226 The Soverane Herbe 



to Proserpine. The fruit of their illicit love is the 

 birth of a boy. Mercury informs Pluto of his wife's 

 unfaithfulness, and he calls upon Jupiter to mete out 

 punishment. To minimize the disgrace Jove trans- 

 forms the babe into a plant, which he calls Tobacco, 

 in memory of its father, Bacchus. In sending it forth 

 into the world Pluto promises Tobacco a warm 

 reception, particularly in England, saluting the plant 

 as the ' only enlarger of his kingdom, the enricher 

 of his state, and the founder of his state eternally.' 

 Tobacco is recommended particularly to court the 

 favour of the scholar, the lawyer, and the poet. The 

 first will welcome him on being flattered as ' the most 

 profound, dogmatical and literate Trismegistus,' and 

 the lawyer receive him for his oratorical powers. 

 But Pluto confesses himself puzzled how tobacco was 

 to recommend itself to the poet, for ' he is so oft out 

 of his wits, as he verily imagines himselfe the Man in 

 the Moone.' 



Tobacco is borne to the earth in Charon's ferry- 

 boat. He is so successful in his conquest over man 

 that soon Time stands, scythe in hand, weeping at the 

 way in which he is neglected for tobacco. 



Finally, Time bursts forth into poetic exhortation : 



' Sweet youth, smoake not thy time. 

 Too precious to abuse : 

 Th' hast fitter feats to choose. 

 What may redeeme that prime 

 Thy smoaking age doth loose ? 

 * * * * 



' Shunne smoake east, west, north, south. 

 Love's lady, old man, youth,' 



