Poverty. Here, hold thee, Anthropos,
Thou art almost arm'd at rest; put this on,
A penitential robe, to purge thy pleasures:
Off with that vanitie.
Anth. Here, Vain Delight,
And with this all my part, to thee again
Of thee I freely render.
Pov. Take this staff now,
And be more constant to your steps hereafter:
The staff is Staidness of affections.
Away you painted flyes, that with mans summet
Take life and heat buzzing about his blossoms;
When growing full, ye turn to Caterpillers,
Gnawing the root that gave you life. Fly shadows.
[Exeunt desire and delight.
Now to Content I'll give thee, Anthropos,
To Rest and Peace: no vanitie dwells there;
Desire [nor] Pleasur[e], to delude thy mind more;
No Flatteries smooth-fil'd tongue shall poison thee.
Anth. O! Jupiter, if I have ever offer'd
Upon thy burning Altars but one Sacrifice
Thou and thy fair-ey'd Juno smil'd upon;
If ever, to thine honor, bounteous feasts,
Where all thy statu[e]s sweet with wine and incense,
Have by the son of earth been celebrated:
Hear me (the child of shame now) hear thou helper,
And take my wrongs into thy hands, thou justice
Done by unmindful man, unmerciful,
Against his master done, against thy order;
And raise again, thou father of all honor,
The poor despis'd, but yet thy noblest creature.
Raise from his ruines once more this sunk Cedar,
That all may fear thy power, and I proclaim it. [Exeunt.
Jupiter and Mercury descend severally. Trumpets small above.
Jup. Ho! Mercury, my winged son.
Mer. Your servant.
Jup. Whose powerful prayers were those that reach'd our ears,
Arm'd in such spells of pity now?