Hymnus tabaci a poem in honour of tabaco. Heroïcally composed by Raphael Thorius: made English by Peter Hausted Mr of Arts Camb.

BOOK I.

OF harmelsse Bowles I mean to sing the praise, And th'Herb which doth the Poets fancy raise; Aid me, Oa 1.1 Phoebus; Thee I do invoke. Fill me a Pipe (boy) of that lusty smoke, That I may drink the God into my brain, And so inabled, write a buskin'd strain, For nothing great or high can come from thence, Where that blest Plant denies his influence.

No Mortal had the honour to descry This noble Herb first, but a Diety; 'Twas found by Bacchus, when the God wound up To his true height, by his own charming Cup,

Led th' Indians forth under the warlikeb 1.2 Spear, Whose glittering head an Ivy Twine did wear; And the all-Soveraign Weed being found out thus, Too late (alas) hath been made known to us.

The twice-born Liber seeing that his Foes (Whom the parch'd desart Cliffs as yet inclose) Had furious war begun, with hot alarms, Doth call his Ivy-crowned troops to arms, And the swift Lynxes to be yoak'd, commands; The great Bassarides in order'd bands, March with their valiant Leader to the Field; And all his furious Priests obedience yeild To his behests, and follow: nor yet will c 1.3 Silenus (though grown old) at home sit still. The Drugdges and the Carriages go next, And amongst them is led ("an ample Text, For Antiquaries to glosse on) the sage Silenus saddle-Asse, grown lame with age; The fearfull Indians here and there do fly; And while they sought their flying enemy, The weary Troops having too long in vain Wandred about upon the sandy Plain,

Grow faint, and their provisions all are spent, And Bacchus wants what he himself first lent Unto us Men, the liquor of the Vine. ("Pity that he who gave, should e're lack Wine!) Thed 1.4 old mans Vessel too being quite drawn dry, Does in this Chariot overturned ly. Thee 1.5 Maenades and Satyrs, and the rout Of untam'd youth (impatient of the drought) Do wound the intrals of their Mother Earth, Longing to see some gentle spring gush forth. But all in vain, necessity makes them bold To taste the salt drink; their own bladder hold Unnatural draughts! but yet such is their woe, That those unnatural draughts do fail them too. So Tyrant-like, Thirst in their bodies reigns, All moisture does forsake their dryed veins. The sterner face of horrour now controuls The sinking Troops; Some breathe their toasted souls Out of their reeking jaws; others are found To own borrow supplies from their mutual wound; Who finding too those Fountains to grow dry, In a despair drink their last Cup and dy. While thus the Army is about to fall, And generall death is threatned over all, f 1.6 A Courteous Vale, which not far off did die, Presents a fair hope to the fainting Eie;

An obscure Herbage shews a doubtful face, Confused made by distance of the place. At which the nimble-sighted Evius cri'd, O my companions, let's awhile abide: Why with disgrace should we forsake the Field? Yon neighbour-Vale will us wish'd succour yeild. These words applyed Balsame to their sore, And made them close those veins they broach'd be∣fore. Which having done slow, yet labour'd pace, (As weaknesse would permit) they reach the place. And being there, behold a Wood o're spread With vast thick leaves, lifts up its brisking head, Offering his aid, "a wel-grown Plant, and tall, Which we of later times Tabaco call.

Bacchus o're-joy'd, salutes the powerful Weed, Hail thou that art our help in greatest need;

I do acknowledge thee a gift Divine, And of near kindred to that* 1.7 Tree of mine. More he had said, but that his followers deaf Unto such Courtship, pluck the long'd-for leaf, Which they betwixt their green-di••d teeth do bite, And with if slake their barking appetite. Not so, Silenus: many years had made Him wiser far, to taste he is afraid: Not his own ill, the danger of his Mates Shall teach the vertue of their new-found Cates.

Not is it long before th' event discries The uncouth power that in Tabaco lies; Through the whole Camp (a wondrous thing to tell,) Like drunken men, they vomited and fell. The Earth doth seem to glide in Circlewise, ("* 1.8 Copernicus from hence learnt his device,) And their sick brains beleeve the Heavens in love To meet the rising Earth, do downwards move. A most invincible desire of sleep Doth seize them all; the Goat-foot Satyrs keep Lowd snortings on the Lands, and by their side Thef 1.9 Mimallons (or femall Priests) abide Lock'd up in Silence, (in a happy hower. "Most blessed Drug, hadst thou no other power?)

But this not long: New life and Spirits apace Run back t'inform each member, and do chase Dull drowsinesse from them; now again they rise, Their feet are firm, lightning comes frō their eies.

With brawny arms they shake the leavy Spear, And with loud cries do wish the Foe were near. Silenus sees, and wonders to behold Th' infeebled Host so suddenly grown bold;

O my good Friends, he cries, we came not hither Without some God propitious to us; neither Let us forget still to confesse the same, And sing just praises to great Bacchus name. Nor let us be ashamed now to call Tabaco our Health, our Spirit, our Life, our All; Who but for that had fell, for ought we know, A sacrifice to the insulting Foe; The weak unto the powerful; and so wee Had yeilded them a bloudlesse victorie: But let them now come on, and they shall find Our strength grown great, to that as great a mind. Yet let us carefull be; though we have gain'd A Gift from Heav'n, it must not be profan'd By blind and ignorant usage: for this know, If old Silenus any skil does owe To his gray hairs, some secret poison lies In the rare Plant, hid from our outward eies. Trust not the green juice then unto your Maw, Eat not the Leaf, there's danger in it raw: Phoebus shall cook it for us, so we may Take wholesome draughts purg'd by his searching ray. For sure kind Nature, if we may be bold So far her Cabinet-Councels to unfold, Invented it a Banquet for the Brain, Not for the Belly. Let each lusty Swain Rub the dri'd herb then twixt his hands; w^ch done And hous'd in Pipes, let us intreat the Sun

To fire it for us, that the warm Cloud may (Being subtle grown, and apt to find the way) With the more ease the winding Stair obtain, Which leads unto the Chamber of the Brain.

Silenus thus commanded, they obey; Part of the Satyrs without all delay Prepare the Canes, and some the Leaves do break Into a dust-like substance; others take The Pipes and fill them, nothing now but fire Is wanting to them; which they all desire. The oldg 1.10 Man from his Wallet draws a Glasse Which in old time the quaint invention was Of bold Prometheus, when (to get a name) He from Heav'ns Furnace stole th'Eternall Flame. Lo, here is fire, he saith; that said, he lays Dry'd Leaves together; and that done, assays To catch the Sun-beams; to those leaves applies His Glasse, which round does from the Center rise. The darted rays like to sword points, do wound The yeilding fewel on the parched ground; Heat by degrees steals in, and lodges there, Whence Smoke is sent to tell that fire is neare.

The Satyrs all applaud him, and do bear Their* 1.11 Master on their Shoulders, up they rear

Their voices to the stars: but th'old Sire first Adventures with the Pipe to quench his thirst.

From thence he gently sucks a precious Cloud, Which his wide nosthrils vent again: aloud The Satyrs laugh; but he fill'd with delight To taste the sudden sweetnesse, findes new might Disperst through his whole body, like as when Crown'd Bowls do adde quick Spirits unto men. Moisture returns into his mouth; no more Salt thirst or bitter hunger (as before) Afflicts him; onely a short giddinesse Makes his legs fail, and temperate sweat does dresse His face in pearly drops: but yet not long, They vanish, he remains unhurt and strong.

Under the Covert of the cooling shade, Which by the thick-leav'd Indian plant was made,

Silenus lays him down, and being there, Began to tell how Sciences first were Made known to Mortals; and most liberall Of the rich treasure of his mind, does fall To speak of Natures Secrets, and rare powers, So with sweet talk cheating the slow-pac'd howers.

The youthfull Crue do imitate their Syre, And their Tabaco in their Pipes they fire;

But yet unskill'd to nose it right, it rears A Coughing, not without some grieflesse tears. While merry thus they sport them on the grasse, Behold, their Messengers, who long (alasse) Had been expected, do return, and bring Plenty of Wine and Victuals to their King

And Camp, at which Eccho's of joy do tear Wth loud and pleasant notes the passive air. Their Pipes they tune to song, and high in mirth, Low they do bow their knees towards the Earth Unto the Men which did the Bottles bring; (Such petulant Sport through the whole Host did ring) Nor yet the old mans lame and crazie Asse Being return'd, can unsaluted passe. With junkets first, next they do chear their Souls With lusty Wines, Checkering their Pipes & Bowls. All things are fill'd with Smoak, songs, dances, cries; Till midnight pours sweet sleep into their eyes.

The Morn no sooner with her rosie wing, Had fann'd cool air upon them, but their King,

The carefull Bacchus, summons them to rise: The like does good Silenus, and applies Sage counsell to the Army, who the night Before had been steeped in soft delight. Enough, my friends, enough, y' have given the reign To Wine and Mirth, be now your selves again; Call back your wonted Anger to your brow, And think of nought but Wars and Conquest now. Compose your Arms then to a present Fight, The Foe is near perhaps, though out of sight; In order'd ranks march on; but first take heed To store your selves with our new precious Weed, Made ready for your Pipes, your Pipes made fit Unto your mouths, with fire to kindle it,

And suddenly with this prodigious face Of smoke and horrour, we the Foe shall chase. Be men, and doubt not but eternall Fame Shall Trumpet unto after-times, your name.

This said, with nimble diligence they all Strive who shall first obey their Generall;

Who by this time is in his Chariot, prest For Action, eminent above the rest: And by his Chariot (slowly as he can) The unkemb'd Asse carries the good h 1.12 old man; For war unmeet, yet eloquent, and fit For sage advice, when dangers call for it. The numerous Host with equall wings does fly, And with stout spirits wish for th' Enemy, Who is at hand; for presently * 1.13 he rears Over the neighbour Hill his growing Spears. The bloud begins to boyl in Bacchus brest, Some shake their brazen Timbrels, and the rest Beat up their warlike Drums: but all combine To whet their resty anger with good Wine. Their ready Pipes are fir'd, and with their breath, They cast a mist before the face of death: Breathing out fire and smoak, they forward goe In Enquipage to meet the coming Foe. A sudden fear and trembling does possess Th' affrighted * 1.14 Indians, who suppose no less Then the dire sooty powers of Hell to bee Marching against them; part of their Army flee,

And wisely wary, fearing future harms, Trust rather to their Legs, then to their Arms: Some do for mercy crave, and without stroke, Submit their willing necks unto the yoke: But quickly (though too late) their eyes grow clear, To see their errour and their Panick fear. Asham'd to be deluded so, they cry, They blush and sigh for their lost liberty,

But Bacchus chears them, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whom cannot Bacchus chear? So temper'd with a sweetness he doth bear

His awfull Majesty, that they grow glad By such a band so to be vanquished; One day doth see, ("as they would mingle souls,) The Victors and the Conquer'd mingling Bowles Without all diffrence, as if equally They both had sacrific'd to Victory. The Wine grows busie, and betwixt each Cup ("As in a Play 'twixt th' Acts) their Pipes strike up; They do admire their native Herb, but yet Grieve they no sooner knew the use of it. Thus they with Smoke their inward Cares do smo∣ther, And so by one Cloud do expel another. Thence was the famous Plant at first made known To men; and thus have I it's Cradle shown.

What vertues in the noble Weed do rest, What Constitutions it agrees with best, And what diseases it will cure, is now Thy Task, my Muse. "Rub my contracted brow,

And waken all the heat that's in my Brain, To adde a Genius to another Strain. Tabaco King of Plants I well may call;* 1.15

Others have single vertues, this hath all. All Herbs to him do loyall homage yeild, The vanqush'd Hellebore leaves him the Field, The loos'ning Rhubarb too, and merry Vine, The Balsam good for wounds, the Beans for swine; Field Penny-Royal which the mind does chear, And Poppy, which a heavy head doth wear. O the great goodness of the Gods, who set So rich a Jem in a small Cabinet! Whose seed, though small as dust or atomes light, Deceiving both the touch and nimble sight, Like a thick wood strait covers all the fields, And surest aid in doubtful sickness yeilds; Of which effects who seeks the cause to know, A labour difficult doth undergo: For whether a salt mixture do abound, This Plants admired substance to compound; Or whether nature grown more liberall, Her richest bounties on this Herb let fall: Or that each Countries various situation, The soil or seasons cause the alteration; Or that it have an inbred sympathie With young and aged tempers to agree, In natures secret bosome lies conceal'd, Nor is by humane studies yet reveal'd;

Yet by examples, if we may advance so search the winding ways of ignorance: First, to dissolve the whole into like parts, Perhaps may give some light to furture Arts, Whereby at length the discontented mind, Of not the truth, Truth's image yet may find.

What ever is in Nature which doth fall Under the power of Taste, men Salt do call; Which is twofold; or that which doth inhere In the corporeal Mass, and dwelleth there, From which not subtle Vulcans looser flame, With all the art he hath, can wooe the same, But couchant in the Ashes doth remain, From whence it doth the name of fixed gain;* 1.16 Or else that lighter fugitive, that flies With the kind Smoke up towards the airy Skies. ("With which we see in candles pointed flames, "On whited seilings drunkards write their names) To this our learnedest Physitians give The name of Flying Salt, or Fugitive.* 1.17 Nor must we forget how the teeming Earth, Pregnant with much salt mixture, giveth birth To her dear Off-spring, from whose womb is sent To every Plant his proper nutriment; ("The hand of Nature ordering things so well,) Hence have the fruits their taste, the flowers their Smell. In whose dark Caverns most confused lies The bitter Nitre imitating Ice;

Fountains of Sulphur here a place does claime, There Brimstone, cozen Germance to the flame, With deadly Arsnick, here Quick-silver flowes, Which is resolv'd with hurt of Head and Nose: Sharp Coppras, and these Elements among The biting Alome that contracts the tongue; With many more, from whose large Fountains springs That great diversity of Taste in Things.

If there be any now who fain would know To which of all these Tabaco doth owe It's Birth and Vertues, he with ease may see It from the a 1.18 Brimstone draws his Pedigree. For who is he so blind, but well may gather, Seeing the Childe, who 'tis that is the Father? Both b 1.19 fat, both smelling strong, both do inherit An ambitious height fed by a nitrous spirit, Equally sharp, they both hold fast amain, Both loving fire, "and are belov'd again. Rub't with thy hand, "to recompence that toyl, In gratitude it bribes thee with an Oyl: c 1.20 Green Wounds it closeth with a safe delay, And from the ulcer'd, drives the filth away; A quick and vigorous Taste it doth beget, And in the mouth it leaves a lasting heat:

So soveraign, if diffused, is the smell, It doth Contagion from bad aires expell. The heavy head it hath a power to rear, And with smart sneezings makes the nostrils clear. Once turn'd to airy vapour by the flame, Big with that active salt, whose pride does aim At heavenly Towers, it climbes the Capitoll, Where like a Goddesse sits the humane soul; There gives supplies to the exhausted brain, And makes the drowsie minds grow quick again.

Thou glory of the Earth, a gift from Heaven, Most happy Plant, who wer't not only given

T' refresh the Pesants limbs, whom toyl and sweat Have weary made, or kill the love of meat; Nor yet t' infuse without the help of food Into decayed Nerves new strength, new bloud; But hast a nobler office; thou art Eyes To the dark mind, a Lantern to the wise, When e're a sudden night the brains possesse By too much cockering of the Genius: Or when the tired understanding brings Forth only shadows of disjoynted things, Unapt to frame Ideas that are cleare, Or being fram'd, unapt to keep them there. For thou no sooner arm'd with light doest come, But (like a shining Taper into a room Obscure before) all things turn clear and bright; The black Clouds fly, and Cares that fast do bite;

Th' inventing Power shines forth, & now descries The worlds large Fabrick to the mentall eyes. Th' eternall Species now do naked stand In comely order rank'd by Natures hand, And all the notions of th' inlightned brain Do now return to their true shapes again.

How often have I seen (a mighty throng Of greedy ears hanging upon his tongue) A learned Oratour trembling for fear, Confound his Heads, unable quite to bear His studied Method out— When at the last (amazement so prevail'd) That words and matter have together fail'd!

VVho hath no sooner sacrificed unto His pettish Memory a grain or two Of th' generous Plant, but he could straightways find All his lost Figures in his scatter'd mind; His runnagate words too which were lately fled, And hid in some dark corner of his head, He apprehendeth now, ("as if a Torch Were lighted up in favour of his search,) And to the wondring people does dispence, The ample Treasures of his Eloquence;

Moreover if two i 1.21 Warriours shall joyn fight, Train'd up i'th Camp of the old k 1.22 Stagirite, VVhom a desire to know, or love of praise Hath urged on a mortall war to raise,

Who with all spleen an angry soul affords Against each other draw their Bilbo words; Striving by weight of reason t'overthrow, Or subtle windings to intrap the Foe. Incompassed they are with youthfull bands, Mongst whom the Iudge of the fair quarrel stands, Applauding all their equall nerves of wit, And by applauding, adding strength to it; Till at the last their strength doth fade away, ("As what humane force but will at length decay?) In which decay of soul, let one of them But take a single whiffe o' th' sacred fume, And yee shall straight discover a new birth Of Spirits, (as when Antaeus touch'd the Earth His Mother, and from thence did stronger rise Giving new battle to his l 1.23 Enemies.) The waiward Faster vanquished doth ly, And 'tis the Drinker's crown'd with victory. But if they both shall it convenient hold To fetch new weapons, or to whet the old, At this true Vulcans Forge, with wonder then Yee shall behold those two recover'd men, Draw out a cruell bloudy war in length, Maintain'd by equall Nerves, by equall strength; Nor will they part untill the far-spent night And weary Judge cuts off the tedious fight.

So at the Trojan war fame tels of old, How that heroick pair of m 1.24 Brethren bold,

Betwixt themselves a friendly strife did raise, 'Cause one of them the Indian Plant did praise; The Elder damn'd it, yet dissemblingly, Loving indeed what he did seem to fly: Hot darts the younger at his brother aim'd, And for the Herb a solemn war proclaim'd. But e're the Trumpets sounded to the fight, Our warriours both take care their Pipes to light; Eager upon't, each other they provoke, And fire their Wits with the most precious smoke, Loading the Empty Quivers of their mind VVith headed arrows, which they (most unkind) Mutually shoot; their nimble tougue's the Bow, Their Breasts the Buts at which their shafts do go; Many are sent, many retorted be Upon the spenders head as cruelly. Nor are there any pawses in the Field, But what the draughts of the sweet Fume do yeild, From whose warm aid repaired strength did grow, And eager fury which should overthrow. Untill their rage increasing with their might, The sentence of the n 1.25 King, who took delight

To see such pretty and unheard of play, Commands a period to the doubtfull fray. Thus fell the Herb, and stood by his own power, And wars there be about it at this hower;

Nought being so certain, but a present wit And grace of speech will doubtfull render it. — But I have lost my self, and am at gaze,

VVandring too far in th' Academick o 1.26 maze. An other Webbe I have to weave, "I will Retire awhile, and sharpen my blunt Quill. The Birth and Composition I have shown O' th' wholesome Herb, in a verse which I dare own: To whom the Plant does show a smiling brow, On whom it frowns: to which diseases, now, It doth professe it self an Enemie, To which a Friend, shall my next labour bee;

As soon as some Tabaco I have tane, Impoverish'd the Pipe, t' inrich my brain.

The End of the First BOOK.

Notes

• a 1.1

  I make bold to change the Poets Patron, & in stead of Sir W. Paddie, to intitle Phoebus to it:
• b 1.2

  Thyrsus, or a spear wound about with Ivy was the Ensign of Bacchus, as the Club of Hercules, the Trident of Neptune, &c. And this may seem to be given to him Emblematically to shew us, that Wine does se∣cretly wounds, carrying a Cuspis, a sting, or sharp and pointed weapon hid under the Ivy leaves, the pleasure of drinking it and beholding it dancing and sparkling in the glasse.
• c 1.3

  The Foster Father to Bacchus, whom the Poets feign to be the Superintendent or Governour of the Satyrs.
• d 1.4

  Silenus.
• e 1.5

  Furious women, who served in the sacrifices of Bacchus; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, insanire.
• f 1.6

  The first finding of Tabaco.
• * 1.7

  The Vine.
• * 1.8

  Whose opinion is, that the Sun stands still, and the Earth (being one of the Planets) moves.
• f 1.9

  The women-Priests of Bacchus spoken of before: so called from the mountain Mimas sacred to Bacchus; or (as others) from the Gr. word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to imitate; because it was their use (carrying horns and spears wrapt about with Ivy in their hands) to imitate his expedition into India.
• g 1.10

  Silenus.
• * 1.11

  Silenus.
• h 1.12

  Silenus.
• * 1.13

  The enemy.
• * 1.14

  The ene∣mies of Bacchus.
• * 1.15

  Tabaco the Catholike medicine.
• * 1.16

  Fixed Salt.
• * 1.17

  Flying Salt.
• a 1.18

  Tabaco. The Pedigree. I am conscious that Bitumen is not pro∣perly Brimstone, but a fat clay, clammy like pitch, of the nature of Brimstone: but because I know not in our English tongue one word which can fully & truly expresse it; therefore I am bold to borrow the name of one of his nearest kindred.
• b 1.19

  The Symptomes.
• c 1.20

  The Vertues.
• i 1.21

  Disputants.
• k 1.22

  Aristotle.
• l 1.23

  In uno Hercule plures Hostes sentit An••aeus.
• m 1.24

  Podalyrius and Machaon, two excellent Physitians and Surgeons, the sons of Aesculapius, who were both present at the Trojan war, and maintain'd a fierce Disputation concerning the nature of Simples.
• n 1.25

  A∣gamenon, who procured and fomented the disputation betwixt the two brethren.
• o 1.26

  Lycaeum was Aristotles School at Athens, also the intricate and win∣ding Groves and pleasant walks about it.