{"collection":"Classics","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/cla/hoo/hoo32.htm","path":"cla/hoo/hoo32.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/cla/hoo/hoo32.htm","text":"HERMES, draw near, and to my pray'r incline,\n Angel of Jove, and Maia's son divine;\n Studious of contests, ruler of mankind,\n With heart almighty, and a prudent mind.\n Celestial messenger, of various skill, 5\n Whose pow'rful arts could watchful Argus kill:\n With winged feet, 'tis thine thro' air to course,\n O friend of man, and prophet of discourse:\n Great life-supporter, to rejoice is thine,\n In arts gymnastic, and in fraud divine: 10\n With pow'r endu'd all language to explain,\n Of care the loos'ner, and the source of gain.\n Whose hand contains of blameless peace the rod,\n Corucian, blessed, profitable God;\n Of various speech, whose aid in works we find, 15\n And in necessities to mortals kind:\nDire weapon of the tongue, which men revere,\n Be present, Hermes, and thy suppliant hear;\n Assist my works, conclude my life with peace,\n Give graceful speech, and me memory's increase. 20","title":"The Initiations of Orpheus: XXVII: To Mercury","type":"page"}