A HYMNE TO HERMES.
79
In firme peace, worke, to all our wishes scape.
Informe me, (thou that euery way canst winde,
And turne to Act, all wishes of thy minde)
Together with thy birth, came all thy skill?
Or did some God, or God-like man instill
This heauenly song to thee? Me thinks I heare
A new voice; such as neuer yet came nere
The brest of any; either Man, or God,
Till in thee, it had Prime, and Period.
What Art? what Muse? that medcine can produce
For cares most curelesse? what inueterate use;
Or practise of a virtue so profuse,
(Which three, doe all the contribution keeps
That Ioy, or Loue conferrs, or pleasing Sleepe)
Taught thee the soueraigne facture of them all?
I, of the Muses, am the capitall
Consort, or followers: (and to these belong
The grace of dance; all worthie waies of song;
and euer-florishing verse: the delicate Set
And sound of Instruments.) But neuer yet
Did anything so much affect my minde
With ioy, and care to compasse; as this kinde
Of Song and Play: that for the spritely feast
Of florishing assemblies, are the best
And ablest works, that euer Worth gaue Act.
My powres with admiration stand distract,
To heare, with what a hand to make in loue,
Thou ruest thy Lute. And (though thy yongst bowres moue,)
Informe me, (thou that euery way canst winde,
And turne to Act, all wishes of thy minde)
Together with thy birth, came all thy skill?
Or did some God, or God-like man instill
This heauenly song to thee? Me thinks I heare
A new voice; such as neuer yet came nere
The brest of any; either Man, or God,
Till in thee, it had Prime, and Period.
What Art? what Muse? that medcine can produce
For cares most curelesse? what inueterate use;
Or practise of a virtue so profuse,
(Which three, doe all the contribution keeps
That Ioy, or Loue conferrs, or pleasing Sleepe)
Taught thee the soueraigne facture of them all?
I, of the Muses, am the capitall
Consort, or followers: (and to these belong
The grace of dance; all worthie waies of song;
and euer-florishing verse: the delicate Set
And sound of Instruments.) But neuer yet
Did anything so much affect my minde
With ioy, and care to compasse; as this kinde
Of Song and Play: that for the spritely feast
Of florishing assemblies, are the best
And ablest works, that euer Worth gaue Act.
My powres with admiration stand distract,
To heare, with what a hand to make in loue,
Thou ruest thy Lute. And (though thy yongst bowres moue,)
