LXVII. To Health

The FUMIGATION from MANNA.

O Much-desir'd, prolific, gen'ral queen,

Hear me, life-bearing, Health, of beauteous mien,

Mother of all; by thee diseases dire,

Of bliss destructive, from our life retire;

And ev'ry house is flourishing and fair, 5

If with rejoicing aspect thou art there:

Each dædal art, thy vig'rous force inspires,

And all the world thy helping hand desires;

Pluto life's bane alone resists thy will,

And ever hates thy all-preserving skill. 10

O fertile queen, from thee forever flows

To mortal life from agony repose;

And men without thy all-sustaining ease,

Find nothing useful, nothing form'd to please;

Without thy aid, not Plutus' self can thrive, 15

Nor man to much afflicted age arrive;

For thou alone of countenance serene,

Dost govern all things, universal queen.

Assist thy mystics with propitious mind,

And far avert disease of ev'ry kind.

LXVIII.