re Unlaced her buskins; all her jewelry Took from her neck and breasts, and all laid by Upon a golden-studded chair of state. And council of the equal Gods gave way To this, that with a deathless Goddess lay A deathful man; since, what his love assumed, Not with his conscious knowledge was presumed. Now when the shepherds and the herdsmen, all, Turn'd from their flowery pasture to their stall, With all their oxen, fat and frolic sheep, With her rich weeds she did herself endow; But so distinguish'd, that he clear might know His happy glories; then (to her desire Advanced her head to state celestial, "Up, my Dardanides, forsake thy bed. What pleasure, late employ'd, lets humour steep Thy lids in this inexcitable sleep? This started him from sleep, though deep and dear, And passing promptly he enjoy'd his ear. But when his eye saw Venus' neck and eyes, Whose beauties could not bear the counterprise Of any other, down his own eyes fell, Which pallid fear did from her view repel : And made him, with a main respect beside, Turn his whole person from her state, and hide (With his rich weed apposed) his royal face; These wing'd words using: "When, at first, thy grace Mine eyes gave entertainment, well I knew Thy state was deified; but thou told'st not true; And therefore let me pray thee (by thy love Borne to thy father, Ægis-bearing Jove) Is never long-lived." She replied: "Forbear, O happiest of mortal men, this fear, And so far from sustaining instant end, That to thy long-enlarged life there shall spring Amongst the Trojans a dear son, and king, To whom shall many a son, and son's son, rise In everlasting great posterities; Of one whose blood mortality must shed. That, past all races else, the Gods stand near Your glorious nation; for the forms ye bear, And natures so ingenuous and sincere. For which, the great in counsels (Jupiter) Your gold-lock'd Ganymedes did transfer (In rapture far from men's depressed fates) To make him consort with our Deified states, X And scale the tops of the Saturnian skies, He was so mere a marvel in their eyes. And therefore from a bowl of gold he fills Red nectar; that the rude distension kills Of winds that in your human stomachs breed. But then did languor on the liver feed She left his bed; yet gave him still for food The Gods' ambrosia; and attire as good. Till even the hate of age came on so fast That not a lineament of his was graced With power of motion; nor did still su tain, Of Tros, his father, that was king of Much less, the vigour had t' advance: Troy; And ever did his memory employ1 But Jove, in pity of him, saw him given White-swift-hooved horse, that Immortality no more, But up with all his inmost mind he bore, Joying that he, upon his swift-hooved horse, Should be sustain'd in an eternal course. So did the golden-throned Aurora raise, Into her lap, another that the praise As she his lovely person did transfer, Performing to the utmost point his vow. Fool that she was, that would her love engage, And not as long ask from the bane of age The sweet exemption, and youth's endless flower. Of which as long as both the grace and power His person entertain'd, she loved the man, (According to the course of aged men) 1 AANOTOS. Cujus memoria erit perpetua. vein; The virtue lost in each exhausted limb, That at his wish before would answe him; All powers so quite decay'd, that when be spake His voice no perceptible accent brake. Her counsel then thought best to strive no more; But lay him in his bed and lock his door. course In grace of form, and all corporeal force, To an eternal date; thou then shouldst bear My husband's worthy name, and not a tear Should I need rain, for thy deserts declined, From my all-clouded bitterness of mind. But now the stern storm of relentless age Will quickly circle thee, that waits tengage All men alike; even loathsomeness, and bane Attending with it, every human wane ; Which even the Gods hate. Such a penance lies Imposed on flesh and blood's infirmities. And wiving conversations infused stream Doth daily ravish. All this long since done. Which now no more, but with effusion name, I have so forfeited in this my fame, Gives circumscription. But, when first the light His eyes shall comfort, Nymphs that haunt the height Of hills, and breasts have of most deep receipt, Shall be his nurses; who inhabit now As man nor God can come at their retreats; Who live long lives, and eat immortal meats, And with Immortals in the exercise Of comely dances dare contend, and rise Into high question which deserves the prize. The light Sileni mix in love with these, And with the lives of these doth life invade Or odorous fir-trees, or high-foreheaded oaks ; Together taking their begetting strokes. And have their lives and deaths of equal dates; Trees bearing lovely and delightsome states, Whom Earth first feeds, that men initiates. On her high hills she doth their states sustain, And they their own heights raise as high again. Their growths together made, Nymphs call their groves Vow'd to th' Immortals' services, and loves. Which men's steels therefore touch not; The Nymphs, his nurses, shall present to thee, And show thee what a birth thou hast by me. And, sure as now I tell thee all these things, When Earth hath clothed her plants in five fair springs, Myself will make return to this retreat, And bring that flower of thy enamour'd heat; Whom when thou then seest, joy shall fire thine eyes, He shall so well present the Deities. son From his calm seat to windy Ilion, Where, if strict question be upon thee past, Asking what mother bore beneath her waist So dear a son; answer, as I afford That she his life gave. But, if thou declare The secret's truth, and art so mad to dare (In glory of thy fortunes) to approve That rich-crown'd Venus mix'd with thee in love, Jove, fired with my aspersion so dispread, Will, with a wreakful lightning, dart thee dead. All now is told thee, comprehend it all. Be master of thyself, and do not call My name in question; but with reverence TO THE SAME. THE reverend, rich crown'd, and fair | Her soft neck all with carcanets was Queen I sing, Venus, that owes in fate the fortressing course Along the waves of the resounding sea; While, yet unborn, in that soft foam she lay That brought her forth; whom those fair Hours that bear The golden bridles, joyfully stood near, Elaborate, and with all the beauties graced That gold could give it; of a weight so great, That, to impose and take off, it had set Three handles on it, made, for endless hold, graced, That stoop'd, and both her silver breasts embraced, Which even the Hours themselves wear in resort To Deities' dances, and her Father's court. Graced at all parts, they brought to heaven her graces; Whose first sight seen, all fell into em braces; Hugg'd her white hands; saluted; wishing all To wear her maiden flower in festival So to the black-brow'd-sweet-spoke; all renown, Prepare my song; and give me, in the end, The victory; to whose palm all contend. Of shining brass, and all adorn'd with So shall my Muse for ever honour thee, gold. And, for thy sake, thy fair posterity. BACCHUS, OR THE PIRATES. OF Dionysus, noble Semele's Son, As on a prominent shore his person shone, Like to a youth whose flower was newly blown, Bright azure tresses play'd about his head, And on his bright broad shoulders was dispread A purple mantle. Straight he was descried By certain manly pirates, that applied Their utmost speed to prise him, being aboard A well-built bark, about whose broad sides roar'd The wine-black Tyrrhene billows; death as black Brought them upon him in their future wrack. For, soon as they had purchased but his view, Mutual signs past them, and ashore they flew, Hold ye the person ye assay to bind? That not our well-built bark will bear his freight. Of Jove himself he is; or he that bears The silver bow; or Neptune. Nor appears In him the least resemblance of a man, But of a strain at least Olympian. A mere immortal-making savour rose, Which on the air the Deity did impose. The seamen seeing all, admiration seized. Yet instantly their wonders were increased; For on the topsail there ran, here and there, A vine that grapes did in abundance bear; And in an instant was the ship's mainmast With an obscure-green-ivy's arms embraced, Come! Make we quick dismission of his That flourish'd straight, and were with state, And on the black-soil'd earth exonerate And smoking tempests, blow his fiery wrath." This well-spoke master the tall captain gave Hateful and horrible language; call'd him slave, And bade him mark the prosperous gale that blew, And how their vessel with her mainsail flew ; Bade all take arms, and said, their works required The cares of men, and not of an inspired Pure zealous master; his firm hopes being fired With this opinion, that they should arrive In Egypt straight, or Cyprus, or where live Men whose brave breaths above the north wind blow; Yea, and perhaps beyond their region too. And that he made no doubt but in the end To make his prisoner tell him every friend Of all his offspring, brothers, wealth, and berries graced ; Of which did garlands circle every brow Of all the pirates; and no one knew how. Which when they saw, they made the master steer Out to the shore; whom Bacchus made forbear, With showing more wonders. On the hatches, he Appear'd a terrible lion, horribly Roaring; and in the mid-deck a male bear, Made with a huge mane; making all, for fear, Crowd to the stern, about the master there : Whose mind he still kept dauntless and sincere. But on the captain rush'd and ramp'd, with force So rude and sudden, that his main recourse Was to the main-sea straight: and after him Leapt all his mates, as trusting to their swim To fly foul death; but so found what they fled, Being all to dolphins metamorphosed. The master he took ruth of, saved, and made The blessed'st man that ever tried his trade. These few words giving him: "Be confident, Thou God-inspired pilot, in the bent I am the roaring God of spritely wine, Made issue to the mighty Thunderer." And thus, all excellence of grace to thee, Son of sweet-countenance-carrying Semele. strong. |