The Crowne of All Homers Workes/To Mars

by Homer

For other English-language translations of this work, see To Mars (Homer).

To Mars.

ars Most-strong: Gold-helm'd; making Chariots crack;
Neuer without a shield, cast on thy back.
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Minde master, towne-guard, with darts neuer driuen.
Strong-handed; Allarmes; fort, and fence of heauen.
Father of Victory, with faire strokes giuen.
Ioint surrogate of Iustice; lest she fall;
In vniust strifes, a Tyrant. Generall,
Onely of iust Men, iustly. That dost beare
Fortitud's Scepter. To Heauens fiery sphere
Giuer of circulare motion: betweene
That, and the Pleiad's that still wandring bene.
Where thy still-vehemently-flaming Horse,
About the third Heauen, make their fiery course.
Helper of Mortalls; Heare! As thy fires giue
The faire, and present boldnesses that striue
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$In Youth for Honor; being the sweete-beamd Light
That darts into their liues, from all thy Height
The Fortitudes, and Fortunes, found in fight.
So, would I likewise wish to haue the Powre
To keepe off, from my head, thy bitter Howre;
And that false fire, cast from my soules lowe kinde,
Stoope to the fit rule, of my highest Minde.
Controuling, that so eager sting of wrath,
That styrrs me on still, to that horrid scath
Of warr; that God still sends to wreake his splene;
(Euen by whole Tribes) of proud iniurious Men.
But O thou euer-blessed! Giue me still,
Presence of minde, to put in Act, my will
Varied, as fits, to all Occasion.
And to liue free; vnforc't; vnwrought vpon;
Beneath those Lawes of Peace, that neuer are
Affected with Pollutions Populare
Of vniust hurt; or losse to any One;
And to beare safe, the burthen vndergone
Of Foes inflexiue, and inhumane hates;
Secure from violent, and harmefull Fates.

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