MERCURY

REst still thou active friend of virtue; These Should not disturb the peace of Hercules. Earth's worms, and Honours dwarves (at too great ods) Prove, or provoke the issue of the gods. See, here a Crown the aged Hill hath sent thee, My Grandsire Atlas, he that did present thee With the best sheep that in his fold were found, Or golden fruit in the Hesperian ground, For rescuing his fair Daughters, then the prey Of a rude Pirate as thou camest this way; And taught thee all the learning of the Sphere, And how Like him thou mightest the heavens up-beare; As that thy labours virtuous recompense He, though a Mountain now, hath yet the sense Of thanking thee for more, thou being still Constant to goodness, guardian of the hill; Antaeus by thee suffocated here, And the voluptuous Comus God of cheer Beat from his Grove, and that defaced, but now The time's arrived that Atlas told thee of, how B'unalterd law, and working of the Stars, There should be a cessation of all jars, Betwixt Virtue and her noted opposite Pleasure; that both should meet here in the sighed Of Hesperus, the glory of the West, The brightest star that from his burning crest Lights all on this side the Atlanticke-Seas, As far as to thy Pillars, Hercules, See where he shines, Justice, and Wisdom placed about his throne, and those with honour graced Beauty, and Love: It is not with his Brother Bearing the world, but ruling such another Is his renown, Pleasure, for his delight Is reconciled to Virtue, and this night Virtue brings forth, twelve Princes have been bred In this rough mountain, and near Atlas head The hill of knowledge; one, and chief of whom Of the bright raze of Hesperus is come, Who shall in time, the same that he is be, And now is only a less light then he; These now she trusts with Pleasure, and to these She gives and entrance to the Hesperides Fair beauty's garden; neither can she fear They should grow soft, or wax effeminate here; Since in her sighed, and by her charge all's done, Pleasure the servant, Virtue looking on. A guide that gives them laws To all their motions, Daedelus the wise; Yes.