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COMPARES THE TROUBLES WHICH HE HAS UNDERGONE, TO LABOURS OF HERCULES, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Not hercules himself did undertake
Last Line: Th' hesperian garden rob, and heav'n support.
Subject(s): Hercules; Love - Complaints; Mythology - Classical


NOT Hercules himself did undertake
Such toilsome labours for his mistress' sake:
As I for many years with endless pain,
The slave of Love, Love's fatigues sustain.

Tho' he slew Hydra; from th' Infernal King,
Did the three-headed yelping porter bring;
Tyrants destroy'd; Nemaean lion tare,
And Atlas' burden on his shoulders bare.

To stand the scorns of an imperious brow;
Resist such hate as would no truce allow;
A stubborn heart by patient suff'ring, tame;
And with weak rhythms, exalt her glorious name;

Are acts shall more the world with wonder fill,
Than his who did so many monsters kill;
Conquer a crafty bull; disturb Hell's Court;
Th' Hesperian garden rob, and Heav'n support.





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