82
A HYMNE TO HERMES.
Of this Lutes skill, th'Inquest, or Question;
Neuer so ardently, and angrilie;
Without the aptnesse, and habilitie
Of Art; and Nature sitting: neuer shall
Aspire to this; but vtter triuiall
And idle accents; though sure ne're so lowd,
And neuer so commended of the Crowde.
But thee I know (O Eminent Sonne of Ioue)
The fiery Learner, of what euer Loue
Hath sharpn'd thy affections to achiue.
And thee, I giue this Lute; let us now liue
Feeding vpon the Hill-and-horse-fed Earth
Our neuer-handled Oxen: whose deare Birth
(Their femalls fellowd with their Males) let flowe
In store enough hereafter; nor must you
(How-euer-cunning hearted your wits are)
Boile in your Gall, a Grudge too circulare.
Thus gaue he him his Lute; which he embrac't;
And gaue againe, a Gode, whose bright head cast
Beames like the light forth; leauing to his care
His Oxens keeping. Which, with ioy full fare,
He tooke on him. The Lute Apollo tooke
Into his left hand; and aloft he shooke
Delightsome sounds up; to which God did sing.
Then were the Oxen, to their endlesse Spring
Turn'd; and Ioues Two illustrious Off-springs flew
Vp to Olympus, where it euer snew;
Delighted with their Lutes sound all the way.
Neuer so ardently, and angrilie;
Without the aptnesse, and habilitie
Of Art; and Nature sitting: neuer shall
Aspire to this; but vtter triuiall
And idle accents; though sure ne're so lowd,
And neuer so commended of the Crowde.
But thee I know (O Eminent Sonne of Ioue)
The fiery Learner, of what euer Loue
Hath sharpn'd thy affections to achiue.
And thee, I giue this Lute; let us now liue
Feeding vpon the Hill-and-horse-fed Earth
Our neuer-handled Oxen: whose deare Birth
(Their femalls fellowd with their Males) let flowe
In store enough hereafter; nor must you
(How-euer-cunning hearted your wits are)
Boile in your Gall, a Grudge too circulare.
Thus gaue he him his Lute; which he embrac't;
And gaue againe, a Gode, whose bright head cast
Beames like the light forth; leauing to his care
His Oxens keeping. Which, with ioy full fare,
He tooke on him. The Lute Apollo tooke
Into his left hand; and aloft he shooke
Delightsome sounds up; to which God did sing.
Then were the Oxen, to their endlesse Spring
Turn'd; and Ioues Two illustrious Off-springs flew
Vp to Olympus, where it euer snew;
Delighted with their Lutes sound all the way.
