FAME

F Rome blissful Bowers of fair Elysian fields, (The happy harbour of Jove's dearest Dear) From thence these Worthies (noted by their shields Are (by my conduct) thus arrived here. I Fame that with a trice, do overfill The World's wide ears with what I please to say, Have brought them thus, as t'were against the hill Of highest Lets, to celebrate this Day! This Day, that I so far have famouzed That not a nook of Earth's huge Globe but knows, How in great Britain t'is solemnized With divine Offices, and glorious Shows. Then for th'encrease of this triumphant Mirth, I'll invocate the Gods Ambassador, To be the President of Heaven to Earth; And, from the Gods, salute your Governor. Then come great Nuntius of th'immortall Gods, From that all-swaying Senate of their State; Come, I invoke thee, with thy charming-rod In glory come, this Day to celebrate. The ninefold Orbs of Heaven, my words do pierce; Descend then, Tongues-man of the Universe. COme down thou mighty messenger of bliss, Come: we implore thee, Let not thy glory be obscured from us Who most adore thee: Then come, Oh come great spirit That we may joyful sing, Welcome, Oh welcome to earth Jove's dearest darling. Lighten the eyes thou great Mercurian Prince, Of all that view thee, That by the lustre of their optic sense They may pursue thee: While with their voices Thy praise they shall sing, Come away Jove's dearest darling. Down from the Throne of the immortal Gods, From out the glorious everduring Heavens, And from the sacred Powers celestial From thence I come, commanded by them all To visit Him whose rare report hath rung His earned fame on earth hath pierced the sky, Ascending up unto the highest Heavens; And therewithal procured the sacred Senate In great regard to hold his worthiness: For which intent, They all (with one accord) To manifest the Love to Him they owe, Have sent me Mercury, their Messenger, To bring him joyful tidings of the same. And to this place, directed by their Powers, I am arrived (in happy time I hope) To find this happy God-beloued Man. And lo behold on sudden where I spy This Favourite so favoured of the Gods: I will salute him with such courtesy As best beseems a wight of such account. All hail to thee high Justice Officer; Mercury, Nuntius to the Powers divine, Hath brought thee greetings from their Deities. And know (deer Sir) thy deeds and good deserts, Thy well disposed Nature, Mind, and thought, Thy zealous care to keep their Laws divine, Thy great compassion on poor wights distressed, Thy prudence, justice, temperance, and thy truth, And, to be brief, thy virtues general, Have moved them all from Heaven, with one assent, To send Me down, to let thee understand That thou art highly in their Favors placed: And, for the more assurance of the same, Lo here a Favour favourably sent From them, by me, to thee, that thou mayest know Thy virtues here shall there rewarded be With endless joy, and perfect happiness. Receive the same, returning nought but thanks, Which is as much as they require of thee, My message done, my task thus brought to end, I must return and to the Heavens ascend.