vaunt thy love unto our Art And didst reward our Priests with wealth and fame Oft didst thou take thy pen to play thy part Among our Quire and with our sacred flame Inspir'd didst triumph in a Poets name 24. How then came all that heat and love so quail'd O'rewhelm'd and quench'd by one dire blast of ire Our Pow'r contemn'd which ever yet prevail'd With stoutest spirits O why did we inspire Thee with one spark that thus dost slight our Quire 25. Our force and virtue that have rais'd the dead Drawn down the Moon erected brazen Towers Tam'd Bears and Tigers mov'd the Rocks and staid The running Streams and charm'd the greatest Powers In Pluto 's cell mov'd not that heart of yours 26. Jove Juno Venus Janus Mars and all Ye Powers of heaven his pen your praises spake Why did ye let so true a servant fall Why did ye not for your own honours sake With draughts of Nectar him immortall make 27. And thou great Father of our sacred Quire Let me in Griefs prerogative be bold To plead with thee Thou didst at full inspire Thy darling Naso and hast him enroll'd Among thy most renowned Priests of old 28. Oft hast thou crowned with immortall Bayes His sacred brows he was thy favourite Nor that grand Chanter of Achilles praise Nor that high pen which sung Aeneas flight Nor that sweet Lyrick thee did more delight 29. Why didst not then with thine Ambrosia feed him Food which thou giv'st to thine unwearied steeds To large eternity why didst not breed him Then his pure fansie sown with heavenly seeds Had chanted more divine and humane deeds 30. Thou might'st at least have done the world that favour As to have begg'd a longer lease of life From Joves own hand O thou hadst been a saver Of thine own honour hadst thou stay'd the knife That bloudie weapon of the Sisters rise 31. Behold that halved orphane work a piece Almost the last that by his hand was penn'd That work alone deserv'd a longer lease Of life from thee See how he did intend Thy same and honour through the year to send 32. Had he accomplish'd that divine designe And reach'd to his Years end without that wrong From Fate and Caesar that had all been thine Then in thy chariot thou hadst danc'd along Thy Years twelve labours in a constant song 33. Now is thy race uneven One half the yeare Thou passest blank Methinks thy wheels are numb Those silenc'd Months No song doth calendar Thy Signes and dayes One side of heaven is dumb Such wrongs to us from Fates thwart actions come 34. Apollo duly to her plaint gave eare Her grief mov'd pitie and her words mov'd grief Much it affects him Naso 's death to heare That envious Fate so short had cropp'd his life He shakes his fire-locks and replies not brief Apollo 35. Sweet Clio Thy complaint is just and true And in thy sorrow I consent with thee The thought of Phaethon's fall doth not renew My passion so nor more distemper me Then Ovid's death and sad calamitie 36. And had I thought his fatall twist had been So near the end and that the Three consented Amid his songs to cut his thread so green I would have tri'd my skill to have prevented That stroke and got a longer lease indented 37. But well thou know'st my mind about is hurl'd Each week each day each minute of an houre In generall affairs of all the world In meting out of Time and keeping our Heaven's Complices in their due course and power 38. That I nor space nor respit have alwayes On each particular in this vast All To set my thoughts though men of worth and praise Are cropp'd by Fates who threads of Virtue gall And oft my friends besides my knowledge fall 39. Thus Maro Lucane by their spitefull hand Aâ—nâ—â—ares were banish'd from my light And that arch-Poet of the Fairie lond With diverse more Thus many a Favourite Have lost their heads out of their Prince's sight 40. When I per chance foresee the fatall day Of any Worthie how it me doth pain To bring it onward gladly would I stay And were it not Necessitie constrain I should my chariot oftentimes refrain 41. But Clio stay thy tears 'T is follie never To cease a grief for unrevers'd decrees 'T is wisdome when Necessitie doth sever Her actions and our will when what we please We cannot do to do what most may ease 42. Though Death hath silenc'd his facetious quill And robb'd him of his life us of our praise Yet doth his fame his nobler portion still Survive and flourish like our lasting Bayes And through the world his works his worth shall raise 43. As for his Poeme's losse it proves his gain 'T is greater honour to be much desir'd Then much enjoy'd For that which doth remain To be made up some Fansie well attir'd May be e'r long for that supply inspir'd 44. Thus in despite of Fate will we extend Our Servants lives and raise their dying head As for Augustus who did cause his end The world concludes it Ovid banished Th' unworthi'st act that e'r Augustus did Sic questa est Clio moestae gemuere Sorores ConcussÃtque comam scitus Apollo Lyrae OVIDS FESTIVALLS OR ROMANE CALENDAR The first Book or JANUARIE The Argument TH' old Romane yeare The severall sorts of dayes Discourse with Janus Th' Astrosophi's praise The feast Agonia Whence the Altar's fill'd With bloud of birds and beasts Why th' Asse is kill'd To lustfull Priap Queen Carmentis rite With her predictions Great Tyrinthius fight With fire-mouth'd Cacus The Augustian name Assum'd by Cesar In Carmentis fame More sacreds pay'd White Concord in white fane Mild Peace her altar And a pray'r for grain TImes with their causes to the Romane yeare Dispos'd of old Star's courses sing we here Germanick Cesar O accept our charge With smooth aspect and guide my feeble barge Be Patrone to this piece devote to thee Let not this gift though small rejected be Here holy rites pickt out of annals old May'st thou read ore and why each day 's enroll'd Here may you your domestick feasts adjoynd And here your father and grandfather find And how throughout the Calendar renown'd Thy brother Drusus fame with thine shall sound Some Caesars arms we Caesars altars sing What dayes were hallow'd by that sacred king The whiles the glory of thy house I chaunt Do thou but smile no fear our Muse shall daunt Your grace gives vigour to my verses poore Our fansie at your eye doth flag or soat The censure of so learn'd a majesty Our Muse doth fear more then Apollo's eye For we did tast those sweets your lips let fall When you did plead in causes criminall But when Apollo thee inspir'd O then What streams of learning glided from thy pen O Poet deigne a Poets rain to guide That so our yeare a sweeter course may slide WHen Romulus the times did first dispose Ten months to number out his
her frighted bosome flung Leaps into Thebes girt with a troup of clouds And snatch'd her Children from amid the crouds And for their flight the Ramme with golden fleece Was given to both which bears them o're the seas The fainting Maid with weak left-hand the Ramme Held by the horn when she that Sea did name Her Brother whiles he strain'd to help and gave His hand stretch'd to her scarce himself could save He for his double-dangers-mate miscarry'd Laments not knowing Neptune her had marry'd Ashore the Ram was to the heavens extoll'd And Colchis kept his precious fleece of Gold When Lucifer hath thrice appear'd in heaven The balanc'd howers of Night and Day are even Hence when the Shepherd four times folds his flocks And four times Earth bedews her pearly locks Then Janus and Rome's Safety are ador'd With Altar of mild Peace and meek Concord The Moon doth guide the Months The Moon in fine Concludes this Month ador'd on Aventine The end of the third Book OVIDS FESTIVALLS OR ROMANE CALENDAR The fourth Book or APRIL The Argument THe pedigree of Romulus and Rome Fair April's name from Venus fair doth come Male Fortune's Incense Atlas daughters rise Grand Cybel's feasts Nun Claudia testifies Her Chastity Some Stage-games Feasts divine To Ceres and her search of Proserpine A Fordy Cow is sacrific'd to Earth Now glowing Sol on Taurus back rides forth Palilia and Vinalia feasts A pray'r To hurtfull Rust A feast to Flora fair ALme Queen of payring Love Assist I cri'd To me she streight her chearful eye appli'd What news with you you had another strain What touch'd saith she with your old wound again Madame said I you know my wound She smil'd And straight that way the aire grew clear and mild Or sound or sore I ne'r forsook thy tent Thou art my daily task my ornament I play'd my part throughout my youthfull prime But now our quill a higher strain doth climb Times with their causes pick'd from Annals old Starres sets and risings doth our Muse unfold We come to th' fourth month which doth thee renown You know sweet Lady Priest and Month 's your own The Goddesse pleas'd doth lightly touch my head With Myrtle-bough and bade me still proceed I felt the virtue All things straight grew clear Hoise up our sails then while the wind blows fair And Caesar thou maintein'st as good a share In April as in all the Calendar This Month descends to thee by pedigree Thine by adoptive great-nobilitie This Romulus knew when he did compound The yeare and thence his Parents both renown'd And as he gave to Mars the foremost place Because he was next Authour of his race So Venus many ranks before his mother He Mistresse made of this next following other And turning o're Times rolls to find the ground Of his descent the Gods his Parents found Who knows not Dardan from Electra's seed Did spring whom she conceiv'd by Jove did breed Hence Erichthonius who begat King Tros Assarac's Sire hence Capys next arose The next Anchises with whom Venus fair Did not disdain a Parent 's name to bear Aeneas next whose Piety try'd in fire Brought severall Sacreds both his Gods and Sire Now come we to Iulus blessed name Where Teucrian Sages meet the Julian fame Next Posthumus who was being born among The woods call'd Sylvius in the Romane tongue Another Sylvius of his father's name Joyn'd with Aeneas from this Sylvius came He was Latinus father Alba's time Succeeded his and Epytus next him This man the names of Troy reviv'd again Then Calpetus his grandchild next did reigne Next Tyberine his father's throne imply'd Who drowned in the Tuscane river dy'd Yet saw his sonne Agrippa and grandchild Stern Remulus who was with lightning kill'd Then Aventine whose mount doth still maintein His name succeeds Next Proca took the reigne Next Numitor unjust Amulius brother Whose Wife was Lausus and Nun Ilia's mother Amulius Lausus slayes Mars Ilia loves Who big by him with those twin-brothers proves Thence Romulus alwayes for Parents chief Held Mars and Venus and deserves belief And that succeeding times might know the same These Months he joyn'd in both his parents name But sure this name of Venus-month doth come From that Greek nown that notes the waters fome Nor wonder we at this Greek word at all For Italy old times Great Greece did call Here came Evander with his fleet well mann'd Here came Alcides both of Grecia land That clubbed Pilgrime did his herd display On Aventine and drank of Albula Vlysses too the Lestrygons can tell And that same shore where Circe once did dwell The walls of Telegon and Tybur stand Still extant raised by a Grecian hand Halesus forc'd by Atrides fate here came From whom Phaliscanes did derive their name Antenor too who would Troy's peace have wonne And Diomed Appulian Daunus Sonne Aeneas late behind Antenor came And hither brought his Gods from th' Ilian flame S r Solemus from Phrygian Ida tall Came in his train who named Sulmo's wall Sweet Sulmo's wall great Prince my native land Ah me how distant from the Scythian sand Well Muse suppresse these long complaints nor sing These sacred strains upon a mournfull string What will not Envy reach Some Venus would From thee the honour of this month withhold For ' cause the season opens every thing Grosse cold departs and plants begin to spring From th' Open time they challenge April's name Which Venus with an earnest hand doth claim She pleasantly doth temper all the yeare And rule inferiour to no God doth bear She governs Heaven and Earth and native Seas And by her work mainteins each Species She all the Gods begat 't were long to tell And with warm seeds makes Herbs and Trees to swell She brought rude men to one harmonious mind And to his proper make each male she joyn'd What but soft Pleasure Birds to breed doth move Nor would Beasts couple if there were no Love The surly Ram will with a Ram knock horns But yet to hurt his lovely Ew he scorns The Bull whose majesty doth aw the grove With smoothed brow doth gently wo his Love The same instinct doth guide marinall things Which fills with thousand fish the Water-springs She first Mankind's more savage life refin'd And first to comely habits men inclin'd A Lover in an ill-sped night his fate First wail'd in verse at 's Sweet-hearts bolted gate To wo his Wench Love made him eloquent And in his cause each man was excellent She hath discover'd thousand arts Love did Find many a notion which before lay hid Who then this Month to Venus dares refuse To give Avaunt that folly from our Muse Beside she is a generall Pow'r frequented With numerous Fanes but most in Rome augmented She for thy Troy O Rome did weapons wear When her soft hand was wounded with a spear She put two Ladies down a Trojane Judge Ah may those twain not think of that old grudge Assarac's daughter she became
yeare he chose Forsooth thou hadst more skill in signes of warres To curb thy neighbours then in signes of starres Yet he by reasons was to this induc'd His errour Caesar may be well excus'd What time the mother in her womb doth bear Her breeding child just that he made his yeare That time the widow from the fatall burning Of her dead mate did wear the signes of mourning These arguments did Romulus regard When he the seasons to his peasants shar'd Mars had the first the next was Venus place He father and she mother of his race The third from Eld the fourth from Yongth is nam'd The number titles for the rest hath fram'd But Numa willing Janus to adore And dead mens ghosts prepos'd a couple more Now you the duties of each day must know For every day did not the like allow That was Non-leet-day which the three words scap't That Leet-day was wherein the courts were kept These offices were not all day performing 'T is Leet at noon but 't was a Non-leet morning Before the Praetour pleading then begun And suits of law when sacrifice was done Some dayes the people in the rails include Some on the ninth day still their course renew'd Queen Juno's care our Romane Calends shield A fat white lamb in th' Ides to Jove is kill'd The Nones are blank and want a sacrifice Take heed I pray the next a black day is The reason 's from th' events In them they say Our Romane host have often lost the day But once of these it shall suffice to speak In all our book lest I my order break GErmanick lo our Janus thee doth bring A happy yeare he is the first I sing Tway-faced Janus our still-pac't yeares guide Who onely of the gods seest thy back-side Come gracious to our captains by whose care Both sea and land secure of tumult are Come gracious to our Romane lords and states And in good will unlock thy temple-gates A good day comes let tongues from hearts salute Good words and greetings this good day do suit Let idle wranglings not molest the eare Ye brawling people now your suits deferre See how the heavens with spicy fires do shine And spikenard crackles on the hearths divine Transplendent flames do lash the temples gold A twinkling lustre to the roof extoll'd White robes now walk to our Tarpeian wall The people 's deckt in gaytie festivall New purple shines new rods now stalk in state The ivory'd benches bear another weight The fair fat ox whose neck ne're felt the yoke Now yields it to the sacrificing stroke Jove when he views the world from towring skies Hath nought but Romane to imploy his eyes Hail holy-day come alwayes fortunate Deserving worship of a world-great state But Janus now what god shall I thee call For Greece hath nere a god like thee at all Rehearse the reason why thou hast such ods Of looking both wayes more then all the gods I walkt my note-book in mine hand I mus'd The temple brighter shines then earst it us'd Majestick Janus turns immediately His double visage to my wondring eye Amazement makes my hairs upright to start A sudden terrour chills me to the heart His staff in 's right hand in his left his key From former face he thus replies to me Time's studious prophet cast aside all fear And from my mouth what thou desirest heare Old times did call me Chaos I 'm a thing Of deepest eld mark what old acts I sing All these foure elements the Aire so clear Fire Earth and Water one whole bodie were When strife they ceas'd and this laborious masse To severall houses separated was Fire mounted heaven the next the Aire possess'd The Earth and Water in the midst were press'd Then I who was a rude and shapelesse load Came to the true proportion of a god Because my badge of that rude lump is small My fore and back parts differ not at all The other reason of my shape I 'le show Which with my office thou shalt also know What-ere thou seest heaven aire and sea and land Are all lockt up and open'd by mine hand This vast worlds guard is in my onely power The wheeling of the hinge of heaven is our When peace I please into calm courts to send She in safe paths about doth freely wend. With fatall bloud the world would drenched be Should I not curb stern warre with this my key I with the gentle Houres heavens portalls guard Jove's self goes in and out too by my ward Thence Janus call'd And when the priest doth make A wafer for me and a salt-meal-cake The name doth seem ridiculous some whiles He me Patusius and then Clusius styles My double office rude antiquitie By this alternate name would signifie Thou seest my office now will I make known My figure's ground in part alreadie shown Two fronts thou know'st belong to every gate This tow'rds the people tow'rds the houshold that And as the porter at his gate with you Does both the ingresse and the egresse view So I the porter or heavens court survey Just at a wink the East and Western bay See Hecate her faces three wayes bends And so she eas'ly three-leet wayes defends So without motion I two wayes can see Lest losse of time there should in moving be This said he promis'd with a courteous eye If more I askt he would not me denie I courage took and thankt S r Janus then And casting down mine eye thus spake again Why doth the New yeare in the cold begin The gentle spring a fitter time had bin Times age renews then and renews all things On swelling twigs the pearly vine-bud springs Leaves deck the trees in summer-green attire Both grasse and grain above the ground doth spire Birds descants warble in the calmed aire Both birds and beasts do sport about and pair The sun shines warm Then comes the vagrant swallow And on a beam her morter-work doth follow The farmers ploughes his fallow grounds manure This should have been the yeares beginning sure I largely ask't he made no large replies But in two verses doth his speech comprize Sols first and last day doth in winter fall The yeare the same beginning hath with Sol. Then marvell'd I why with some suits of laws This day is kept Sayes Janus Learn the cause Upon the first day some affairs we raise Lest from the Omen all the yeare should laze Each in his art for that some businesse does And by those acts his yearly studies shews But why said I do we bring myrrh and wine To thee before the other powers divine That you sayes he by me who keep the doore May have accesse to any other power And why said I on this first day such greetings And hearty wishes do we use at meetings Replies he leaning on his staff in 's hand In their beginnings do all Omens stand Your jealous eares you turn to each first word The watchfull Augur marks the first-spy'd bird Gods eares and temples
my mind this ground is best of all How-ere 't is doubtfull But the great King-priest With sacred ram to Janus now must feast By hands victorious victima doth fall From slaughtred host the beast we hostia call In times of eld men pleas'd the pow'rs of heaven With crummes of salt and meal of barley given No forrain vessel through the swelling seas Brought in sweet myrrh wept from the rinds of trees Euphrates incense Ind no cost did send None did the strings of tawny saffron tend From Sabine weeds the altars fumes did rise And bay-boughs burning with a crackling noise If any in his flow'r-prank't chaplets than Could violets put he was a wealthy man The knife that now the oxes flesh doth slice Then had no office in a sacrifice First Ceres in the greedy swines bloud joy'd Him well requiting who her wealth destroy'd For in the spring her tender juicy corn She found up-rooted by the swine and torn He punish't was Sir goat you might have learn'd To keep from vines by his example warn'd Whom one beholding on the vine-tree feeding Did vent these words from no still grief proceeding Well goat gnaw on yet when at th' altar thou Dost stand for death the wine shall wash thy brow Truth proves his speech to thee that foe of thine Sir Bacchus given his horns are dash't with wine The swines fault wrong'd him the goats yee flocks What did ye merit or the usefull ox The shepherd Aristaeus mourn'd and pin'd His bees all dead and combs decay'd to find Whom his blue mother comforted in grief And in the end did give him this relief Sonne stay these sorrows Proteus thee will shew Thy losse to cure and thy dead stock renew But bind him sure in fetters strong lest he With his transformed shapes should coosen thee The young man to the Ocean Sage makes hast And fast asleep his arms he shackles fast His shape he changes and transforms by charm Straight tam'd with shackles comes to his own form And raising his drencht face with his blue beard Do'st seek quoth he to have thy stock repair'd An oxes carcase bury in the field And thy desire that buried ox shall yield This did the youth The putrid corps doth glow With swarms from one life do a thousand flow The saucie sheep cropt vervine in the spring Which good old wives to countrey-gods did bring What beast's secure when profitable flocks Are slain at altars and the toilsome ox Beam-girt Hyperion Persians please with horse No dull beast suits a god so swift in course The hart that did to triple Dian fall Once for a maid now dies for none at all Sabeans and chill Aemus have I seen Dogs entrails offer to the Trivian queen The asse unto the Garden-god is kill'd The cause obscene yet such this god doth yield To ivi'd Bacchus Greece a feast did make Which each third yeare a constant course doth take The gods that kept about Lyceus side And all the neighbours to the banquet ply'd The Fauns and Satyrs with obscenenesse fir'd The Nymphs that haunt fresh springs and shades retir'd Silenus sage on bow-backt asse was there And he whose red flank frightfull birds doth scare Who choosing in a grove a fitting place For such a feast sate down on turfs of grasse Th 'had wines from Bacchus each did bring his crown To cool their cups a brook hard by ran down The Fairies some in loose and carelesse hair Some in their artificiall tires were there Some with their coats tuckt up unto the knee Some naked-breasted in the service be Some with bare shoulders some in garments side Did sweep the grasse their feet no sandals ty'd Hence secretly at some the Satyres glow And thou who with a pine-wreath bind'st thy brow And thee Silenus quenchlesse lusts still hold 'T is lechery that makes thee never old But Priap's love the dun-thigh'd garden-guard ' Mongst all the rest was bent to Lotis-ward For her he longs for her he sighs and pines To her he winks and sues with nods and signes Pride fills the fair and beauty breeds disdain She laughs at him and slights his suits but vain Night came and sleep by wine provoked they Each in his place to rest being drowzy lay Beneath a maple Lotis on the grasse Quite tir'd with sport on th' outside tumbled was Her sweet-heart rising holds his breath and goes Most slily creeping on his hands and toes Her private lodging soon as he came nigh He holds his wind from breathing out too high His bulk he layes down eas'ly on the ground Close to her side yet she asleep was sound Full blith her coats above her knees he drew And luckily his businesse gan pursue When lo just then from his unpleasing throat Silenus asse brayes out an ugly note Up starts the nymph affrighted much and shoves Sir Priap off and flying wakes the groves The god too forward with his tool obscene Was soundly jeer'd at by the moon-light seen This cost the braying asse his life who is To Lampsacs God a pleasing sacrifice Wood-haunting birds the countreys solace yee A harmlesse brood were yet untouch'd and free That build neat nests and eggs with tender wing Hatch up and in melodious accents sing This nought avails the Gods your tongues do find Too faulty in discovering their mind And true it is with wing and tattling bill You near to heaven disclose their secret will The kind of birds long free at length yet dy'd And Gods their traitours entrails gratifi'd Thence on the burning hearths the milk-wing'd dove Is sacrific'd snatch't from her tender love Nor can the guarded Capitol release The gooses liver from choise Inachs messe The cock by night to Nights black Queen they slay Because his watchfull bill doth wake the day Mean while the Dolphines glittering snout doth rise From native seas and scales the azure skies Next day doth winter equally divide What past made even to what remains beside Next dayes Aurora rising views in sight Th' Arcadian Ladies pontificiall rite This day Juturna to a chapell took Where Mars his field is girt with maiden brooâ— From whence shall I their cause and customes take My doubtfull barge who guides amid this lake Tell thou who from thy verses tak'st thy name My task assist lest I should wrong thy fame Before the Moon Arcadia did derive Her name from Arcas may we her believe Here liv'd Evander honourable in Both pedegrees but most in mothers kin She when her brest with heavenly fire was fill'd From full-voic'd mouth true prophesies did yield That troubles did herself and sonne pursue With much more news which time approved true For he with his too-skilfull mother beat From Arcadie forsook his native seat And weeping cryes his mother Do not mourn My sonne these fates must manfully be born 'T was thus enroll'd in Fate from thine abode No crime hath driven thee but an angry God Thou sufferest not thy merits but heavens wrath Clean innocence in wo much comfort
divine Jove's Twins the Champion and the Horse-courser Had stoll'n fair Phoebe and her Sister dear Idas and Lynceus both by contract made Leucippus sonnes took arms their wives to aid Love causes their demand and their deniall The self-same cause perswades both sides to triall Th' Oebalian Twins could eas'ly flie away But that was base by flight to get the day There is an open plain a champion fair And fit for arms There stood this faithfull pair Swift Castor 's bosome bor'd with Lynceus blade He on the ground at unawares was laid Revenging Pollux comes and with his pike Quite through the throat doth Lynceus deadly strike At him flies Idas Whom Joves flames scarce quell'd They say his sword he in his hand still held Heavens ope for Pollux enterteinment were Sayes he O Father my petition heare What thou me onely do thou two enstall One moity of thy boon is more then all Thus to his Brother he divides his charge A welcome couple to a vexed barge Who seeks Agonia must to Janus go Yet this day hath it in this season too This night the Erigonian Dog doth shine I 've given else-where the reason of this Signe Next day is Vulcane's which is Lustria nam'd They lustrate Trumpets by the Lemnian fram'd Foure figures read from this and lo in sight The Holy Customes or the Tarquine's flight Lo Publick Fortune of our potent nation This day beheld her Temples consecration When spring-rich Amphitrite this light removes Behold the Bird which Jove so dearly loves The sequent morning doth Bootes hide Next day the Hyads vaunt their glittering pride The end of the fifth Book OVIDS FESTIVALLS OR ROMANE CALENDAR The sixth Book or JUNE The Argument THe severall reasons of this Month he gives The Janal wand away Night Scrich-owls drives Moneta 's Chapell'd by Camillus vow So is Bellona Mind is honour'd too The figure of Chast Vesta's house her rites Jove Pistor's Altar Ino Matrones cites Vnto her feast S t Fortune 's Temple built By Servius Tullia 's Hell-surpassing guilt Quinquatrian feasts The grand Physician rais'd The feast of Fortune Philip 's work is prais'd FOr this Months name too divers reasons make I 'll cite them all that thou thy choice maist take I sing a truth though some elsewise may ween And hold no Gods of humane eyes are seen There is a God in us in him we live His sacred spirits this heat and vigour give I specially may see a heavenly sight Or in a Prophet's or this subject's right There is a tree-throng'd Grove reserv'd from all Shape of a sound unlesse some water-fall Upon this month I musing hither came And much revolv'd th' originall and name Lo Nymphs I saw Not those that Farmer old Did meet in feeding his Ascraean fold Nor those that shew'd themselves to Priam's Sonne In spring-fed Ida Yet of them was one Even one of them her Husbands Sister Her I oft had seen i' th' Tower of Jupiter Amazed palenesse did my spirit betray Forthwith the fear she caus'd she took away O thou that dost the Romane Yeare maintein And sing'st saith she grand things on humble strain This priviledge of seeing Gods was thine When first thou undertook'st this task divine But lest that thou i' th' vulgar errour wade Know thou that June his name from Juno had Joves Wife and Sister 't is no modern grace To me I know not which should take the place I was old Saturns eldest child if birth And pedigree you count of any worth My Fathers name once to this place was given This land in his account was next to heaven If wedlock 's priz'd I am the Thund'rers Bride My Temple stands just by his Temples side Could May that strumpet have a Months renown What and shall any dare deny me one Why do I then that royall title hold The Queen of heaven and wear a crown of Gold Light makes the months and I am Lucine styl'd Shall I then be of my Months name beguil'd I should repent that my true love and grace I e're vouchsafed to the Trojane race Young Ganimed 's preferment and th' award Of Paris judgement urg'd my anger hard I should be sory that I e're despis'd My Carthage where my Coach and arms are priz'd Or that I ever put this land between My Samos Argos Sparta or Mycene Besides the Sabines and Faliscanes who Did honour me to Rome I did subdue But I 'm not griev'd this is my darling land And here my Temple with my Joves doth stand My Sonne Mars said Dear Mother take this town It is my Sonne 's here shall be thy renown His word 's perform'd My altars here are many And my Months honour is as great as any Nor doth Rome onely this most welcome fame On me conferre the neighbours do the same See but the Calendar of th' Aricinians Or my Laurentians or of my Lavinians See Tybur there this month is proved mine And read but o're the rolls of Praenestine This time they all give me and yet they wanted My Sonne 's foundation who this city planted Thus Juno ends I turn'd and Herc'les Bride With sorrows symptomes in her face I spi'd Should my dear Mother bid me pack away From heaven saith she in heaven I would not stay Nor do I now contend for this Month's honour I rather beg it in submissive manner Fain by intreaty would I keep my due Perhaps my cause may favour find with you My Mother hath her Capitol of gold And as is fit her Tower with Jove doth hold But all my glory is in this Months name All I regard is but this piece of fame Rome need not grudge with all her postern race To give Alcides Wife this season 's grace More for my Husband's sake might she afford With Spanish oxen he this kingdome stor'd And Cacus fens'd with flames of fire to strain By Vulcane's art by his stout arm was slain But I come nearer Romulus your King Into two parts his men distributing The Youth for arms for counsel were the Aged The Old to plot the warre the Young to wage it This by two months he stablish'd For this reason May is the Majors June the Juniors season Thus and in more words did they plead and chide Their eager anger did affection hide Then comes fair Concord deck'd with laurel-crown Whose fame and Fabrick is our Kings renown Of Romulus and Tatius she relates And how to one they did unite two States Both Sonne and Father made one common home From their conjunction June saith she doth come I 've heard three causes but excuse me ye 'T is not for me to arbitrate this plea. I leave you even Troy ru'd th' award of Paris One cannot make so much as two will marre us The first day Carna Mistresse of the Hinge Is worshipp'd she that shuts and opens things Whence she this office had time doth obscure The truth but yet our Muse shall thee assure Th' old grove Helernus near to Tyber lies The