(The fumigation from frankincense)

 

Hermes, draw near, and to my pray'r incline,

Angel of Jove, and Maia's son divine;

Studious of contests, ruler of mankind,

With heart almighty, and a prudent mind.

Celestial messenger, of various skill,

Whose pow'rful arts could watchful Argus kill:

With winged feet, 'tis thine thro' air to course,

Great life-supporter, to rejoice is thine,

In arts gymnastic, and in fraud divine:

With pow'r endu'd all language to explain,

Of care the loos'ner, and the source of gain.

Whose hand contains of blameless peace the rod,

Corucian, blessed, profitable God:

Of various speech, whose aid in works we find,

And in necessities to mortals kind:

Dire weapon of the tongue, which men revere,

Be present, Hermes, and thy suppliant hear;

Assist my works, conclude my life with peace,

Give graceful speech, and memory's increase.