The Crowne of All Homers Workes/An Hymne to Apollo

by Homer

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

---

---

AL THE HYMNES OF HOMER.
An Hymne to Apollo.

will remember, and expresse the praise
Of heauens far darter, the faire King of daies.
Whom euen the Gods themselues feare, when he goes
Through Ioues high house; and when his goodly bowes
He goes to bend; all from their Thrones arise,
And cluster neare, t'admire his faculties.
Onely Latona, stirs not from her seate
Close by the Thunderer; till her sonnes retreat
From 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 bestowe
Upon 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 gold
Serues him with Nectar; and shews all, the grace
Of his great sonne. Then th'other gods take place.
His gracious mother, glorying to beare
So great an Archer, and a sonne so cleare.
 All haile (O blest Latona!) to bring forth
An issue of such All-out-shining worth,
Royall Apollo, and the Queene that loues
The hurles of darts. She in the Ortygian groues,
And he, in cliffie Delos; leaning on
The loftie Oros; and being built vpon
By Cynthus Prominent: that his head reares
Close to the Palme, that Inops fluent cheares.
 How shall I praise thee? farre being worthiest praise?
(O Phœbus) to whose worth, the law of layes
In all kindes is ascrib'de? If feeding flocks
By Continent, or Ile; all eminen'st rocks
Did sing for ioy: Hill-tops, and floods in song
Did breake their billows, as they flow'd along
To serue the sea. The shores, the seas, and all
Did sing as soone, as from the lap did fall
Of blest Latona, thee the ioy of Man.
Her Child-bed made, the mountaine Cynthian
In rockie Delos, the sea-circled Ile:
On whose all sides, the black seas brake their Pile,
And ouer-flowd for ioy, so franck a Gale
The singing winds did on their waues exhale.
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$ Here borne; all mortalls liue in thy commands.
Who euer Crete holds; Athens; or the strands
Of th'Ile Ægina; or the famous land
For ships (Eubœa:) or Eresia;
Or Peparethus, bordring on the sea.
Ægas; or Athos, that doth Thrace diuide
And Macedon. Or Pelion, with the pride
Of 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 comparison
For fruitfulnes: with all the Iles that lie
Embrac't with seas. Mimas, with rocks so hie.
Or Loftie-crownd Corycius; or the bright
Charos: or Æsagæus dazeling height:
Or waterie Samos, Mycale, that beares
Her browes euen with the circles of the spheares.
Miletus; Cous; That the Citie is
Of voice-diuided-choice humanities.
High Cnidus; Carpathus, still strooke with winde.
Naxus, and Paros; and the rockie-min'd
Rugged Rhenæa. Yet through all these parts,
Latona, great-growne, with the King of darts,
Trauailde; and tried, If any would become
To 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 Dame
Ascended Delos; and her soile did sease
With these wing'd words: O Delos! would'st thou please
To 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 Inhabitants
Careles of Deitie.) If thou then should'st rere
A Phane to Phœbus: all men would confer
Whole Hecatombs of beeues for sacrifice,
Still thronging hither. And to thee would rise
Euer vnmeasur'd Odors; should'st thou long
Nourish thy King thus, and from forreigne wrong
The Gods would guard thee; which thine owne addresse
Can neuer compasse for thy barrennesse.
 She said, and Delos ioi'd; replying thus:
Most happie sister of Saturnius?
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$I gladly would, with all meanes entertein
The 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 miserie
In many kindes: as being to sustein
A mightie empire ouer Gods, and Men,
Vpon the holie-gift-giuer the earth.
And bitterly I feare, that when his birth
Giues him the sight, of my so barren soile
He will contemne; and giue me vp to spoile:
Enforce the sea to me; that euer will
Oppresse my heart, with many a watrie hill.
And therefore, let him chuse some other land,
Where he shall please; to build at his command
Temple and Groue, set thick with many a Tree.
For wretched Polypusses, breed in me
Retyring chambers; and black sea-calues, Den
In my poore soile, for penurie of Men.
And yet (O Goddesse) would'st thou please to sweare
The Gods great oath to me, before thou beare
Thy blesses Sonne here; that thou wilt erect
A Phane to him, to render the effect
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Of mens demands to them, before they fall;
Then will thy sonnes renowne be generall;
Men will his name, in such varietie call.
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$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 Name
An odorous Phane, and Altar; and thy fame
Honor, past all Iles else, shall see him emploid.
 Her oath thus tooke, and ended; Delos ioi'd
In mightie measure, that she should become,
To farr-shot Phœbus birth the famous home.
 Latona then, nine daies and nights did fall
In hopeles labor: at whose birth were all
Heauens most supreame, and worthie Goddesses.
Dione, Rhæa; and th'Exploratresse
(Themis;) and Amphitrite, that will be
Pursu'd with sighs still. Euery Deitie
Except the snowie-wristed wife of Ioue:
Who held her moodes aloft; and would not moue.
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Onely Lucina, (to whose virtue vowes
Each Child-birth patient) heard not of her throwes;
But sat (by Iuno's counsaile) on the browes
Of broad Olympus, wrapt in clouds of gold.
Whom Ioues proud wife, in enuie did with-hold;
Because bright-lockt Latona, was to beare
A sonne so faultles; and in force so cleare.
The rest (Thaumantia) sent before to bring
Lucina to release the enuied King:
Assuring her, that they would strait confer
A Carquenet, nine cubits long, on her,
All wouen with wires of Gold. But chargd her then,
To call apart from th'Iuorie-wristed Queene
The child-birth-guiding Goddesse; for iust feare
Lest, her charge vtter'd, in Saturnia's eare;
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$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 place
Where dwelt th'Immortals; strait without the gate
She gat Lucina; and did all relate
The Goddesses commanded; and enclin'd,
To all that they demanded, her deare Minde.
And on their way they went, like those two Doues
That, walking high-waies, euery shadow moues
Vp from the earth; forc't with their naturall feare.
When entring Delos; she that is so deare
To Dames in labor, made Latona strait
Prone to deliuerie; and to weild the wait
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Of her deare burthen, with a world of ease.
When, with her faire hand; she a Palme did sease
And (staying her by it) stucke her tender knees
Amidst the soft meade; that did smile beneath
Her sacred labor; and the child did breath
The aire, in th'instant. All the Goddesses
Brake in kinde teares, and shrikes for her quicke ease.
And Thee (O Archer Phœbus) with waues cleere
Washt sweetly ouer, swadled with sincere
And spotlesses swath-bands; and made then to flow
About thy breast, a mantle, white as snow;
Fine, and new made; and cast a Veile of Gold
Ouer thy forehead. Nor yet forth did hold
Thy mother, for thy foode, her golden brest:
But Themis in supply of it, addrest
Louely Ambrosia; and drunke off to thee
A Bowle of Nectar; interchangeablie
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$With her immortall fingers, seruing thine.
And when (O Phœbus) that eternall wine
Thy tast had relisht; and that foode diuine:
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$No golden swath-band longer could containe
Thy panting bosome: all that would constraine
Thy 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 know
Ioues perfect counsailes. This said; vp did flie
From brode-waide Earth, the vnshorne Deitie,
Far-shot Apollo. All th'Immortalls stood
In steepe amaze, to see Latonaes brood.
All Delos, looking on him; all with gold
Was loden strait; and ioi'd to be extold
By great Latona so; that she decreed,
Her barrennesse, should beare the fruitfulst seed
Of 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 stood
Crownd with the flowre of an abundant wood:
And thou (O Phœbus) bearing in thy hand
Thy siluer bow: walk'st ouer euery land.
Sometimes ascend'st the rough-hewne rockie hill
Of desolate Cynthus: and sometimes tak'st will
To visit Ilands; and the Plumps of men.
And manie a Temple; all wayes, men ordein
To thy bright God-head: Groues, made darke with Trees,
And neuer shorne, to hide ye Deities.
All high-lou'd Prospects; all the steepest browes
Of farr-seene Hills: and euery flood that flowes
Forth to the sea; are dedicate to Thee.
But most of all; thy mindes Alacritie
Is rais'd with Delos; since to fill thy Phane
There flocks so manie an Ionian,
With ample Gownes, that flowe downe to their feet:
With all their children; and the reuerend Sweet
Of all their pious wiues. And these are they
That (mindefull of thee) euen thy Deitie
Render more spritelie, with their Champion fight
Dances, and songs, perform'd to glorious sight;
Once hauing publisht, and proclaim'd their strife.
And these are acted with such exquisite life
That one would say, Now, the Ionian straines
Are 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, before
Thy 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 fall
Before Latona, and Diana too
In sacred seruice: and doe therefore know
How to make mention of the ancient Trimms
Of men, and women; in their well-made Hymns;
And soften barbarous Nations with their songs.
Being able, all, to speake the seuerall tongu's
Of forreine Nations; and to imitate
Their 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 Art
To 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 call
Hereafter to my iust memoriall.
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$ And you (O Delian Virgins) doe me grace,
When any strangers of our earthie Race
Whose restlesse life, Affliction hath in chace;
Shall hither come; and question you; Who is
To your chaste eares, of choicest faculties
In sacred Poesie; and with most right
Is Author of your absolut'st delight;
Ye shall your selues doe, all the right ye can,
To answer for our Name: The sightlesse man
Of stonie Chios. All whose Poems, shall
In all last Ages, stand for Capitall.
This for your owne sakes I desire; for I
Will 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 vow
To 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 Maritimall
Miletus; 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 eare
Of many a far-come, to heare future deeds:
Clad in diuine, and odoriferous weeds.
And with thy Golden Fescue, plaidst vpon
Thy hollow Harp; that sounds to heauen set gone.
 Then to Olympus, swift as thought hee flew
To Ioues high house; and had a retinew
Of Gods t'attend him. And then strait did fall
To studie of the Harp, and Harpsicall,
All th'Immortalls. To whom, euery Muse
With rauishing voices, did their answers vse,
Singing Th'eternall deeds of Deitie.
And from their hands, what Hells of miserie,
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$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, fell
Argicides, th'ingenious Sentinell.
Phœbus-Apollo, toucht his Lute to them;
Sweetely, and softly: a most glorious beame
Casting 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'd
Like burnisht gold; and, (with the Mightie Minde)
Heauens Counsailor, (Ioue;) sat with delightsome eyes
To 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 wowe
The Virgin Aza: and didst ouerthrowe
The 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 grace
Earth with thy foot; to finde thee forth a place
Fit to pronounce thy Oracles to Men?
First from Olympus, thou alightedst then,
Into Pieria; Passing all the land
Of 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 Base
Make 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 remoue
Up to earths euer-greene, and holyest Hill.
Yet swiftly, thence too, thou transcendedst still
To Mycalessus, and did'st touch vpon
Teucmessus, apt to make greene couches on,
And flowrie field-bedds. Then thy Progresse found
Thebes out; whose soile, with onely woods was crown'd.
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$For yet was sacred Thebes, no humane seate;
And therefore were no Paths, nor high waies beat
On 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 stood
Fit for thy seruice) thou put'st on Remoue
To greene Onchestus; Neptunes glorious Groue;
Where new-tam'd horse, bredd, nourish nerues so rare,
That still they frolick, though they trauaild are
Neuer so sore; and hurrie after them
Most heauie Coches: but are so extream
(In vsuall-trauaile) fierie-and-free;
That though their cochman, ne're so masterlie
Gouernes their courages; he sometimes must
Forsake 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 Groue
Unshorne, and vow'd to any Deities Loue:
The Lords encocht, leap out; and all their care
Vse 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 King
And 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 gaue
The 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 adorne
And nourish woods, whose shades should ne're be shorne.
Where, this thou told'st her, standing to her close:
Delphusa: here I entertaine suppose
To build a farr-fam'd Temple; and ordein
An Oracle t'informe the mindes of Men:
Who shall for euer, offer to my loue
Whole Hecatombs. Euen all the men that moue
In rich Peloponesus; and all those
Of Europe; and the Iles the seas enclose;
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Whom future search of Acts, and Beings brings:
To whom I'le prophecie the truths of things
In 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 minde
A 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;
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$This let me tell thee, and impose for staie
Upon thy purpose: Th'Inarticulate neye
Of fire-hou'd horse, will euer disobaie
Thy numerous eare; and mules will for their drinke
Trouble my sacred springs; and I should thinke
That any of the humane Race, had rather
See here, the hurreys of rich Coches gather,
And heare the haughtie Neys of swift-hou'd horse,
Than (in his pleasures place) conuert recourse
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$T'a Mightie Temple; and his wealth bestow
On 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 wise
O King, than I; thy powre being great'st of all)
In Crissa, vnderneath the bosomes fall
Of steepe Paranassus; let thy minde be giuen
To set thee vp a Phane; where neuer driuen
Shall glorious Coches be, nor horses Neys
Storme neare thy well-built Altars; but thy praise
Let the faire race of pious Humanes bring,
Into thy Phane, that Io-Pæans sing.
And those gifts onely let thy Deified minde
Be circularlie pleas'd with; being the kinde
And fayre-burnt-offrings, that true Deities binde.
With this; His minde she altered; though she spake
Not 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 then
Within a large Caue, neare Cephyssus Lake.
Hence, swiftly mouing; thou all speed didst make
Up to the stops intended; and the ground
Of Crissa, vnder the-with-snowe-still croun'd
(Parnassus) reacht; whose face affects the rest:
Aboue which, hangs, a rock that still seemes prest
To fall upon it; through whose brest doth runn
A rockie Caue, neare which, the King the Sunn
Cast to contriue a Temple to his minde;
And said; Now heere, stands my conceipt inclin'd
To build a famous Phane, where still shall be
An Oracle to Men; that still to me
Shall offer absolute Hecatombs; as well
Those that in rich Peloponessus dwell;
As those of Europe; and the Iles that lie
Walld with the sea; That all their paines applie
T'employ my counsailes. To all which will I
True secrets tell, by way of Prophesie,
In my rich Temple; that shall euer be
An 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 Heart
Of euery God had, for their excellent Art.
 About the Temple dwelt, of humane Name
Unnumbred Nations; it acquir'd such Fame;
Being all of stone, built for eternall date;
And neare it did a Fountaine propagate
A fayre streame farr away; when Ioues bright seed,
(The King Apollo) with an arrow, (freed
From his strong string) destroid the Dragonesse
That Wonder nourisht; being of such excesse
In 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 ill
On crooke-hancht Herds brought; being impurpl'd still
With blood of all sorts: Hauing undergone
The charge of Iuno, with the golden Throne,
To nourish Typhon the abhorr'd affright
And bane of mortalls. Whom, into the light
Saturnia 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 complaine
In 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 wrong
My right in him; made by himselfe, his wise;
That knowes and does the honor'd marriage life,
All honest offices; and yet hath he
Undulie got, without my companie
Blew-eyd Minerua; who of all the skie
Of 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 threw
Downe to the vast sea, his detested view.
Where Nereus Daughter Thetis; (who, her waie
With siluer feet makes, and the faire araie
Of 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 thine
To such kinde vses. But I'le now employ
My braine to procreate a masculine Ioy;
That mongst th'Immortalls, may an eminent shine
With 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 all
Aduanc't her hand, and e're she let it fall
Uv'd, these excitements; Heare me now (O Earth?)
Brode Heauen aboue it; and (beneath your birth)
The Deified Titanoys; that dwell about
Vast Tartarus; from whence sprung all the Rout
Of Men and Deities: Heare me all (I say)
With all your forces; and giue instant way
T'a sonne of mine, without Ioue; who yet may
Nothing inferiour proue, in force to him;
But past him spring as farre, in able lim,
As be past Saturne. This, pronounc't, she strooke
Life-bearing Earth so strongly; that she shooke
Beneath 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 Ioue
Shee neuer toucht at; neuer was her loue
Enflam'd to sit nere his Dedalian Throne,
As she accustomed; to consult upon
Counsells kept darke, with many a secret skill;
But kept her Vow-frequented Temple still,
Pleas'd with her sacrifice; till now, the Nights
And 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 thing
Call'd Typhon; who on all the humane Spring
Confer'd confusion: which, receiu'd to hand
By Iuno; instantly, she gaue command
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$(Ill to ill adding) that the Dragonesse
Should bring it up; who tooke, and did oppresse
With many a misery (to maintaine th'excesse
Of that inhumane Monster) all the Race
Of Men, that were of all the world the grace.
Till the farre-working Phœbus; at her sent
A fierie Arrow; that inuok't euent
Of death gaue, to her execrable life.
Before which yet; she lay in bitter strife,
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$With dying paines; groueling on earth, and drew
Extreme short respirations; for which flew
A shout about the aire; whence, no man knew
But came by power diuine. And then she lay
Tumbling her Truncke; and winding euery way
About her nastie Nest; quite leauing then
Her murtherous life, embru'd with deaths of Men.
 Then Phœbus gloried; saying, Thy selfe now lie
On 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 breathe
Their liues out, on my Altars; Now from thee,
Not Typhon shall enforce the miserie
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Of merited death; nor shee, whose name implies
Such scath (Chymæra) but blacke earth make prise
To 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 upon
Her horrid heape, with Putrifaction
Hyperions louely powrs; from whence, her name
Tooke sound of Python; and heauens soueraigne flame
Was surnam'd Pythius; since the sharp-eyd Sunn,
Affected so, with Putrifaction
The hellish Monster. And now Phœbus minde
Gaue him to know, that falsehood had strooke blinde
Euen his bright eye; because it could not finde
The subtle Fountaines fraud. To whom he flew,
Enflam'd with anger; and in th'instant drew
Close to Delphusa; vsing this short vow;
 Delphusa: you must looke no longer now
To vent your fraud's on me; for well I know
Your scituation, to be louely worth
A Temples Imposition; It poures forth
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$So delicate a streame. But your renowne
Shall 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 all
On him, by surname of Delphusius call.
Because Delphusa's sacred flood and fame
His wrath affected so, and hid in shame.
 And then thought Phœbus, what descent of Men
To be his Ministers, he should retein
To doe in stonie Pythos sacrifice.
To which, his minde contending; his quicke eies
He cast vpon the blew Sea; and beheld
A ship, on whose Masts, sailes that wing'd it sweld:
In which were men transferr'd, many and good
That in Minoian Gnossus, eate their food,
And were Cretensians; who now are those
That all the sacrifising dues dispose;
And all the lawes, deliuer to a word
Of Daies great King, that weares the golden sword.
And Oracles (out of his Delphian Tree
That shrowds her faire armes in the Cauitie
Beneath 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 them
Phœbus Apollo, who into the streame
Cast himselfe headlong: and the strange disguise
Tooke of a Dolphine, of a goodly life:
Lake which; He leapt into their ship, and lay
As an Ostent of infinite dismay.
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$For none, with any strife of Minde could looke
Into 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 Towne
Their ship ariu'd at, that the Sea doth Crowne,
Call'd Tenarus; A place of much delight
To men that serue Heauens Comforter of sight.
In which are fed, the famous flocks that beare
The wealthie Fleeces; On a delicate Laire
Being fed, and seated: where the Merchants, faine
Would 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 beare
Those 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 Blore
Directly guide it: That, obaying still
Reacht drie Arena; And, (what wish doth fill)
Faire Aryphæa; And the populous height
Of Thyrus; whose streame (siding her) doth weight
With safe passe on Alphæus. Pylos sands
And Pylian dwellers: keeping by the strands
On which th'Inhabitants of Crunius dwell:
And Helida, set opposite to Hell.
Chaleis, and Dymes reach't; And happily
Made saile by Pheras: All being ouer-ioide
With 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 past
Peloponesus all: And then, when show'de
The infinite Vale of Crissa, that doth shroud
All 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 seat
Of Ioue himselfe: that quickly it might send
The 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 nere
The Grapefull Crissa; where he rest doth take;
Close to her Port, and sands. And then forth brake
The far-shot King; like to a starre that strowes
His 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 place
That of his sacred Tripods, held the grace,
In which, he lighted such a fluent flame,
As guilt all Crissa; In which, euery Dame
And Dames faire daughter; cast out vehement cries
At those fell fires, of Phœbus Prodigies:
That shaking feares, through all their fancies threw.
Then (lik the mindes swift light) Againe he flew
Backe to the ship; shap't like a youth in Height
Of 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 seat
Saile ye these waies, that salt and water sweat?
To traffick iustice? Or vse vagrant scapes
Voyde 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 take
Land while ye may? Nor deposition make
Of Nauall Arms? when this the fashion is
Of men Industrious! who, (their faculties
Wearied at sea,) leaue ship, and vse the land
For 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 land
We here ariue? and what men, here command?
We were for well-knowne parts boun, and from Crete
(Our vanted countrie) to the Pylian seat
Vow'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'd
Our frustrate sayles; defeating what we will'd.
 Apollo answerd: Strangers? though before
Yee dwelt in wooddie Gnossus; yet no more
Yee must be made, your owne Reciprocalls
To your lou'd Cittie, and faire seueralls
Of wiues, and houses. But ye shall haue here
My wealthie Temple; honord farre and nere
Of many a Nation: for my selfe am Son
To Ioue himselfe; and of Apollo won
The glorious Title; who thus safelie through
The seas vast billows, still haue held your plough.
No ill intending, that will let yee make
My Temple here, your owne; and honors take
Upon 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 hale
Vp, into land: your goods bring forth, and all
The instruments, that into sayling fall;
Make on this shore, an Altar: fire enflame;
And barley white cakes, offer to my name.
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$And then, (enuironing the Altar) pray,
And call me, (as ye sawe me, in the day
When from the windie seas, I brake swift way
Into your ship;) Delphinius: since I tooke
A Dolphins forme then. And to euery looke
That there shall seeke it; that, my Altar shall
Be made A Delphian memoriall
From thence, for euer. After this; ascend
Your swift black ship, and sup; and then intend
Ingenuous Offerings to the equall Gods
That in celestiall seates, make blest abods.
When, (hauing staid, your helthfull hungers sting)
Come all with me; and Io-Pæans sing
All 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'd
Into the Mast roome. Forth, themselues then went;
And from the sea into the Continent
Drew up their ship; which farr up from the saint
They rais'd, with ample rafters. Then, in hand
They tooke the Altar; and inform'd it on
The seas nere shore; imposing thereupon
White cakes of barley: Fire made; and did stand
About it wound; as Phœbus gaue command:
Submitting Inuocations to his will.
Then sacrifis'd to all the heauenly Hill
Of powrefull God-heads. After which, they eat
Abord their ship; till with sit foot repleat;
They rose; nor to their Temple, us'd delay.
Whom Phœbus usherd; and toucht, all the way
His heauenly Lute; with Art, aboue admir'd;
Gracefully leading them. When all were fir'd
With zeale to him; and follow'd wondring, All,
To Pythos; and upon his name did call
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$With Io-Pæans, such as Cretans vse.
And in their bosomes did the deified Muse
Voices of honey-Harmonie, infuse.
 With neuer-wearie feet, their way they went;
And made, with all alacritie, ascent
Up to Parnassus; and that long'd-for place
Where they should liue; and be of men, the Grace.
When, all the way; Apollo show'd them still
Their 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 friends
And natiue soile; (because so farr extends
Your deare mindes pleasure) tell vs how we shall
Liue in your seruice. To which quesiton call
Our prouident mindes; because we see not croun'd
This soile, with store of vines; nor doth abound
In welthie meddows; on which, we may liue,
As well as on men, our attendance giue.
 He smil'd, and said; O men, that nothing knew
And so are follow'd, with a world of woe;
That needs will succour care, and curious mone
And 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 puruaie
A skeane, (or slaught'ring steele) and his right hand
(Brauely bestowing) euermore see mann'd
With killing sheepe, that to my Phane will flowe,
From all farr Nations. On all which bestowe
Good obseruation; and all else they giue
To 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.
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$ 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.

---

---