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A HYMNE TO APOLLO.
27
And manie a Temple; all wayes, men ordein
To thy bright God-head: Groues, made darke with Trees,
And neuer shorne, to hide ye Deities.
All high-lou'd Prospects; all the steepest browes
Of farr-seene Hills: and euery flood that flowes
Forth to the sea; are dedicate to Thee.
But most of all; thy mindes Alacritie
Is rais'd with Delos; since to fill thy Phane
There flocks so manie an Ionian,
With ample Gownes, that flowe downe to their feet:
With all their children; and the reuerend Sweet
Of all their pious wiues. And these are they
That (mindefull of thee) euen thy Deitie
Render more spritelie, with their Champion fight
Dances, and songs, perform'd to glorious sight;
Once hauing publisht, and proclaim'd their strife.
And these are acted with such exquisite life
That one would say, Now, the Ionian straines
Are turn'd Immortalls; nor know what Age meanes.
His minde would take such pleasure from his eye,
To see them seru'd, by all Mortalitie.
Their men so humane; women so well-grac't;
Their ships so swift; their riches so encreast,
Since thy obseruance. Who (being all, before
Thy opposites) were all despis'd, and poore.
And to all these, this absolute wonder add,
Whose praise shall render all posterities gladd:
The Delian Virgines, are thy handmaides, All;
To thy bright God-head: Groues, made darke with Trees,
And neuer shorne, to hide ye Deities.
All high-lou'd Prospects; all the steepest browes
Of farr-seene Hills: and euery flood that flowes
Forth to the sea; are dedicate to Thee.
But most of all; thy mindes Alacritie
Is rais'd with Delos; since to fill thy Phane
There flocks so manie an Ionian,
With ample Gownes, that flowe downe to their feet:
With all their children; and the reuerend Sweet
Of all their pious wiues. And these are they
That (mindefull of thee) euen thy Deitie
Render more spritelie, with their Champion fight
Dances, and songs, perform'd to glorious sight;
Once hauing publisht, and proclaim'd their strife.
And these are acted with such exquisite life
That one would say, Now, the Ionian straines
Are turn'd Immortalls; nor know what Age meanes.
His minde would take such pleasure from his eye,
To see them seru'd, by all Mortalitie.
Their men so humane; women so well-grac't;
Their ships so swift; their riches so encreast,
Since thy obseruance. Who (being all, before
Thy opposites) were all despis'd, and poore.
And to all these, this absolute wonder add,
Whose praise shall render all posterities gladd:
The Delian Virgines, are thy handmaides, All;
