The Crowne of All Homers Workes/Cvma Refvsing His Offer T'eternise Their State

by Homer

 

CVMA

REFVSING HIS OFFER
T'ETERNISE THEIR STATE,
THOVGH BROVGHT THITHER
by the Muses.

to what Fate, hath father Ioue given O're
My friendles life; borne euer to be Pore?
While in my Infant state, he pleas'd to saue Mee;
Milke, on my reuerend Mothers knees, he gaue Me;
In delicate, and curious Nurserie.
Æolian Smyrna, seated neare the Sea;
(Of glorious Empire; and whose bright sides
Sacred Meletus siluer Current glides)
Being natiue Seate to me. Which (in the force,
Of farr-past Time) the Breakers of wilde Horse;
(Phriconias Noble Nation) girt with Towres:
Whose Youth in fight, put on with fiery Powres.
From hence, (the Muse-maids, Ioues illustrous seede
Impelling me) I made impetuous speede;
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$And went with them to Cuma; with Intent
T'Eternise all the sacred Continent
And State of Cuma. They (in proud Ascent
From off their Bench) refus'd with usage fierce
The sacred voice which I auerre, is Verse.
Their follies yet, and madnesse borne by Me
Shall by some Powre, be thought on futurely;
To wreake of him whoeuer, whose tongue sought
With false empaire, my fall. What fate, God brought
Upon my Birth, Iile beare with any paine;
But vndeseru'd Defame; unfelt, sustaine.
Nor feeles my Person (deare to me, though Pore)
Any great lust, to linger, any more
In Cuma's holy Highwaies: but my Minde
(No thought empaird, for cares of any kinde
Borne in my body) rather vowes to trie
The Influence of any other skie,
And spirits of People; bredd in any Land,
Of ne're so slender, and obscure Command.