University of Virginia Library

Mercvry and Apollo.

The Argument.

Of Iove and of Alcmena: The long night
In which the great Alcides was begot,
This Fable speakes. And if I guesse aright,
In this the Author much profaned not,
To tax the heathen Idols his pretence is,
Since men are punisht for the gods offences.

The Dialogve.

Mercury.
To thee, ô Phœbus, Iupiter doth say,
Forbear to mount thy Chariot for this day;
The next too, and the third, disclose no light,
But for that time make it continuall night.
Keepe in, command the Houres thy steeds to untrace,
And thy bright Sun beams plucke from off thy face.
For, without intermission being opprest
With such long paines, 'tis fit thou shouldst have rest,

Apollo.
Thou tellst me a new thing, unheard till now;
Have I transgrest my course, or been too slow,
Ot over-swift? that Iove should prove a way
To make the night thrice longer than the day.
There's no such thing; he only hath intent
At some one aime on which his minde is bent,
And this time only (but not still to bee)
To have this one night made as long as three.

Apollo.
Where is he now, or from whence art thou sent
To tell me this?

Merc.
Boetia's continent;
And from (If I shall make a true confession)
Amphitrio's wife, with whom he hath congression.

Apoll.
With her his courage then and strength he tries:
But for his lust will not one night suffice?

Merc.
O by no means, since in this copulation
Must be begot one that shall awe each Nation;
Of a most potent arme, and daring much,
And therefore 'tis not possible that such
A mighty worke as making up Ioves son,
Should in one night be perfected and don.

Apollo.
Well, I but little have to say unto him,
But with this great worke much good may it do him.
These things, ô Mercury (we are alone)
I'th antient daies of Saturne were not knowne;
He did not turne from Rhea, nor mis-led
Could he be to adulterat her chast bed:
Nor did he leave the heavens, in Thebes to sleepe;
The day was then day, and true course did keepe,
The night within her certaine houres was bounded,
No times, no seasons in his reigne confounded:
He had with mortall creatures no congresse.
But now for one poore womans sake (I guesse)
All things are topside-turn'd, and must be made
Prepostrous henceforth, and run retrograde.
My Steeds with rest will grow more fierce and hot:
The way more hard and difficult, because not
In three daies past: Men miserably dwell
Here on the earth in darknesse, as in hell.
And these are the faire fruits of his foule lust,
That sublunarie creatures suffer must;
Warning at once the absence of the Sun,
And waiting till this mighty worke be don.

Merc.
Phœbus no more: had Iove intelligence
Of what thou speakst, his rage it would incense.
I'le to the Moone and Sleep, and what in charge
I had from him, deliver them at large:
To her, to change the course she late did keepe:
To him, to fetter them in bonds of sleepe,
So fast, they may not dreame of that great wrong,
To have been kept from sight of day so long.