90
A HYMNE TO VENVS.
Pitcht fields, and fights, and famous Artizanes,
Taught earthie men first, all the Arts that are;
Charriots, and all the frames vehiculare;
Chiefely with brasse, arm'd, & adorn'd for warre.
Where Venus, onely soft-skinnd wenches fills
With wanton House-works, and suggests those skills
Still to their studies. Whom Diana neither,
That beares the Golden distaff; and together
Calls Horns, and Hollows; and the cries of Houndes;
And ownes the Epithete of louing sounds
For their sakes; springing from such spritely sports;
Can catch with her kinde Lures. But hill resorts
To wilde-Beasts slaughters; accents farr-off heard
Of Harps, and Dances; and of woods vnsheard
The sacred shades she loues; yet likes as well
Citties where good men, and their off-spring dwell.
The third, whom her kinde Passions nothing please;
Is Virgine Vesta; whom Saturnides
Made reuerend with his counsailes: when his Sire
That aduers counsailes agitates, lifes fire
Had kindled in her; being his last begot.
Whom Neptune wow'd, to knit with him the knot
Of honord Nuptialls; and Apollo too;
Which, with much vehemence, she refus'd to doe;
And sterne Repulses, put vpon them both.
Adding to all her vows; the Gods great Oath;
And touching Ioues chynn, (which must consummate
All vows so bound) that she would hold her state;
Taught earthie men first, all the Arts that are;
Charriots, and all the frames vehiculare;
Chiefely with brasse, arm'd, & adorn'd for warre.
Where Venus, onely soft-skinnd wenches fills
With wanton House-works, and suggests those skills
Still to their studies. Whom Diana neither,
That beares the Golden distaff; and together
Calls Horns, and Hollows; and the cries of Houndes;
And ownes the Epithete of louing sounds
For their sakes; springing from such spritely sports;
Can catch with her kinde Lures. But hill resorts
To wilde-Beasts slaughters; accents farr-off heard
Of Harps, and Dances; and of woods vnsheard
The sacred shades she loues; yet likes as well
Citties where good men, and their off-spring dwell.
The third, whom her kinde Passions nothing please;
Is Virgine Vesta; whom Saturnides
Made reuerend with his counsailes: when his Sire
That aduers counsailes agitates, lifes fire
Had kindled in her; being his last begot.
Whom Neptune wow'd, to knit with him the knot
Of honord Nuptialls; and Apollo too;
Which, with much vehemence, she refus'd to doe;
And sterne Repulses, put vpon them both.
Adding to all her vows; the Gods great Oath;
And touching Ioues chynn, (which must consummate
All vows so bound) that she would hold her state;
