64
A HYMNE TO HERMES.
Made it not strange, but first did question,
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
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
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
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
