54
A HYMNE TO HERMES.
And certainely, thy vertue shall be knowne
Gainst great-yll-causing incantation,
To serue as for a Lance, Or Ammules.
And where, in comfort of thy vitall heat,
Thou now breathst but a sound confus'd, for song;
Expos'd by nature; after death, more strong
Thou shalt in sounds of Art be; and command
Song infinite sweeter. Thus with either hand
He tooke it up; and instantly tooke flight
Back to his Caue, with that his home-delight.
Where, (giuing to the Mountaine Tortois vents
Of life and motion) with fit Instruments
Forg'd of bright steele; be strait inform'd a Lute.
Put neck, and frets to it; of which, a sute
He made of splitted quills; in equall space
Impos'd vpon the neck; and did embrace
Both backe, and bosome. At whose height (as gymns
T'extend, and ease the strings) he put in pynns.
Seuen strings, of seuerall tunes, he then applied;
Made of the Entrailes of a sheepe well dried;
And throughly twisted. Next he did prouide
A Case for all; made of an Oxes Hyde;
Out of his counsailes to preserue as well,
As to create: and all this Action fell
Into an instant consequence. His word,
And worke, had indiuiduall accord.
All being as swiftly to perfection brought;
As any worldly mans, most rauisht thought,
Gainst great-yll-causing incantation,
To serue as for a Lance, Or Ammules.
And where, in comfort of thy vitall heat,
Thou now breathst but a sound confus'd, for song;
Expos'd by nature; after death, more strong
Thou shalt in sounds of Art be; and command
Song infinite sweeter. Thus with either hand
He tooke it up; and instantly tooke flight
Back to his Caue, with that his home-delight.
Where, (giuing to the Mountaine Tortois vents
Of life and motion) with fit Instruments
Forg'd of bright steele; be strait inform'd a Lute.
Put neck, and frets to it; of which, a sute
He made of splitted quills; in equall space
Impos'd vpon the neck; and did embrace
Both backe, and bosome. At whose height (as gymns
T'extend, and ease the strings) he put in pynns.
Seuen strings, of seuerall tunes, he then applied;
Made of the Entrailes of a sheepe well dried;
And throughly twisted. Next he did prouide
A Case for all; made of an Oxes Hyde;
Out of his counsailes to preserue as well,
As to create: and all this Action fell
Into an instant consequence. His word,
And worke, had indiuiduall accord.
All being as swiftly to perfection brought;
As any worldly mans, most rauisht thought,
