HOMER

WHat cannot women's wits? they wonders can When they intend to blind the eyes of man. O lend me what old Homer wants, your eyes, To see th'euent of what these Queens devise. This passed so currant, that the third son born, Called Neptune, was by Like devise preserved, And sent to Athens, where he lived unknown, And had in time command upon the seas. Pluto the youngest was sent to Tartary, Where he in process a strange City built And called it Hell, his subjects for their rapine, Their spoils and theft, are Devils termed abroad. Thus melancholy Saturn hath surviving Three Noble sons in several confines placed And yet himself thinks sonless: one fair daughter Hight Juno is his sole delight on earth. Think kind spectators seventeen summer's passed, Till these be grown to years, and Jupiter Found in a cave by the great Epyre King, (where by his daughters he before was hid.) Of him and of his Fortune's we proceed, My journey's long, and I my eyesight want. Courteous spectators, left blind Homer stray, Lend me your hands to guide me on your way. Oh blind ambition and desire of rain, What horrid mischief wilt not thou devise? The appetite of rule, and thirst of reign Besots the foolish, and corrupts the wise. Behold a King suspicious of his son, Pursues his innocent life, and without cause. O blind ambition what hast thou not done Against religion, zeal and nature's laws? But men are born their own fates to pursue, Gods will be Gods, and Saturn finds it true. Saturn against his son his force extended, And would have slain him by his tyrannous hand, While Jupiter alone his life defended. But when no prayers his fury could withstand, He used his force, his father drove from Creet, And as the Oracle before had told Usurped the Crown, the Lords kneel at his feet, And Saturn's Fortune's are to exile sold. But leaving him, of Danae that bright lass, How amorous Jove first wrought her to his power, How she was closed in a fort of brass, And how he scaled it in a golden shower, Of these we next must speak, curtious and wise, Help with your hands, for Homer wants his eyes. Of Danae Perseus was that night be God, Perseus that fought with the Gorgonian shield, Whose Fortune's to pursue Time suffers not. For that, we have prepared and ampler field. Likewise how Jove with fair Alcmena lay: Of Hercules, and of his famous deeds: How Pluto did fair Proserpine betray: Of these my Muse (now traveled) next proceeds. Yet to keep promise, ere we further wade, The ground of ancient Poems you shall see: And how these (first born mortal) Gods were made, By virtue of divinest Poesy. The Fates, to whom the Heathen yield all power, Whose dooms are writ in marble, to endure, Have summoned Saturn's three sons to their Tower, To them the three Dominions to assure Of Heaven, of Sea, of Hell. How these are scanned, Let none decide but such as understand. To Jupiter does high Olympus fallen. Who thunder and the trisulke lightning bears Dreaded of all the rest in general: He on a Princely Eagle mounts the Spheres, Neptune is made the Lord of all the Seas, His Mace a Trident, and his habit blue. He can make Tempests, or the waves appease, And unto him the Seamen are still true. And for the winds, these brother's that still war, Should not disturb his Empire, the three Fates Bring them to Aeolus, chained as they are, To be enclosed in caves with brazen gates. Pluto's made Emperor of the Ghosts below. Where with his black guard he in darkness reigns, Commanding hell, where Styx and Lethe flow, And murderers are hanged up in burning chains. But leaving these: to your judicial spirits I must appeal, and to your wonted grace, To know from you, what ey-lesse Homer merits, Whom you have power to banish from this place, But if you send me hence unchecked with fear, Once more I'l dare upon this Stage appear. Young Jupiter does force this beauteous maid, And after would have made her his bright Queen. But discontent she in the Forest stayed, Loath of Diana's virgins to be seen. Oft did she write, oft send, but all in vain, She never will return to Court again. Eight moons are filled & wained when she grows great And young Jove's issue in her womb does spring. This day Diana does her Nymph's entreat, Unto a solemn bathing, where they bring Deflowered Calisto, note how she would hide That which time found, and great Diana spied. Her crime thus found, she's banished from their crew, And in a cave she child's a valiant son, Called Archas, who does noble deeds pursue, And by Jove's gift Pelagia's seat hath won, Which after by his worth, and glorious fame, He hath trans-stiled Arcadia by his name. But we return to Titan, who by spies Hath learned, that Saturn hath kept sons alive. He now assembles all his strange allies, And for the crown of Creet intends to strive. Of their success, and Fortune's we proceed, Where Titans sons by youthful Jove must bleed. Fair Danae does his richest Jewel wear. That son of whom the Oracle foretold Which cost both mother and the grandsire deer Whose Fortune's further leisure shall unfold: Think Jupiter returned to Creet in hast, To levy arms for Danaes free release, (But hindered) till the time be fully passed, For Saturn once more will disturb his peace. The exiled Saturn by King Troos is aided, Troos that gave Troy her name, and there reigned King, Creet by the help of Ganymede's invaded, Even at that time when Jove should succors bring To rescue Danae, and that warlike power, Must now his native Territories guard, Which should have brought her from the brazen tower, (For to that end his forces were prepared) We grow now towards our port and wished bay, Gentles your love, and Homer cannot stray.