Thalia Rediviva The Pass-times and Diversions of a Countrey-muse, In Choice Poems on several Occasions. With Some Learned Remains of the Eminent Eugenius Philalethes. Never made Publick till now [by Henry Vaughan] |
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Metrum 3. Lib. 4. |
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 | Thalia Rediviva |  |
Metrum 3. Lib. 4.
If old tradition hath not fail'd,
Ulysses, when from Troy he sail'd,
Was by a tempest forc'd to land
Where beauteous Circe did command.
Circe, the daughter of the Sun,
Which had with Charms and Herbs undone
Many poor strangers, and could then
Turn into Beasts, the bravest Men.
Such Magic in her potions lay
That whosoever past that way
And drank, his shape was quickly lost;
Some into Swine she turn'd, but most
To Lyons arm'd with teeth and claws;
Others like Wolves, with open Jaws
Did howl; But some (more savage) took
The Tiger's dreadful shape and look.
Ulysses, when from Troy he sail'd,
Was by a tempest forc'd to land
Where beauteous Circe did command.
Circe, the daughter of the Sun,
Which had with Charms and Herbs undone
Many poor strangers, and could then
Turn into Beasts, the bravest Men.
Such Magic in her potions lay
That whosoever past that way
And drank, his shape was quickly lost;
Some into Swine she turn'd, but most
To Lyons arm'd with teeth and claws;
Others like Wolves, with open Jaws
Did howl; But some (more savage) took
The Tiger's dreadful shape and look.
But wise Ulysses by the Aid
Of Hermes, had to him convey'd
A Flow'r, whose virtue did suppress
The force of charms, and their success.
While his Mates drank so deep, that they
Were turn'd to Swine, which fed all day
On Mast, and humane food had left,
Of shape and voice at once bereft.
Only the Mind (above all charms,)
Unchang'd, did mourn those monstrous harms.
Of Hermes, had to him convey'd
A Flow'r, whose virtue did suppress
The force of charms, and their success.
While his Mates drank so deep, that they
Were turn'd to Swine, which fed all day
On Mast, and humane food had left,
Of shape and voice at once bereft.
Only the Mind (above all charms,)
Unchang'd, did mourn those monstrous harms.
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O worthless herbs, and weaker Arts
To change their Limbs, but not their Hearts
Mans life and vigor keep within,
Lodg'd in the Center, not the Skin.
Those piercing charms and poysons, which
His inward parts taint and bewitch,
More fatal are, than such, which can
Outwardly only spoile the man.
Those change his shape and make it foul;
But these deform and kill his soul.
To change their Limbs, but not their Hearts
Mans life and vigor keep within,
Lodg'd in the Center, not the Skin.
Those piercing charms and poysons, which
His inward parts taint and bewitch,
More fatal are, than such, which can
Outwardly only spoile the man.
Those change his shape and make it foul;
But these deform and kill his soul.
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