The Crowne of All Homers Workes/A Hymne to Hermes

by Homer

For other English-language translations of this work, see Hymn to Hermes (Homer).

A HYMNE TO HERMES.

ermes, the Sonne of Ioue and Maia, sing,
(O Muse) th'Arcadian, & Ollenian King:
They rich in flocks; he heauen enriching still,
In Messages, return'd with all his will.
Whom glorious Maia (The Nimph rich in haire)
Mixing with Ioue, in amorous affaire;
Brought forth to him: sustaining a retreat
From all th'Immortalls of the blessed seat;
And liuing in the same darke Caue; where Ioue
Inform'd, at mid-night, the effect of loue,
Vnknowne to either man or Deitie:
Sweet sleepe once, hauing seas'd the ielous eye
Of Iuno, deckt with wrists of iuorie.
But when great Ioues high minde was consummate,
The tenth moneth had in heauen confin'de the date
Of Maias Labour; And into the sight
She brought, in one birth, Labours infinite.
For then she bore a sonne, that all tried waies
Could turne, and winde, to wisht euents, assaies.
A faire tongu'd, but false-hearted Counsellor.
Rector of Ox-stealers; and for all stealths, bore
A varied singer. Speeder of Nights spies
And guide of all her dreames obscurities.
Guard of dore-Guardians: and was borne to be
Amongst th'Immortalls, that wing'd Deitie,
That in an instant, should doe acts would aske
The Powres of others, and Eternall Taske.
Borne, in the Morne; He form'd his Lute at Noone;
At Night stole all the Oxen of the Sunne;
And all this in his Births first day was done;
Which was the fourth of the encreasing Moone.
Because Celestiall lims, sustain'd his straines;
His sacred swath-hands, must not be his chaines.
So (starting up) to Phœbus Herde he stept;
Found strait, the high-roof't Caue where they were kept,
And (th'entrie passing) he th'inuention found,
Of making Lutes; and did in wealth abound
By that Inuention; Since He first of all,
Was author of that Engine Musicall.
By this meane, mou'd to the ingenious worke:
Nere the Caues inmost ouerture, did lurke
A Tortois, tasting th'odoriferous grasse;
Leisurely mouing; and this Obiect was
The motiue to Ioues Sonne (who could conuert
To profitablest uses, all desert
That nature had in any worke conuaid)
To forme the Lute: when (smiling) thus he said;
Thou mou'st in me, a note of excellent vse;
Which thy ill forme, shall neuer so seduce
T'euert the good, to be inform'd by it,
In pliant force, of my forme-forging wit.
 Then the slowe Tortois, wrought on by his minde,
He thus saluted; All ioy to the kinde
Instinct of nature, in thee; Borne to be
The spirriter of Dances; companie
For feasts, and following Banquets; grac't and blest
For bearing light to all the interest
Claim'd in this Instrument. From whence shall spring
Play faire, and sweet; to which may Graces sing.
A prettie painted cote, thou putt'st on here
(O Tortois) while thy hill-bred vitall sphere
Confines thy fashion; but (surpris'd by me,)
I'le beare thee home; where thou shalt euer be
A Profit to me; and yet nothing more
Will I contemne thee, in my merited store.
Goods, with good parts got, worth and honour gaue:
Left goods, and honors, euery foole may haue.
And since thou first, shalt giue me meanes to liue,
I'le loue thee euer. Virtuous qualities giue
To liue at home with them, enough content;
Where those that want such inward ornaments,
Fly out for outward; their life, made their lode;
Tis best to be at home; Harme lurks abroad:
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,
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Whose minde, Care cuts, in an infinity
Of varied parts, or passions instantly;
Or as the frequent twincklings of an eye.
 And thus his House-delight giuen absolute end;
He toucht it; and did euery string extend
(With an exploratorie spirit assaid)
To all the parts, that could on it be plaid.
It sounded dreadfully; to which he sung,
As if from thence, the first, and true force sprung
That fashions Virtue. God, in him did sing.
His play was likewise and unspeakable thing,
Yet, but as an extemporall Assay,
Of what showe, it would make, being the first way,
It tryed his hand; or a tumultuous noise,
Such as at feasts, the first-flowr'd spirits of Boies
Poure out in mutuall contumelies still:
As little squaring with his curious will;
Or was as wanton, and untaught a Store.
 Of Ioue and Maia, that rich shooes still wore,
He sung; who sufferd, ill reports before,
And foule staines, vnder her faire titles bore.
But Hermes sung, her Nation, and her Name
Did itterate euer. All her high-flowne fame
Of being Ioues Mistresse; celebrating all
Her trains of seruants; and collaterall
Sumpture of Houses; all her Tripods there,
And Caldrons huge; encreasing euery yeare.
All which she knew; yet felt her knowledge sting
With her fames losse; which (found) she more wisht sung.
But now; he, in his sacred cradle laid
His Lute so absolute; and strait conuaid
Himselfe up to a watch-towre, forth his house;
Rich, and diuinely Odoriferous
A loftie wile, at worke in his conceipt;
Thirsting the practise of his Empires height.
And where Impostors rule; (since sable Night
Must serue their deeds) he did his deeds their right:
For now the neuer-resting Sunne, was turn'd
For th'vnder earth, and in the Ocean burn'd
His Coch, and Coursers. When th'ingenious spie
Pieria's shadie hill, had in his eye;
Where the immortall Oxen of the Gods
In ayres flood solac't their select Abods;
And earths sweet greene floure, that was neuer shorne;
Fed euer downe; And those the wittie-borne
(Argicides,) set servous spie upon:
Seuering from all the rest; and setting gone
Full fiftie of the violent Bellowers.
Which driuing through the sands; he did reuerse
(His births-craft strait remembring) all their houes;
And them transpos'd, in opposite remoues;
The fore, behinde set; The behinde, before;
T'employ the eyes, of such as should explore.
And he himselfe (as flye-pac't) cast away
His sandalls, on the sea-sands. Past display;
And unexcogitable thoughts, in Act
Putting; to shunn, of his stolne steps, the Tract.
Mixing, both Tamrisk; and like-Tamrisk sprayes,
In a most rare confusion, to raise
His footsteps up from earth. Of which sprayes, he
(His armefull gathering, fresh from off the Tree,)
Made for his sandalls, Tyes; both leaues, and tyes
Holding together; and then fear'd no eyes
That could affect his feets discoueries.
 The Tamrisk boughs be gather'd, making way
Backe from Pieria: but as to conuaie
Prouision in them; for his iourney fit,
It being long; and therefore needing it.
 An ould man, now at labour, nere the field
Of greene Onchestus; knew the verdant yield
Of his fayre armefull; whom th'ingenious Sonne
Of Maia, therefore; salutation
Did thus beginn to; Ho? ould man! That now
Art crokked growne, with making Plants to grow!
Thy nerues will farr be spent; when these boughs shall
To these their leaues, confer me fruit, and All.
But see not thou, what euer thou dost see;
Nor heare, though heare; But all, is touching me
Conceale; since nought, it can endamage thee.
 This, and no more be said; and on draue still
His brode-browd Oxen. Many a shadie Hill,
And many an echoing valley; many a field
Pleasant, and wishfull, did his passage yield
Their safe Transcension. But now, the diuine
And black-browd Night (his Mistresse) did decline
Exceeding swiftly; Daies most earely light
Fast hasting to her first point; to excite
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Worldlings to worke; and in her Watch-towre, shone,
King Pallas-Megamedes seed, (the Moone)
When through th'Alphæan flood, Ioues powerfull Sonne
Phœbus-Apollo's ample-foreheaded Herd
(Whose necks, the laboring yoke, had neuer spher'd)
Draue swiftly on; and then into a stall
(Hillie; yet past to, through an humble vale
And hollow Dells, in a most louely Meade)
He gatherd all; and them diuinely fedd
With Odorous Cypresse; and the rauishing Tree
That makes his Eaters, lose the memorie
Of name, and countrie. Then he brought, withall;
Much wood; whose sight, unto his serch let fall
The Art of making fire. Which thus he tried:
He tooke a branch of Lawrell, amplified
Past others, both in beautie, and in sise;
Yet, lay next hand; rubb'd it; and strait did rise
A warme fume from it. Steele, being that did raise
(As Agent) the attenuated Baies
To that hot vapor. So that, Hermes found
Both fire first; and of it, the seede, close bound
In other substances; and then, the seed
He multiplied; of sere-wood making feed
The apt heat of it; in a pile Combin'de,
Laid in a lower Pit; that in flames strait shin'de;
And cast a sparkling crack up to the Skye;
All the drie parts, so feruent were, and hye
In their combustion. And how long the force
Of glorious Vulcan, kept the fire in course;
So long was he, in dragging from their stall,
Two of the crook-hancht Herd: that ror'd withall;
And rag'd for feare, t'approch the sacred fire:
To which did all, his dreadfull powrs aspire.
When (blustring forth their breath) He on the soule,
Cast both, at length; though with a world of toile.
For long he was, in getting them to ground
After their through-thrust, and most mortall wound.
But worke, to worke, he ioin'd; the flesh and cut,
Couerd with fat; and (on treene broches put)
In peeces rosted. But, in the'Intestines
The black blood, and the honorarie chines,
Together with the carcases, lay there
Cast on the cold earth, as no Deities chere.
The Hydes, vpon a rugged rock he spred;
And thus were these now, all in peeces shred,
And undistinguisht from Earths common herd:
Though borne for long date; and to heauen endeard;
And now must euer liue, in dead euent.
But Hermes, herehence, hauing his content,
Car'd for no more; but drew to places euen,
The fat-works, that, of force, must haue for heauen
Their capitall ends; though stlone; and therefore were
In twelue parts cut, for twelue choice Deities chere,
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
The-that-morne-borne-Cyllenius, did attaine
His Homes diuine height; all the farr-stretcht waie
No one blest God, encountring, his assaie;
Nor Mortall Man; nor any Dogg durst spend
His-borne-to-barke-mouth at him; till, in th'end,
He reacht his Caue; and at the Gate went in
Crooked, and wrapt into a fold so thin,
That no eye could discouer his repayre;
But as a darknesse, of th'Autumnall ayre.
When going on; fore-right; he straie arriu'd
At his rich Phane: his soft feet quite depriu'd
Of all least noise, of one that trod the earth;
They trod so swift to reach his roome of Birth.
Where, In his swath-hands, he his shoulders wrapt,
And (like an Infant, newly hauing scap't
The teeming streights) as in the Palms he lay
Of his lou'd Nurse. Yet instantly would play
(Freeing his right hand) with his bearing cloth
About his knees wrapt; and strait (loosing both
His right and left hand) with his left, he caught
His most-lou'd Lute. His Mother yet, was taught
His wanton wiles; nor could a Gods wit lie
His from a Goddesse; who did therefore trye
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$His answer, thus: Why (thou made all of sleight)
And whence ariu'st thou, in this rest of Night?
Improuident Impudent; In my conceipt
Thou rather shouldst be getting forth thy Gate,
With all flight fit, for thy engander'd State;
(In merit of th'Ineuitable bands,
To be impos'd by vext Latona's hands
Iustly incenst for her Apollo's harms)
Thenly thus wrapt, as ready for her arms,
To take thee vp, and kisse thee: Would to heauen,
(In crosse of that high grace) Thou hadst beene giuen
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Vp to Perdition; ere poore mortalls beare
Those blacke banes, that thy father Thunderer
Hath planted thee of purpose to confer,
On them, and Deities. He return'd replie;
As Master of the feates of Policie;
Mother? why ayme you thus amisse at me?
As if I were a Sonne that Infancie
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Could keepe from all the skill, that Age can teach?
Or bad in cheating, but a childish reach?
And of a Mothers mandats, fear'd the breach?
I mount that Art at first; that will be best
When all times consummate their cunningest.
Able to counsaile, Now my selfe, and thee,
In all things best, to all Eternitie.
We cannot liue like Gods here, without gifts;
No, nor without corruption, and shifts.
And much lesse, without eating; as we must
In keeping thy rules, and in being Iust;
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Of which we cannot undergoe the lodes.
Tis better here, to Imitate the Gods,
And wine, or wench out all times Periods;
To that end, growing rich in readie heapes;
Stor'de with Reuennews; being in corne-fielde reapes
Of infinite Acres; then to liue enclos'd
In Caues, to all Earths sweetest ayre expos'd.
I, as much honor hold, as Phœbus does,
And if my Father please not to dispose
Possessions to me; I my selfe will see
If I can force them in, for I can be
Prince of all Theeues. And if Latona's Sonne
Make after my stealth, Indignation;
I'le haue a Scape, as well as he a Serch,
And ouertake him with a greater lurch.
For I can post to Pythos; and breake through,
His huge house, there; where harbors wealth enough;
Most precious Tripods; Caldrons; Steele, and Gold;
Garments rich wrought; and full of liberall fold:
All which will I, at pleasure owne; and thow
Shalt see all; wilt thou but thy sight bestow.
 Thus chang'd great words; the Gote-byde-wearers Sonne,
And Maia, of Maiestique fashion.
 And now the Ayre-begot Aurora rose
From out the Ocean-great-in-ebbs-and flows;
When, at the neuer-shorne, pure-and-faire Groue,
(Onchestus) consecrated to the loue
Of round and long-neckt Neptune; Phœbus found
A man whom heauie yeares, had prest halfe round;
And yet at worke, in plashing of a Fence
About a Vineyeard; that had residence
Hard by the high-way; whom Latona's Sonne,
Made it not strange, but first did question,
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$And first saluted: Ho? you? Aged syre
That here are hewing from the Vine, the Bryre;
For certaine Oxen, I come here t'enquire
Out of Pieria; femalls All; and rer'd
All, with hornes wreath'd, unlike the common Herde;
A Cole-black Bull, fed by them all alone;
And all obseru'd for preseruation
Through all their foodie, and delicious Fen;
With foure fierce Mastifs, like one-minded men.
These left their Doggs, and Bull; (which I admire)
And when was nere set, Daies eternall fire;
From their fierce Guardians; from their delicate fare,
Made clere departure. To me then declare;
(O ould man, long since borne) If thy graue raie
Hath any man seene, making stealthfull waie
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$With all those Oxen! Th'olde man made replie;
Tis hard (O friend) to render readily,
Account of all, that may inuade mine eye;
For many a Trauailer, this high-way tredds;
Some in much ills serch; some, in noble thredds
Leading their liues out; but I, this young Day
Euen from her first point, haue made good display,
Of all men, passing this abundant hill,
Planted with Vines; and no such stealthfull ill,
Her light hath showne me: But last Euening late,
I sawe a Thing, that shew'd of childish state;
To my ould lights; and seem'd as he pursude
A Herd of Oxen, with braue Heads indude;
Yet but an Infant; and retainde a Rodd;
Who warilie, both this, and that way trodd,
His head still backwards turn'd. This th'ould Man spake;
Which he well thought vpon; and swiftly brake
Into his Pursuit, with abundant wing;
That strooke but one plaine; ere he knew the thing
That was the Theefe; to be th'Impostor borne;
Whom Ioue yet, with his Sonnes name did adorne.
In studie, and with Ardor, then the King
(Ioues dazeling Sonne) plac't his exploring wing
On sacred Pylos, for his forced Heard;
His ample shoulders, in a cloud ensphear'd
On fierie chrimsine. Strait, the steps he found
Of his stolne Head: And said; Strange sights confound
My apprehensiue powers: for here I see
The Tracts of Oxen; but auersiuelie
Conuerted towards the Pierian Hills,
As tredding to their Meade of Daffodills:
But, nor mine eye, Mens feet, nor Womens drawes;
Nor hoarie Wolues; nor Beares; nor Lyons Paws,
Nor thick-necks Bulls they show. But hee that does,
These monstrous Deeds, with neuer so swift shooes;
Hath past from that howre hither; but from hence,
His foule course, may meete, fouler consequence.
With this, tooke Phœbus wing; and Hermes still,
(For all his Threats) secure lay in his Hill
Wall'd with a woodd; and more, a Rock, beside
Where a Retreat rann, deepely multiplide
In blinding shadows; and where th'endlesse Bride;
Bore to Saturnius, his Ingenious Sonne:
An Odor, worth a Hearts desire, being throwne,
Along the Heauen-sweet Hill; on whose Herb, fedd,
Rich flocks of sheepe, that bow not where they tredd
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Their horney Pasterns. There, the light of Men,
(Ioues Sonne Apollo) strait descended then,
The Marble Pauement, in that gloomie Den.
On whom, when Ioue, and Maia's Sonne set eye,
Wroth for his Oxen: On then, instantly
His Odorous swarth-hands, flew; in which, as close
Th'Impostor lay; As in the coole repose
Of cast-on Ashes, Harths of burning Coles
Ly in the woods hidd, vnder the Controules
Of skilfull Colyers: Euen so close did lie
Inscrutable Hermes in Apollo's eye.
Contracting his great God-head, to a small
And Infant likenesse; feet, hands, head and All.
And as a Hunter hath beene often viewd,
From Chace retir'd with both his hands embrewd
In his Games blood; that doth for water call
To clense his hands; And to prouoke withall
Delightsome sleepe; new washt and laid to rest;
So now lay Hermes in the close comprest
Chace of his Oxen. His New-found-out Lute;
Beneath his arme held: As if no pursuite
But that Prise, and the virtue of his play,
His heart affect. But to Phœbus, lay,
His close Heart, open: And he, likewise, knew
The braue Hyll-Hymph there; and her deare Sonne, new-
Borne; and as well wrapt, in his wiles, as weed's.
All the close shroud's too, for his Rapinous deedes,
In All the Caue, he knew: and with his key
He open'd three of them; In which there lay
Siluer, and Gold-heapes; Nectar infinite store;
And Deare Ambrosia; and of weedes she wore,
(Pure white, and Purple) A rich Wardrobe shin'de;
Fir for the blest States, of powrs so diuin'de.
All which discouerd; Thus to Mercurie
He offerd Conference: Infant? you that lie
Wrapt so in swath-bands; Instantly unfold
In what conceald Retreats of yours you hold
My Oxen stolne by you; Or strait we shall
Iarr, as beseemes not, powrs Celestiall.
For I will take, and hurle Thee to the Deepes
Of dismall Tartarus; where ill Death keepes
His gloomie, and inextricable fates;
And to no Eye, that light Illuminates,
Mother, nor Father, shall returne thee free,
But vnder Earth, shall Sorrow fetter thee,
And few repute thee, their Superiour.
 On him replied, Crafts subtlest Counsailor;
What cruell speech, hath past Latona's Care!
Seekes he his stolne-wilde-Cows, where Deities are?
I haue nor seene, nor heard; nor can report;
From others mouthes, one word of their resort
To any stranger. Nor will I, to gaine
A base Reward, a false Relation faine.
Nor would I; Could I tell. Resemble I
An Ox-Theefe? Or a Man? Especiallie
A man of such a courage; such a force
As to that labour goes? That violent course?
Nor Infants worke is That. My powres aspire
To sleepe, and quenching of my huners fire
With Mothers Milke; and gainst cold shades, to arme
With Cradle-cloths, my shoulders; and Baths warme;
That no man may conceiue, the warr you threat
Can spring, in cause, from my so peacefull heat.
And euen amongst th'Immortalls it would beare
Euent of absolute Miracle, to heare
A new-borne Infants forces should transcend
The limits of his Dores; much lesse contend
With untam'd Oxen. This speech nothing seemes
To sauour the Decorum of the Beames
Cast round about the Ayre Apollo breakes,
Where his diuine minde, her intention speakes.
I brake but yesterday, the blessed wombe;
My feet are tender, and the common Tombe
Of men, (the Earth) lies sharpe beneath their tred.
But, (if you please) euen by my Fathers head
I'le take the great Oath; That nor I protest
My selfe, to Author on your Interest
Any such usurpation; Nor haue I
Seene any other, that felloniously
Hath forc't your Oxen. Strange thing! what are those
Oxen of yours? Or what are Oxen? knews
My rude minde, thinke you? My eares onely touch
At their renowne; and heare that there are such.
 This speech he past; and euer as he spake
Beames from the hayre, about his eye-lidds brake;
His eye-brows, vp, and downe cast; and his eye
Euery way look't, askans, and careleslie.
And he, into a loftie whistling fell;
As if he idle thought, Apollo's spell.
 Apollo (gently smiling) made Replie;
O thou Impostor! whose thoughts euer lye
In labour with Deceipt! For certaine, I
Retaine Opinon; that thou, (euen thus soone)
Hast ransackt, many a House; and not in one
Nights-worke alone; nor in one Countries neither
Hast beene beseeging, House and Man togehter;
Rigging, and rifeling all waies; and no Noise
Made with thy soft feete, where it all destroies.
Soft therefore, well; and tender thou maist call
The feet that thy stealths, goe, and fly withall.
For many a field-bredd Herdsman, (unheard still)
Hast thou made drowne, the Cauerns of the Hill
Where his Retreates lie, with his helplesse teares;
When any flesh-stealth thy desire end cares;
And thou encountrest, either flocks of sheepe
Or Herds of Oxen! vp then! doe not sleepe
Thy last Nap, in thy Cradle; but come downe;
(Companion of black Night) and for this Crowne
Of thy young Rapines; beare (from all) the state
And stile of Prince Theefe, into endlesse Date.
 This said; he tooke the Infant in his Armes;
And with him, the remembrance of his harmes;
This Præsage utt'ring; lifting him aloft;
Be euer more, the miserablie-soft
Slaue of the bellie; Pursuiuant of all
And Author, of all mischiefs Capitall.
 He scorn'd his Prophesie so; he Nees'd in's face
Most forciblie (which hearing) his embrace
He loth'd; and hurl'd him gainst the ground; yet still
Tooke seate before him; though, (with all the ill
He bore by him) he would haue left full faine
That Hewer of his heart, so into twaine.
Yet salu'd all thus; Come! (you so swadl'd thing;
Issue of Maia, and the Thunders King;
Be confident; I shall hereafter finde
My brode-browd Oxen. My Prophetique minde
So farr from blaimg this thy course; that I,
Foresee thee, (in it,) to Posteritie
The guide of All Men, (All waies,) to their ends.
 This spoken; Hermes, from the Earth Ascends;
Starting Aloft; and as in Studie went;
Wrapping himselfe, in his Integument;
And thus askt Phœbus; Whither force you Me
(Farr-shot; and farr most powrefull Deitie.)
I know (for all your fayning) y'are still wroth,
About your Oxen; and suspect my Troth.
O Iupiter: I wish the generall Race
Of all Earths Oxen, rooted from her face.
I steale your Oxen? I againe, professe
That neither, I, haue stolne them; nor can ghesse
Who else should steale them. What strange Beasts are these
Your so-lou'd Oxen? I must say (to please
Your humor thus farr) that euen My few Hoowres
Haue heard their fame. But be the sentence yours
Of the Debate betwixt us; Or to Ioue
(For more indifferencie) the Cause remoue.
 Thus when the Solitude-affecting God,
And the Latonian seede, had laid abroad;
All things betwixt them; (though not yet agreed;
Yet, might I speake) Apollo did proceede
Nothing uniustly, to charge Mercurie
With stealing of the Cows, he does denie.
But his Profession was, with filed speach,
And Crafts faire Complements, to ouerreach
All; And euen Phœbus. Who because he knew
His Trade of subtletie; He still at view
Hunted his Foe, through all the sandie waie
Up to Olympus. Nor would let him straie
From out his sight; but kept behinde him still.
 And now they reacht, the Odoriferous Hill
Of high Olympus, to their Father Ioue,
To Arbitrate the Cause, in which they stroue.
Where, before both; Talents of iustice were
Propos'd for him, whom Ioue should sentence Clere,
In cause of their contention. And now
About Olympus, (euer-crown'de with snow)
The rumor of their controuersie flew.
All the Incorruptible, to their view,
On heauens steepe Mountaine, made return'd repaire.
 Hermes and He, that light hurls through the ayre;
Before the Thunderers knees stood: who begunn,
To question thus farr, his Illustrious Sonne:
Phœbus: To what end bringst thou Captiue here
Him in whom my Minde, putts delights so deare?
This New-borne Infant? that the place supplies
Of Herrald yet, to all the Deities?
This serious busines, you may witnesse, drawes
The Deities whole Court, to discusse the cause.
 Phœbus replied: And not vnworthie is
The cause, of all the Court of Deities.
For you shall heare, it comprehends the weight
Of Deuastation; and the verie height
Of spoile, and rapine, euen of Deities rights.
Yet you (as if my selfe lou'd such delights)
Vse words that wound my heart. I bring you here
An Infant, that, euen now, admits no Pere
In rapes and robb'ries. Finding out, his Place,
(After my measure of an infinite space)
In the Cyllenian Mountaine. Such a one
In all the Art of opprobration,
As not in all the Deities, I haue seene;
Nor in th'Obliuion-marckt-whole Race of men.
In Night, he draue my Oxen from their Leas;
Along the loftie rore-resounding Seas:
From out the Rode-way quite: the steps of them
So quite transpos'd, as would amaze the beame
Of any mindes eye: being so infinite much
Inuolu'd in doubt; as showd a Deified touch
Went to the works performance. All the way
Through which, my corss-hou'd Cows hee did conuaie,
Had dust so darklie-hard to serch; and He
So past all measure, wrapt in subtiltie.
For, nor with feet, nor hands, he form'd his steps,
In passing through the drie waies sandie heap's:
But vs'd another counsaile to keepe hidd
His monstrous Tracts; that showd as one had slid
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$On Oke, or other Boughs; That swept out still
The footsteps of his Oxen; and did fill
Their prints up euer; to the Daffodill
(Or daintie feeding Meddow) as they trodd,
Driuen by this cautelous, and Infant God.
 A Mortall Man yet, saw him driuing on
His Prey to Pylos. Which when he had done
And got his Passe sign'd, with a sacred fire
In peace; and freely (though to his desire
Not to the Gods, he offerd part of these
My rauisht Oxen) he retires, and lies
Like to the gloomie Night in his dimm Denn,
All hid in darknesse; and in clouts againe,
Wrapt him so closely; that the sharpe-seene eye
Of your owne Eagle, could not see him lye.
For with his hands, the ayre he rarified
(This way, and that mou'd) till bright gleames did glide
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$About his Being; that if any eye
Should dare the Darknesse; Light appos'd so nie
Might blinde it quite, with her Antipathie.
Which wile he woue, in curious care t'illude
The'Extreame of any eye, that could intrude.
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$On which relying, he outrageouslie
(When I accus'd him) trebled his replie;
I did not see; I did not heare; nor I
Will tell at all; that any other stole
Your brode-browd Beeues. Which an Impostors soule
Would soone haue done; and any Author faine
Of purpose onely, a Reward to gaine.
And thus he colourd truth, in euery lie.
 This saud; Apollo sate; and Mercurie,
The Gods Commander, pleas'd with this replie.
Father! I'le tell the truth; (for I am true
And farr from Art to lie.) He did pursue
Euen to my Caue, his Oxen: this selfe daie;
The Sunn, new raising his illustrious raie.
But brought with him, none of the Bliss-indu'd,
Nor any ocular witnesse, to conclude,
His bare assertion. But his owne command
Laid on with strong, and necessarie hand,
To showe his Oxen. Using Threats to cast
My poore, and Infant powrs, into the Vast
Of ghastlie Tartarus; because he beares
Of strength-sustayning youth, the flaming yeares.
And I, but yesterday produc't to light
By which, it fell into his owne fre sight
That I, in no similitude apper'd
Of powre to be the forcer of a Herde.
And credite me (O Father, since the Grace
Of that name, in your stile, you please to place)
I draue not home his Oxen, no nor preast
Past mine owne threshold; for tis manifest,
I reuerence, with my soule, the Sunn; and all
The knowing dwellers, in this heauenly Hall.
Loue you; obserue the least: and tis most cleare
In your owne knowledge, that my Merits beare
No least guilt of his blame. To all which, I,
Dare adde, heauens great oath, boldly swearing by
All these so well-built Entries of the Blest.
And therefore when I saw my selfe so prest
With his reproches; I confesse I burn'd
In my pure gall; and harsh replie return'd.
Adde your aid to your Yonger then; and free
The scruple fixt in Phœbus Ielousie.
 This said; he winckt upon his Mire; and still
His swath-hands, held beneath his arme; no Will
Discernd in him, to hide, but haue them showne.
 Ioue laught aloud at his Ingenious Sonne,
Quitting himselfe with Art, so likely wrought,
As showd in his heart, not a rapinous thought.
Commanding Both, to beare attoned mindes
And seeke out th'Oxen; In which serch he bindes
Hermes to play the Guide; and show the Sunn
(All grudge exilde) the Shrowd to which he wunn
His fayre-eyd Oxen. Then; his forehead bow'd
For signe it must be so; and Hermes show'd
His free obedience. So soone, he enclin'd
To his perswasion, and command, his minde.
 Now then, Ioues Iarring Sonnes, no longer stood;
But sandie Pylos, and th'Alphæan flood
Reacht instantly; and made as quick a fall
On those rich-feeding fields, and loftie stall
Where Phœbus Oxen, Hermes safelie kept;
Driuen in, by night. When sodainely he stept
Up to the stonie Caue; and into light
Draue forth the Oxen Phœbus at first sight
Knew them the same: and saw apart dispread
Vpon a high-rais'd rock; the hydes new flead
Of th'Oxen sacrifis'd. Then Phœus said;
O thou in craftie counsailes vndisplaid!
How couldst thou cut the throtes, and cast to Earth
Two such huge Oxen? being so young a birth,
And a mere Infant? I admire thy force
And will, behinde thy back. But this swift course
Of growing into strength, thou hadst not need
Continue any long Date, O thou seed
Of honor'd Maia! Hermes, (to shew how
He did those Deedes) did forthwith cut and bow
Strong Osiers in soft folds; and strappl'd strait
One of his hugest Oxen: all his weight
Lay'ng prostrate on the earth, at Phœbus feet:
All his foure clouen houes, easly made to greete
Each other upwards; all, together brought.
In all which bands yet, all the Beasts powres wrought
To rise, and stand; when all the Herd about
The mighty Hermes, rusht in, to help out
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Their fellow from his fetters; Phœbus view
Of al this, vp to Admiration drew
Euen his high forces: And sterne lookes he threw
At Hermes for his Herds wrong; and the place
To which he had retir'd them; being in grace
And fruitfull riches of it, so entire:
All which, set all his force, on enuious fire.
All whose heat, flew out of his eyes in flames:
Which faine he would haue hidd, to bide the shames
Of his ill gouern'd passions. But with ease
Hermes could calme them; and his humors please
Still at his pleasure; where he ne're so great
In force, and fortitude; and high in heat.
In all which, he his Lute tooke; and assaid
A Song upon him; and so strangely plaid;
That from his hand, a rauishing horror flew.
Which Phœbus, into laughter turn'd; and grew
Pleasant past measure; Tunes so artfull clere
Strooke euen his heart-strings; & his minde, made beare.
His Lute so powerfull was, in forcing loue;
(As his hand rul'd it) that from him it droue
All feare of Phœbus; yet he haue him still
The upper hand; and (to aduance his skill)
To utmost Miracle; he plaid sometimes,
Single awhile; In which, when all they Clymes
Of rapture he had reacht; (to make the Sunn
Admire enough) O then, his voice would runn
Such points vpon his play; and did so moue,
They tooke Apollo Prisoner to his loue.
And now the deathlesse Gods, and deathfull Earth
He sung; beginning, at their eithers Birth,
To full extent of all their Emperie.
And, first; the honor to Mnemosyne
(The Muses Mother) of all Goddesse states
He gaue; euen forc't too't, by the equall fates.
And then (as it did in Prioritie fall
Of Age, and Birth) He celebrated All.
And with such Elegance, and Order sung;
(His Lute still toucht, to stick more off his tongue)
That Phœbus heart, with infinite loue, he eate.
Who therefore thus, did his Deserts entreate:
 Master of Sacrifice! chiefe soule of feast?
Patient of all paines? Artizan so blest;
That all things thou canst doe, in any One.
Worth fiftie Oxen is th'Inuention
Of this one Lute. We both, shall now; I hope;
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.
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$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,)
At full art, in ould counsailes. Here I vow
(Euen by this Cornell Dart, I use to throw)
To thee, and to thy Mother; He make thee
Amongst the Gods, of glorious degree.
Guide of Mens waies, and Theirs. And will impart
To thee, the mightie Imperatorie Art:
Bestowe rich gifts on thee; and in the end
Neuer deceuive thee. Hermes (as a friend
That wrought on all aduantage; and made gaine
His Capitall obiect) that did entertaine
Phœbus Apollo: Doe thy Dignities
(Farr-working God; and circularlie wise)
Demand my vertues? without enuie I
Will teach thee to ascend my facultie.
And this Day thou shalt reach it; finding me,
In Acts and Counsailes, all waies kinde to thee;
As one that all things knows; And first tak'st seat
Amongst th'Immortalls; being good, and great.
And therefore to Ioues loue, mak'st free accesse,
Euen out of his accomplisht Holinesse.
Great gifts, he likewise giues thee; who (fame saies)
Hast wunn thy greatnesse, by his will: his waies.
By him know'st all the powers Propheticall
(O thou farr-worker) and the fates of all.
Yea; and I know thee rich; yet apt to learne:
And euen thy Wish, dost but discerne, and earne.
And since thy soule, so burns to know the way
To play and sing as I doe: sing, and play.
Play; and perfection in thy play employ;
And be thy care, to learne things good; thy Joy.
Take thou my Lute (My Loue) and giue thou me,
The glorie of so great a facultie.
This sweet-tun'd consort; held but in thy hand;
Sing; and perfection in thy song command.
For thou, alreadie, hast the way to speake
Fayrely, and elegantly; and to breake
All eloquence into thy utterd minde.
One gift from heauen found, may another finde.
Use then, securely, this thy gift; and goe
To feasts, and dances, that enamour so;
And to that couetous sport of getting flory,
That Day, nor Night, will suffer to be sory.
Whoeuer, does but say, in verse; sings still:
Which he that can; of any other skill
Is capable; so he be taught by Art,
And wisedome; and can speake, at euery part
Things pleasing to an understanding Minde:
And such a one, that seekes this Lute, shall finde.
Him still it teaches easely, though he plaies
Soft voluntaries onely; and assaies
As wanton, as the sports of children are.
And (euen when he aspires to singular
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$In all the Mast'ries he shall play or sing)
Findes the whole worke, but an vnhappie thing:
He (I say) sure; shall of this Lute be King.
But he; whoeuer, rudely sets upon,
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.
Whom Ioue, much ioi'd to see; and endlesse stay
Gaue to their knot of friendship. From which date,
Hermes gaue Phœbus, an eternall state
In his affection: whose sure pledge and signe
His Lute was; and the Doctrine so diuine,
Jointly conferd on him. Which well might be
True Symbole of his Loues simplicitie.
 On th'other part; Apollo, in his friend
Form'd th'Art of Wisedome; to the binding end
Of his vow'd friendship; and (for further meede)
Gaue him the farr-heard fistularie Reede.
 For all these forms of friendship, Phœbus yet
Feard that both forme, and substance were not mett
In Mercurie's intentions: and, in plaine,
Said, (since he saw him, borne to craft and gaine;
And that Ioues will had him the honor done,
To change at his will, the possession
Of others Gods) he fear'd his breach of of vowes,
In stealing both his Lute, and comming Bowes.
And therefore wisht, that what the Gods affect,
Himselfe would witnesse; and to his request
His head Bow; swearing by th'Impetuous flood
Of Styx; that of his whole possessions, not a Good
He would diminish; but therein maintaine
The full content, in which his Minde did raigne.
And then did Maia's Sonne, his fore-head bow:
Making, by all that he desir'd, his vow:
Neuer to pray more vpon any Thing,
In iust possession of the farr-shot King;
Nor euer to come neare, a House of his.
 Latonian Phœbus, bowd his Brow to this,
With his like promise; say'ng, Not any One
Of all the Gods, nor any Man, that, Sonne
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Is to Saturnius; is more deare to me;
More trusted, nor mor honord, is then thee.
Which, yet, with greater Gifts of Deitie,
In future I'le confirme; and giue thy state
A Rodd that riches shall accumulate;
Not leaue the bearer, thrall to Death, or fate
Or any sicknesse. All of Gods it is;
Three-leau'd; and full of all felicities.
And this shall be thy Guardian; this shall giue
The Gods to thee, in all the truth they liue.
And finally, shall this the Tutresse be
Of all the words, and workes, informing me
From Ioues high counsailes; making knowne to thee
All my instructions. But to Prophesie
(O best of Ioues belou'd) and that high skill;
Which to obtaine, lies burning in thy will;
Nor thee, nor any God, will Fate let learne.
Onely Ioues minde, hath insight to discerne
What that importeth; yet am I allowd
(My knowne faith trusted; and my forhead bowd;
Our great Oath taken, to resolue to none
Of all th'Immortalls, the restriction
Of that deepe knowledge) of it All, the Minde.
Since then it sits, in such fast bounds confinde,
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$(O Brother) when the Golden rodd is held
In thy strong hand; seeke not to haue reueal'd
Any sure fate, that Ioue will haue conceald.
For no man shall, by know'ng, preuent his fate;
And therefore will I hold, in my free state
The powre, to hurt and helpe, what man I will,
Of all the greatest; or least toucht with ill;
That walke within the Circle of mine eye;
In all the Tribes, and Sexes, it shall trye.
 Yet, truely, any man shall haue his will
To reape the fruites of my Prophetique skill;
Whoeuer seekes it, by the voice, or wing
Of Birds, borne truely, such euents to sing.
Nor will I falsly, nor with fallacies
Infringe the truth, on which his faith relies;
But he that Truths, in chattering plumes would finde;
(Quite opposite to them, that prompt my Minde,)
And learne by naturall forgers of vaine lyes,
The more-then-euer-certaine Deities;
That man shall Sea-waies tred, that leaue no Tracts;
And false, or no guide finde, for all his facts.
And yet will I, his Gifts accept as well
As his; to whom, the simple truth I tell.
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$ One other thing to thee, I'le yet make knowne
(Maia's exceedingly renowned sonne
And Ioues; and of the Gods whole session
The most ingenious Genius.) There dwell
Within a Crooked Crannie, in a Dell
Beneath Parnassus; certaine sisters borne,
Call'd Parcæ; whom extreame swift wings adorne;
Their Number three; that haue upon their heads
White Barly floure still sprinckled; and are maids,
And these are schoole-Mistresses of things to come,
Without the gift of Prophecie: of whom
(Being but a boy, and keeping Oxen, nere)
I learn'd their skill; though my great Father were
Careles of it, or them. These flying from home,
To others roofes; and fedd with Hony-come,
Command all skill; and (being enraged then)
Will freely tell the Truths of things to Men.
But if they giue them not, that Gods sweete meat;
They then are apt, to vtter their deceit,
And leade Men from their way. And these will I
Giue thee hereafter; when their scrutinie
And truth; thou hast both made, and learn'd, and then;
Please thy selfe with them; and the Race of men
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$(Wilt thou know any) with thy skill endeare:
Who will, (be sure) afford it greedie eare;
And heare it often, it if proue sincere.
 Take these (O Maia's Sonne) and in thy care,
Be Horse, and Oxen: all such Men as are
Patient of labour; Lyons; white-tooth'd Bores;
Mastifs, and flocks, that feede the flowrie shores;
And euery foure-foot Beast: all which shall stand
In awe of thy high Imperatory hand.
Be thou to Dis too, sole Ambassador;
Who (though all gifts, and bounties he abhor)
On thee he will bestowe, a wealthie One.
 Thus King Apollo, honor'd Maia's Sonne,
With all the rights of friendship: all whose loue
Had Imposition, from the Will of Ioue.
 And thus, with Gods and Mortalls Hermes liu'd;
Who truely helpt but few; but all deceiu'd
With an undifferencing respect; and made
Usine words, and false perswasions his Trade.
His Deeds, were all associats of the Night;
In which, his close wrongs, car'd for no mans Right.
 So all salutes to Hermes, that are due;
Of whom, and all Gods, shall my Muse sing true.

The end of the Hymne to Hermes.

 

---

 

---