MERCURY

NAy, faint not now, so near the fields of rest. Here no more furies, no more torments dwell, Then each hath felt already in his breast; Who hath been once in love, hath proved his Hell. Up then, and follow this my golden rod, That points you next to aged LETHES shore, Who pours his waters from his urn abroad, Of which but tasting, you shall faint no more. They are the gentle forms, Of Lovers, tossed upon those frantic seas, Whence VENUS sprung. No. Yes. Drowned by love, That drew them forth with Hope's as smooth as were Unfaithful waters he desired them prove. He did, and on the billow would he roll, And laugh to see one throw his heart away, Another sighing, vapour forth his soul, A third, to melt himself in tears, and say, Oh Love, I now to salter water turn Then that I die in; then, a fourth, to cry Amid the surges; o! I burn, I burn: A fifth, laugh out, it is my ghost, not I. And thus in pairs I found'hem. Only one There is, that walks, and stops, and shakes his head, And shuns the rest, as glad to be alone, And whispers to himself, he is not dead. No: But, why Proceeds this doubtful voice from destiny? Sure? They say themselves, th'are dead. I'gin to doubt, that Love with charms hath put This phantasy in'hem; and they only think That they are ghosts. Do, bow unto the reverend lake: And having touched there; up, and shake The shadows off, which yet do make Us you, and you yourselves mistake. See! see! they are themselves again! Look, look unto this snaky rod, And stop your ears, against the charming God; His every word, falls from him, is a snare: Who have so lately known him, should beware. Nay, you should never have left off: But stayed, and herd your CUPID scoff, To find you in the line you were. Good Fly, good night. As if that LOVE, disarmed, were less a fire? Away, away. Yet lest that VENUS wanton Son, Should with the world, be quite undone, For your fair sakes (you brighter stars, Who have beheld these civil wars.) FATE is content, these Lovers here Remain still such: so LOVE will swear Never to force them act to do, But what he will call HERMES too.