KOSMOBREVIA[Greek], or the infancy of the world :: :: University of Virginia Library

KOSMOBREVIA[Greek], or the infancy of the world

With an Appendix of Gods resting day, Edon Garden; Mans Happiness before, Misery after, his Fall. Whereunto is added, The Praise of Nothing; Divine Ejaculations; The four Ages of the world; The Birth of Christ; Also a Century of Historical Applications; With a Taste of Poetical fictions. Written some years since by N. B.[i.e. Nicholas Billingsley] ... And now published at the request of his Friends

Billingsley, Nicholas (1633-1709)

[section]

[dedication]

The Worlds Creation, sung by Mr. Nicholas Billingsly, at fifteen years of Age.

To my friend the Author of this Book cui Titulus est Κοσμοβρεφια

Εκ Διος αρχομεα προς γαρ Διος εσμεν απαντες Πταχοι ------

To my Son (in Law) upon his Poem.

To my deare Brother the Author of this Book called Κοσμοβρεφια.

To my good friend Mr. Nicholas Billingsly in Honor of this work, penned by him about the fifteenth yeare of his age.

To my friend the Author, on his Poem intituled Κοσμοβρεφια.

To his very loving friend, Mr. Nicholas Billingsly, on his acurate Poem.

In Amici sui meritisimi: Nicholas Billingsly amænam Κοσμοβθεφια Synopsin Carmen Encomiasticon, Januar. 16. 1657.

10.

To the reverend, his much Honored Freind, Mr FRANCIS TAILOUR

The Praise of Nothing.

Divine Ejaculations.

The Birth of Christ.

A Hymne in Commemoration of the Gun-powder Treason.

GENETHLIACON,

The four Ages of the World.

Monumentum Exequiale

His Epitaph

In Equum quendam ætate consumptum haud veloci pede promoventem Hexasticon

[In Equum quendam ætate consumptum haud veloci pede promoventem Hexasticon]

An Acrostick Elegy upon the death of the late Reverend, and Famons Divine

On Ambition.

Annagramma FRANCIS ROVSE, Rise Car Of Svn.

A CENTURIE OF HISTORICAL APPLICATIONS, With a Taste of Poetical Fictions: Being the fruits of some spare Hours.

[dedication]

Historicall Applications

5 On Mercury.

10.

11.

12.

13.

13 On Ceres and Proserpine,

14.

14 On Pluto.

15.

15 On Charon.

16.

16 On Minos, Eacus, Rhadamanthus,

17.

17 Eumenides.

18.

18 On the Harpies, Stryges, and Lamiæ.

19.

19 On Chimera.

20.

20 On the Fates.

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

5 On Mercury.

Great Atlas Nephew, Jove and Maias son,
Th'embassador of heavenly powers puts on
His Stag-like feet, and golden head, his wings,
Quits the bright Court: with him along he brings

166

His snake-ingirted-soporiferous Rod,
Because that men should know he is a god,
Addicted much to exercise and motion
Swims swiftly thorough the aerial Ocean:
No sennuy force could weapons swifter fling
From Scythian bows, or Balearick string,
Then he doth scud along: Merchants to trade
Instructeth how, tells Theeves for to evade
As he (a theevish god) by slight of Art
Was wont, when he did steale Apollo's dart;
He quickly took (and was as quickly gone)
Neptune's Mace, Uulcan's tongs, & golden Zone
Of rose-cheek'd Uenus, king Admetus drove
And would have rob'd the bolts from thund'ring Jove
VVhat e're he saw he made, what could there be
Secur'd from his light-finger'd Dietie?
This active nimble god from heaven came,
VVas Author, first, of the Palestrick game;
The use of the shrill sounding Lute out sound,
And on mount Caucasus, Prometheus bound,
Hundred-eyd Argus in a conflict slew,
Freed captive Mars, and on a golden clue
Let downe by pulleys, from his fluent tongue,
The eares of his atentive hearers hung.
Cylenius, in Egypt worship'd is,
In the shape of Dog-headed Anubis;

167

Of him and Venus, an Hermaphrodite
Of either sex was born, then from the sight
Of the prodigious Gyants, having fled,
He in t'a Stork was Metamorphosed.