University of Virginia Library

Neptvne and Mercvry.

The Argument.

Th'abortive Infant from the wombe tooke late
Of dying Semele, Iove doth translate
Into his owne thigh: but the time expir'd
For mature birth, which (pregnant) he desir'd;
This childe, by one conceiv'd, borne of another,
Bacchus, enioyes the name of

Bacchus bimater.

double Mother.

The Dialogve.

Nep.
May I not see my brother?

Merc.
Neptune, no.

Nep.
I do intreat thee, Nephew, let him know
That I attend without.

Merc.
It cannot be,
And therefore leave this importunitie;
You must not at this present be admitted.

Nep.
Hee's then in bed with Iano?
No, (Grosse witted.)
Or Ganimed? Prethee resolve me quickly.

Merc.
Neither; but Iove at this time's weake and sickly.

Nep.
How comes it that thou likewise lookst not well?

Merc.
There is a cause in't, which I blush to tell.

Nep.
What e're it be, the secret do not hide
From me thine Vncle, and so neere ally'de.

Mer.
Hee's newly brought to bed.

Nep.
Mercury fie,
Not possible; it is a thing that I
Cannot beleeve: it would have come to light
Ere now, had Iove been an Hermaphrodite.
Besides, I ne're perceiv'd his wombe to swell.

Merc.
'Tis true, in that (ô Neptune) thou sayst well:
His childing burthen did not lie within.

Nep.
Now to conceive thee better I begin;
Some other Pallas from his skull is ta'ne;
My Brother ever had a teeming braine.

Merc.
Not so; this burthen in his thigh was bred,
Tooke from the wombe of Semele, late dead.

Nep.
Wondrous! This generous god, by thy relation,
Will teach to us new waies of procreation.
But what's that Semele?

Merc.
Of Cadmus race,
A Theban Damsell, in whom Iove had place,
And left her great.

Nep.
Most kindely it was done,
To spare her throes, himselfe to beare her son.

Merc.
Ghest somwhat neere; not altogether, tho,
Iumping with truth. But wonders wilt thou know,
From thee yet forrein? Iuno (jealous still)
By strange deceit seeks means the wench to kill;
Persuades her (their united loves to sunder)
To beg of Iove, to bed with her in thunder
And blasting lightning (cause of all her griefe.)
To her the credulous Wanton gives beleefe;
She craves, Iove grants, descends in glorious fire,
And in these flames the poore Girle doth expire.
Who grieving the faire Theban so should die,
Caus'd me to rip her wombe vp instantly,
And bring the Infant, now seven moneths conceiv'd,
Whom from my hand he gratefully receiv'd:
Not knowing better how to make provision
For this Abortive, he made deep incision
In his owne thigh, and there it three moneths lay,
Till (now mature) it for it selfe made way.
This day he is deliver'd, and now growes
Somewhat distemperd by his painfull throwes.

Nep.
But where's the Infant?

Merc.
Him I did transport
To Nisa late, where the faire Nymphs resort,
By them with great care to be educated,
And by the name of Bacchus celebrated,
Or Dionysius.

Nep.
Then of this thy brother,
As Iove the father is, so hee's the mother.

Merc:
It so appeares: but Neptune I am gon,
For other things I now have thought vpon;
I must go fetch him Lotion for his wound,
Yet green, and will in few dayes scarce be sound.
There's nothing but to him we must apply,
That's done to women that in childe-bed lie.