Jump to content

The Crowne of All Homers Workes/An Hymne to Apollo

From Wikisource
For other English-language translations of this work, see Hymn to Apollo (Homer).
4323378The Crowne of All Homers Workes — An Hymne to ApolloGeorge ChapmanHomer


AL THE HYMNES OF HOMER.
An Hymne to Apollo.

I will remember, and expresse the praiseOf heauens far darter, the faire King of daies.Whom euen the Gods themselues feare, when he goesThrough Ioues high house; and when his goodly bowesHe goes to bend; all from their Thrones arise,And cluster neare, t'admire his faculties.Onely Latona, stirs not from her seateClose by the Thunderer; till her sonnes retreatFrom his dread archerie; but then she goes;Slackens his string; and shuts his Quiuer close;And (hauing taken to her hand, his bowe,From off his able shoulders) doth bestoweUpon a Pinne of gold the glorious Tiller;The Pinne of gold fixt in his Fathers Piller.Then doth she to his Throne, his state vphold;Where his great Father, in a cup of goldSerues him with Nectar; and shews all, the graceOf his great sonne. Then th'other gods take place. His gracious mother, glorying to beareSo great an Archer, and a sonne so cleare.All haile (O blest Latona!) to bring forthAn issue of such All-out-shining worth,Royall Apollo, and the Queene that louesThe hurles of darts. She in the Ortygian groues,And he, in cliffie Delos; leaning onThe loftie Oros; and being built vponBy Cynthus Prominent: that his head rearesClose to the Palme, that Inops fluent cheares.How shall I praise thee? farre being worthiest praise?(O Phœbus) to whose worth, the law of layesIn all kindes is ascrib'de? If feeding flocksBy Continent, or Ile; all eminen'st rocksDid sing for ioy: Hill-tops, and floods in songDid breake their billows, as they flow'd alongTo serue the sea. The shores, the seas, and allDid sing as soone, as from the lap did fallOf blest Latona, thee the ioy of Man.Her Child-bed made, the mountaine CynthianIn rockie Delos, the sea-circled Ile:On whose all sides, the black seas brake their Pile,And ouer-flowd for ioy, so franck a GaleThe singing winds did on their waues exhale.Here borne; all mortalls liue in thy commands.Who euer Crete holds; Athens; or the strandsOf th'Ile Ægina; or the famous landFor ships (Eubœa:) or Eresia; Or Peparethus, bordring on the sea.Ægas; or Athos, that doth Thrace diuideAnd Macedon. Or Pelion, with the prideOf his high forehead. Or the Samian Ile;That likewise lies neare Thrace; or Scyrus soile;Ida's steepe tops. Or all that Phocis fill:Or Autocanes, with the heauen-high hill:Or populous Imber: Lemnos without Ports;Or Lesbos, fit for the diuine resorts;And sacred soile of blest Æolion.Or Chius that exceeds comparisonFor fruitfulnes: with all the Iles that lieEmbrac't with seas. Mimas, with rocks so hie.Or Loftie-crownd Corycius; or the brightCharos: or Æsagæus dazeling height:Or waterie Samos, Mycale, that bearesHer browes euen with the circles of the spheares.Miletus; Cous; That the Citie isOf voice-diuided-choice humanities.High Cnidus; Carpathus, still strooke with winde.Naxus, and Paros; and the rockie-min'dRugged Rhenæa. Yet through all these parts,Latona, great-growne, with the King of darts,Trauailde; and tried, If any would becomeTo her deare birth, an hospitable home.All which, extremely trembled (shooke with feare)Nor durst endure, so high a birth to beare,In their free States: though, for it, they became Neuer so fruitfull; till the reuerend DameAscended Delos; and her soile did seaseWith these wing'd words: O Delos! would'st thou pleaseTo be my sonne Apolloes natiue seat;And build a welthie Phane to one so great:No one shall blame, or question thy kinde deede.Nor thinke I, thou, dost Sheepe or Oxen feede,In any such store; Or in vines exceede;Nor bring'st forth such innumerable Plants;(Which often make the rich InhabitantsCareles of Deitie.) If thou then should'st rereA Phane to Phœbus: all men would conferWhole Hecatombs of beeues for sacrifice,Still thronging hither. And to thee would riseEuer vnmeasur'd Odors; should'st thou longNourish thy King thus, and from forreigne wrongThe Gods would guard thee; which thine owne addresseCan neuer compasse for thy barrennesse.She said, and Delos ioi'd; replying thus:Most happie sister of Saturnius?I gladly would, with all meanes enterteinThe King your sonne; being now despis'de of men;But should be honord with the greatest then.Yet this I feare; Nor will conceale from theee;Your Sonne (some say) will author miserieIn many kindes: as being to susteinA mightie empire ouer Gods, and Men,Vpon the holie-gift-giuer the earth. And bitterly I feare, that when his birthGiues him the sight, of my so barren soileHe will contemne; and giue me vp to spoile:Enforce the sea to me; that euer willOppresse my heart, with many a watrie hill.And therefore, let him chuse some other land,Where he shall please; to build at his commandTemple and Groue, set thick with many a Tree.For wretched Polypusses, breed in meRetyring chambers; and black sea-calues, DenIn my poore soile, for penurie of Men.And yet (O Goddesse) would'st thou please to sweareThe Gods great oath to me, before thou beareThy blesses Sonne here; that thou wilt erectA Phane to him, to render the effectOf mens demands to them, before they fall;Then will thy sonnes renowne be generall;Men will his name, in such varietie call.And I shall, then, be glad, his birth to beare.This said; the Gods great oath she thus did swere:Know this (O earth!) broad heauens inferior sphere,And of blacke Styx, the most infernall lake(Which is the grauest oath, the Gods can take)That here shall euer rise to Phœbus NameAn odorous Phane, and Altar; and thy fameHonor, past all Iles else, shall see him emploid.Her oath thus tooke, and ended; Delos ioi'dIn mightie measure, that she should become, To farr-shot Phœbus birth the famous home.Latona then, nine daies and nights did fallIn hopeles labor: at whose birth were allHeauens most supreame, and worthie Goddesses.Dione, Rhæa; and th'Exploratresse(Themis;) and Amphitrite, that will bePursu'd with sighs still. Euery DeitieExcept the snowie-wristed wife of Ioue:Who held her moodes aloft; and would not moue.Onely Lucina, (to whose virtue vowesEach Child-birth patient) heard not of her throwes;But sat (by Iuno's counsaile) on the browesOf broad Olympus, wrapt in clouds of gold.Whom Ioues proud wife, in enuie did with-hold;Because bright-lockt Latona, was to beareA sonne so faultles; and in force so cleare.The rest (Thaumantia) sent before to bringLucina to release the enuied King:Assuring her, that they would strait conferA Carquenet, nine cubits long, on her,All wouen with wires of Gold. But chargd her then,To call apart from th'Iuorie-wristed QueeneThe child-birth-guiding Goddesse; for iust feareLest, her charge vtter'd, in Saturnia's eare;She, after, might disswade her from descent.When winde-swift-footed Iris, knew th'intent,Of th'other Goddesses; away she went;And instantly she past, the infinite space Twixt Earth, and Heauen; when, comming to the placeWhere dwelt th'Immortals; strait without the gateShe gat Lucina; and did all relateThe Goddesses commanded; and enclin'd,To all that they demanded, her deare Minde.And on their way they went, like those two DouesThat, walking high-waies, euery shadow mouesVp from the earth; forc't with their naturall feare.When entring Delos; she that is so deareTo Dames in labor, made Latona straitProne to deliuerie; and to weild the waitOf her deare burthen, with a world of ease.When, with her faire hand; she a Palme did seaseAnd (staying her by it) stucke her tender kneesAmidst the soft meade; that did smile beneathHer sacred labor; and the child did breathThe aire, in th'instant. All the GoddessesBrake in kinde teares, and shrikes for her quicke ease.And Thee (O Archer Phœbus) with waues cleereWasht sweetly ouer, swadled with sincereAnd spotlesses swath-bands; and made then to flowAbout thy breast, a mantle, white as snow;Fine, and new made; and cast a Veile of GoldOuer thy forehead. Nor yet forth did holdThy mother, for thy foode, her golden brest:But Themis in supply of it, addrestLouely Ambrosia; and drunke off to thee A Bowle of Nectar; interchangeablieWith her immortall fingers, seruing thine.And when (O Phœbus) that eternall wineThy tast had relisht; and that foode diuine:No golden swath-band longer could containeThy panting bosome: all that would constraineThy soone-easd God-head; Euery feeble chaine,Of earthy Child-rights; flew in sunder, all.And then didst thou thus, to the Deities call:Let there be giuen me, my lou'd Lute and Bow;I'le prophecie to men; and make them knowIoues perfect counsailes. This said; vp did flieFrom brode-waide Earth, the vnshorne Deitie,Far-shot Apollo. All th'Immortalls stoodIn steepe amaze, to see Latonaes brood.All Delos, looking on him; all with goldWas loden strait; and ioi'd to be extoldBy great Latona so; that she decreed,Her barrennesse, should beare the fruitfulst seedOf all the Iles, and Continents of earth;And lou'd her, from her heart so, for her birth.For so she florisht; as a hill that stoodCrownd with the flowre of an abundant wood:And thou (O Phœbus) bearing in thy handThy siluer bow: walk'st ouer euery land.Sometimes ascend'st the rough-hewne rockie hillOf desolate Cynthus: and sometimes tak'st willTo visit Ilands; and the Plumps of men. And manie a Temple; all wayes, men ordeinTo thy bright God-head: Groues, made darke with Trees,And neuer shorne, to hide ye Deities.All high-lou'd Prospects; all the steepest browesOf farr-seene Hills: and euery flood that flowesForth to the sea; are dedicate to Thee.But most of all; thy mindes AlacritieIs rais'd with Delos; since to fill thy PhaneThere flocks so manie an Ionian,With ample Gownes, that flowe downe to their feet:With all their children; and the reuerend SweetOf all their pious wiues. And these are theyThat (mindefull of thee) euen thy DeitieRender more spritelie, with their Champion fightDances, and songs, perform'd to glorious sight;Once hauing publisht, and proclaim'd their strife.And these are acted with such exquisite lifeThat one would say, Now, the Ionian strainesAre turn'd Immortalls; nor know what Age meanes.His minde would take such pleasure from his eye,To see them seru'd, by all Mortalitie.Their men so humane; women so well-grac't;Their ships so swift; their riches so encreast,Since thy obseruance. Who (being all, beforeThy opposites) were all despis'd, and poore.And to all these, this absolute wonder add,Whose praise shall render all posterities gladd:The Delian Virgines, are thy handmaides, All; And, since they seru'd Apollo; iointly fallBefore Latona, and Diana tooIn sacred seruice: and doe therefore knowHow to make mention of the ancient TrimmsOf men, and women; in their well-made Hymns;And soften barbarous Nations with their songs.Being able, all, to speake the seuerall tongu'sOf forreine Nations; and to imitateTheir musiques there, with art so fortunate,That one would say; there euery one did speake,And all their tunes, in naturall accents breake.Their songs, so well compos'd are; and their ArtTo answer all soundes, is of such Desart.But come Latona; and thou king of Flames,With Phœbe Rectresse, of chaste thoughts in Dames;Let me salute ye, and your Graces callHereafter to my iust memoriall.And you (O Delian Virgins) doe me grace,When any strangers of our earthie RaceWhose restlesse life, Affliction hath in chace;Shall hither come; and question you; Who isTo your chaste eares, of choicest facultiesIn sacred Poesie; and with most rightIs Author of your absolut'st delight;Ye shall your selues doe, all the right ye can,To answer for our Name: The sightlesse manOf stonie Chios. All whose Poems, shallIn all last Ages, stand for Capitall. This for your owne sakes I desire; for IWill propagate mine owne precedencie,As far as earth shall well-built cities beare;Or humane conuersation, is held deare.Not with my praise direct; but praises due;And men shall credit it, because tis true.How euer, I'le not cease the praise I vowTo farre-shot Phœbus, with the siluer bow;Whom louely-hair'd Latona gaue the light.O King? Both Lycia, is in Rule thy Right;Faire Mœonie, and the MaritimallMiletus; wisht to be the seate of all.But chiefely Delos, girt with billowes round,Thy most respected empire doth resound.Where thou to Pythus wentst; to answer there,(As soone as thou wert borne) the burning eareOf many a far-come, to heare future deeds:Clad in diuine, and odoriferous weeds.And with thy Golden Fescue, plaidst vponThy hollow Harp; that sounds to heauen set gone.Then to Olympus, swift as thought hee flewTo Ioues high house; and had a retinewOf Gods t'attend him. And then strait did fallTo studie of the Harp, and Harpsicall,All th'Immortalls. To whom, euery MuseWith rauishing voices, did their answers vse,Singing Th'eternall deeds of Deitie.And from their hands, what Hells of miserie, Poore Humanes suffer; liuing desperate quite.And not an Art they haue; wit, or deceipt,Can make them manage any Act aright:Nor finde with all the soule they can engage,A salue for Death, or remedie for Age.But here; the fayre-hayrd graces; the wise Howres;Harmonia, Hebe, and sweet Venus powres,Danc't; and each others, Palme, to Palme, did cling.And with these, danc't not a deformed thing:No forspoke Dwarfe; nor downeward witherling;But all, with wondrous goodly formes were deckt,And mou'd with Beauties, of vnpris'd aspect.Dart-deare-Diana, (euen with Phœbus bred)Danc't likewise there; and Mars a march did tred,With that braue Beuie. In whose consort, fellArgicides, th'ingenious Sentinell.Phœbus-Apollo, toucht his Lute to them;Sweetely, and softly: a most glorious beameCasting about him, as he danc't, and plaid;And euen his feet, were all with raies araide.His weede and all, of a most curious Trymm,With no lesse Luster, grac't, and circled him.By these, Latona, with a hayre that shin'dLike burnisht gold; and, (with the Mightie Minde)Heauens Counsailor, (Ioue;) sat with delightsome eyesTo see their Sonne, new ranks with Deities.How shall I praise thee then, that art all praise?Amongst the Brides, shall I thy Deitie raise? Or being in loue, when, sad, thou wentst to woweThe Virgin Aza: and didst ouerthroweThe euen-with-Gods, Elations Mightie seed?That had of goodly horse, so braue a breed?And Phorbas; sonne of soueraigne Triopus;Valiant Leucippus, and Ereutheus;And Triopus, himselfe, with equall fall?Thou but on foot; and they on horsebacke all?Or shall I sing thee, as thou first didst graceEarth with thy foot; to finde thee forth a placeFit to pronounce thy Oracles to Men?First from Olympus, thou alightedst then,Into Pieria; Passing all the landOf fruitles Lesbos, chok't with drifts of sand.The Magnets likewise, and the Perrhabes:And to Iolcus variedst thy accesse?Cenæus Topps ascending; that their BaseMake bright Eubœa; being of ships the Grace:And fixt thy faire stand, in Lelantus field;That did not yet, thy mindes contentment yeeld,To raise a Phaneon; and a sacred Groue.Passing Eurypus then; thou mad'st remoueUp to earths euer-greene, and holyest Hill.Yet swiftly, thence too, thou transcendedst stillTo Mycalessus, and did'st touch vponTeucmessus, apt to make greene couches on,And flowrie field-bedds. Then thy Progresse foundThebes out; whose soile, with onely woods was crown'd. For yet was sacred Thebes, no humane seate;And therefore were no Paths, nor high waies beatOn her free bosome, that flowes now with wheat.But then, she onely, wore on it, a wood.From hence (euen loth to part, because it stoodFit for thy seruice) thou put'st on RemoueTo greene Onchestus; Neptunes glorious Groue;Where new-tam'd horse, bredd, nourish nerues so rare,That still they frolick, though they trauaild areNeuer so sore; and hurrie after themMost heauie Coches: but are so extream(In vsuall-trauaile) fierie-and-free;That though their cochman, ne're so masterlieGouernes their courages; he sometimes mustForsake his seat, and giue their spirits their lust:When, after them, their emptie coach they drawe,Foming, and Neighing, quite exempt from awe.And if their Cocheman, guide through any GroueUnshorne, and vow'd to any Deities Loue:The Lords encocht, leap out; and all their careVse to allaie their fires, with speaking faire;Stroking, and trimming them; and in some queach,(Or strength of shade) within their nearest reach,Reigning them vp; inuoke the deified KingAnd leaue them then, to her preseruing hands,Who is the Fate, that there, the God commands.And this was first, the sacred fashion there. From hence thou wentst (O thou in shafts past Pere)And found'st Cephyssus, with thy all-seeing beames;Whose flood affects, so many siluer streames;And from Lylæus, poures so bright a waue.Yet forth thy foot flew, and thy faire eyes gaueThe view of Ocale, the rich in towrs;Then, to Amartus, that abounds in flowrs.Then to Delphusa, putt'st thy progresse on,Whose blessed soile, nought harme fall breeds vpon.And there, thy pleasure, would a Phane adorneAnd nourish woods, whose shades should ne're be shorne.Where, this thou told'st her, standing to her close:Delphusa: here I entertaine supposeTo build a farr-fam'd Temple; and ordeinAn Oracle t'informe the mindes of Men:Who shall for euer, offer to my loueWhole Hecatombs. Euen all the men that moueIn rich Peloponesus; and all thoseOf Europe; and the Iles the seas enclose;Whom future search of Acts, and Beings brings:To whom I'le prophecie the truths of thingsIn that rich Temple, where my Oracle sings.This said; The all-bounds-reacher, with his bowe,The Phanes diuine foundations did foreshowe;Amply they were; and did huge length impart;With a continuate Tenour, full of Art.But when Delphusa look't into his end;Her heart grew angrie, and did thus extend It selfe to Phœbus: Phœbus, since thy mindeA farr-fam'd Phane, hath in it selfe design'd,To beare an Oracle to men, in me;That Hecatombs, may put in fire to thee;This let me tell thee, and impose for staieUpon thy purpose: Th'Inarticulate neyeOf fire-hou'd horse, will euer disobaieThy numerous eare; and mules will for their drinkeTrouble my sacred springs; and I should thinkeThat any of the humane Race, had ratherSee here, the hurreys of rich Coches gather,And heare the haughtie Neys of swift-hou'd horse,Than (in his pleasures place) conuert recourseT'a Mightie Temple; and his wealth bestowOn Pieties; where his sports may freely flow,Or see huge wealth, that he shall neuer owe.And therefore, (wouldst thou heare, my free aduise;Though Mightier farre thou art, and much more wiseO King, than I; thy powre being great'st of all)In Crissa, vnderneath the bosomes fallOf steepe Paranassus; let thy minde be giuenTo set thee vp a Phane; where neuer driuenShall glorious Coches be, nor horses NeysStorme neare thy well-built Altars; but thy praiseLet the faire race of pious Humanes bring,Into thy Phane, that Io-Pæans sing.And those gifts onely let thy Deified mindeBe circularlie pleas'd with; being the kinde And fayre-burnt-offrings, that true Deities binde.With this; His minde she altered; though she spakeNot for his good; but her owne glories sake.From hence (O Phœbus) first thou mad'st retreat;And of the Phlegians, reacht the walled seat;Inhabited with contumelious Men:Whoe, sleighting Ioue, tooke vp their dwellings thenWithin a large Caue, neare Cephyssus Lake.Hence, swiftly mouing; thou all speed didst makeUp to the stops intended; and the groundOf Crissa, vnder the-with-snowe-still croun'd(Parnassus) reacht; whose face affects the rest:Aboue which, hangs, a rock that still seemes prestTo fall upon it; through whose brest doth runnA rockie Caue, neare which, the King the SunnCast to contriue a Temple to his minde;And said; Now heere, stands my conceipt inclin'dTo build a famous Phane, where still shall beAn Oracle to Men; that still to meShall offer absolute Hecatombs; as wellThose that in rich Peloponessus dwell;As those of Europe; and the Iles that lieWalld with the sea; That all their paines applieT'employ my counsailes. To all which will ITrue secrets tell, by way of Prophesie,In my rich Temple; that shall euer beAn Oracle, to all Posteritie.This said; the Phanes forme he did strait present, Ample, and of a length of great extent;In which Trophonius, and Agamede(Who of Erginus, were the famous seed)Impos'd the stonie Entrie: and the HeartOf euery God had, for their excellent Art.About the Temple dwelt, of humane NameUnnumbred Nations; it acquir'd such Fame;Being all of stone, built for eternall date;And neare it did a Fountaine propagateA fayre streame farr away; when Ioues bright seed,(The King Apollo) with an arrow, (freedFrom his strong string) destroid the DragonesseThat Wonder nourisht; being of such excesseIn size, and horridnesse of monstrous shape,That on the forc't earth, she wrought many a rape;Many a spoile, made on it, many an illOn crooke-hancht Herds brought; being impurpl'd stillWith blood of all sorts: Hauing undergoneThe charge of Iuno, with the golden Throne,To nourish Typhon the abhorr'd affrightAnd bane of mortalls. Whom, into the lightSaturnia brought forth, being incenst with Ioue;Because the most renown'd fruit of his loue(Pallas) he got, and shooke out of his braine.For which; Maiestique Iuno, did complaineIn this kinde, to the blest Court of the skies;Know all ye sex-distinguisht Deities;That Ioue (assembler of the cloudie throng) Beginns with me first; and affects with wrongMy right in him; made by himselfe, his wise;That knowes and does the honor'd marriage life,All honest offices; and yet hath heUndulie got, without my companieBlew-eyd Minerua; who of all the skieOf blest Immortalls is the absolute Grace.Where, I haue brought into the heauenly Race,A Sonne, both taken in his feet and head;So oughly, and so fare from worth my bedd,Thus (rauisht into hand) I tooke and threwDowne to the vast sea, his detested view.Where Nereus Daughter Thetis; (who, her waieWith siluer feet makes, and the faire araieOf her bright sisters) sou'd, and tooke to guard.But, would to be euen, another, yet, were spar'd,The like Grace of his God-bead. (Craftie mate)What other scape canst thou excorgitate?How could thy bears restaine in gas alone,The grey-eyd Goddesse? her conception,Nor bringing forth, had any hand of mine;And yet know all the Gods; I goe for thineTo such kinde vses. But I'le now employMy braine to procreate a masculine Ioy;That mongst th'Immortalls, may an eminent shineWith shame affecting, nor my bedd, nor thien;Nor will I, euer, vouch at thine againe;But farr, fly it, and there and yet will ragne Amongst th'Immortalls euer. This spleene spent,(Still yet left angrie) farre away she went;From all the Deathlesse; and yet praid to allAduanc't her hand, and e're she let it fallUv'd, these excitements; Heare me now (O Earth?)Brode Heauen aboue it; and (beneath your birth)The Deified Titanoys; that dwell aboutVast Tartarus; from whence sprung all the RoutOf Men and Deities: Heare me all (I say)With all your forces; and giue instant wayT'a sonne of mine, without Ioue; who yet mayNothing inferiour proue, in force to him;But past him spring as farre, in able lim,As be past Saturne. This, pronounc't, she strookeLife-bearing Earth so strongly; that she shookeBeneath her numb'd hand: which when she beheld;Her bosome with abundant comforts sweld;In hope all should, to her desire extend.From hence, the Yeare that all such proofes giues end;Grew round; yet all that time, the bed of IoueShee neuer toucht at; neuer was her loueEnflam'd to sit nere his Dedalian Throne,As she accustomed; to consult uponCounsells kept darke, with many a secret skill;But kept her Vow-frequented Temple still,Pleas'd with her sacrifice; till now, the NightsAnd Daies accomplish't; and the yeares whole rights,In all her reuolutions, being expir'de; The Howres, and all, run out, that were requir'd,To vent a Birth-right; she brought forth a Sonne,Like Gods, or Men, in no condition;But a most dreadfull, and pernicious thingCall'd Typhon; who on all the humane SpringConfer'd confusion: which, receiu'd to handBy Iuno; instantly, she gaue command(Ill to ill adding) that the DragonesseShould bring it up; who tooke, and did oppresseWith many a misery (to maintaine th'excesseOf that inhumane Monster) all the RaceOf Men, that were of all the world the grace.Till the farre-working Phœbus; at her sentA fierie Arrow; that inuok't euentOf death gaue, to her execrable life.Before which yet; she lay in bitter strife,With dying paines; groueling on earth, and drewExtreme short respirations; for which flewA shout about the aire; whence, no man knewBut came by power diuine. And then she layTumbling her Truncke; and winding euery wayAbout her nastie Nest; quite leauing thenHer murtherous life, embru'd with deaths of Men.Then Phœbus gloried; saying, Thy selfe now lieOn Men-sustaining Earth, and putrifie:Who first, of Putrifaction, was inform'd.Now on thy life, haue Death; cold vapors stormd;That stormd'st on Men the Earth-fed, so much death, In enuie of the Of-spring, they made breatheTheir liues out, on my Altars; Now from thee,Not Typhon shall enforce the miserieOf merited death; nor shee, whose name impliesSuch scath (Chymæra) but blacke earth make priseTo putrifaction, thy Immanities.And bright Hyperion, that light, all eyes showes,Thyne, with a night of rottennesse shall close.Thus spake he glory'ng; and then seas'd uponHer horrid heape, with PutrifactionHyperions louely powrs; from whence, her nameTooke sound of Python; and heauens soueraigne flameWas surnam'd Pythius; since the sharp-eyd Sunn,Affected so, with PutrifactionThe hellish Monster. And now Phœbus mindeGaue him to know, that falsehood had strooke blindeEuen his bright eye; because it could not findeThe subtle Fountaines fraud. To whom he flew,Enflam'd with anger; and in th'instant drewClose to Delphusa; vsing this short vow;Delphusa: you must looke no longer nowTo vent your fraud's on me; for well I knowYour scituation, to be louely worthA Temples Imposition; It poures forthSo delicate a streame. But your renowneShall now longer shine here, but mine owne.This said; he thrust her Promontorie downe,And damn'd her fountaine up, with mightie stones; A Temple giuing consecrations,In woods adioning. And in this Phane allOn him, by surname of Delphusius call.Because Delphusa's sacred flood and fameHis wrath affected so, and hid in shame.And then thought Phœbus, what descent of MenTo be his Ministers, he should reteinTo doe in stonie Pythos sacrifice.To which, his minde contending; his quicke eiesHe cast vpon the blew Sea; and beheldA ship, on whose Masts, sailes that wing'd it sweld:In which were men transferr'd, many and goodThat in Minoian Gnossus, eate their food,And were Cretensians; who now are thoseThat all the sacrifising dues dispose;And all the lawes, deliuer to a wordOf Daies great King, that weares the golden sword.And Oracles (out of his Delphian TreeThat shrowds her faire armes in the CauitieBeneath Parnassus Mount) pronounce to Men.These, now his Priests, that liu'd as Merchants then,In trafficks, and Pecuniarie Rates,For sandie Pylos and the Pylean States,Were under saile. But now encounterd themPhœbus Apollo, who into the streameCast himselfe headlong: and the strange disguiseTooke of a Dolphine, of a goodly life:Lake which; He leapt into their ship, and lay As an Ostent of infinite dismay.For none, with any strife of Minde could lookeInto the Omen. All the shipmasts shooke;And silent, all sate, with the feare they tooke.Armd not; nor strooke they saile; But as before,Went on with full Trim: And a foreright Blore,Stiff; and from forth, the South; the ship made flie.When first, they strips the Malane Promont'rie:Toucht at Laconias soile; in which a TowneTheir ship ariu'd at, that the Sea doth Crowne,Call'd Tenarus; A place of much delightTo men that serue Heauens Comforter of sight.In which are fed, the famous flocks that beareThe wealthie Fleeces; On a delicate LaireBeing fed, and seated: where the Merchants, faineWould haue put in; that they might out againe,To tell the Miracle, that chanc't to them;And trie if it would take the sacred streame,Rushing far forth, that he againe might beareThose other Fishes that abounded there,Delightsome companie; Or still would stay,Abord their drie ship. But it faltde t'obay.And for the rich Peloponesian shore,Steer'de her free saile; Apollo made the BloreDirectly guide it: That, obaying stillReacht drie Arena; And, (what wish doth fill)Faire Aryphæa; And the populous heightOf Thyrus; whose streame (siding her) doth weight With safe passe on Alphæus. Pylos sandsAnd Pylian dwellers: keeping by the strandsOn which th'Inhabitants of Crunius dwell:And Helida, set opposite to Hell.Chaleis, and Dymes reach't; And happilyMade saile by Pheras: All being ouer-ioideWith that francke Gale, that Ioue himselfe emploid.And then amongst the cloudes, they might descrie,The Hill, that far-seene Ithaca, calls her Eie.Dulichius, Samos, and, (with timber grac't)Shadie Zacynthus. But when now they pastPeloponesus all: And then, when show'deThe infinite Vale of Crissa, that doth shroudAll rich Moræa, with her liberall brest:So francke a Gale, there flew out of the West;As all the skie discouered; twas so great,And blew so from the verise Counsell seatOf Ioue himselfe: that quickly it might sendThe ship through full Seas, to her iourneys end.From thence, they saild, (quite opposite) to the East,And to the Region, where light leaues his rest.The Light himselfe being sacred Pylot there;And made the Sea-trod ship, ariue them nereThe Grapefull Crissa; where he rest doth take;Close to her Port, and sands. And then forth brakeThe far-shot King; like to a starre that strowesHis glorious forehead, where the Mid-day glowes,That all in sparkles, did his state attire, Whose luster leapt up, to the spheare of fire;He trodd, where no waie op'te; and pierst the placeThat of his sacred Tripods, held the grace,In which, he lighted such a fluent flame,As guilt all Crissa; In which, euery DameAnd Dames faire daughter; cast out vehement criesAt those fell fires, of Phœbus Prodigies:That shaking feares, through all their fancies threw.Then (lik the mindes swift light) Againe he flewBacke to the ship; shap't like a youth in HeightOf all his graces: shoulders broad, and streit,And all his haire, in golden currls enwrapt:And to the Merchants, thus, his speech he shap't:Ho? strangers? what are you? and from what seatSaile ye these waies, that salt and water sweat?To traffick iustice? Or vse vagrant scapesVoyde of all rule? Conferring wrongs, and Rapes(Like Pyrats) on the men, ye neuer sawe?With mindes proiect; exempt from list, or Lawe?Why sit ye heere so stupified? nor takeLand while ye may? Nor deposition makeOf Nauall Arms? when this the fashion isOf men Industrious! who, (their facultiesWearied at sea,) leaue ship, and vse the landFor foode, that with their healths, and stomacks stand.This said; with bold mindes, be their brest suppli'd,And thus made answer, the Cretensian guide;Stranger? because, you seeme to vs no seed Of any mortall, but celestiall breed,For parts, and person; Ioy your steps ensue,And Gods make good the blisse, we thinke your due.Vouchsafe us true relation, on what landWe here ariue? and what men, here command?We were for well-knowne parts boun, and from Crete(Our vanted countrie) to the Pylian seatVow'd our whole voyage. Yet ariue we here,Quite crosse to those wills, that your motions stere.Wishing to make returne some other way;Some other course desirous to assaie.To pay our lost paines. But some God hath fill'dOur frustrate sayles; defeating what we will'd.Apollo answerd: Strangers? though beforeYee dwelt in wooddie Gnossus; yet no moreYee must be made, your owne ReciprocallsTo your lou'd Cittie, and faire seuerallsOf wiues, and houses. But ye shall haue hereMy wealthie Temple; honord farre and nereOf many a Nation: for my selfe am SonTo Ioue himselfe; and of Apollo wonThe glorious Title; who thus safelie throughThe seas vast billows, still haue held your plough.No ill intending, that will let yee makeMy Temple here, your owne; and honors takeUpon your selues; all that to me are giuen.And more: the counsailes of the King of Heauen,Your selues shall know; and with his will receiue Euer the honors, that all men shall giue.Doe as I say then instantly; strike saile;Take downe your Tackling; and your vessell haleVp, into land: your goods bring forth, and allThe instruments, that into sayling fall;Make on this shore, an Altar: fire enflame;And barley white cakes, offer to my name.And then, (enuironing the Altar) pray,And call me, (as ye sawe me, in the dayWhen from the windie seas, I brake swift wayInto your ship;) Delphinius: since I tookeA Dolphins forme then. And to euery lookeThat there shall seeke it; that, my Altar shallBe made A Delphian memoriallFrom thence, for euer. After this; ascendYour swift black ship, and sup; and then intendIngenuous Offerings to the equall GodsThat in celestiall seates, make blest abods.When, (hauing staid, your helthfull hungers sting)Come all with me; and Io-Pæans singAll the waies length, till you attaine the state,Where I, your oppulent Phane haue consecreate.To this, they gaue him, passing diligent eare;And vow'd to his obedience, all they were.First striking sayle, their tacklings; then they los'd;And (with their Gables stoop't) their mast impos'dInto the Mast roome. Forth, themselues then went;And from the sea into the Continent Drew up their ship; which farr up from the saintThey rais'd, with ample rafters. Then, in handThey tooke the Altar; and inform'd it onThe seas nere shore; imposing thereuponWhite cakes of barley: Fire made; and did standAbout it wound; as Phœbus gaue command:Submitting Inuocations to his will.Then sacrifis'd to all the heauenly HillOf powrefull God-heads. After which, they eatAbord their ship; till with sit foot repleat;They rose; nor to their Temple, us'd delay.Whom Phœbus usherd; and toucht, all the wayHis heauenly Lute; with Art, aboue admir'd;Gracefully leading them. When all were fir'dWith zeale to him; and follow'd wondring, All,To Pythos; and upon his name did callWith Io-Pæans, such as Cretans vse.And in their bosomes did the deified MuseVoices of honey-Harmonie, infuse.With neuer-wearie feet, their way they went;And made, with all alacritie, ascentUp to Parnassus; and that long'd-for placeWhere they should liue; and be of men, the Grace.When, all the way; Apollo show'd them stillTheir farr-strecht valleys, and their two-tops Hill;Their famous Phane; and all, that All could raise,To a supreame height, of their Ioy, and praise.And then the Cretan Captaine, that enquir'd Of King Apollo; Since you haue retir'd(O Soueraigne) our sad liues, so farr from friendsAnd natiue soile; (because so farr extendsYour deare mindes pleasure) tell vs how we shallLiue in your seruice. To which quesiton callOur prouident mindes; because we see not croun'dThis soile, with store of vines; nor doth aboundIn welthie meddows; on which, we may liue,As well as on men, our attendance giue.He smil'd, and said; O men, that nothing knewAnd so are follow'd, with a world of woe;That needs will succour care, and curious moneAnd poure out sighs, without cessation;Were all the riches of the earth your owne.Without much busines; I will render knowne;To your simplicities, an easie way,To wealth enough; Let euery man puruaieA skeane, (or slaught'ring steele) and his right hand(Brauely bestowing) euermore see mann'dWith killing sheepe, that to my Phane will flowe,From all farr Nations. On all which bestoweGood obseruation; and all else they giueTo me; make you your owne All; and so liue.For all which, watch before my Temple well;And all my counsailes, aboue all, conceale.If any giue vaine language; or to deeds;Yea, or as farr as iniurie proceedes;Know that, (at losers hands) for those that gaine; It is the lawe of Mortalls, to sustaine.Besides; yee shall haue Princes to obay,Which, still, yee must; and (so yee gaine) yee may.All, now, is said; giue All, thy memories stay.And thus to thee, (Ioue and Latona's Sonne)Be giuen all grace of salutation.Both thee and others of th'Immortall state;My son shall memorize, to endlesse date.
The end of the Hymne to Apollo.