60
A HYMNE TO HERMES.
By this deuotion. To all which, he gaue
Their seuerall honors; and did wish to haue
His equall part thereof; as free, and well
As th'other Deities; but the fattie smell
Afflicted him, though he immortall were;
Play'ng mortall parts; and being, (like mortalls) here.
Yet his proud minde, nothing the more obayde
For being a God, himselfe; and his owne aide
Hauing to cause his due: And though in heart
Hee highly wisht it; but the weaker part
Subdu'd the stronger; and went on, in ill.
Euen heauenly Powre, had rather haue his Will,
Then haue his Right; and will's the worst of All,
When but in least sort, it is criminall;
One Taint, being Author of a Number, still.
And thus (resolu'd to leaue his hallow'd Hill)
First, both the fat parts, and the fleshie, All
Taking away; at the steepe-entry'd stall
He laid all; All, the feet and heads entire;
And all the sere-wood; making cleare with fire.
And now, he leauing there then, all things done
And finisht, in their fit perfection;
(The Coles put out; and their black Ashes throwne
From all discouerie, by the louely light
The cherefull Moone cast; shyning all the Night)
He strait assum'd a nouell voices note;
And in the whirle-pit-eating-flood, aflote
He set his sandalls. When now, once againe
Their seuerall honors; and did wish to haue
His equall part thereof; as free, and well
As th'other Deities; but the fattie smell
Afflicted him, though he immortall were;
Play'ng mortall parts; and being, (like mortalls) here.
Yet his proud minde, nothing the more obayde
For being a God, himselfe; and his owne aide
Hauing to cause his due: And though in heart
Hee highly wisht it; but the weaker part
Subdu'd the stronger; and went on, in ill.
Euen heauenly Powre, had rather haue his Will,
Then haue his Right; and will's the worst of All,
When but in least sort, it is criminall;
One Taint, being Author of a Number, still.
And thus (resolu'd to leaue his hallow'd Hill)
First, both the fat parts, and the fleshie, All
Taking away; at the steepe-entry'd stall
He laid all; All, the feet and heads entire;
And all the sere-wood; making cleare with fire.
And now, he leauing there then, all things done
And finisht, in their fit perfection;
(The Coles put out; and their black Ashes throwne
From all discouerie, by the louely light
The cherefull Moone cast; shyning all the Night)
He strait assum'd a nouell voices note;
And in the whirle-pit-eating-flood, aflote
He set his sandalls. When now, once againe
