University of Virginia Library

It was just now 'tween Dog and Bitch,
Or Hawk & Buzzard, (chuse you which)
The Gods adventur'd out of Wood:
For they behalves had understood
Of Gyants course; and each had thought
There was no danger to be caught:
For from the biggest to the least,
Each God was turn'd into a beast
Or bird; their hazard nothing so,
That they should stand in fear of foe.
Gyants, although they oft pass by,
Yet when a Ram or Goat they spie;
In this same place an Hound, an Ape,
A Cow, or beast of different shape;
In other place a Rat, of nature
(No matter which) for land or water;
They little dream'd that there should lie
In any beast a Deity.
For who is he, that as he pass,
Would once imagine Cow at grass
Should be a God? The Gyants run
With eagerness as they begun;
Beset and search the wood, then finde
There's nothing like a God; so blinde
Was Gyants apprehension. Then
The Gods that were secure from men
Or Gyants, do consult a while
In Council by the river Nyle;
When in conclusion they agree
To be as Gods were wont to be,
Each to shake off his present shape:
For since they clearly made escape,
Why should great Jove in danger go
Of injuring his feet or toe?
For what with gravel, slime, and mud,
(Which border'd on the neighbourfloud)
Like sheep they forced are to slide,
Or else with bare-foot to abide
On stones: for Rams do never use
To clad their feet with Boots or Shooes;
Besides, so thick was Jove of Wooll,
He fum'd and sweat like any Bull
Whom angry dogs do put in fear.
And Madam Juno, as I hear,
A thorn had got within her toe,
That did produce her mickle wo:
But 'twas not Jove's nor Juno's grief
Alone; but being they were chief
O'th' company, I need not strain
To shew how all the Gods complain.

Jove thinking now 'twas time to speak,
Made an Oration in the Greek
To th' other Gods; and I thought good
(Because it should be understood)
To English it; and thus it follows:
My friends, we've now escap'd the gallows
(Thank Heaven for't) but what will say
Succeeding ages, that we stray
In these uncomely shapes? By this,
The Gods will all become a hiss
Or by-word: Gyants, if they know
My Juno takes the form of Cow,
They'll make her subject of their laughter
To ages that shall be hereafter:
Or when a God is seen, they'll say,
Beware of horns, or Mutton, Ba.
'Tis better never to be born,
Then so to live the mock and scorn
Of ev'ry mortal. Jove (whose eyes
Were wet before) now plainly cries;
And I my self could almost borrow
From other subjects of my sorrow
A tear or two. But Natures course
By this time spent, Jove did with force
Proceed; and what he said were words
To this effect: Though sticks and swords
Are wanting, yet it would be worse,
Should we be subject to the force
Of Gyants: heaven thus contrives,
They sha'n't be masters of our lives:
We are not far from Memphis-town,
Let's enter ere the Sun goes down;
But first let Mercury make haste
To change his shape, now danger's past:
'Twere well if he a Cloak could steal,
(For being bare from head to heel)
'Twill be uncomely if he go
Stark naked from the top to toe.
When Mercury is clothed thus,
I'd have him get some cloathes for us.
The God most forward to reveal
The stock he had of love and zeal
For Jove, said nothing but Amen;
Great Jove, it shall be done. And then
No sooner said, but straight he flies
In shape of Crane, till he espies
Some Youngsters washing in a pool:
The Crane (so like a harmless fool)
Lights neer the cloathes, as almost tyr'd:
The youths beheld, and all admir'd:
A Crane! says one; let's make a match
Immediately the Crane to catch:
Done, says another. Thus they talk:
The Crane mean time does bend his walk
To th' cloathes, and by and by amain
Cast off his borrow'd shape of Crane.
So having done, he puts on dress.
All were amazed, you may guess,
Who saw this sudden transformation,
More strange then ever was in nation.
Mercury like a pretty lad,
With all their cloathes begins to gad.
The youths belike had learnt some Oaths;
So swore the devil had their cloaths:
But they all naked, knew not how
To follow him; nor did they know
What to imagine: but the God
Made so much haste, that straight he trod
To Usurer, and pawn'd a Pearl
Of Juno's, or some other girl:
The owner of it was some Lass;
However, we may let that pass:
The Pearl it was of value such,
That he of Coyn procur'd as much
As bought up habits of the best,
For Jove, for Juno, and the rest;
Then bought a lusty Mule to bear
Unto the Gods his purchas'd ware:
It was not long until he came,
Redeeming all the Gods from shame,
Each of them with an earnest motion,
Measures habit with proportion.

Mercury thus performing part;
When done, quoth he, I know a tart-
Wench lives hard by at signe of trumpet,
Perhaps you'll take her for a strumpet;
But be she what she will, 'tis meet
We visit her to drink and eat.
This course they all applaud as best;
And Mercury, that was her guest
Before, was order'd to repair
Unto her, to bespeak the fare.
Mercury flew, until he lit
Just at the door, and then 'twas fit
He close his wings, and walk: beside,
He walkt not half a dozen stride
Until he enters. Welcome, Sir,
The Tapster cries. Then answers Mer-
Cury, I would converse with Dame.
Quoth fellow, May I crave your name?
Then straight the Goodwife does appear:
Quoth she, I pray, good Sir, draw neer;
You're welcome. She was frying Tripe.
The God then call'd for Pot and Pipe:
Down do they sit: but Oh the bliss
Was then in ev'ry glance and kiss,
Whenas they talkt! for you may think,
Their hearts were filled to the brink
With joy: for Mercury was mannish;
Soon he dispatcht his Pipe of Spanish;
Then having in a Note set down
What diet could be had in Town,
The Maid was call'd, and Hostess sent her
To buy o'th'best: and now does enter
The rest o'th' Gods, a worthy troop;
By turns, they ev'ry one do stoop
To kiss the Hostess: Jove began;
Then Neptune, Bacchus, Mars and Pan,
And so the rest. When Juno saw her,
In haste and anger calls the Drawer
To bring some Wine: for she did grutch
The goodwife should be buss'd so much,
And she her self had none. Quoth Pan,
Just now I to the Garden ran,
Where there are most delightful bow'rs,
And like for all the world to ours.
Oh me! quoth Juno, let's go there;
I love to have the smell of air.
No sooner were they out, but all
The town came flocking, great and small,
To see the Troop: for they had heard
An Army came, and were afeard.
One cries, Alas, we shall be undon:
Another says, They're blades of London;
For that's a wilderness, we know,
Where many such tall Cedars grow.

Thus while they chat, a world appear:
In time, the Cat does lick her ear.
One bauls, What Gallants trow are these?
Another answers, Hold your peace;
They're Kings that usually are wont
In numbers brave (as these) to hunt.
Another whispers, How the Inne
Smells sweet as 'twere of Benjamin!
The next more wisely gives a ghess,
They're Players. All of them express
Their thoughts: but som were apt to think
Players were not so full of Chink:
But others thwart them, saying then,
They're now the chiefest Gentlemen:
Are they not clad in Plush and Sattin?
And don't they sometimes visit Mattin?
Do they not strut with Muff and Sword;
Keep company with Knight and Lord?

Let me not now forget to tell
How Jove had sent where once did dwell
The great Alcides: he that went,
Was absent till eight days were spent.
About that time, Jove casting eye
From window, 'twas his chance to spie
Alcides: straight down stayrs he runs,
And clapping fist into his son's,
How dost, quoth he, my bonny Lad?
What, hast thou quite forgot thy Dad?
'Tis true, as ancient story goes,
That childe is wise, nown father knows.
Quoth Hercules, Oh, now I see
You are the same; I, you are he.
With that, the complements renew,
And each does render devil due.
Whilst they embrace, the other Gods
Were almost 'mongst themselves at oddes
Who first salutes Alcmena's son.
By this, Jove's complements were done:
With that, the Gods came all a-row
To honour great Amphytrio:
With tears in eyes they wept for joy,
Meerly for sight of Jove's great boy.
The strangers though the most were mutes
When they observed these salutes,
Flockt shrewdly: but when Jove they spi'd,
(Who now had re-assum'd his pride)
They great observance shew'd; for he
(All saw) was chiefest in degree.
But one amongst the rest, more bold
Then his companions, cry'd out, Hold;
Observ'd you him did just now nod?
(The devil take me) he's a God:
I know it by his garb and state,
By his deportment, and his gate;
His looks declare it: nay, (what's more)
I have been told as much before.
This News, as well as other things
As strange, immediately took wings;
So that in little space it came
To their High-priest, a man of fame;
Who hearing this, the truth to know,
Resolves with company to go
In person; and when there, to do
His duty, if report held true
That they were Gods: with him he brings
For presents, fine Cornelian Rings
Some thirty thousands; nineteen score
Of Crocodiles new come to shore:
Ichneumones, what beast is that?
Some do suppose it Pharaoh's Rat;
Of them threescore: Hippopotames,
Or a Sea-horse, the more known name is,
As tame as Pigeons; these a score:
Of Eel-skin-gloves some ten times more.
The high-priest come, the presents given,
The crowd o' th' people further driven,
Complements past on either part;
Jove seem'd content, and glad at heart:
The Priest makes offer of protection
Within his Land, with great affection:
Jove likewise does return him thanks,
With promise to protect his banks
From what doth usually harm;
He'd give them a preventing Charm
Against the strength of Creatures stature,
Or venom of depraved nature:
All this on free-cost. Mercury,
That present was, could even cry,
That Jove should not consider how
Through earth and air he us'd to plow
To serve the Gods both to and fro:
Yet Jove as much and more did know;
And for requital, bids him dance
Afresh perhaps as far as France.

Now Jove and Priest by this time sate
On breech, their stories to relate:
For being in an unknown clime,
Not knowing how to spend their time,
They will that each a passage tell
Of what had formerly befel.
When now it came to jocund Priest,
(Most ready to oblige the rest;
For he of all was much the lesser)
He story told of predecessor:
Silence he crav'd, and did prevail:
Then thus began