, what inveterate use Or practice of a virtue so profuse 785 (Which three do all the contribution keep That Joy or Love confers, or pleasing Sleep,) Taught thee the sovereign facture of them all 1 I of the Muses am the capital Consort, or follower ; and to these belong 790 The grace of dance, all worthy ways of song, And ever-flourishing verse, the delicate set And sound of instruments. But never yet Did anything so much affect my mind With joy and care to compass, as this kind 795 Of song and play, that for the spritely feast Of flourishing assemblies are the best And aptest works that ever worth gave act. My powers with admiration stand distract, To hear with what a hand to make in love soo Thou rul’st thy lute. And (though thyyong’st hours move At full art in old councils) here I vow (Even by this cornel dart I use to throw) To thee, and to thy mother, I’ll make thee 72 A HYMN TO HERMES. Amongst the Gods of glorious degree, Guide of men’s ways and theirs ; and will impart To thee the mighty imperatory art, Bestow rich gifts on thee, and in the end Never deceive thee.” Hermes (as a friend That wrought on all advantage, and made gain His capital object) thus did entertain Phoebus Apollo : 11 Do thy dignities, Far-working God and circularly wise, Demand my virtues 1 Without envy I Will teach thee to ascend my faculty. And this day thou shalt reach it; finding me, In acts and counsels, all ways kind to thee, As one that all things knows, and first tak’st seat Amongst th’ Immortals, being good and great, And therefore to Jove’s love mak’st free access, Even out of his accomplisht holiness. Great gifts he likewise gives thee ; who, fame says, Hast won thy greatness by his will, his ways, By him know’st all the powers prophetical, 0 thou far-worker, and the fates of all! Yea, and I know thee rich, yet apt to learn, And even thy wish dost but discern and earn. And since thy soul so burns to know the way So play and sing as I do, sing, and play; Play, and perfection in thy play employ; And be thy care, to learn things good, thy joy. Take thou my lute (my love) and give thou me The glory of so great a faculty. This sweet-tuned consort, held but in thy hand, Sing, and perfection in thy song command. For thou already hast the way to speak 805 810 815 820 825 830 835 A HYMN TO HERMES. 73 Fairly and elegantly, and to break All eloquence into thy utter’d mind. One gift from heaven found may another find. Use then securely this thy gift, and go 84o To feasts and dances that enamour so, And to that covetous sport of getting glory, That day nor night will suffer to be sory. Whoever does but say in verse, sings still; Which he that can of any other skill 845 Is capable, so he be taught by art And wisdom, and can speak at every part Things pleasing to an understanding mind ; And such a one that seeks this lute shall find. Him still it teaches eas’ly, though he plays sso Soft voluntaries only, and assays As w^anton as the sports of children are, And (even when he aspires to singular In all the mast’ries he shall play or sing) Finds the whole work but an unhappy thing, 855 He, I say, sure shall of this lute be king. But he, whoever rudely sets upon Of this lute’s skill th’ inquest or question Never so ardently and angrily, Without the aptness and ability 86o Of art, and nature fitting, never shall Aspire to this, but utter trivial And idle accents, though sung ne’er so loud, And never so commended of the crowd. But thee I know, 0 eminent Son of Jove, 865 The fiery learner of whatever Love Hath sharpen’d thy affections to achieve, And thee I give this lute. Let us now live 74 A HYMN TO HERMES. Feeding upon the hill and horse-fed earth Our never-handled oxen ; whose dear birth Their females, fellow’d with their males, let flow In store enough hereafter ; nor must you (However cunning-hearted your wits are) Boil in your gall a grudge too circular.” Thus gave he him his lute, which he embrac’d, And gave again a goad, whose bright head cast Beams like the light forth ; leaving to his care His oxen’s keeping. Which, with joyful fare, He took on him. The lute Apollo took Into his left hand, and aloft he shook Delightsome sounds up, to which God did sing. Then were the oxen to their endless spring Turn’d ; and Jove’s two illustrous Offsprings flew Up to Olympus where it ever snew, Delighted with their lute’s sound all the way. Whom Jove much joy’d to see, and endless stay Gave to their knot of friendship. From which date Hermes gave Phoebus an eternal state In his affection, whose sure pledge and sign His lute was, and the doctrine so divine Jointly conferr’d on him ; which well might be True symbol of his love’s simplicity. On th’ other part, Apollo in his friend Form’d th’ art of wisdom, to the binding end Of his vow’d friendship ; and (for further meed) Gave him the far-heard fistulary reed. For all these forms of friendship, Phoebus yet Fear’d that both form and substance were not met In Mercury’s intentions ; and, in plain, 884 Snew —past tense of snow ; still a provincialism. A HYMN TO HERMES. 75 Said (since he saw him born to craft and gain, 900 And that Jove’s will had him the honour done To change at his will the possession Of others’ goods) he fear’d his breach of vows In stealing both his lute and cunning bows, And therefore wish’d that what the Gods affect 905 Himself would witness, and to his request His head bow, swearing by th’ impetuous flood Of Styx that of his whole possessions not a good He would diminish, but therein maintain The full content in which his mind did reign. 910 And then did Maia’s son his forehead bow, Making, by all that he desired, his vow Never to prey more upon anything In just possession of the far-shot King, Nor ever to come near a house of his. 915 Latonian Phoebus bow’d his brow to this, With his like promise, saying : “Not any one Of all the Gods, nor any man, that son Is to Saturnius, is more dear to me, More trusted, nor more honour’d is than thee. 920 Which yet with greater gifts of Deity In future I’ll confirm, and give thy state A rod that riches shall accumulate, Nor leave the bearer thrall to death, or fate, Or any sickness. All of gold it is, 925 Three-leaved, and full of all felicities. And this shall be thy guardian, this shall give The Gods to thee in all the truth they live, And, finally, shall this the tut’ress be 903 Goods —the folio, followed by Mr. Singer, has Gods, but it is obviously a misprint; unless we read other Gods. It is an interpolation of Chapman’s. 76 A HYMN TO HERMES. Of all tlie words and works informing me 930 From Jove’s high counsels, making known to thee All my instructions. But to prophesy, 0 best of Jove’s beloved, and that high skill Which to obtain lies burning in thy will, Nor thee, nor any God, will Fate let learn. 935 Only Jove’s mind hath insight to discern What that importeth ; yet am I allow’d (My known faith trusted, and my forehead bow’d, Our great oath taken, to resolve to none Of all th’ Immortals the restriction 940 Of that deep knowledge) of it all the mind. Since then it sits in such fast bounds confin’d, O brother, when the golden rod is held In thy strong hand, seek not to have reveal’d Any sure fate that Jove will have conceal’d. 945 For no man shall, by know’ng, prevent his fate ; And therefore will I hold in my free state The pow’r to hurt and help what man I will, Of all the greatest, or least touch’d with ill, That walk within the circle of mine eye, 950 In all the tribes and sexes it shall try. Yet, truly, any man shall have his will To reap the fruits of my prophetic skill, Whoever seeks it by the voice or wing Of birds, born truly such events to sing. 955 Nor will I falsely, nor with fallacies, Infringe the truth on which his faith relies, But he that truths in chattering plumes would find, Quite opposite to them that prompt my mind, And learn by natural forgers of vain lies The more-than-ever-certain Deities, 960 A HYMN TO HERMES . 77 That man shall sea-ways tread that leave no tracts, And false or no guide find for all his facts. And yet will I his gifts accept as well As his to whom the simple truth I tell. 965 One other thiug to thee I’ll yet make knowu, Maia’s exceedingly renowned son, And Jove’s, and of the Gods’ whole session The most ingenious genius : There dwell Within a crooked cranny, in a dell 970 Beneath Parnassus, certain Sisters born, Call’d Parcse, whom extreme swift wings adorn, Their number three, that have upon their heads White barley-flour still sprinkled, and are maids ; And these are schoolmistresses of things to come, 975 Without the gift of prophecy. Of whom (Being but a boy, and keeping oxen near) I learn’d their skill, though my great Father were Careless of it, or them. These flying from home To others’ roofs, and fed with honeycomb, 9so Command all skill, and (being enraged then) Will freely tell the truths of things to men. But if they give them not that Gods’ sweet meat, They then are apt to utter their deceit, And lead men from their way. And these will I 985 Give thee hereafter, when their scrutiny And truth thou hast both made and learn’d; and then Please thyself with them, and the race of men (Wilt thou know any) with thy skill endear, Who will, be sure, afford it greedy ear, 990 And hear it often if it prove sincere. Take these, 0 Maia’s son, and in thy care Be horse and oxen, all such men as are 78 A HYMN TO HERMES. Patient of labour, lions, white-tooth’d boars, Mastiffs, and flocks that feed the flow’ry shores, And every four-foot beast; all which shall stand In awe of thy high imperatory hand. Be thou to Dis, too, sole Ambassador, Who, though all gifts and bounties he abhor, On thee he will bestow a wealthy one.” Thus king Apollo honour’d Maia’s son With all the rites of friendship ; all wdiose love Had imposition from the will of Jove. And thus with Gods and mortals Hermes lived, Who truly help’d but few, but all deceived With an undifferencing respect, and made Vain words and false persuasions his trade. His deeds were all associates of the night, In which his close wrongs cared for no man’s right. So all salutes to Hermes that are due, Of whom, and all Gods, shall my Muse sing true. THE END OF THE HYMN TO HERMES. A HYMN TO VENUS. HE force, 0 Muse, and functions now unfold Of Cyprian Venus, grac’d with, mines of gold ; Who even in Deities lights love’s sweet desire, And all Death’s kinds of men makes kiss her fire, All air’s wing’d nation, all the belluine, 5 That or the earth feeds, or the seas confine. To all which appertain the love and care Of well-crown’d Venus’ works. Yet three there are Whose minds She neither can deceive nor move ; Pallas, the Seed of iEgis-bearing Jove, 10 Who still lives indevirginate, her eyes Being blue, and sparkling like the freezing skies, Whom all the gold of Venus never can Tempt to affect her facts with God or man. She, loving strife, and Mars’s working banes, 15 Pitch’d fields and fights, and famous artizans, Taught earthy men first all the arts that are, Chariots, and all the frames vehicular, Chiefly with brass arm’d, and adorn’d for war. Where Venus only soft-skinn’d wenches fills 20 20 Wenches —See Odyssey, Bk. iv. 977. 80 A HYMN TO VENUS. With wanton house-works, and suggests those skills Still to their studies. Whom Diana neither, That hears the golden distaff, and together Calls horns, and hollows, and the cries of hounds, And owns the epithet of loving sounds For their sakes, springing from such spritely sports, Can catch with her kind lures ; but hill resorts To wild-beasts, slaughters, accents far-off heard Of harps and dances, and of woods unshear’d The sacred shades she loves, yet likes as well Cities where good men and their offspring dwell. The third, whom her kind passions nothing please, Is virgin Yesta ; whom Saturnides Made reverend with his counsels, when his Sire, That adverse counsels agitates, life’s fire Had kindled in her, being his last-begot. Whom Neptune woo’d to knit with him the knot Of honour’d nuptials, and Apollo too ; Which with much vehemence she refused to do, And stern repulses put upon them both, Adding to all her vows the Gods’ great oath, And touching Jove’s chin, which must consummate i All vows so bound, that she would hold her state, And be th’ invincible Maid of Deities Through all her days’ dates. For Saturnides Gave her a fair gift in her nuptials’ stead, To sit in midst of his house, and be fed With all the free and richest feast of heaven, In all the temples of the Gods being given The prize of honour. Not a mortal man, 25 30 35 40 45 50 24 Hollows —shouts ; or, as Mr. Singer prints, halloos. 42 See Iliad, Bk. i. 481. A HYMN TO VENUS. 81 (That either, of the Pow’rs Olympian His half-birth having, may be said to be A mortal of the Gods, or else that he, Deities’ wills doing, is of Deity) But gives her honour of the amplest kind. Of all these three can Venus not a mind Deceive, or set on forces to reflect. Of all Pow’rs else yet, not a sex, nor sect, Flies Venus ; either of the blessed Gods, Or men confin’d in mortal periods. But even the mind of Jove she doth seduce, That chides with thunder so her lawless use In human creatures, and by lot is given Of all most honour, both in earth and heaven. And yet even his all-wise and mighty mind She, when she lists, can forge affects to blind, And mix with mortal dames his Deity, Conceal’d at all parts from the jealous eye Of Juno, who was both his sister born, And made his wife ; whom beauty did adorn Past all the bevy of Immortal Dames, And whose so chiefly-glorified flames Cross-counsell’d Saturn got, and Bhsea bore, And Jove’s pure counsels (being conqueror) His wife made of his sister. Ay, and more, Cast such an amorous fire into her mind As made her (like him) with the mortal kind Meet in unmeet bed ; using utmost haste, Lest she should know that he lived so unchaste, Before herself felt that fault in her heart, And gave her tongue too just edge of desert 71 Bevy —See Odyssey, Bk. vi. 115. P 55 CO 65 70 75 80 82 A HYMN TO VENUS. To tax his lightness. With this end, beside, Lest laughter-studying Venus should deride The Gods more than the Goddesses, and say That she the Gods commix’d in amorous play 85 With mortal dames, begetting mortal seed T’ immortal sires, and not make Goddesses breed The like with mortal fathers. But, t’ acquite Both Gods and Goddesses of her despite, Jove took (even in herself) on him her pow’r, 90 And made her with a mortal paramour Use as deform’d a mixture as the rest; Kindling a kind affection in her breast To God-like-limb’d Anchises, as he kept, On Ida’s top-on-top-to-heaven’s-pole-heapt, 95 Amongst the many fountains there, his herd. For, after his brave person had appear’d To her bright eye, her heart flew all on fire, And to amaze she burn’d in his desire, Flew straight to Cyprus, to her odorous fane 100 And altars, that the people Paphian Advanced to her. Where, soon as enter’d, she The shining gates shut; and the Graces three Wash’d, and with oils of everlasting scent Bathed, as became, her deathless lineament. 105 Then her ambrosian mantle she assum’d, With rich and odoriferous airs perfum’d. Which being put on, and all her trims beside Fair, and with all allurements amplified, The all-of-gold-made laughter-loving Dame 110 Left odorous Cyprus, and for Troy became 95 ’AKpoiroXos. Altissimum habcns verticem , cvjus summitas ipsam polum attingit .— Chapman. A HYMN TO VENUS. 83 A swift contendress, her pass cutting all Along the clouds, and made her instant fall On fountful Ida, that her mother-breasts Gives to the preyful brood of savage beasts. 115 And through the hill she went the ready way T’Anchises’ oxstall, where did fawn and play About her blessed feet wolves grisly-gray, Terrible lions, many a mankind bear, And lybberds swift, insatiate of red deer. 120 Whose sight so pleas’d, that, ever as she past Through every beast, a kindly love she cast, That, in their dens obscured with shadows deep, Made all, distinguish’d in kind couples, sleep. And now she reach’d the rich pavilion 125 Of the heroe, in whom heavens had shown A fair and goodly composition, And whom she in his oxstall found, alone, His oxen feeding in fat pastures by, He walking up and down, sounds clear and high 130 From his harp striking. Then before him she Stood like a virgin, that invincibly Had borne her beauties ; yet alluringly Bearing her person, lest his ravish’d eye Should chance t’ affect him with a stupid fear. 135 Anchises seeing her, all his senses were With wonder stricken, and high-taken heeds Both of her form, brave stature, and rich weeds. For, for a veil, she shin’d in an attire That cast a radiance past the ray of fire. 140 Beneath which wore she, girt to her, a gown 119 Mankind — masculine, ferocious. 120 Lybberds — leopards. 84 A HYMN TO VENUS. Wrought all with growing-rose-huds, reaching down T’ her slender smalls, which buskins did divine, Such as taught Thetis’ silver feet to shine. Her soft white neck rich carquenets embraced, us Bright, and with gold in all variety graced, That to her breasts let down lay there and shone, As, at her joyful full, the rising Moon. Her sight show’d miracles. Anchises’ heart Love took into his hand, and made him part 150 With these high salutations : “ Joy, O Queen ! Whoever of the Blest thy beauties been That light these entries ; or the Deity That darts affecteth ; or that gave the Eye Of heaven his heat and lustre ; or that moves 155 The hearts of all with all-commanding loves ; Or generous Themis ; or the blue-eyed Maid ; Or of the Graces any that are laid With all the Gods in comparable scales, And whom fame up to immortality calls ; iso Or any of the Nymphs, that unshorn groves, Or that this fair hill-habitation, loves, Or valleys flowing with earth’s fattest goods, Or fountains pouring forth eternal floods ! Say, which of all thou art, that in some place 105 Of circular prospect, for thine eyes’ dear grace, I may an altar build, and to thy pow’rs Make sacred all the year’s devoted hours, With consecrations sweet and opulent. Assur’d whereof, be thy benign mind bent no 145 Carquenets —sometimes spelt ca?’canets and carJcnets. 153 The Deity, &c.—Diana ; that gave the eye, &c.—Latona, mother of Apollo ; that moves the hearts —Venus ; the blue¬ eyed Maid — Minerva. A HYMN TO VENUS. 85 To these wish’d blessings of me : Give me parts Of chief attraction in Trojan hearts ; And, after, give me the refulgency Of most renown’d and rich posterity ; Long, and free life, and heaven’s sweet light as long ; The people’s blessings, and a health so strong m That no disease it let my life engage, Till tli’ utmost limit of a human age.” To this Jove’s Seed this answer gave again : “ Anchises ! Happiest of the human strain ! iso I am no Goddess ! Why, a thrall to death Tliink’st thou like those that immortality breathe ? A woman brought me forth ; my father’s name Was Otreiis, if ever his high fame Thine ears have witness’d, for he govern’d all iss The Phrygian state, whose every town a wall Impregnable embrac’d. Your tongue, you hear, I speak so well, that in my natural sphere (As I pretend) it must have taken prime. A woman, likewise, of the Trojan clime 190 Took of me, in her house, the nurse’s care From my dear mother’s bosom; and thus are My words of equal accent with your own. How here I come, to make the reason known, Argicides, that bears the golden rod, 195 Transferr’d me forcibly from my abode Made with the maiden train of Her that joys In golden shafts, and loves so well the noise Of hounds and hunters (heaven’s pure-living Pow’r) Where many a nymph and maid of mighty dow’r 200 Chaste sports employ’d, all circled with a crown 197 Diana. 86 A HYMN TO VENUS. Of infinite multitude, to see so shown Our maiden pastimes. Yet, from all the fair Of this so forceful concourse, up in air The golden-rod-sustaining Argus’-Guide 205 Rapt me in sight of all, and made me ride Along the clouds with him, enforcing me Through many a labour of mortality, Through many an unbuilt region, and a rude, Where savage beasts devour’d preys warm and crude, And would not let my fears take one foot’s tread 211 On Her by whom are all lives comforted, But said my maiden state must grace the bed Of king Anchises, and bring forth to thee Issue as fair as of divine degree. 215 Which said, and showing me thy moving grace, Away flew he up to th’ Immortal Race. And thus came I to thee ; Necessity, With her steel stings, compelling me t’ apply To her high pow’r my will. But you must I 220 Implore by Jove, and all the reverence due To your dear parents, who, in bearing you, Can bear no mean sail, lead me home to them An untouch’d maid, being brought up in th’ extreme Of much too cold simplicity to know 225 The fiery cunnings that in Venus glow. Show me to them then, and thy brothers born, I shall appear none that parts disadorn, But such as well may serve a brother’s wife, And show them now, even to my future life, 230 If such or no my present will extend. To liorse-breed-vary’ng Phrygia likewise send, 212 The Earth. A HYMN TO VENUS. 87 T’ inform my sire and mother of my state, That live for me extreme disconsolate ; Who gold enough, and well-woven weeds, will give. 235 All whose rich gifts in my amends receive. All this perform’d, add celebration then Of honour’d nuptials, that by God and men Are held in reverence.” All this while she said, Into his bosom jointly she convey’d 240 The fires of love ; when, all-enamour’d, he In these terms answer’d : “ If mortality Confine thy fortunes, and a woman were Mother to those attractions that appear In thy admir’d form, thy great father given 245 High name of Otreiis ; and the Spy of heaven (Immortal Mercury) tli’ enforceful cause That made thee lose the prize of that applause That modesty immaculate virgins gives, My wife thou slialt be call’d through both our lives. 250 Nor shall the pow’rs of men nor Gods withhold My fiery resolution to enfold Thy bosom in mine arms ; which here I vow To firm performance, past delay, and now. Nor, should Apollo with his silver bow 255 Shoot me to instant death, would I forbear To do a deed so full of cause so dear. For with a heaven-sweet woman I will lie, Though straight I stoop the house of Dis, and die.” This said, he took her hand, and she took way 200 With him, her bright eyes casting round ; whose stay She stuck upon a bed, that was before Made for the king, and wealthy coverings wore. On which bears’ hides and big-voic’d lions’ lay, 88 A HYMN TO VENUS. Whose preyful lives the king had made his prey, 265 Hunting th’ Idalian hills. This bed when they Had both ascended, first he took from her The fiery weed, that was her utmost wear ; Unbutton’d her next rosy robe ; and loos’d The girdle that her slender waist enclos’d ; 270 Unlac’d her buskins ; all her jewelry Took from her neck and breasts, and all laid by Upon a golden-studded chair of state. Th’ amaze of all which being remov’d, even Fate And council of the equal Gods gave way 275 To this, that with a deathless Goddess lay A deathful man ; since, what his love assum’d, Not with his conscious knowdedge was presum’d. Now when the shepherds and the herdsmen, all, Turn’d from their flow’ry pasture to their stall, 280 With all their oxen, fat and frolic sheep, Venus into Anchises cast a sleep, Sweet and profound ; while with her own hands now With her rich weeds she did herself endow ; But so distinguish’d, that he clear might know 235 His happy glories ; then (to her desire Her heavenly person put in trims entire) She by the bed stood of the well-built stall, Advanc’d her head to state celestial, And in her cheeks arose the radiant hue 29a Of rich-crown’d Venus to apparent view. And then she rous’d him from his rest, and said : “ Up, my Dardanides, forsake thy bed. What pleasure, late employ’d, lets humour steep Thy lids in this inexcitable sleep ? Wake, and now say, if I appear to thee 295 A HYMN TO VENUS. 89 Like her that first thine eyes conceited me.” This started him from sleep, though deep and dear, And passing promptly he enjoy’d his ear. But when his eye saw Venus’ neck and eyes, 300 Whose "beauties could not bear the counterprise Of any other, down his own eyes fell, Which pallid fear did from her view repell, And made him, with a main respect beside, Turn his whole person from her state, and hide 305 (With his rich weed appos’d) his royal face, These wing’d words using : “ When, at first, thy grace Mine eyes gave entertainment, well I knew Thy state was deified ; but thou told’st not true ; And therefore let me pray thee (by thy love 310 Borne to thy father, iEgis-bearing Jove) That thou wilt never let me live to be An abject, after so divine degree Taken in fortune, but take ruth on me. Bor any man that with a Goddess lies, 315 Of interest in immortalities, Is never long-liv’d.” She replied : “ Forbear, 0 happiest of mortal men, this fear, And rest assured, that (not for me, at least) Thy least ills fear fits ; no, nor for the rest 320 Of all the Blessed, for thou art their friend ; And so far from sustaining instant end, That to thy long-enlarg’d life there shall spring Amongst the Trojans a dear son, and king, To whom shall many a son, and son’s son, rise 325 In everlasting great posterities ; His name iEneas ; therein keeping life, For ever, in my much-conceited grief, 90 A HYMN TO VENUS. That I, immortal, fell into the bed Of one whose blood mortality must shed. 330 But rest thou comforted, and all the race That Troy shall propagate, in this high grace : That, past all races else, the Gods stand near Your glorious nation, for the forms ye bear, And natures so ingenuous and sincere. 335 For which, the great-in-counsels (J upiter) Your gold-lock’d Ganymedes did transfer (In rapture far from men’s depressed fates) To make him consort with our Deified States, And scale the tops of the Saturnian skies, 340 He was so mere a marvel in their eyes. And therefore from a bowl of gold he fills Red nectar, that the rude distension kills Of winds that in your human stomachs breed. But then did languor on the liver feed 345 Of Tros, his father, that was king of Troy, And ever did his memory employ With loss of his dear beauty so bereaven, Though with a sacred whirlwind rapt to heaven. But Jove, in pity of him, saw him given S50 Good compensation, sending by Heaven’s Spy White-swift-hov’d horse, that Immortality Had made firm-spirited ; and had, beside, Hermes to see his ambassy supplied With this vow’d bounty (using all at large 355 That his unalter’d counsels gave in charge) That he himself should immortality breathe, Expert of age and woe as well as death. 347 aXyaros. Cujus memoria erit pcrpetua. —Chapman. 358 Expert —in the classical sense, free from , unaccompanied by. A HYMN TO VENUS. 91 “ This ambassy express’d, he mourn’d no more, But up with all his inmost mind he bore, 360 Joying that he, upon his swift-hov’d horse, Should be sustain’d in an eternal course. “ So did the golden-tlironed Aurora raise, Into her lap, another that the praise Of an immortal fashion had in fame, 365 And of your nation bore the noble name, (His title Tithon) who, not pleased with her, As she his lovely person did transfer, To satisfy him, she bade ask of Jove The gift of an Immortal for her love. 370 Jove gave, and bound it with his bowed brow, Performing to the utmost point his vow. Fool that she was, that would her love engage, And not as long ask from the bane of age The sweet exemption, and youth’s endless flow’r ! 375 Of which as long as both the grace and pow’r His person entertain’d, she loved the man, And (at the fluents of the ocean Near Earth’s extreme bounds) dwelt with him ; but when According to the course of aged men) 3so On his fair head, and honourable beard, His first grey hairs to her light eyes appear’d, She left his bed, yet gave him still for food The Gods’ ambrosia, and attire as good. Till even the hate of age came on so fast 385 That not a lineament of his was grac’d With pow’r of motion, nor did still sustain, Much less, the vigour had t’ advance a vein, The virtue lost in each exhausted limb, 92 A HYMN TO VENUS. That at his wish before would answer him ; All pow’rs so quite decay’d, that when he spake His voice no perceptible accent brake. Her counsel then thought best to strive no more, But lay him in his bed and lock his door. Such an Immortal w T ould not I wish thee, T’ extend all days so to eternity. But if, as now, thou couldst perform thy course In grace of form, and all corporeal force, To an eternal date, thou then shouldst bear My husband’s worthy name, and not a tear Should I need rain, for thy deserts declin’d, From my all-clouded bitterness of mind. But now the stern storm of relentless age Will quickly circle thee, that waits t’ engage All men alike, even loathsomeness, and bane Attending with it, every human wane, Which even the Gods hate. Such a penance lies Impos’d on flesh and blood’s infirmities ! Which I myself must taste in great degree, And date as endless, for consorting thee. All the Immortals with my opprobry Are full by this time ; on their hearts so lie (Even to the sting of fear) my cunnings us’d, And wiving conversations infus’d Into the bosoms of the best of them With women, that the frail and mortal stream Doth daily ravish. All this long since done. Which now no more, but with effusion Of tears, I must in heaven so much as name, I have so forfeited in this my fame, And am impos’d pain of so great a kind A HYMN TO VENUS. 93 For so much erring from a Goddess’ mind. For I have put beneath my girdle here A son, whose sire the human mortal sphere Gives circumscription. But, when first the light 425 His eyes shall comfort, Nymphs that haunt the height Of hills, and breasts have of most deep receipt, Shall be his nurses ; who inhabit now A hill of so vast and divine a brow, As man nor God can come at their retreats ; 430 Who live long lives, and eat immortal meats, And with Immortals in the exercise Of comely dances dare contend, and rise Into high question which deserves the prize. The light Sileni mix in love with these, 435 And, of all Spies the Prince, Argicides ; In well-trimm’d caves their secret meetings made. And with the lives of these doth life invade Or odorous fir-trees, or high-foreheaded oaks, Together taking their begetting strokes, 440 And have their lives and deaths of equal dates, Trees bearing lovely and delightsome states, Whom Earth first feeds, that men initiates. On her high hills she doth their states sustain, And they their own heights raise as high again. 415 Their growths together made, Nymphs call their groves Vow’d to th’ Immortals services and loves ; Which men’s steels therefore touch not, but let grow. But when wise Fates times for their fadings know, The fair trees still before the fair Nymphs die, 450 The bark about them grown corrupt and dry, And all their boughs fall ’11 yield to Earth her right; And then the Nymphs’ lives leave the lovely night. 94 A HYMN TO VENUS. “ And these Nymphs in their caves shall nurse my son, Whom (when in him youth’s first grace is begun) 455 The Nymphs, his nurses, shall present to thee, And show thee what a birth thou hast by me. And, sure as now I tell thee all these things, When Earth hath cloth’d her plants in five fair springs, Myself will make return to this retreat, 460 And bring that flow’r of thy enamour’d heat ; Whom when thou then seest, joy shall fire thine eyes, He shall so well present the Deities. And then into thine own care take thy son From his calm seat to windy Ilion, 465 Where, if strict question be upon the past, Asking what mother bore beneath her waist So dear a son, answer, as I afford Fit admonition, nor forget a word : They say a Nymph, call’d Calucopides, 470 That is with others an inhabitress On this thy wood-crown’d hill, acknowledges That she his life gave. But, if thou declare The secret’s truth, and art so mad to dare (In glory of thy fortunes) to approve 475 That rich-crown’d Venus mix’d with thee in love, Jove, fired with my aspersion so dispread, Will with a wreakful lightning dart thee dead. “ All now is told thee, comprehend it all. Be master of thyself, and do not call 480 My name in question ; but with reverence vow To Deities’ angers all the awe ye owe.” This said, She reach’d heaven, where airs ever flow. 475 Glory —boast. A HYMN TO VENUS. 95 And so, 0 Goddess, ever honour’d be, In thy so odorous Cyprian empery! 485 My Muse, affecting first thy fame to raise, Shall make transcension now to others’ praise. THE END OF THE FIRST HYMN TO VENUS. TO THE SAME HE reverend, rich-crown’d, and fair Queen I sing, Venus, that owes in fate the fortressing Of all maritimal Cyprus ; where the force Of gentle-breathing Zephyr steer’d her course Along the waves of the resounding sea, 5 While, yet unborn, in that soft foam she lay That brought her forth; whom those fair Hours that bear The golden bridles joyfully stood near, Took up into their arms, and put on her Weeds of a never-corruptible wear. 10 On her immortal head a crown they plac’d, Elaborate, and with all the beauties grac’d That gold could give it ; of a weight so great, That, to impose and take off, it had set Three handles on it, made, for endless hold, 15 Of shining brass, and all adorn’d with gold. Her soft neck all with carquenets was grac’d, That stoop’d, and both her silver breasts embrac’d, Which even the Hours themselves wear in resort To Deities’ dances, and her Father’s court. 20 2 Owes —owns. 96 BACCHUS\ OR THE PIRATES. Grac’d at all parts, they brought to heaven her graces Whose first sight seen, all fell into embraces, Hugg’d her white hands, saluted, wishing all To wear her maiden flow’r in festival Of sacred Hymen, and to lead her home ; All, to all admiration, overcome With Cytherea with the violet crown. So to the Black-brow’d Sweet-spoke all renown ! Prepare my song, and give me, in the end, The victory to whose palm all contend ! So shall my Muse for ever honour thee, And, for thy sake, thy fair posterity. BACCHUS, OR THE PIRATES. F Dionysus, noble Semele’s Son, I now intend to render mention, As on a prominent shore his person shone, Like to a youth whose flow’r was newly blown, Bright azure tresses play’d about his head, And on his bright broad shoulders was dispread A purple mantle. Strait he was descried By certain manly pirates, that applied Their utmost speed to prise him, being aboard A well-built bark, about whose broad sides roar’d The wine-black Tyrrhene billows ; death as black Brought them upon him in their future wrack. For, soon as they had purchas’d but his view, Mutual signs past them, and ashore they flew, BACCHUS i Oi? THE PIRATES. 97 Took him, and brought him instantly aboard, 15 Soothing their hopes to have obtain’d a hoard Of riches with him ; and a Jove-kept king To such a flow’r must needs be natural spring. And therefore straight strong fetters they must fetch, To make him sure. But no such strength would stretch To his constrain’d pow’rs. Far flew all their bands 21 From any least force done his feet or hands. But he sat casting smiles from his black eyes At all their worst. At which discoveries Made by the master, he did thus dehort 25 All his associates : “ Wretches ! Of what sort Hold ye the person ye assay to bind 1 Nay, which of all the Pow’r fully-divin’d Esteem ye him, whose worth yields so much weight That not our well-built bark will bear his freight ? 30 Or Jove himself he is, or He that bears The silver bow, or Neptune. Nor appears In him the least resemblance of a man, But of a strain at least Olympian. Come ! Make we quick dismission of his state, 35 And on the black-soil’d earth exonerate Our sinking vessel of his deified load, Nor dare the touch of an intangible God, Lest winds outrageous, and of wrackful scathe, And smoking tempests, blow his fiery wrath.” 40 This well-spoke master the tall captain gave Hateful and horrible language ; call’d him slave, And bade him mark the prosp’rous gale that blew, 1 28 Pow’r fully-divin’d —Mr. Singer has wrongly altered this to pow’rfully-divined ; but Chapman says fully-divin'd Pow’r, i. e. Godhead. 41 i. e. the tall captain replied to the master. G 98 BACCHUS, OR THE PIRATES And how their vessel with her mainsail flew ; Bade all take arms, and said, their works requir’d 45 The cares of men, and not of an inspir’d Pure zealous master ; his firm hopes being fir’d With this opinion, that they should arrive In iEgypt straight, or Cyprus, or where live Men whose brave breaths above the north wind blow ; Yea, and perhaps beyond their region too. si And that he made no doubt but in the end To make his prisoner tell him every friend Of all his offspring, brothers, wealth, and all; Since that prise, certain, must some God let fall. 55 This said, the mast and mainsail up he drew, And in the mainsail’s midst a frank gale blew ; When all his ship took arms to brave their prise. But straight strange works appear’d to all their eyes : First, sweet wine through their swift-black bark did flow, Of which the odours did a little blow ei Their fiery spirits, making th’ air so fine That they in flood were there as well as wine. A mere immortal-making savour rose, Which on the air the Deity did impose. 65 The seamen see’ng all, admiration seiz’d ; Yet instantly their wonders were increas’d, For on the topsail there ran, here and there, A vine that grapes did in abundance bear, And in an instant was the ship’s mainmast 70 With an obscure-green ivy’s arms embrac’d, That flourish’d straight, and were with berries grac’d ; Of which did garlands circle every brow Of all the pirates, and no one knew how. 64 Mere —See Odyssey, Bk. vm. 115. BACCHUS , OR THE PIRATES. 99 Which when they saw, they made the master steer 75 Out to the shore ; whom Bacchus made forbear, With showing more wonders. On the hatches He Appear’d a terrible lion, horribly Koaring ; and in the mid-deck a male bear, Made with a huge mane ; making all, for fear, so Crowd to the stern, about the master there, Whose mind he still kept dauntless and sincere, But on the captain rush’d and ramp’d, with force So rude and sudden, that his main recourse Was to the main-sea straight: and after him ss Leapt all his mates, as trusting to their swim To fly foul death ; but so found what they fled, Being all to dolphins metamorphosed. The master he took ruth of, sav’d, and made The blessed’st man that ever tried his trade, 90 These few words giving him : “ Be confident, Thou God-inspired pilot, in the bent Of my affection, ready to requite Thy late-to-me-intended benefit. I am the roaring God of spritely wine, 95 Whom Semele (that did even Jove incline To amorous mixture, and was Cadmus’ care) Made issue to the mighty Thunderer.” And thus, all excellence of grace to thee, Son of sweet-count’nance-carry’ng Semele. 100 I must not thee forget in least degree, But pray thy spirit to render so my song Sweet, and all ways in order’d fury strong. 100 MARS. TO MARS. ARS, most - strong, gold - helm’d, making chariots crack ; Never without a shield cast on thy back ; Mind-master, town-guard, with darts never driven ; Strong-handed, all arms, fort, and fence of heaven ; Father of victory with fair strokes given ; 5 Joint surrogate of justice, lest she fall In unjust strifes a tyrant; general Only of just men justly ; that dost bear Fortitude’s sceptre ; to heaven’s fiery sphere Giver of circular motion, between 10 That and the Pleiads that still wand’ring been, Where thy still-vehemently-flaming horse About the third heaven make their fiery course ; Helper of mortals ; hear !—As thy fires give The fair and present boldnesses that strive 15 In youth for honour, being the sweet-beam’d light That darts into their lives, from all their height, The fortitudes and fortunes found in fight; So would I likewise wish to have the pow’r To keep off from my head thy bitter hour, 20 And that false fire, cast from my soul’s low kind, Stoop to the fit rule of my highest mind, Controlling that so eager sting of wrath That stirs me on still to that horrid scathe Of war, that God still sends to wreak his spleen (Even by whole tribes) of proud injurious men. But 0 thou Ever-Blessed ! give me still 25 DIANA. 101 Presence of mind to put in act my will, Varied, as fits, to all occasion ; And to live free, unforc’d, unwrought upon, 30 Beneath those laws of peace that never are Affected with pollutions popular Of unjust hurt, or loss to any one ; And to bear safe the burthen undergone Of foes inflexive, and inhuman hates, 35 Secure from violent and harmful fates. TO DIANA. I AN A praise, Muse, that in darts delights, Lives still a maid, and had nutritial rights With her born-brother, the far-shooting Sun. That doth her all-of-gold-made chariot run In chase of game, from Meles that abounds e In black-brow’d bulrushes, and, where her hounds She first uncouples, joining there her horse, Through Smyrna carried in most fiery course To grape-rich Claros ; where (in his rich home, And constant expectation She will come) 10 Sits Phoebus, that the silver bow doth bear, To meet with Plicebe, that doth darts transfer As far as He his shafts. As far then be Thy chaste fame shot, 0 Queen of archery ! Sacring my song to every Deity. 15 15 Sacring —consecrating. The reader will remember the sacring-bell. 102 VENUS. — PALLAS. TO VENUS. 0 Cyprian Venus still my verses vow, Who gifts as sweet as honey doth bestow On all mortality ; that ever smiles, And rules a face that all foes reconciles ; Ever sustaining in her hand a flow’r 5 That all desire keeps ever in her pow’r. Hail, then, 0 Queen of well-built Salamine, And all the state that Cyprus doth confine, Inform my song with that celestial fire That in thy beauties kindles all desire. 10 So shall my Muse for ever honour thee, And any other thou commend’st to me. TO PALLAS. ALLAS Minerva only I begin To give my song ; that makes war’s terrible din, Is patroness of cities, and with Mars Marshall’d in all the care and cure of wars, And in everted cities, fights, and cries. 5 But never doth herself set down or rise Before a city, but at both times She All injur’d people sets on foot and free. Give, with thy war’s force, fortune then to me, And, with thy wisdom’s force, felicity. 10 JUNO.—CERES.—CYBELE. 103 TO JUNO. ATURNIA, and her throne of gold, I sing, That was of llliea the eternal spring, And empress of a beauty never yet EqualM in height of tincture. Of the great Saturnius (breaking air in awful noise) 5 The far-fam’d wife and sister ; whom in joys Of high Olympus all the Blessed love, And honour equal with unequall’d Jove. TO CERES. HE rich-hair’d Ceres I assay to sing ; A Goddess, in whose grace the natural spring Of serious majesty itself is seen ; And of the wedded, yet in grace still green, Proserpina, her daughter, that displays 5 A beauty casting every way her rays. Al l honour to thee, Goddess ! Keep this town ; And take thou chief charge of my song’s renown ! TO THE MOTHER OF THE GODS. |OTHER of all, both Gods and men, commend, 0 Muse, whose fair form did from Jove descend ; That doth with cymbal sounds delight her life, And tremulous divisions of the fife ; 104 HERCULES. Love’s dreadful lions’ roars, and wolves’ hoarse howls, 5 Sylvan retreats, and hills, whose hollow knolls Raise repercussive sounds about her ears. And so may honour ever crown thy years With all-else Goddesses, and ever be Exalted in the Muses’ harmony ! 10 TO LION-HEARTED HERCULES. LCIDES, forcefullest of all the brood Of men enforc’d with need of earthy food, My Muse shall memorise ; the son of Jove, Whom, in fair-seated Thebes (commix’d in love With great heaven’s sable-cloud-assembling State) 5 Alcmena bore to him ; and who, in date Of days forepast, through all the sea was sent, And Earth’s inenarrable continent, To acts that king Eurystheus had decreed ; Did many a petulant and imperious deed 10 Himself, and therefore suffer’d many a toil; Yet now inhabits the illustrious soil Of white Olympus, and delights his life With still-young Hebe, his well-ankled wife. Hail, King, and Son of Jove ! Vouchsafe thou me is Virtue, and, her effect, felicity! AESCULAPIUS.—TYNDARIDES. 105 TO AESCULAPIUS. Aesculapius, the physician, it cur’d all sickness, and was Phoebus’son, Muse makes entry ; to whose life gave yield Divine Coronis in the Dotian field, (King Phlegius’ daughter) who much joy on men 6 Conferr’d, in dear ease of their irksome pain. For which, my salutation, worthy king, And vows to thee paid, ever when I sing ! TO CASTOR AND POLLUX. ASTOR and Pollux, the Tyndarides, Sweet Muse illustrate ; that their essences Fetch from the high forms of Olympian Jove, And were the fair fruits of bright Leda’s love, Which she produc’d beneath the sacred shade Of steep Taygetus, being subdu’d, and made To serve th’ affections of the Thunderer. And so all grace to you, whom all aver (For skill in horses, and their manage given) To be the bravest horsemen under heaven ! 10 6 Taygetus .—It is hardly necessary to remind the reader that Chapman’s quantity is wrong, as is often the case. 106 MERCURY.— PAN. TO MERCURY. ERMES I honour, the Cyllenian Spy, King of Cyllenia, and of Arcady With flocks abounding ; and the Messenger Of all th’ Immortals, that doth still infer Profits of infinite value to their store ; 5 Whom to Saturnius bashful Maia bore, Daughter of Atlas, and did therefore fly Of all th’ Immortals the society, To that dark cave, where, in the dead of night, Jove join’d with her in love’s divine delight, 10 When golden sleep shut Juno’s jealous eye, Whose arms had wrists as white as ivory, From whom, and all, both men and Gods beside, The fair-hair’d nymph her scape kept undescried. Joy to the Jove-got then, and Maia’s care, is ’Twixt men and Gods the general Messenger, Giver of good grace, gladness, and the flood Of all that men or Gods account their good ! 14 Scape .—See Iliad, n. 312. TO PAN. ING, Muse, this chief of Hermes’ love-got joys, Goat-footed, two-horn’d, amorous of noise, That through the fair greens, all adorn’d with trees, TO PAN. 107 Together goes with Nymphs, whose nimble knees Can every dance foot, that affect to scale 5 The most inaccessible tops of all Uprightest rocks, and ever use to call O11 Pan, the bright-hair’d God of pastoral; Who yet is lean and loveless, and doth owe By lot all loftiest mountains crown’d with snow ; 10 All tops of hills, and cliffy highnesses, All sylvan copses, and the fortresses Of thorniest queaches, here and there doth rove, And sometimes, by allurement of his love, Will wade the wat’ry softnesses. Sometimes 15 (In quite oppos’d capriccios) he climbs The hardest rocks, and highest, every way Kunning their ridges. Often will convey Himself up to a watch-tow’r’s top, where sheep Have their observance. Oft through hills as steep 20 His goats he runs upon, and never rests. Then turns he head, and flys on savage beasts, Mad of their slaughters ; so most sharp an eye Setting upon them, as his beams let fly Through all their thickest tapistries. And then 25 (When Hesp’rus calls to fold the Hocks of men) From the green clossets of his loftiest reeds He rushes forth, and joy with song he feeds. When, under shadow of their motions set, He plays a verse forth so profoundly sweet, 30 As not the bird that in the flow’ry spring, Amidst the leaves set, makes the thickets ring 9 Owe —own. 13 Queaches —thickets. See Odyssey, Bk. xix. 610. 25 Tapistries —i. e. hiding-places, where they tapish or hide. 27 Clossets —closes. The word should be noted. 108 TO PAN. Of her sour sorrows, sweeten’d with her song, Runs her divisions varied so and strong. And then the sweet-voic’d Nymphs that crown his mountains 35 (Flock’d round about the deep-black-water’d fountains) Fall in with their contention of song. To which the echoes all the hills along Their repercussions add. Then here and there (Plac’d in the midst) the God the guide doth bear 40 Of all their dances, winding in and out, A lynce’s hide, besprinkled round about With blood, cast on his shoulders. And thus He, With well-made songs, maintains th’ alacrity Of his free mind, in silken meadows crown’d 45 With hyacinths and saffrons, that abound In sweet-breath’d odours, that th’ unnumber’d grass (Besides their scents) give as through all they pass. And these, in all their pleasures, ever raise The blessed Gods’ and long Olympus’ praise : 50 Like zealous Hermes, who of all I said Most profits up to all the Gods convey’d. Who, likewise, came into th’ Arcadian state, (That’s rich in fountains, and all celebrate For nurse of flocks,) where He had vow’d a grove 55 (Surnam’d Cyllenius) to his Godhead’s love. Yet even himself (although a God he were) Clad in a squalid sheepskin, govern’d there A mortal’s sheep. For soft love ent’ring him Conform’d his state to his conceited trim, 60 And made him long, in an extreme degree, T’ enjoy the fair-hair’d virgin Dryope. Which ere he could, she made him consummate VULCAN. 109 The flourishing rite of Hymen’s honour’d state ; And brought him such a piece of progeny 65 As show’d, at first sight, monstrous to the eye, Goat-footed, two-liorn’d, full of noise even then, And (opposite quite to other childeren) Told, in sweet laughter, he ought death no tear. Yet straight his mother start, and fled, in fear, to The sight of so unsatisfying a thing, In whose face put forth such a bristled spring. Yet the most useful Mercury embrac’d, And took into his arms, his homely-fac’d, Beyond all measure joyful with his sight ; 75 And up to heaven with him made instant flight, Wrapp’d in the warm skin of a mountain hare, Set him by Jove, and made most merry fare To all the Deities else with his son’s sight; Which most of all fill’d Bacchus with delight; so And Pan they call’d him, since he brought to all Of mirth so rare and full a festival. And thus all honour to the shepherds’ King, For sacrifice to thee my Muse shall sing ! 69 Ought —owed. 70 Start —the past tense. TO VULCAN. RAISE Vulcan, now Muse ; whom fame gives the prize For depth and fracture of all forge-devise ; Who, with the sky-ey’d Pallas, first did give Men rules of buildings, that before did live 110 PH CEB US.—NEPT UNE. In caves and dens, and hills, like savage beasts ; 5 But now, by art-fam’d Vulcan’s interests In all their civil industries, ways clear Through th’ all-things-bringing-to-their-ends (the year) They work out to their ages’ ends, at ease Lodg’d in safe roofs from Winter’s utmost prease. 10 But, Vulcan, stand propitious to me, Virtue safe granting, and felicity ! TO PHCEBUS. PHCEBUS ! Even the swan from forth her wings, Jumping her proyning-bank, thee sweetly sings, By bright Peneus’ whirl-pit-making streams. Thee, that thy lute mak’st sound so to thy beams, Thee, first and last, the sweet-voic’d singer still 5 Sings, for thy song’s all-songs-transcending skill. Thy pleasure, then, shall my song still supply, And so salutes thee King of Poesy. 2 Proyning bank —where she preens or proins herself. TO NEPTUNE. EPTUNE, the mighty marine God, I sing, Earth’s mover, and the fruitless ocean’s King, That Helicon and th’ iEgean deeps dost hold. 0 thou Earth-shaker ! Thy command two-fold JOVE.—VESTA. Ill The Gods have sorted ; making thee of horses 5 The awful tamer, and of naval forces The sure preserver. Hail, 0 Saturn’s birth ! Whose graceful green hair circles all the earth. Bear a benign mind ; and thy helpful hand Lend all submitted to thy dread command. 10 TO JOVE. OVE now I sing, the greatest and the best Of all these Powers that are with Deity blest, That far-off doth his dreadful voice diffuse, And, being King of all, doth all conduce To all their ends. Who (shut from all Gods else 5 With Themis, that the laws of all things tells) Their fit composures to their times doth call, Weds them together, and preserves this all. Grace then, O far-heard Jove, the grace thou’st given, Most Glorious, and most Great of Earth and Heaven ! 10 TO VESTA. ESTA, that as a servant oversees King Phoebus’ hallow’d house, in all degrees Of guide about it, on the sacred shore Of heavenly Pytlios, and hast evermore Rich balms distilling from thy odorous hair, Grace this house with thy housewifely repair ! 5 112 APOLLO.—BACCHUS. Enter, and bring a mind that most may move, Conferring even, the great in counsels, Jove ; And let my verse taste of your either’s love. TO THE MUSES AND APOLLO. HE Muses, Jove, and Phoebus, now I sing ; For from the far-off-shooting Phoebus spring All poets and musicians, and from Jove Th’ ascents of kings. The man the Muses love, Felicity blesses ; elocution’s choice 5 In syrup lay’ng of sweetest breath his voice. Hail, Seed of Jove, my song your honours give, And so in mine shall yours and others’ live. TO BACCHUS. VY-crown’d Bacchus iterate in thy praises, If? 0 Muse ; whose voice all loftiest echoes raises, ^ And he with all th’ illustrious Seed of Jove Is join’d in honour, being the fruit of love To him, and Semele the-great-in-graces ; 5 And from the King his father’s kind embraces By fair-hair’d Nymphs was taken to the dales Of Nyssa, and with curious festivals Given his fair grouglit, far from his father’s view, In caves from whence eternal odours flew, 10 And in high number of the Deities plac’d. 9 Grought —growth. TO DIANA. 113 Yet when the many-hymn-given God had past His Nurses’ cares, in ivies and in bays All over thicketed, his varied ways To sylvan coverts evermore He took, 15 With all his Nurses, whose shrill voices shook Thickets, in which could no foot’s entry fall, And he himself made captain of them all. And so, 0 grape-abounding Bacchus, be Ever saluted by my Muse and me ! 20 Give us to spend with spirit our hours out here, And every hour extend to many a year. TO DIANA. I AN A, that the golden spindle moves, And lofty sounds as well as Bacchus loves, A bashful virgin, and of fearful hearts The death-affecter with delighted darts, By sire and mother Phoebus’ sister born, 5 Whose thigh the golden falchion doth adorn, I sing ; who likewise over hills of shade And promontories that vast winds invade, Amorous of hunting, bends her all-gold bow, And sigh-begetting arrows doth bestow 10 In fates so dreadful that the hill-tops quake, And bristled woods their leafy foreheads shake, Horrors invade earth, and [the] fishy seas Impassion’d furies ; nothing can appease The dying brays of beasts. And her delight 15 In so much death affects so with affright n 114 TO PALLAS. Even all inanimate natures ; for, while she Her sports applies, their general progeny She all ways turns upon to all their banes. Yet when her fiery pleasures find their wanes, Her yielding bow unbent, to th’ ample house, Seated in Delphos, rich and populous, Of her dear brother, her retreats advance. Where th 5 installation of delightsome dance Amongst the Muses and the Graces she 25 Gives form ; in which herself the regency (Her unbent bow hung up, and casting on A gracious robe) assumes, and first sets gone The dances’ entry ; to which all send forth Their heavenly voices, and advance the worth 30 Of her fair-ankled mother, since to light She children brought the far most exquisite In counsels and performances of all The Goddesses that grace the heavenly hall. Hail then, Latona’s fair-hair’d Seed, and Jove’s ! 35 My song shall ever call to mind your loves. TO PALLAS. ALLAS-Minerva’s deity, the renown’d , 1 My Muse in her variety must resound ; Mighty in councils ; whose illustrous eyes In all resemblance represent the skies. A reverend maid of an inflexible mind ; : 5 In spirit and person strong ; of triple kind ; Fautress of cities that just laws maintain ; TO VESTA AND MERCURY. 115 Of Jove, the-great-in-councils, very brain Took prime existence, his unbounded brows Could not contain her, such impetuous throes 10 Her birth gave way to, that abroad she flew, And stood, in gold arm’d, in her Father’s view, Shaking her sharp lance. All Olympus shook So terribly beneath her, that it took Up in amazes all the Deities there. 15 All earth resounded with vociferous fear. The sea was put up all in purple waves, And settled suddenly her rudest raves. Hyperion’s radiant son his swift-hov’d steeds A mighty time stay’d, till her arming weeds, 20 As glorious as the Gods’, the blue-ey’d Maid Took from her deathless shoulders ; but then stay’d All these distempers, and heaven’s counsellor, Jove, Rejoic’d that all things else his stay could move. So I salute thee still; and still in praise 25 Thy fame, and others’, shall my memory raise. TO VESTA AND MERCURY. STA I sing, who, in bequest of fate, Art sorted out an everlasting state In all th’ Immortals’ high-built roofs, and all Those of earth-dwelling men, as general And ancient honours given thee for thy gift 5 Of free-liv’d chastity, and precious thrift. Nor can there amongst mortals banquets be, In which, both first and last, they give not thee 116 TO EARTH. Their endless gratitudes in pour’d-out wine, As gracious sacrifice to thy divine 10 And useful virtues ; being invok’d by all, Before the least taste of their festival In wine or food affect their appetites. And Thou, that of th’ adorn’d-with-all-delights Art the most useful angel, born a God 15 Of Jove and Maia, of heaven’s golden rod The sole sustainer, and hast pow’r to bless With all good all men, great Argicides, Inhabit all good houses, see’ng no wants Of mutual minds’ love in th’ inhabitants, 20 Join in kind blessing with the bashful maid And all-lov’d virgin, Vesta ; either’s aid Combin’d in every hospitable house ; Both being best seen in all the gracious House-works of mortals. Jointly follow then, 25 Even from their youths, the minds of dames and men. Hail then, old Daughter of the oldest God, And thou Great Bearer of Heaven’s golden rod ! Yet not to you alone my vows belong, Others as well claim th’ homage of my song. 30 15 Angel —messenger, ayyeXos. TO EARTH, THE MOTHER OF ALL. OTHER of all things, the well-founded Earth, My Muse shall memorize ; who all the birth Gives food that all her upper regions breed, All that in her divine diffusions feed TO EARTH. 117 In under continents, all those that live 5 In all the seas, and all the air doth give Wing’d expeditions, of thy bounties eat; Fair children, and fair fruits, thy labour’s sweat, O great in reverence ; and referr’d to thee, For life and death is all the pedigree 10 Of mortal humans. Happy then is he Whom the innate propensions of thy mind Stand bent to honour. He shall all things find In all abundance ; all his pastures yield Herds in all plenties ; all his roofs are fill’d 15 With rich possessions ; he, in all the sway Of laws best order’d, cuts out his own way In cities shining with delicious dames, And takes his choice of all those striving flames ; High happiness and riches, like his train, 20 Follow his fortunes, with delights that reign In all their princes ; glory invests his sons ; His daughters, with their crown’d selections Of all the city, frolic through the meads, And every one her call’d-for dances treads 25 Along the soft-flow’r of the claver-grass. All this, with all those, ever comes to pass, That thy love blesses, Goddess full of grace, And treasurous Angel t’ all the human race. Hail, then, Great Mother of the Deified Kind, 30 Wife to the cope of stars ! Sustain a mind Propitious to me for my praise, and give (Answering my mind) my vows fit means to live. 26 Claver-grass. —Mr. Singer has printed clover. I retain the old orthography, though Halliwell says it is only a North - country provincialism for clover. 118 TO THE SUN. TO THE SUN. radiant Sun’s divine renown diffuse, Jove’s daughter, great Calliope, my Muse ; Whom ox-ey’d Euryphaessa gave birth To the bright Seed of starry Heaven and Earth. For the far-fam’d Hyperion took to wife 5 His sister Euryphaessa, that life Of his high race gave to these lovely three : Aurora, with the rosy-wrists ; and She That owns th’ enamouring tresses, the bright Moon ; Together with the never-wearied Sun, 10 Who (his horse mounting) gives both mortals light And all th’ Immortals. Even to horror, bright A blaze burns from his golden burgonet, Which to behold exceeds the sharpest set Of any eye’s intention, beams so clear 15 It all ways pours abroad. The glorious cheer Of his far-shining face up to his crown Casts circular radiance, that comes streaming down About his temples, his bright cheeks, and all, Retaining the refulgence of their fall. 20 About his bosom flows so fine a weed As doth the thinness of the wind exceed In rich context ; beneath whose deep folds fly His masculine horses round about the sky, Till in this hemisphere he renders stay 25 T’ his gold-yok’d coach and coursers ; and his way, 13 Burgonet —generally spelt burganet, a species of helmet. TO THE MOON . 119 Let down by heaven, the heavenly coachman makes Down to the ocean, where his rest he takes. My salutations then, fair King, receive, And in propitious returns relieve so My life with mind-fit means ; and then from thee, And all the race of complete Deity, My song shall celebrate those lialt-god States, That yet sad death’s condition circulates, And whose brave acts the Gods show men that they 35 As brave may aim at, since they can but die. TO THE MOON. B HE Moon, now, Muses, teach me to resound, Whose wide wings measure such a world of ground ; Jove’s daughter, deck’d with the mellifluous tongue, And seen in all the sacred art of song. Whose deathless brows when she from heaven displays, All earth she wraps up in her orient rays. 6 A heaven of ornament in earth is rais’d When her beams rise. The subtle air is sais’d Of delicate splendour from her crown of gold. And when her silver bosom is extoll’d, 10 Wash’d in the ocean, in day’s equail’d noon Is midnight seated ; but when she puts on Her far-off-sprinkling-lustre evening weeds, (The month in two cut ; her high-breasted steeds 8 Sais’d —seised, put in possession. 120 TO CASTOR AND POLLUX. Mail’d all with curl’d flames, put in coach and all, 15 Her huge orb fill’d,) her whole trims then exhale Unspeakable splendours from the glorious sky. And out of that state mortal men imply Many predictions. And with her then, In love mix’d, lay the King of Gods and men ; 20 By whom made fruitful, she Pandea bore, And added her state to th’ Immortal Store. Hail, Queen, and Goddess, th’ ivory-wristed Moon Divine, prompt, fair-hair’d ! With thy grace begun, My Muse shall forth, and celebrate the praise 25 Of men whose states the Deities did raise To semi-deities ; whose deeds t’ endless date Muse-lov’d and sweet-sung poets celebrate. TO CASTOR AND POLLUX. OVE’S fair Sons, father’d by th’ Oebalian king, Muses well-worth-all men’s beholdings, sing ! The dear birth that bright-ankl’d Leda bore ; Horse-taming Castor, and, the conqueror Of tootli-tongu’d Momus, Pollux ; whom beneath 5 Steep-brow’d Taygetus she gave half-god breath, In love mix’d with the black-clouds King of Heaven ; Who, both of men and ships, being tempest driven, When Winter’s wrathful empire is in force Upon tli’ implacable seas, preserve the course. 10 Por when the gusts begin, if near the shore, The seamen leave their ship, and, evermore Bearing two milk-white lambs aboard, they now TO MEN OF HOSPITALITY. 121 Kill them ashore, and to Jove’s issue vow, When though their ship, in height of all the roar 5 The winds and waves confound, can live no more In all their hopes, then suddenly appear Jove’s saving Sons, who both their bodies bear ’Twixt yellow wings down from the sparkling pole, Who straight the rage of those rude winds control, 20 And all the high-waves couch into the breast Of th’ hoary seas. All which sweet signs of rest To seamen’s labours their glad souls conceive, And end to all their irksome grievance give. So, once more, to the swift-liorse-riding race 25 Of royal Tyndarus, eternal grace ! TO MEN OF HOSPITALITY. EVERENCE a man with use propitious That hospitable rites wants ; and a house (You of this city with the seat of state To ox-ey’d Juno vow’d) yet situate Near Pluto’s region. At the extreme base 5 Of whose so liigh-hair’d city, from the race Of blue-wav’d Hebrus lovely fluent, grac’d With Jove’s begetting, you divine cups taste. CERTAIN EPIGRAMS AND OTHER POEMS OF HOMER. TO CUMA. SR hospitable rites and house-respect, You that the virgin with the fair eyes deckt Make fautress of your stately-seated town, At foot of Sardes, with the higli-hair’d crown, Inhabiting rich Cuma ; where ye taste 5 Of Hermus’ heavenly fluent, all embrac’d By curl’d-head whirlpits ; and whose waters move From the divine seed of immortal Jove. IN HIS RETURN TO CUMA. WIFTLY my feet sustain me to the town, Where men inhabit whom due honours crown. Whose minds with free-given faculties are mov’d, And whose grave counsels best of best approv’d. EPIGRAMS . 123 UPON THE SEPULCHRE OF MIDUS, CUT IN BRASS, IN THE FIGURE OF A VIRGIN. MAID of brass I am, infixed here T’ eternize honest Midus’ sepulchre ; And while the stream her fluent seed receives, And steep trees curl their verdant brows with leaves, While Phoebus rais’d above the earth gives sight, s And th’ humorous Moon takes lustre from his light, While floods bear waves, and seas shall wash'the shore, At this his sepulchre, whom all deplore, I’ll constantly abide ; all passers by Informing, “ Here doth honest Midus lie.” 10 6 Humorous —moist. CUMA REFUSING HIS OFFER TO ETERNIZE THEIR STATE, THOUGH BROUGHT THITHER BY THE MUSES. TO what fate hath Father Jove given o’er My friendless life, born ever to be poor ! While in my infant state he pleas’d to save me, Milk on my reverend mother’s knees he gave me, In delicate and curious nursery ; 5 iEolian Smyrna, seated near the sea, (Of glorious empire, and whose bright sides Sacred Meletus’ silver current glides,) 124 EPIGRAMS. Being native seat to me. Which, in the force Of far-past time, the breakers of wild horse, Phriconia’s noble nation, girt with tow’rs ; Whose youth in fight put on with fiery pow’rs. From hence, the Muse-maids, Jove’s illustrous Seed, Impelling me, I made impetuous speed, And went with them to Cuma, with intent T’ eternize all the sacred continent And state of Cuma. They, in proud ascent From off their bench, refus’d with usage fierce The sacred voice which I aver is verse. Their follies, yet, and madness borne by me, Shall by some pow’r be thought on futurely, To wreak of him whoever, whose tongue sought With false impair my fall. What fate God brought Upon my birth I’ll bear with any pain, But undeserv’d defame unfelt sustain. Nor feels my person (dear to me though poor) Any great lust to linger any more In Cuma’s holy highways ; but my mind (No thought impair’d, for cares of any kind Borne in my body) rather vows to try The influence of any other sky, And spirits of people bred in any land Of ne’er so slender and obscure command. 10 15 20 25 30 EPIGRAMS. 125 AN ASSAY OF IIIS BEGUN ILIADS. tON, and all the brave-horse-breeding soil, Dardania, I sing ; that many a toil Impos’d upon the mighty Grecian pow’rs, Who were of Mars the manly servitours. TO THESTOR’S SON,* INQUISITIVE OF HOMER ABOUT THE CAUSES OF THINGS. ^^IIESTORIDES ! of all the skills unknown To errant mortals, there remains not one Of more inscrutable affair to find Than is the true state of a human mind. TO NEPTUNE. EAR, pow’rful Neptune, that shak’st earth in ire, King of the great green, where dance all the quire * Homer intimated, in this his answer to Thestorides, a will to have him learn the knowledge of himself, before he inquired so curiously the causes of other things. And from hence had the great peripatetic, Themistius, his most grave epiphoneme, Anima quce scipsam vjnorat , quid sciret ipsa de aliis ? And, therefore, according to Aristotle, advises all philosophical students to begin with that study.— Chapman. 126 EPIGRAMS. Of fair-hair’d Helicon ; give prosperous gales, And good pass, to these guiders of our sails, Tlieir voyage rend’ring happily directed, s And their return with no ill fate affected. Grant likewise at rough Mimas’ lowest roots, Whose strength up to her tops prserupt rocks shoots, My passage safe arrival; and that I My bashful disposition may apply 10 To pious men, and wreak myself upon The man whose verbal circumvention In me did wrong t’ hospitious Jove’s whole state, And th’ hospitable table violate. TO THE CITY ERYTHR^EA. ORSHIPFUL Earth, Giver of all things good ! Giver of even felicity ; whose flood The mind all-over steeps in honeydew ; That to some men dost infinite kindness shew, To others that despise thee art a shrew, 5 And giv’st them gamester’s galls ; who, once their main Lost with an ill chance, fare like abjects slain. TO MARINERS. wave-trod watermen, as ill as she That all the earth in infelicity Of rapine plunges ; who upon your fare As sterv’d-like-ravenous as cormorants are ; EPIGRAMS. 1 The lives ye lead, but in the worst degree, Not to be envied more than misery ; Take shame, and fear the indignation Of Him that thunders from the highest throne, Hospitious Jove, who, at the back, prepares Pains of abhorr’d effect of him that dares The pieties break of his hospitious squares. THE PINE. Y tree else bears better fruit than thee, That Ida’s tops sustain, where every tree Bears up in air such perspirable heights, And in which caves and sinuous receipts Creep in such great abundance. For about Thy roots, that ever all thy fruits put out, As nourish’d by them, equal with thy fruits, Pour Mars’s iron-mines their accurs’d pursuits. So that when any earth-encroaching man, Of all the martial brood Cebrenian, Plead need of iron, they are certain still About thy roots to satiate every will. 128 EPIGRAMS. v TO GLAUCUS, WHO WAS SO MISERABLY SPARING THAT HE FEARED ALL MEN’S ACCESS TO HIM. LAUCUS ! though, wise enough, yet one word more Let my advice add to thy wisdom’s store, For ’twill be better so : Before thy door Give still thy mastiffs meat, that will be sure To lie there, therefore, still, and not endure 5 (With waylaid ears) the softest foot can fall, But men and beasts make fly thee and thy stall. AGAINST THE SAMIAN MINISTRESS, OR NUN. EAR me, 0 Goddess, that invoke thine ear, Thou that dost feed and form the youthful year, And grant that this dame may the loves refuse, Aud beds, of young men, and affect to use Humans whose temples hoary hairs distain, 5 Whose pow’rs are passing coy, whose wills would fain. EPIGRAMS. 129 WRITTEN ON THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. men, sons are the crowns of cities’ tow’rs ; Of pastures, horse are the most beauteous flow’rs ; Of seas, ships are the grace ; and money still With trains and titles doth the family fill. But royal counsellors, in council set, 5 Are ornaments past all, as clearly great As houses are that shining fires enfold, Superior far to houses nak’d and cold. THE FURNACE CALLED IN TO SING BY POTTERS. F ye deal freely, O my fiery friends, As ye assure, I’ll sing, and serve your ends. Pallas, vouchsafe thou here invok’d access, Impose thy hand upon this Forge, and bless All cups these artists earn so, that they may 5 Look black still with their depth, and every way Give all their vessels a most sacred sale. Make all well-burn’d ; and estimation call Up to their prices. Let them market well, And in all highways in abundance sell, 10 I 130 EPIGRAMS. Till riches to their utmost wish arise, And, as thou mak’st them rich, so make me wise. But if ye now turn all to impudence, And think to pay with lies my patience, Then will I summon ’gainst your Furnace all Hell’s harmfull’st spirits ; Maragus I’ll call, Sabactes, Asbett, and Omadamus, Who ills against your art innumerous Excogitates, supplies, and multiplies. Come, Pallas, then, and all command to rise, Infesting forge and house with fire, till all Tumble together, and to ashes fall, These potters selves dissolv’d in tears as small. And as a horse-cheek chides his foaming bit, So let this Forge murmur in fire and flit, And all this stuff to ashy ruins run. And thou, 0 Circe, daughter of the Sun, Great-many-poison-mixer, come, and pour Thy cruell’st poisons on this Potters’ floor, Shivering their vessels ; and themselves affect With all the mischiefs possible to direct ’Gainst all their beings, urg’d by all thy fiends. Let Chiron likewise come ; and all those friends (The Centaurs) that Alcides’ fingers fled, And all the rest too that his hand strook dead, (Their ghosts excited) come, and macerate These earthen men ; and yet with further fate Affect their Furnace ; all their tear-burst eyes Seeing and mourning for their miseries, While I look on, and laugh their blasted art And them to ruin. Lastly, if apart EPIGRAMS. 131 Any lies lurking, and sees yet, his face Into a coal let th’ angry fire embrace, That all may learn by them, in all their lust, To dare deeds great, to see them great and just. 45 EIRESIONE, OR, THE OLIVE BRANCH. HE turrets of a man of infinite might, Of infinite action, substance infinite, IVe make access to ; whose whole being rebounds From earth to heaven, and nought but bliss resounds. Give entry then, ye doors ; more riches yet 5 Shall enter with me ; all the Graces met In joy of their fruition, perfect peace Confirming all ; all crown’d with such increase, That every empty vessel in your house May stand replete with all things precious ; 10 Elaborate Ceres may your larders fill With all dear delicates, and serve in still; May for your son a wife make wish’d approach Into your tow’rs, and rapt in in her coach With strong-kneed mules ; may yet her state prove staid, With honour’d housewiferies ; her fair hand laid ig T o artful loomworks ; and her nak’d feet tread The gum of amber to a golden bead. But I’ll return ; return, and yet not press Your bounties now assay’d with oft access, 20 Once a year only, as the swallow prates Before the wealthy Spring’s wide open gates. 132 EPIGRAMS. Meantime I stand at yours, nor purpose stay More time t’ entreat. Give, or not give, away My feet shall bear me, that did never come With any thought to make your house my home. TO CERTAIN FISHER BOYS PLEASING HIM WITH INGENIOUS RIDDLES. T from the bloods even of your self-like sires Are you descended, that could make ye heirs To no huge hoards of coin, nor leave ye able To feed docks of innumerable rabble. THE END OF ALL THE ENDLESS WORKS OF HOMER. r E work that I was bom to do is done / Glory to Rim that the conclusion Makes the beginning of my life ; and never Let me be said to live, till I live ever. Where's the outliving of my fortunes then, 5 Ye errant vapours of Fame's Lernean fen, That, like possess'd storms, blast all not in herd With your abhorr'd heads ; who, because cashier'd By men for monsters, think men monsters all, That are not of your p)ied Hood and your Hall , w When you are nothing but the scum of things, And must be cast off; drones, that have no stings ; Nor any more sold than a stone hath wings ? Avaunt, ye hags! Your hates and scandals are The crowns and comforts of a good man’s care ; i r * By whose impartial perp>endicular, All is extuberance, and excretion all, That you your ornaments and glories call. Your wry mouths censure right! Your blister'd tongues, That lick but itches / And whose ulcerous lungs 20 Come up at all things permanent and sound! 0 you, like flies in dregs, in humours drowrid ! Your loves, like atoms, lost in gloomy air, I would not retrieve with a wither'd hair. 134 Hate, and cast still your stings then, for your hisses 25 Betray but truth, and your applauds are hisses. To see our supercilious ivizards frown, Their faces falVn like fogs, and coining down, Stinking the sun out, makes me shine the more ; And like a check'd food bear above the shore, 30 That their profane opinions fain would set To what they see not, know not, nor can let. Yet then our team'd men with their torrents come, Roaring from their forc'd hills, all crown'd with foam, That one not taught like them, should learn to know 35 Their Greek roots, and from thence the groves that grow, Casting such rich shades from great Homer’s wings, That first and last command the Muses' springs. Though he's best scholar, that, through pains and vows Made his own master only, all things knows. 40 Nor pleads my poor skill form, or learned place, But dauntless labour, constant prayer, and grace. And what's all their skill, but vast varied reading ? As if broad-beaten highways had the leading To Truth''s abstract, and narrow path, and pit; 45 Found in no walk of any worldly wit. And without Truth, all's only sleight of hand, Or our law-learning in a foreign land, Embroidery spent on cobwebs, braggart show Of men that all things learn, and nothing know. 50 For ostentation humble Truth still flies, And all confederate fasliionists defies. And as some sharp-brow'd doctor, English born, In much learn'd Latin idioms can adorn A verse with rare attractions, yet become 55 His English Muse like an Arachnean loom, 135 Wrought spite of Pallas, and therein bewrays More tongue than truth, begs, and adopts his bays ; So Ostentation, be he never so Larded with labour to suborn his show, oo Shall sooth within him but a bastard soul, No more heaven heiring than, Earth’s son, the mole. But as in dead calms emptiest smokes arise , TJncheck’d and free, up straight into the skies ; So drowsy Peace, that in her humour steeps cs All she affects, lets such rise while she sleeps. Many, and most men, have of wealth least store, But none the gracious shame that fits the poor. So most team’d men enough are ignorant, But few the grace have to confess their want, to Till lives and learnings come concomitant. Far from men’s knowledges their lives’-acts flow ; Vainglorious acts then vain prove all they know. - 4 s night the life-inclining stars best shows, So lives obscure the starriest soids disclose. n For me, let just men judge by what I show In acts expos’d how much I err or knoiv ; And let not envy make all worse than nought. With her mere headstrong and quite brainless thought, Others, for doing nothing, giving all, ? so And bounding all worth in her bursten gall. God and my dear Kedeemer rescue me From men’s immane and mad impiety. And by my life and soul {sole known to Them) Make me of palm, or yew, an anadem. 85 And so my sole God, the Thrice-Sacred Trine, Bear all th’ ascription of all me and mine. 136 Supplico tibi, Domine, Pater, et Dux rationis nostrae, ut nostrae nobilitatis recorclemur qua Tu nos ornasti ; et ut Tu nobis prsesto sis, ut iis qui per sese moventur; ut et a corporis contagio, brutorumque affectuum, re- purgemur, eosque superemus, atque regamus, et, sicut decet, pro instrumentis iis utamur. Deinde, ut nobis ad- jumento sis, ad accuratam rationis nostrae correctionem, etconjunctionem cum iis qui vere sunt per lucemveritatis. Et tertidm, Salvatori supplex oro, ut ab oculis animorum nostrorum, caliginem prorsus abstergas, ut norimus bene qui Deus, aut mortalis, habendus. Amen. Sine honore vivam , nulloque numero ero. FINIS. THE GEORGICS OF HESIOD. THE GEORGICKS OF HESIOD, By George Chapman; TRANSLATED ELABORATELY out of the Greek : Containing Dodtrine of Hufbandrie, Moralitie, and Pietie; with a perpetuall Calendar of Good and Bad Dales ; Not fuperftitious, but necejfarie (as farre as naturall Caufes compell) for all Men to obferue, and difference in fol¬ lowing their affaires. Nec caret vmbra Deo. LONDON , Printed by H. L. for Miles Partrich , and are to be folde at his Shop neare Saint Dunftans Church in Fleet ftreet. 1618. \ I TO THE MOST NOBLE COMBINER OF LEARNING AND HONOUR, SIR FRANCIS BACON, KNIGHT, LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR OF ENGLAND, ETC. NCIENT wisdom being so worthily eter¬ nised by the now-renewed instance of it in your Lordship ; and this ancient Author, one of the most authentic for all wisdom crowned with justice and piety ; to what sea owe these poor streams their tribute, but to your Lord¬ ship’s ocean ? The rather, since others of the like anti¬ quity,in my Translation of Homer, teach these their way, and add comfort to their courses, by having received right cheerful countenance and approbation from your Lordship’s most grave and honoured predecessor. All judgments of this season (savouring anything the truth) preferring, to the wisdom of all other nations, these most wise, learned, and circularly-spoken Grecians. According to that of the poet:— Gratis ingenium, Gratis dedit ore rotundo Musa loqui. And why may not this Roman elogy of the Graians ex- 142 tend in praiseful intention (by way of prophetic poesy) to Graies-Inne wits and orators ? Or if the allusion (or petition of the principle) beg with too broad a licence in the general, yet serious truth, for the particular, may most worthily apply it to your Lordship’s truly Greek inspiration, and absolutely Attic elocution. Whose all- acknowledged faculty hath banished flattery therein even from the Court; much more from my country and more-than-upland simplicity. Nor were those Greeks so circular in their elegant utterance, but their inward judgments and learnings were as round and solid ; their solidity proved in their eternity ; and their eternity propagated by love of all virtue and integrity ;—that love being the only parent and argument of all truth, in any wisdom or learning, without which all is sophisti¬ cate and adulterate, howsoever painted and splinted with degrees and languages. Your Lordship’s “Ad¬ vancement of Learning ” then, well showing your love to it, and in it, being true, to all true goodness, your learning, strengthening that love, must needs be solid and eternal. This tarwp <£chs,* therefore, expressed in this Author, is used here as if prophesied by him then, now to take life in your Lordship, whose life is chief soul and essence to all knowledge and virtue ; so few there are that live now combining honour and learning. This time resembling the terrible time whereof this poet prophesied; to which he desired he might not live, since not a Grace would then smile on any pious or worthy ; all greatness much more gracing impostors * Vir ver& (seu clare) sciens ; aut illustris Judex, vel procul videns Arbiter, quia eos acutos visu, seu gnaros esse oporteat rei de qu& agitur. Chapman. 143 than men truly desertful. The worse depraving the better; and that so frontlessly, that shame and justice should fly the earth for them. To shame which igno¬ rant barbarism now emboldened, let your Lordship’s learned humanity prove nothing the less gracious to Virtue for the community of Vice’s graces; but shine much the more clear on her for those clouds that eclipse her ; no lustre being so sun-like as that which passeth above all clouds unseen, over fields, turrets, and temples, and breaks out, in free beams, on some humblest cottage. In whose like Jove himself hath been feasted ; and wherein your Lordship may find more honour than in the fretted roofs of the mighty. To which honour, oftentimes, nothing more conduceth than noble accept¬ ance of most humble presentments. On this nobility in your Lordship my prostrate humility relying, I rest ever submitted, in all simple and hearty vows, Your Honour’s most truly, And freely devoted, George Chapman. OF HESIODUS. ESIODUS, surnamed Ascrseus, was one, as of the most ancient Greek poets, so one of the purest and pressest writers. He lived in the latter time of Homer, and was surnamed Ascraeus, of Ascra, a town in Helicon ; in which was built a temple sacred to the Muses; whose priest Hesiodus was consecrate ; whom Yirgil, among so many writers of Georgies, only imi¬ tated, professing it in this : Ascrceumque cano Eomana per oppida carmen, *Epya KaVHfjLepcu.. Nor is there any doubt (saith Mel.) quin idem Virgilius initio Georgicorum Inane inscriptionem expresserit hoc versu: ‘ Quid faciat Icetas segetes , quo sidere terram, : dc. His authority was such amongst the ancients, that his verses were commonly learned as axioms or oracles , all teaching good life and humanity ; which though never so profitable for men’s now readings, yet had they rather (saith Isocrates) consume their times still in their own follies, than be any time con¬ versant in these precepts of wisdom ; of which (with Homer) he was first father, whose interpreters were all the 145 succeeding philosophers — not Aristotle himself ex¬ cepted :—who before Thales, Solon, Pittacus, Socrates, Plato, &c. writ of life, of manners, of God, of nature, of the stars, and general state of the universe. Nor are his writings the less worthy, that Poesy informed them, but of so much the more dignit)' and eternity. Not Thales, nor Anaxagoras, (as Aristotle ingenuously confesseth,) having profited the world so much, with all their writ¬ ings, as Homer’s one Ulysses or Nestor. And sooner shall all the atoms of Epicurus sustain division ; the fire of Heraclitus be utterly quenched ; the water that Thales extols so much be exhausted; the spirit of Anaximenes vanish ; the discord of Empedocles be re¬ conciled, and all dissolved to nothing ; before by their most celebrated faculties they do the world so much profit, for all human instruction, as this one work of Hesiodus ! Here being no dwelling on any one subject; but of all human affairs instructively concluded. K TO MY WORTHY FRIEND MR. GEORGE CHAPMAN, AND HIS TRANS¬ LATED HESIOD. HAPMAN, we find, by thy past-prized fraught, What wealth thou dost upon this land confer, Th’ old Grecian prophets hither that has brought, Of their full words the true interpreter ; And by thy travell strongly hast exprest 5 The large dimensions of the English tongue, Delivering them so well, the first and best That to the world in numbers ever sung. Thou hast unlock’d the treasury wherein All art and knowledge have so long been hidden ; 10 Which, till the graceful Muses did begin Here to inhabit, was to us forbidden. In blest Elysium, (in a place most fit) Under that tree due to the Delphian God, Mus^eus and that Iliad Singer sit, is And near to them that noble Hesiod, Smoothing their rugged foreheads ; and do smile, After so many hundred years, to see Their Poems read in this far western isle, 147 Translated from their ancient Greek by thee ; 20 Each his good Genius whispering in his ear, That with so lucky and auspicious fate Did still attend them whilst they living were, And gave their verses such a lasting date. Where, slightly passing by the Thespian spring, 23 Many long after did but only sup ; Nature, then fruitful, forth these men did bring, To fetch deep roses from Jove’s plenteous cup. In thy free labours, friend, then rest content, Fear not Detraction, neither fawn on Praise ; 30 When idle Censure all her force hath spent, Knowledge can crown herself with her own bays. Their lines that have so many lives outworn, Clearly expounded, shall base Envy scorn. Michael Drayton. i TO MY WORTHY AND HONOURED FRIEND, MR. GEORGE CHAPMAN, ON HIS TRANSLATION OF HESIOD’S WORKS AND DAYS. HOSE work could this be, Chapman, to refine Old Hesiod’s ore, and give it us, but thine, Who had’st before wrought in rich Homer’s mine ? What treasure hast thou brought us ! and what store Still, still, dost thou arrive with at our shore, 5 To make thy honour and our wealth the more ! If all the vulgar tongues that speak this day Were ask’d of thy discoveries, they must say, To the Greek coast thine only knew the way. Such passage hast thou found, such returns made, 10 As, now of all men, it is called thy trade ; And who make thither else rob, or invade ! Ben Jonson. THE GEOEGICS OF HESIOD. BY GEORGE CHAPMAN. THE FIRST BOOK/ 1 USES ! that, out of your Pierian state, All worth in sacred numbers celebrate, Use b here your faculties so m uch reno wn’d, To sing your Sire ; c and him in hymns d resound By whom all humans, that to death are bound, 5 Are bound together ; both the great in fame,® And men whose poor fates fit them with no name, f Noble, 6 and base ; b great Jove’s will orders all; For he with ease extols, with ease lets fall ; a To approve my difference from the vulgar and verbal ex¬ position, and other amplifications fit and necessary for the true rendering and illustration of my author, I am enforced to annex some words of the original to my other annotations. 3 b AeOre, hue agite. 4 c Jove. 4 d 'T/j.i>dovaai, hymnis decantantes. 6 e ards, de quo viagna fan 1a est. 7 f "A 0 aros, non dicendus, incelebris. 8 e P77TOS, honoratus, nobilis. 8 ^''ApprjTos, ignobilis, ad nuUam functionem seu dignitatem assumptus. 150 FIRST BOOK OF THE Eas’ly diminisheth the most in grace, 10 And lifts the most obscure to loftiest place ; Eas’ly sets straight 1 the quite shrunk up together, k And makes the most elated 1 beauty wither ; And this is Jove, that breaks his voice so high In horrid sounds, and dwells above the sky. 15 Hear, then, 0 Jove, that dost both see and hear, And, for thy justice 5 sake, be orderer To these just precepts, m that in prophecy 11 I use, to teach my brother piety. Not one Contention on the earth there reigns 20 To raise men’s fortunes and' peculiar gains, But two. The one the knowing man approves ; The other 0 hate should force from human loves, Since it derides our reasonable kind, In two p parts parting man’s united mind ; 25 And is so harmful, for pernicious War It feeds, and bites at every Civil Jar ; Which no man But Jove man’s knowledge of his best bereav’d, Conceiving anger, since he was deceiv’d By that same wisdom-wresting z Japliet’s son ; For which all ill all earth did overrun. For Jove close keeping in a hollow cave ue His holy fire, to serve the use of man, Prometheus stole it, by his human sleight, From him that hath of all heaven’s wit the height ; For which He angry, thus to him began The Cloud-assembler : “ Thou most crafty man, us That joy’st to steal my fire, deceiving me, Shalt feel that joy the greater grief to thee, And therein plague thy universal race ; To whom I’ll give a pleasing ill, in place Of that good fire, and all shall be so vain 100 To place their pleasure in embracing pain.” Thus spake and laugh’d of Gods and Men the Sire, And straight enjoin’d the famous God of Fire 88 z 'AyKv\ofj.r)TT)s , he calls Prometheus, i. e. qui obliqua agitat consilia ; who wrests that wisdom, which God hath given him to use to his glory, to his own ends ; which is cause to all the miseries men suffer, and of all their impious actions that deserve them. Jove’s Fire signifies Truth, which Prometheus stealing, figures learned men’s over-subtle abuse of divine knowledge, wresting it in false expositions to their own objects, thereby to inspire and puff up their own profane earth, intending their corporeal parts, and the irreligious delights of them. But, for the mythology of this, read my Lord Chancellor’s book, Dc Sapientid Veterum, cap. 26 , being infinitely better. 154 FIRST BOOK OF THE To mingle, instantly, with water earth ; The voice and vigour of a human birth a 105 Imposing in it, and so fair a face As match’d th’ Immortal Goddesses in grace, Her form presenting a most lovely maid. Then on Minerva his command he laid To make her work, and wield the witty loom. no And, for her beauty, such as might become The golden Venus, he commanded her TJ pon her brows and countenance to confer Her own bewitchings ; stuffing all her breast With wild b desires incapable of rest, 115 And cares that feed to all satiety All human lineaments. The crafty Spy And Messenger of Godheads, Mercury, He charg’d t’ inform her with a dogged c mind, And thievish manners. All as he design’d 120 Was put in act. A creature straight had frame Like to a virgin, mild and full of shame ; Which Jove’s suggestion made the Both-foot-Jame Form so deceitfully, and all of earth To forge the living matter of her birth. 125 Grey-eyed Minerva put her girdle on, And show’d how loose parts, well composed, shone. The deified Graces, and the Dame d that sets Sweet words in chief form, golden carquenets Embrac’d her neck withal. The fair-liair’d Hours 130 105 a Jove’s creation of a woman. 115 b Kat ttoOov. An unwearied and wanton desire to exceed others, or an insatiate longing to be loved of all. VvLOKopos, membra ad satietatem usque depascens. M eXeduras, cares, or meditations of voluptuous satisfactions. 119 c Kvreop re poor, caninam mcntem, vel impudentem , ical tTr'u<\oirov 9 j 0 os, furaccs mores. 128 d Heidcb, or Suada, Goddess of persuasion, or eloquence. GEORGICS OF HESIOD. 155 Her gracious temples crown’d with fresh spring-flowers. But of all these, employ’d in several place, Pallas gave order e the impulsive grace. Her bosom Hermes, the great God of spies, With subtle fashions fill’d, fair words, and lies ; 135 Jove prompting stilL But all the voice f she us’d The vocal herald of the Gods infus’d, And call’d her name Pandora, since on her The Gods did all their several gifts confer ; Who made her such, in every moving strain, no To be the bane of curious-minded men. Her harmful and inevitable frame At all parts perfect, Jove dismiss’d the Dame To Epimetheus, in his herald’s guide, With all the Gods’ plagues in a box beside. ur» Nor Epimetheus kept one word in store Of what Prometheus had advised before, Which was: That Jove should fasten on his hand No gift at all, but he his wile withstand, And back return it, lest with instant ill 150 To mortal men he all the world did fill. But he first took the gift, and after griev’d . 8 133 e ’ E(p-fipiJ.0(re,im2)etuinspirabat,g&ve special force to all her attractions; which he says Pallas did, to show that to all beauty wisdom and discreet behaviour give the chief excitement. 136 f Her voice the vocal or high-spoken herald of the gods imposed ; all fair women affecting to be furthest heard, as well as most seen. 153 s ’Evorjae. When he had received and tried the ill, he knew it was ill, and grieved; but then was so infected with affection to it, that he could not reform nor refine it. For man’s corporeal part,'which is figured in Epimetheus, signify¬ ing the inconsiderate and headlong force of affection, not obeying his reasonable part or soul, nor using foresight fit for the prevention of ill, which is figured in Prometheus, he is deceived with a false shadow of pleasure ; for the substantial 156 FIRST BOOK OF THE For first the families of mortals liv’d Without and free from ill; harsh labour then, Nor sickness, hasting timeless age on men, 155 Their hard and wretched tasks impos’d on them For many years ; but now a violent stream Of all afflictions in an instant came, And quench’d life’s light that shin’d before in flame. For when the woman 1 * the unwieldy lid 160 Had once discover’d, all the miseries hid In that curs’d cabinet dispers’d and flew About the world ; joys pined, and sorrows grew. Hope only rested in the box’s brim, And took not wing from thence. Jove prompted him That ow’d the cabinet to clap it close i6i> Before she parted ; but unnumber’d woes Besides encount’red men in all their ways ; Full were all shores of them, and full all seas. and true delight, fit to be embraced, which, found by Event (the schoolmaster of fools), he repents too late. And, there¬ fore, Horace truly, nocet empta dolore voluptas. 160 h ’AAAa yvvp, of this came the proverb, ywaucuv o\e 0 pos, the plague of women; and by the woman is understood Appe¬ tite, or Effeminate Affection, and customary or fashionable indulgence to the blood, not only in womanish affections, but in the general fashions of men’s judgments and actions, both dtj/iaycoyLK^, id est, popular iter, or gratia ct authoritate qua quis valetapudpopulum; and \pvxaywya< 7 ],idest,viducendietjiectendi anivium, intending illusively, by this same docta ignorantia, of which many learned leaders of the mind are guilty ; and avp- (peTcbdrjs, id est, the common source or sink of the vulgar, pre¬ vailing past the nobility and piety of humanity and religion, by which all sincere discipline is dissolved or corrupted, and so that discipline taken away ( tanquamopercula Pandorce ), both the human body’s and mind’s dissolution, instantly (as out of the cave of iEolus) let the winds or forces of corruption violently break, equa data porta , ruunt, et terras turbine perfiant. All which notwithstanding, no course or custom is so desperate in infection, but some hope is left to escape their punishment in every man, according to Ovid, vivere spevidi, qui morituruserat. GEORGICS OF HESIOD. 157 Diseases, day and night, with natural wings 170 And silent entries stole on men their stings ; The great in counsels, Jove, their voices reft, That not the truest might avoid their theft, Nor any 'scape the ill, in any kind, Resolv’d at first in his almighty mind. 175 And, wert thou willing, I would add to this A second cause of men’s calamities, Sing all before, and since, nor will he long, But short, and knowing ; and t’ observe my song, Be thy conceit and mind’s retention strong. iso When first both Gods and Men had one time’s birth, The Gods of diverse-languag’d men on Earth A Golden 1 world produc’d, that did sustain Old Saturn’s rule when he in heaven did reign ; And then liv’d men, like Gods, k in pleasure here, i« Indued with minds secure ; from toils, griefs, clear ; Nor noisome age made any crooked ; there Their feet went ever naked as their hands ; Their cates were blessed, serving their commands, With ceaseless plenties ; all days sacred made 190 To feasts, that surfeits never could invade. Thus liv’d they long, and died as seis’d with sleep ; All good things serv’d them ; fruits did ever keep Their free fields crown’d, that all abundance bore ; 183 1 Xptiaeov. Not only this description of Ages (as the critics observe) is imitated by all the Latin poets, but all the rest of this author ; and chiefly by Virgil himself. His sen¬ tence and invention made so common, that their community will darken the rarity of them in their original. And this was called the Golden Age (according to Plato) for the virtuous excellency of men’s natural dispositions and manners. 185 k 'Hare deol, sed ut dii vivebant homines. The poet, says Melancthon, could not but have some light of our parents’ lives in Paradise. 158 FIRST BOOK OF THE All which all equal shared, and none wish’d more. 195 And, when the Earth had hid them, Jove’s will was, The good should into heavenly natures pass; Yet still held state on earth, and guardians 1 were - Of all best mortals still surviving there, Observ’d works just and unjust, clad in air, 200 And, gliding undiscover’d everywhere, Gave riches where they pleased ; and so were reft Nothing of all the royal rule they left. The Second Age, that next succeeded this, Was far the worse ; which heaven-hous’d Deities 205 Of Silver-fasliion’d ; not like that of Gold In disposition, nor so wisely soul’d. For children then liv’d in their mothers’ cares (All that time growing still) a hundred years; And were such great fools at that age, that they 210 Could not themselves dispose a family. And when they youths grew, having reach’d the date That rear’d their forces up to man’s estate, They liv’d small space, and spent it all in pain, 198 1 s avOpwiruv, custodes hominum ; from hence the opinion springeth that every man hath his good angel; which sort of spirits, however discredited now to attend and direct men, Plutarch, in his Commentaries De Oraculorum Defectu, defends to retain assured being, in this sort; as if a man should take away the interjected air betwixt the earth and the moon, that man must likewise dissolve all the coherence and actual unity of the universe, leaving vacuum in medio, and necessary bond of it all; so they that admit no Genii leave be¬ twixt God and men no reasonable mean for commerce, the interpretative and administering faculty, as Plato calls it, be¬ twixt them utterly destroying, and withdrawing consequently all their reciprocal and necessary uses ; as the witches of Thessaly are said to pluck the moon out of her sphere. But these men being good, turned only good Genii ; the next Age, men, being bad, turned in their next being bad Genii, of which after was held a man’s good and bad Genius. GEORGICS OF HESIOD. 159 Caused by their follies ; not of power t’ abstain 215 From doing one another injury. Nor would they worship any Deity, Nor on the holy altars of the Blest Any appropriate sacrifice addrest, As fits the fashion of all human birth. 220 For which Jove, angry, hid them straight in earth, Since to the blessed Deities of heaven They gave not those respects they should have given. But when the Earth had hid these like the rest, They then were call’d the subterrestial blest, m 225 And in bliss second, having honours then Fit for the infernal spirits of powerful men, Then form’d our Father Jove a .Third Descent, Whose Age was Brazen ; clearly different From that of Silver. All the mortals there 230 Of wild ash fashion'd, stubborn and austere ; Whose minds the harmful facts of Mars affected, And petulant injury. All meats rejected Of natural fruits and herbs. And these were they That first began that table cruelty 235 Of slaught’ring beasts ; and therefore grew they fierce, And not to be endur’d in their commerce. Their ruthless minds in adamant were cut, 225 m 'T7 ToxObvioL fj.aKapes, subterranei bcciti mortcdes vocantur. Out of their long lives and little knowledges, in neglect of re¬ ligion, subject to painful and bitter death ; where the former good men sweetly slept him out. But for the powers of their bodies, being fashioned of the world’s yet fresh and vigorous matter, their spirits that informed their bodies are supposed secondly powerful; and that is intended in their recourse to earthly men, such as themselves were, furthering their affec¬ tions and ambitions to ill, for which they had honour of those men, and of them were accounted blest, as the former good Genii were so, indeed, for exciting men to goodness. 160 FIRST BOOK OF THE Their strengths were dismal, and their shoulders put Inaccessible hands out over all; 240 Their brawny limbs arm’d with a brazen wall. Their houses all were brazen, all of brass Their working instruments, for black iron was As yet unknown. And these (their own lives ending, The vast and cold-sad house of hell descending) 245 No grace had in their ends ; n but though they were Never so powerful, and enforcing fear, Black death reduc’d their greatness in their spight T’ a little room, 0 and stopp’d their cheerful light. When these left life, a Fourth Kind Jove gave birth Upon the many-a-creature-nourishing earth ; 251 More just, and better than this race before— Divine heroes, that the surnames bore Of semigods ;P yet these impetuous fight And bloody war bereft of life and light. 255 Some, in Cadmoean earth, contentious 246 n vvfxvoL . These he intends were such rude and powerful men, as not only refused, like the second sort, to do honour to the Deities, but directly rebelled against them, and affected here in earth celestial empery; for which the Celestials let them see that they need none but themselves to take down their affectations ; and for their so huge conceit of themselves had never any least honour of others, which many great men of this Iron Age need not be ignorant, therefore, is the event of such great ones ; and, howsoever they laugh in their sleeves at any other being than this, they may take notice by their wisers, that, even according to reason, both, there are other beings, and differences of those beings, both in honours and miseries. - 49 0 EtXe'co, in arctum cogo, seu in angustum redigo. 251 p 'Hyiufleot, semidei. Intending Hercules, Jason, and others of those Argonauts whose ship was vtjvs ’Apyoj 7 raaL/xe- Xoi/cra, navis omnibus curce, because it held the care of all men in those that were in her ; intending of all the virtuous men that were then of name, who were called semigods for their godlike virtues. GEORGICS OF HESIOD. 161 To prise the infinite wealth of CEdipus, Before seven-ported p Thebes ; some shipp’d upon The ruthless waves, and led to Ilion, For fair-hair’d Helen’s love ; where, likewise, they 200 In bounds of death confin’d the beams of dav. V To these yet Jove gave second life, and seat At ends of all the earth ; in a retreat From human feet, where souls secure they bear, Amids the Blessed Islands,^ situate near 20s The gulfy-whirl-pit-eating ocean flood, Happy heroes living ; for whose food The plenty-bearing Tell us, thrice a year, Delicious fruits and fragrant herbs doth bear. 0 that I might not live now, to partake 270 The Age that must the Fifth succession make, But either die before, or else were born When all that Age is into ashes worn ! For that which next springs, in supply of this, Will all of Iron r produce his families ; 275 Whose bloods shall be so banefully corrupt They shalt not let them sleep, but interrupt With toils and miseries all their rests and fares, The Gods such grave and soul-dissecting cares Shall steep their bosoms in. And yet some good 280 258 P "EiinairvkL)). He calls this seven-ported Thebes, to dis¬ tinguish it from that of Egypt, that had 100 ports, besides that Hyppoplace in Cilicia. 265 q / JL(XK( j i p (t}v v-fjcroia^ in beatorum insulis; of which Fortunate Islands, vide Horn. Odyss. 8 . 275 r lYj/os earl aiSyptov, cujus genus estferreum. This Fifth Age he only prophesied of, almost three thousand years since ; which falling out in this age especially true shows how divine a truth inspired him; and whether it be lawful or not, with Plato and all the formerly learned, to give these worthiest poets the commendation of divine. L 1G2 FIRST BOOK OF THE Will God mix with their had ; for when the blood Faints in their nourishment, and leaves their hair A little gray, Jove’s hand will stop the air ’Twixt them and life, and take them straight away. ’Twixt men and women shall he such foul play 285 In their begetting pleasures, and their race Spring from such false seed, that the son’s stol’n face Shall nought be like the sire’s, the sire no more Seen in his issue. No friend, as before, Shall like his friend be ; nor no brother rest 290 Kind like his brother ; no guest like a guest Of former times ; no child use like a child His aged parents, but with manners wild Revile and shame them ; their impiety Shall never fear that Gods all-seeing eye 295 Is lixt upon them, but shall quite despise Repayment of their education’s price, s Bear their law in their hands, and when they get Their father’s free-given goods, account them debt. City shall city ransack ; not a grace soo To any pious man shall show her face, Nor to a just or good man. All, much more, Shall grace a beastly and injurious bore. No right shall seize on any hand of theirs, Nor any shame make blush their black affairs. 305 The worse shall worse the better with bad words, And swear him out of all his right affords. Ill-lung’d, 1 ill-liver’d, ill-complexion’d Spight 298 s XeipodiKcu, quibus jus est in manibus; all this Ovid translates : Nec hospes ab hospite tutus, non socer ct, genero ; fratrum quoque gratia rara est. 303 [Bore — boor.] 3°8 t AwniXados, male seu graviter sonans; KaKox^pros, malis GEORGICS OF HESIOD. 163 Shall consort all the miserable plight Of men then living. Justice then, and Shame, 310 Clad in pure white (as if they never came In touch of those societies) shall fly Up to the Gods’ immortal family, From broad-way’d earth ; and leave grave griefs to men, That (desp’rate of amends) must bear all then. 313 But now to kings a fable I’ll obtrude, Though clear they savor all it can include : The hawk u once having trust up in his seres The sweet-tun’d nightingale, and to the spheres His prey transferring, with his talons she 320 Pinch’d too extremely, and incessantly Crying for anguish, this imperious speech He gave the poor bird : “ Why complain’st thou wretch ? One holds thee now that is thy mightier far ; Go as he guides, though ne’er so singular 325 Thou art a singer ; it lies now in me To make thee sup me, or to set thee free. Fool that thou art, whoever will contend With one whose faculties his own transcend Both fails of conquest, and is likewise sure 330 Besides his wrong he shall bad words endure.” Thus spake the swift and broad-wing’d bird of prey. But hear x thou justice, and hate injury. gaudens, vel quo mali (jundent et delectantur, vel alienis insultans calamitatibus ; , inviso aspectu, et torvis oculis cernens ; all epithets of £r)\os. 318 u "I/>?7£, accipiter. The manners of the mighty to¬ wards the mean are figured in this fiction by the nightingale understanding learned and virtuous men. The following verse, dcppeov, imprudens, to£os, quce in quinos ramos dispergitur, because it puts out five fingers like branches. 564 [Mazers— cups. See .Richardson.] GEORGICS OF HESIOD . 199 Ill-spoken crow encounter thee abroad. And from her bough thy means outgone explode. 570 From three-foot pots of meat set on the fire To serve thy house ; serve not thy taste’s desire With ravine of the meat till on the board Thou seest it set, and sacrifice afford, Not if thou wash first, and the Gods wouldst please 575 With that respect to them ; for even for these Pains are impos’d, being all impieties. On tombstones, or fix’d seats, no boy permit, That’s grown to twelve years old, to idly sit ; For ’tis not good, but makes a slothful man. sso I 11 baths, whose waters women first began To wash their bodies in, should bathe no man ; For in their time even these parts have their pain Grievous enough. If any homely place, Sylvan or other, thou seest vow’d to grace 585 Of any God, by fire made for the weal Of any poor soul mov’d with simplest zeal, Mock not the mysteries, for God disdains Those impious parts, and pays them certain pains. Never in channels of those streams that pay 590 The ocean tribute give thy urine way ; Nor into e fountains ; but, past all neglect, See thou avoid it; for the grave respect Given to these secrets meets with blest effect. Do this, and fly the people’s f bitter fame, 595 592 e m re cte in fontes immingere dicuntur, qui sacram doctrinam commaculant. 695 f Actj'V, gravem or terribilem famam he adviseth a man to avoid : intending with deserving a good and honest fame amongst men, which known to himself impartially and betwixt God and him, every worthy man should despise the contrary 200 THE GEORGICS OF HESIOD. For fame is ill, ’tis light and rais’d like flame ; The burthen heavy yet, and hard to cast. No fame doth wholly perish, when her blest Echo resounds in all the people’s cries, For she herself is of the Deities. 600 conceit of the world ; according to that of Quintilian, writing to Seneca, affirming he cared no more what the misjudging world vented against him, quam de ventre redditi crepitus. / THE END OF THE SECOND BOOK OF WORKS. HESIOD’S BOOK OF DAYS. HE Days that for thy works are good or ill, According to the influence they instil, Of Jove with all care learn, and give them then, For their discharge, in precept to thy men. The Thirtieth day of every month is best, 5 With diligent inspection to digest The next month’s works, and part thy household foods ; That being the day when all litigious goods Are justly sentenc’d by the people’s voices. And till that day next month give these days’ choices, 10 For they are mark’d out by most-knowing Jove. 6 ’'ETOTTTOfAcu, diligenti inspectione digero, seu seccrno et eligo. He begins with the last day of the month, which he names not a day of any good or bad influence, but being, as it were, their term day, in which their business in law was attended ; and that not lasting all the day, he adviseth to spend the rest of it in disposing the next month’s labours. Of the rest he makes difference, showing which are unfortunate, and which auspicious, and are so far to be observed as natural cause is to be given for them ; for it were madness not to ascribe reason to Nature, or to make that reason so far above us, that we cannot know by it what is daily in use with us, all being for our cause created of God ; and therefore the differences of days arise in some part from the aspects, quibus luna intuetur solem, nam quadrati aspect as dent pugam naturae cum, morbo. Egg 202 HESIOD’S BOOK OF BAYS. First, the First day in which the moon doth move With radiance renew’d ; and then the Fourth ; The Seventh day next, being first in sacred worth, For that day did Latona bring to light is The gold-sword-wearing Sun ; next then the Eighth And Ninth are good, being both days that retain The moon’s prime strength t’ instruct the works of men. The ’Leventh and Twelfth are likewise both good days; The Twelfth yet far exceeds the ’Leventh’s repair, 20 For that day hangs the spinner in the air, And weaves up her web ; so the spinster all Her rock then ends, exposing it to sale. So Earth’s third housewife, the ingenious ant, On that day ends her mole-hills’ cure of want. 25 The day herself in their example then Tasking her fire, and bounds her length to men. The Thirteenth day take care thou sow no seed, To plant yet ’tis a day of special speed. The Sixteenth day plants set prove fruitless still, 30 To get a son ’tis good, a daughter ill, Nor good to get, nor give in nuptials. 12 UpCorov 2 vr], primum novilunium, which is called sacred, nan 1 omnia initia sacra; the fourth likewise he calls sacred, quia eo die prodit a coitu Luna , primumque turn conspicitur. 16 ’OyoodTji. The second and fifth day let pass, and sixth, ut mediis, he comes to the eighth and ninth, which in their increasing he terms truly profitable, nam humores alit cres- centia lunoe. 19 Yv denary). The tenth let pass, the eleventh and twelfth he praises diversely, because the moon beholds the sun then in a triangular aspect, which is ever called benevolent. 32 0 vt dp ydp,ov, neque nuptiis tradendis. The sixteenth day, he says, is neither good to get a daughter, nor to wed her, quia a plenilunio ccepit jam humor deficere; he says it is good to get a son in, nam ex humido semine fcemellce , ex sic- ciore puelli nascuntur. HESIOD’S BOOK OF DAYS 203 Nor in the Sixth day any influence falls To fashion her begetting confluence, But to geld kids and lambs, and sheep-cotes fence, 35 It is a day of much benevolence ; To get a son it good effects affords, And loves to cut one’s heart with bitter words ; And yet it likes fair speeches, too, and lies, And whispering out detractive obloquies. 4i> The Eighth the bellowing bullock lib and goat; The Twelfth the labouring mule. But if of note For wisdom, and to make a judge of laws, To estimate and arbitrate a cause. Thou wouldst a son get, the great Twentieth day 45 Consort thy wife, when full the morn’s broad ray Shines through thy windows ; for that day is fit To form a great and honourable wit. The Tenth is likewise good to get a son ; Fourteenth a daughter ; then lay hand upon 50 The colt, the mule, and liorn-retorted steer, And sore-bit mastiff, and their forces rear To useful services. Be careful, then, The Four-and-twentietli day (the bane of men, 38 K^pro/xos, cor alicui scindens. 41 [ Lib —castrate.] 43 "laropa 0wra, prudcntem virum judicem," seu arbitrum, quod eos cognaros esse oporteat rei de qua agitur. He calls it the great twentieth, because it is the last g.r]vbs p.eaovi'Tos, which is of the middle decad of the month ; diebusTov