A Hymn to Vulcan

Praise Vulcan, now Muse; whom fame gives the prize

For depth and fracture of all forge-devise;

Who, with the sky-ey’d Pallas, first did give

Men rules of buildings, that before did live

In caves and dens, and hills, like savage beasts;

But now, by art-fam’d Vulcan’s interests

In all their civil industries, ways clear

Through th’ all-things-bringing-to-their-ends (the year)

They work out to their ages’ ends, at ease

Lodg’d in safe roofs from Winter’s utmost prease.

But, Vulcan, stand propitious to me,

Virtue safe granting, and felicity!

The Odysseys of Homer, together with the shorter poems · 第 133 / 163 题