The third part of the Countesse of Pembrokes Yuychurch Entituled, Amintas dale. Wherein are the most conceited tales of the pagan gods in English hexameters together with their auncient descriptions and philosophicall explications. By Abraham Fraunce.

¶ The Third part of the Countesse of Pembrokes Yuychurche. Entituled, Amintas Dale. (Book 3)

NOw that solempne feast of murdred Amyntas aproached: And by the late edict by Pembrokiana pronounced, Yuychurches nymphs and pastors duely prepared With fatall Garlands of newfound flowre Amaranthus, Downe in Amyntas dale, on Amyntas day be asembled. Pastymes ouerpast, and death's celebration ended, Matchles Lady regent, for a further grace to Amyntas Late transformd to a flowre; wills euery man to remember Some one God transformd, or that transformed an other: And enioynes each nymph to recount some tale of a Goddesse That was changd herself, or wrought some change in an other: And that as euery tale and history drew to an ending, Soe sage Elpinus with due attention harckning, Shuld his mynd disclose, and learned opinion vtter. Thirsis turne was first: whoe after his humble obeissance Made to the Lady regent, thus fram'de himself to be singing.

When noe fyre, noe ayre, noe earth, noe water apeared, Confusd fyre, rude ayre, vast earth, dull water abyded. Water, th'earth and ayre and fyre extreamely defaced, And fyre, th'earth and ayre and water fowly deformed. For where water or earth, where ayre or fyre was abyding, Fyre, ayre, earth, water were also ioyntly remaynyng. Fyre and ayre and earth with a shapeles water abounded, And earth ayre and fyre, that shapeles water aforded, Eueryone was in all, and all was in euery one thing,

Soe each one made all, made this rude All, to be nothing, Nothing els but a heape, but a masse, but a lump, but a cluster; Cluster, lump, masse, heape, where seedes of things disagreeing Fyre, ayre, earth, water lay all confusd in a corner. Hoate things fled fro the colde, dry could not abide to be moystned, Hard contemned soft, and light fro the heauy retyred. Noe peace, noe concord, noe good conformable order, Nought but warrs and iarrs, all strife, and all on an vproare. Noe aire transparent, noe Sunne was cause of a daylight, Noe nights-light Phoebe was a chearfull guide to the darcknes; Earth was not yet firme, fire could not yeeld any sparkles, Water would not flow: til sou'raigne God Demogorgon Ends these broyles, brings peace, setts euery thing in an order. Heau'n fro the earth he dyuides, and earth fro the water he parteth, And pure Christall skye from grosse thick ayre he remoueth. These things thus distinct, in seu'rall places he setleth, Light fyre mounteth aloft, and lyfts it-self to the heauen, Ayre next in lightnes, next him was placed in highnes, Grosse earth drew downeward, and stayd herselfe by the centre, Water cleaues to the earth, and there as a border abydeth. Fyre, ayre, earth, water were euery howre in an vproare, Whilst they lay on a heape, and all dwelt ioyntly togeather; Fyre, ayre, earth, water were brought to a peacable order, When they lodged apart, each one in seueral harbor. Thus by a disioyning, Elements were mightily ioyned, And by disunyting vnyted fyrmely for euer. Each part thus placed, round earth was cast in a compas Lyke to a globe or a ball, that noe syde might be vnequall. Then were swelling Seas powrd foorth in places apoynted Here and there by the earth; whose braunches duly dyuyded Kyngdomes from kyngdomes: then first came springs fro the mountayns, Pooles were pitcht in moores, and lakes lay downe by the valleys, Ryuers flowd by the fyelds with a thowsand slippery wyndings, Some suckt vp by the earth, some ran to the sea with a restles race, his shoare for a banck with billowes mightyly beating. Then fyelds stretcht themselues, then meddowes gan to be flowring, Greene leaues cou'red trees, and trees gaue shade to the forrests, Mountayns mounted aloft, and dales drew speedyly downewarde. Ouer sea and earth, the relenting ayre he reposed, And there foggs and mystes and clustred clowds he apoynted. Thence come thunder-clapps, thence lightnings, there be the blustring Wyndes, whose roaring blasts would teare this world in a thousand

Peeces, might they rage at randon: but the prefixed Coastes are known, for these fowre brawling brethren apoynted. Eurus flew to the East, where Memnons mother ariseth, Sweete Zephyrus to the Weast, where Sunnes reuolution endeth, Cold Boreas to the North, whence frosts are dayly proceeding, Moyst Auster to the South, where showres are euer abounding. Next to the ayre, bright sky, as a royall throane he reposed, And eache parte thereof with starrelight all to beesprinckled. Thus was an ougly Chaos transformd at last to a braue worlde, Soe braue, that t'was a world soe woorthy a world to be seeing. Euery quarter of it with such lyue things was adorned, As were conuenyent and seemely for euery quarter. Gods dwelt in bright skyes, and Christall-mantled Olympus, Fowles did fly by the ayre, and Fishes swam by the waters, Mylde beastes fed by the fyelds, and wylde beasts rangde by the Forrests. But man was wanting, who might be the absolut owner, And haue perfect rule and iurisdiction ouer Mylde beasts and wylde beasts, and Foules and slippery fishes. At length Man was made of mould by the crafty Prometheus, Crafty Prometheus, whoe by degrees contriued a picture, And gaue life to the same with fyre that he stole fro the heauens. And, where other beasts lay poaring downe to the grownd-wards, Man with a greater state had a looke lyft vp to Olympus, Whence his better part was then but lately deryued. Thiswas an age of gold, then was Saturnus an Emprour, Sythe-bearing Saturne rul'de iustly without any iudges, Noe lawes, noe lawyers were then, yet noebody lawlesse, Noe theeues and robbers were hangd, yet noebody robbed, Noe bloody manqueller was kyld, yet noebody murdred. Vndissembled loue and playne symplycyty ruled, Vncorrupted fayth and pure synceryty raigned. Hart conceaud noe harme; tong, harts interpreter only, Playnly without any glose or dissimulation op'ned Harts harmeles conceipts: hands, true and trusty to practyse, Did, what his hart contryu'd, or tong had truly delyu'red. Pinetrees pitcht vpon hills, gaue wonted grace to the hill-topp, Not with gaping gulfs of Auernus dayly bedashed, But with trickling showres of Olympus sweetly bedeawed. Euery man kept home, and where he receau'd a beginning, There did he make his graue, and drew his dayes to an ending. Noebodie was soe mad by the ragged rocks to be ranging, And with clowds, windes, seaes, nay heau'n and hell to be stryuyng,

Only to spy and ly, and feede fooles eares with a wonder, How fro Geneua to Gaunt, from Gaunt he repair'd to Vienna, How fro the Turk to the Pope, fro the Pope to the Souldan of Aegipt, And at last came back fro the newfound world as an old foole, With fowre Dutch-french woords, with a strange-cutt beard, or a Cassock. Noe townes were walled, noe walls were loftyly towred, Noe towres were planted with diu'ls inuention ord'nance. Euery bush was a bowre, and euery rustical harbor Was sort sufficient, where noe force was to be feared. Deaths-forerunner Drum did sownd no dreadful Alarum; Noe man-murdring man with a teare-flesh pyke, or a pollax, Or blood-sucking sweard was known by the name of a Sowldyer. Peace made euery man secure, securyty careles, Carelesnes causd myrth, myrth neuer dreeds any danger. Fruytefull ground vntorne, vntutcht, was free fro the plough snare, And self-sufficient, of her owne selfe yeelded aboundance. Noe new-found dishes were sought, noe costly deuises Farr-fetcht and deare bought: men simple lyued a simple Lyfe, vsd symple foode, sloe, nutt, plum, strawbery, apple, Ackorne falln fro the oake, and blackbery pluckt fro the bramble. Tygers were then tame, sharpe-tusked boare was obeissant, Stoordy Lyons lowted, noe woolf was knowne to be mankinde, Beares did bow at a beck, no serpent breathd any poyson. Spring was still-springing, whole yeare was wholly a spring-tyme, Eue-shyning sunne with clowds was neuer eclipsed, Euer-flowring flowrs with frosts were neuer anoyed. Lyfe-breathing Zephyrus with sweete blast charyly fostred Euery fruite, which th'earth of her owne free bounty aforded. Yea good-natur'd ground at last gaue plentiful haruest, Neuer sowd, still mowd▪ not tyld, yet syld with aboundance. Then floods flowde with mylke, each wel-spring then was a wyne-spring, Euery greene-hewde tree bare sweete and sugered honny. H••ppy the age, and happy the men, that lyu'd in a happy Age: age all of gold, where noe bad thing was abyd••ng, All of gold indeede, where each good thing was abounding. But when good Saturne by force was dryu'n to Auernus, And vsurping Ioue did rule and raigne in Olympus, Golden dayes were gone, and siluer time was aproaching, New Lords made new lawes: th'owld spring tyme Iupiter altred, And chang'd it to a yeare, and new-made yeare he dyuyded In fowre parts, each part with a seu'rall season apoynted, Warme Spring, hoate Sommer, cold wynter, changeable Autumne.

Then swelting doggstarre, then scalding breath of Apollo, Then northern Boreas causd better bowres to be builded. Then gro••••d gan to rebell, from a mother changd to astepdame, Naught but thorns and weeds of her owne accord she aforded, But by force constraind and by compulsion vrged: Now plow's chaynd to the yoake, and yoake bound fast to the oxen, Now are furrowes drawn, and seede cast into the furrowes. Iupiter of purpose made fruitefull ground to be fruyteles, And sowld nought for naught, and sweetenes mixt with a sowrenes, Least that too much ease might make men stil to be careles, Whereas want breedes care, and care coynes dayly deuises. Next came brazen tyme, whose hoate and furius of-spring With bould brazen face was greedily geu'n to reuenging, Yet not past all grace. Lastage was named of Iron, And her cursed brood in like sort framed of Iron, Merciles, hard, vniust, vnkinde, vntractable, hatefull, Ireful, of Ironful, yea too ful of ire, ful of Iron, Faith, and truth, and shame, for shame lay downe in a dungeon, And in-came whooredome, pride, robbery, treacherie, treason. Grownd with ditch and hedg was now exactly dyuyded, Shippe with waues, and sayles with wyndes were all to be tossed, Sea scowrd with rouers, land scowrged dayly by robbers, Myne, not thyne, came in; Myne and thyne, quite was abandond. Corne is now contemnd, and fruitefull tree's but a tryfle, Their minde's all on mynes of brasse, lead, copper, or Iron, Or gold, gold farre worse, then brasse, lead, copper, or Iron. Earth's very bowells now are torne eu'n downe to Auernus, All for gold, gold worse then a thousand feends of Auernus. First, was an age of gold, then golden goodnes abounded, Last, was an age for gold, for then gold only triumphed. Weake are thrust to the wall, and strong men striue to be mighty, Mighty men hope to be Kings, and Kings still looke to be emprours, Might rule's right, lust law, rage reason, worlde's at a world's ende, World runs all on wheeles: guest fear's to be robd as he sleepeth, Hoast can skarce trust guest; wife longs for death of her husband, Husband loath's his w••fe, and brethren skarcely be brethren. Infamous stepdames keepe cups with poyson abounding For theyr sons in law: and sons (ô viperus of-spring) Dayly before theyre dayes wish fathers dayes to be ending, All's turnd vpside downe. At last Astraea departed, And from damnable earth, to the spotles skie she remoued. Then came gryesly Gyants, and needes would clymbe to Olympus

With mounts on mountaines, till thundring Ioue in a fury Brake their scorched bones, and bullwarkes all to be battred: Whose congealed bloud transformd to a most bloody ofspring By th'earth theire mother that causd that desperat vproare, Stil contemned Gods, and heauens dayly maligned. Wherewith Ioue incenst, and moou'd of late, by Lycaons Owtrage, ouer-whelmd whole earth with a mightyly flowing All ouer-flowing water: soe that, not a man now, But good Deucalion was lyuing, and not a woeman, But good Pyrrha remaynd, which mankynde newly repayred, And, by casting stones, brought foorth soe stoany an ofspring.

THirsis hauing made an end of this tale to the content of the hearers ge∣nerally; Elpinus began thus to worke vpon it. Poets and Painters (men say) may well goe together, sith pen and pencill be both alike free, and doo equally challeng the selfe same prerogatiue. Cicero reporteth, that Fabius a famous Romaine, thought it an especiall commendation, to be surnamed Pic∣tor. And, Antiquissimum è doctis fuit poetarum genus, saith the same Ci∣cero. When I talke of Painters, I meane not the ridiculous fraternitie of silly Wall-washers: neither doe I euer once thinke of our loftie rimers, when I make mention of Poets. Yet a wall may bee colored by an elegant Painter, but the conceite and elegancie is more then the colour: and poets (seeking as well to please, as to profit) haue well made choyce of verse, yet the making of a verse is no part of Poetrie: otherwise, the sweete and inimitable poeme of Heliodo∣rus, should be no Poeme, and euery vnreasonable rimer should weare a Lawrell garland. Both poetry, a speaking picture, and paynting, a dumbe poetry, were like in this, that the one and the other did vnder an amyable figure and delight∣some veyle, as it were, couer the most sacred mysteries of auncient philosophie. Nay, Pythagoras himselfe by his symbolicall kinde of teaching, as also Plato by his conceited parables and allegoricall discourses in his bookes called, Phoe∣drus, Timoeus, and Symposium, may make any man beleeue, that as the lear∣ned Indians, Aethiopians, and Aegyptians kept their doctrine religiously se∣cret for feare of prophanation, so the Grecians by their example, haue wrapped vp in tales, such sweete inuentions, as of the learned vnfolder may well be dee∣med vonderfull though to a vulgar conceit, they seeme but friuolus imaginati∣ons. Yea that song of the most wise Salomon, called for the excellencie there∣of the song of songs, is altogether mysticall and allegoricall, least any man thinke my speech but a tale, in attributing so much to poeticall tales: which, mee thinkes, may well bee compared to sweete grapes couered with leaues and brāches, or to the old Sileni, which being but ridiculous in shew, did yet inward∣ly conteine the sacred image of some God. He that cannot conceaue any suf∣ficient cause which might induce antiquitie to deale thus warilie in matters of

such importance, let him knowe, that rerum 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the picturing, fashioning fi∣guring, or, as it were, personall representing of things in verse after this man∣ner, is most effectuall and auayleable, to moue mens mindes, to stirre vp delight, to confirme memorie, and to allure and entice our cogitations by such familiar and sensible discourses, to matters of more diuine and higher contemplation. Poeticall songs are Galeries set forth with varietie of pictures, to hold euery mans eyes, Gardens stored with flowers of sundry sauours, to delite euery mans sence, orchyards furnished with all kindes of fruite, to please euery mans mouth. He that is but of a meane conceit, hath a pleasant and plausible narration, con∣cerning the famous exploites of renowmed Heroes, set forth in most sweete and delightsome verse, to feede his rurall humor. They, whose capacitie is such, as that they can reach somewhat further then the external discourse and history, shall finde a morall sence included therein, extolling vertue, condemning vice, euery way profitable for the institution of a practicall and common wealth man. The rest, that are better borne and of a more noble spirit, shall meete with hid∣den mysteries of naturall, astrologicall, or diuine and metaphysicall philosophie, to entertaine their heauenly speculation. That this is true, let vs make triall, and first in Saturnus and Chaos, offered vnto vs by Thirsis: whereof, before we speake, it shall not be amisse to note this generally, for the better conceauing of ensuing particularities. Iupiter, Iuno, Neptune, Ceres, with the rest, are ther∣fore called Gods and goddesses, for that in the superior and fierie region of the ayre noted by Iupiter, in the inferior, represented by Iuno, in the bowells of the earth, figured by Ceres, in the deapth of the Seaes, shadowed by Neptune, and so in others, there is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a certaine celestiall and diuine power, so called by Hippocrates, and by the ancient Poets more particularly expressed by the sun∣dry titles of seuerall Deities proportionable thereunto. And, if the copulation or coniunction of these deified elements obserue the natural order of generation, it is called of the Poets a mariage of such a god and goddesse: if it swarue and degenerate from the wonted course of nature, they tearme it adulterie and libi∣dinous loue, & the parties, louers, not man and wife, as in the former kinde of co∣pulation: so that, no mā hath cause to think it a ridiculous repugnancy & impos∣sibilitie, whē as Poets in their songs make mention of the loue, mariage, procre∣ation, affinity, ofspring, pedegrees, and discents of their superior & inferior gods.

Now for the transformation of Thirsis his Chaos, true it is, that Ouid much after this manner discourseth of the creation of the world, of the reducing of the confused Chaos into distinct formes, of Prometheus his framing of man of the very earth it selfe: which things, no doubt, as also the distinction of times into foure seuerall ages, of gold, siluer, brasse, and yron, were taken, (although in part mistaken) out of the sacred monuments of Moyses. Leo Hebraeus, ••••t of some anciēt Poet, whom he calleth Pronapides, reporteth another history of the same matter, albeit not after the same manner. Demogorgon, s••ith he, the great and terrible God of heauen and earth, accompanied only with Aeternitie & Chaos,

perceaued on a time, an outragious vprore and tumult stirred vp in the bely and bowels of the forenamed Chaos: therefore, to ease her, he stretched forth his o••ne hand and opened her wombe, whence presently came forth a filthie and de∣formed ofspring, called Litigiū, Strife: which no sooner apeared, but immediately it bred brabbles, made a foule stirre, stird vp contentions, and stroue to mount vp toward heauen, but that by Demogorgon he was ouerruled, and throwne downe to the lower partes & elementall regions. Chaos as yet had not ended her chile-bearing labor & trauaile, but was troubled with heauie burdens, fainty sweats, languishing groanes, & fierie tormēting agonies; so that Demogorgon could not for pitie withdraw his helping hand, till by his assistance, she had brought forth Pan, with his three fatall sicters, and also Erebus, Aether, and Dies. Pan found such fauour, that Demogorgon committed vnto him the whole charge of his familie, commaunding his three sisters continually to waite and attend vpon him, as his handmaydes: And thus was Chaos at last deliue∣red, and eas••d of her childe-birth. By Demogorgon, or peraduenture, Demiur∣gon, is here vnderstood that one & only creator of al, to whom Aeternitie is in∣separably conioyned, sith himselfe is, was, and will be eternall and euerlasting. Chaos, in his eternall societie obteineth the third place, because she is that com∣mon, confused, and vndistinct matter, which the ancient Philosophers made Co∣eternall with the Creator: calling the one, the Father, the other the mother of al things formed; yet so, as they alwaies esteemed Demogorgon the chiefe and efficient, & Chaos only the subsequent and secondary cause in this procreation. The reason why they ioyned Chaos with the Creator as a companion from all e∣ternitie, was this: they thought it proceeded from him by a certaine eternall ge∣neration: so proceeding, as eternall, because alwaies proceeding; yet so eternall, as proceeding, because not of her selfe proceeding▪ but from the procreator. And as they made Chaos proc••ede from Demogorgon eternally without limitati∣on of time, so they affirmed, that he af••erwards framed all things of this vn∣formed Chaos, not eternally, but in time. The tumult and vprore styrd vp in the bowels of Chaos is her naturall inclination and desire of bringing forth things variable and disagreeing. The hand of Demogorgon, which opened her bely, is that celestiall power, reducing the vniuersall and confused possibilities of Chaos, to distinct formes and actuall particularities, and giueth vs also to vnderstand, that this first production of things, was not vsuall and accustomed (as naturall generation is, which afterwards succeeded this supernaturall creation) but strang and wonderful, & did therefore require the vse of Demogorgons hand, that is, the most mighty and effectuall instrument of all others. Strife came first forth: for from prima materia that ••irst and generall matter of all that was made, the diuision and distinction of things, which before were confused and vndistinct, proceeded: & this diuision is called strife; sith it conuerseth among foure striuing & contrary elemēts, the one alwaies maligning & repugning the other. His face was ougly & deformed: for discord and diuision causeth defect,

want, & imperfection, as vnion & concord, are the authors of blessednes, beauty, and perfection. Strife striuing to get vp to heauen, was thrown down to the earth for in the celestiall bodies there is noe discord, noe repugnancy, and therfore consequently, noe destruction or mortalyty, effects thereof: but only in these earthly and inferior matters, contynually subiect to infynite decayes and disso∣lutions, caused by oppositions and contrarieties. The burdens, sweatings, groanings, and agonies of Chaos, are the euer-strugling and contending na∣tures of the fowre elements, heauy earth, moyst water, breathing ayre, and con∣sumyng fyre: for pacification whereof, ••an was borne, which in Greeke s••gnifi∣eth, All: and betokeneth that generall and vniuersall power of nature, ruling and gouernyng whatsoever proceeded from Chaos; and quyeting those disa∣greeing qualities of the repugnant elements. Whereupon it is here sayd, that after Stryfe, came, Pan; syth after discord, comes concord, and succeedeth in place therof. Togeather with Pan, the three fatall Ladies of Desteny, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos were borne, attending on Pan, the God of vniuersa••l nature. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, soe called of turnyng, noteth the continuall motion and reuolutiō of things present, and turneth and spinneth the present threede of lyfe. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is the production and drawing foorth of that which is to come, preparing and keeping diligently the threede of lyfe which yet remaineth to be turned and spunne. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as if a man would say, irremeable, irreuocable, and immutable, representeth what is past, which neuer returneth: and this last Lady hath d••∣spatched, finished, and cut of the threede committed to her charge to be spunne. In Latine they are called Parcae à parcēdo, of sparing, by the contrary, as some thinke, because they spare not, as lytle Iohn was called soe in iest, being a man of a wonderfull great stature. Scaliger lyketh not this cōceipt, sith they spare in∣deed rather the otherwise, one of thē only cutting of lyfe, whereas the other two maynteyn and preserue it. Varro thought they were in Latine called Parcae à pariendo of bringing foorth, whereupon their particular names were framed accordingly, of the tymes of byrth, the one being of the auncient Romayns called Nona, the other Decima, of the nynth and tenth moneth, in the which vsually by course of nature the childe is borne: yet, because whosoeuer is borne, is borne to dye, the third was named Morta of the Latyne Mors, which signi∣fyeth Death, represented by the third fatall Lady. Claudian in his Poeme de raptu Proserpinae, maketh them all attend on Pluto, soe doth Fulgentius, be∣cause their dominion is most ouer these terrestriall and inferior bodies, figured by Pluto and his infernall kingdome. Agayne, th••se Ladyes drawe foorth the threede of mans lyfe, and mans lyfe is long or short, according as the body is framed of a strong or weake matter, which earthly matter is subiect to Pluto. The first hath care of mans byrth, the second of his lyfe, the third of death. The first is yong, the second of myddle age, the third very owlde: the yong Lady holdeth the distaffe and draweth the flaxe, the myddle hath a spyndle and win∣deth vp the threede, the owld sister with her Sheares snappeth the threede in

two. Homer in his hymne to Mercury maketh them winged, for tyme flyeth, and death draweth on. They are here sayd to be borne of Chaos, sith in that first di∣stinction and separation of things out of that confused heape and Masse, euery particular matter had his peculier desteny allotted vnto it: others would haue them to be borne of Erebus (the most hidden and remote part of the earth) and of Darcknes: that, by the obscurity of the father and mother, wee may imagine how difficult, nay how impossible a thing it is, to search out the hidden causes of Desteny. There bee also some that make them the daughters of Iupiter and Themis, the rulers and directers of fatall iustice and vniuersall prouidence.* 1.1

Plato in the tenth booke of his common wealth, maketh them the daugh∣ters of ineuitable Necessity, placing between their knees, the great Spindle of a∣damant, reaching from the arctike to the antarctike Pole: they sit on a throne, aequally distant one from an other, couered with white roabes, crowned with dia∣demes, singing proportionably to the heauens harmony, things that are past, present and to come: they all ioyntly togeather with their mother Necessity, turne this spindle, Clotho with the right hand, Lachesis with the left, Atro∣pos with both, as appeareth there in Plato more plentifully, in imitation wher∣of, as should seeme, Ouid in the last book of his transformations, bringeth in Iupiter talking with Venus concerning the immutable decrees of these inex∣orable Ladies, written in Iron, brasse, and Adamant.

Talibus hanc genitor: sola insuperabile fatum Nata mouere paras? intres, licet, ipsa sororum Tecta trium: cernes illic molimine vasto, Ex aere, & solido rerum tabularia ferro: Quae ne{que} concussum caeli, ne{que} fulminis iram, Nec metuunt vllas tuta at{que} aeter••a ruinas. Inuenies illic incisa Adamante perenni Fata tui generis.

Hereupon doth Capella call them Ioues scribes; for that they register his decrees in these euerlasting tables. Catullus in his wedding song of Peleus and Thetis (which noteth the generation of things, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is slyme, and Thetis water, where of all things are made, yet by an efficient; and therfore all the gods were at that wedding, except Discord, the only cause of dissolution) maketh their heads to be bound with a white fillet or lawne: some others giue thē gar∣lands of Daffadil.* 1.2

The sixt childe that Chaos brought foorth to Demogorgon, was na∣med Erebus, a certaine naturall power incident to euery inferiour thing, and, as it were, cleauing and adhaerent thereunto: and this, in the terre∣striall

globe, is the very matter it selfe, wherof things are made, the only cause of generation, corruption & all other alterations in these inferior bodies: but in Man, the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or little world, it signifieth that naturall appetite, and con∣tinuall desire, which man hath to obteyne new matters; whereupon the Poets haue also fayned, that this Erebus had many children, as Labour, Enuy, Feare, Deceipt, Fraud, Obstinacy, Pouerty, Mysery, Famyne, Lamentation, Sicknes, Death, and such like, whose mother they made Darknes, or Night, who bare to Erebus her husband this loathsome broode, according to those verses of Clau∣dian in his first inuectiue against Rufinus.

Glomerantur in vnum Innumerae pestes: Erebo quascun{que}, sinistro Nox genuit foetu; nutrix discordia belli, Imperiosa fames, laetho vicina senectus, Impatiens{que} sui morbus, liuor{que} secundis Anxius, & scisso moerens velamine luctus, Et timor, et caeco praeceps audacia vultu, Et luxus populator opum, cui semper adhaerens Infaelix humili gressu comitatur egestas, Faeda{que} auaritiae complexae pectora matris Insomnes longo veniunt examine curae.

The two last children of Demogorgon, were Aether and Dies, the superi∣rior region of the ayre, and the brightnes of the day: who, of brother and sister, became man and wife, and begat Caelius or Caelus, the heauen: which name was first attributed to Vranius, Father of Saturnus, king of Creete. This Vra∣nius, for his excellency, was deemed rather caelestiall, (as his name importeth) then any earthly creature: representing that aethereall purity by his diuine wisedome, and the caelestiall light and brightnes, by his vertuous conuersation: this is the historicall sence: now for the Allegoricall conceipt, it is most ma∣nifest: for Caelus, the heauen, including and concluding euery thing, is there∣fore called the sonne of Aether and Dies, for that his nature is aethereall by reason of his most subtile and spirit all perspicuity; and also bright and light∣some by the plentifull and abundant light of those so many radiant starres wherewith it is sweetly garnished. And as Vranius himself for his vertue was called Caelus, heauen, soe Vesta his wife, because she was a fruitefull and happy mother, was called Terra, the Earth. Of these two, Saturnus was born, wholy addicted to husbandry and tilling of the earth, and of nature slowe and heauy, like the earth. Allegorically thus; Saturnus is Sonne to Caelus, because he is the first Planete, and nearest to the highest heauen. He is also sonne to the earth, as in most of his naturall proprieties resembling the earth. First his co∣lor is pale and leaden, like the earth: Secondly, as the earth of all other Ele∣ments

is most grosse and beauy, soe Saturne among other Planets is most slowe in finishing his reuolution, as requiring full thirty yeares for the accomplishing of the same; whereas Iupiter endeth his in twelue yeares, Mars in two, Sol, Ve∣nus, and Mercury in one, and Luna, the Moone, in one moneth only. Thirdly Saturne by his influence worketh such a constitution and temperature in mens bodies, as is altogeather agreeable with the qualities of the earth, to wette, cold and dry, making them in whom he is predominant, sad, melancholicall, graue, heauy, pale, giuen to husbandry, building, and such like exercises. Whereupon he is figured as an olde man, sad, euil-fauoured, musing, badly cloathed, with a sithe in his hand, a fit instrument for his earthly practise. He afordeth a rea∣ching wit, profound cogitations, perfect knowledge, sage and graue aduice, constancy of minde and perseuerance: by reason that the earthly nature of his mother is qualified and tempered with that of his caelestiall Father. Lastly, as of his Father he causeth perfection and excellency of minde, so by his mother he is the author of deformity and destruction of the body,

His wife was called Ops, his owne sister, borne of the same Father and Mo∣ther. Allegorically, Opis signifieth help or assistance, noting the ayde and fur∣therance of the earth herself towards the tilling of fyldes, building of howses, and founding of Cities. Soe is she worthily both sister to Saturne, as borne of Caelus, whose influence is the best mainteyner both of husbandry and earthly habitations: and also wife to Saturne, for that as he is the agent, soe herself is the patient in husbandry and fortification. Saturne bereft his father Caelus of those instruments which are fit for generation: Cronos, that is, Saturne, is time, time is the measurer of the worlds motion; therfore, as one world, soe one time, one Saturne; and Caelus can get no more like him, sith all is now spen•• and consumed vpon him. Saturne fearing the prediction of Oracles, that his owne sonne should expell him out of his kingdome, consulting with his brother Titan, resolued to deuoure all the sonnes, that his wife Opis should beare vnto him; and for that intent commaunded her to shew him euery childe immediatly af••er the birth thereof. She first brought foorth Iupiter and Iuno: Iuno being a girle, and therefore not to be deuoured, was presented to her Father: but Iu∣piter was preserued from his rage and fury by the noyse of Cymballs & Ta∣burs, which soe possessed Saturne his eares, that he heard not the yong infant Iupiter, cry. Saturne angrily and earnestly demaunding where he was, his wife gaue him a Stone wrapped in a cloth, insteede of the boy, which stone for haste and rage, he swallowed, and afterwards vomited it vp againe, euen as he did all such of his other sonnes, whom he had deuoured. The like policy she vsed in pre∣seruing of Neptune, making his father beleeue, that it was noe childe, but a yong colte, whereof she was then deliuered, which Saturne thinking to be true, glutted the colt accordingly, Next to these were Pluto and his sister Glauca borne: but Glauca being only shewed to Saturne, Pluto escaped aliue: all the rest of his sonnes he first deuoured, and presently vomyted, as before is mencio∣ned

Allegorically, Titan the Sunne, and Saturne. Tyme, conspire together and resolue, that all things in tyme borne, shall also dye in time. For, as the deuouring continuance of outwearing time consumeth all things, so the life-gi∣uing influence of the quickning sonne, is the chiefe cause of procreation: where∣upon it is vsually said that Sol & homo generant hominem, The sunne and man beget man. His daughters he deuoured not: for, time consumeth indiui∣dua, this thing, and that thing, but not the roote and ground of things, figured by the femall sex. Iuno the ayre, with Iupiter the fire, and Neptune and Pluto the water and earth, are not deuoured: for, the foure elements continue still: but the rest are still subiect to continuall corruption: corruption I meane in part, which is alwais a generation, of some other particularitie, not a totall or ge∣nerall destruction: which is the cause, that time cannot digest and vtterly con∣sume, but is enforced to vomite and restore euen those very bodies which hee first deuoured, according to that ould ground which giueth vs to learne, that, as nothing can be made of nothing▪ so nothing can be made to be nothing,

Gigni è nihilo nihil, in nihilum nil posse reuerti.

Homer calleth Iupiter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, for that be sucked Goates milke, the reason is this, a Goate is euer climing and getting vpward, as Iupiter is, noting the fie∣rie and highest part of the ayre. This ethereall and superior part of the ayre, was thought of the Pythagoreans (by reason of the wonderfull celeritie and quick dispatch of his motion and reuolution) to cause a most sweete and melodious harmonie: whereupon Iupiter was reported to be preserued by the tinkeling of Cymballs and sounding of taburs.

Iupiter is placed immediatly after Saturne in heauen, as Iupiter King of Creete, succeeded his father Saturne in his kingdome. This Cr••etish King Iu∣piter for his bountifull and liberall nature was called by the name of that most good and beneficiall planet Iupiter; euen as his father, for the causes rehear∣sed, was named Saturnus. Hee that hath in his natiuitie Saturne predomi∣nant ouer Iupiter, is like to bee endued with no excellent qualities, especially those that vsually proceede from Iupiters influence, as Iustice, liberalitie mag∣nificence, pietie, fauour, beauty, riches, promotion▪ loue, and such like: all which by the maligning nature of this damnifying planet Saturne are altogether cor∣rupted and depraued, as the Creetish Iupiter when he was but a tender i••fant, was faine to be secretly conueyed away from his sterne and cruell father Sa∣turne, who sought his destruction. Saturne being imprisoned and chayned by the Titanes, was released by his dutifull and mercifull sonne Iupiter, who came with a mightie army to the succor of his father. Allegorically when the good and beneficiall Iupiter in any mans natiuitie ouer-ruleth preiudiciall Saturne, beholding the other planets with an amyable and fortunat aspect, which con∣foundeth the dead lookes and frowning face of Saturne, then is that man freed from th••se, ••aturnian chaynes of calamitie and miserie, which otherwise he were

subiect vnto. These Titanes were the sonnes of heauen and earth, signifying the foure elements, which include in themselues a certaine terrene and earthly na∣ture, and are therefore continually depressed and beaten downe by the power of the superior bodies: for, vapors by the heate of the sunne (the sunne is called Titan) are drawne vp, which when they approach neere the celestiall region, are repelled and driuen downe againe, or els resolued into pure and subtile ayre, and this mounting vp, and throwing downe is perpetuall.

Iupiter, when he had thus enlarged his father, vsurped his crowne and royall dignitie bannishing Saturne into hell, or the infernall regions. Historically, Iupiter hauing freed his father from thaldome, tooke vpon himselfe the dig∣nitie and regiment of Creete, enforcing Saturnus to flie into Italie; where he was honored liuing and dying as a God: for, such was the custome of that age to attribute diuine honors and titles vnto them as Gods, of whom they re∣ceaued any goodnesse: as they did indeede of this Saturnus, who taught them how to till and manure the ground, to coyne money of mettale, which before was of leather, to leaue bushes and caues, and liue more ciuily and orderly, and to obserue certaine lawes and constitutions by him inuented, as appeareth by Virgil. S. Aeneid. who therefore calleth that time, the Golden age. Now in truth Italy was then far inferior to Greece in Wealth and Dignitie, and might therefore be called the infernall region, or base and lowe countrey in re∣spect of ••aturns florishing kingdome: as also, for that Italie is lower then Greece, as inclining more to the west; and it is an vsuall thing, for men to call the East, the superior or higher region, and the West, he lower, downecast, and inferior; or lastly, as Varro wil haue it, qd latet Italia inter praecipitia Alpium & Apenni∣ni: because Italie doth, as it were, lurke and lie hidden betweene the abrupt and high toppes of the Alpes & the Mountaine Apenninus. That this is true which I report, of his being in Italie, besides the testimonie of Virgil in the place aboue alleaged (where he saith that Italie, was named Latium, a Latendo, because Saturne did lurke and lie there, to hide himselfe from his sonne Iupiter.) Ouid also will beare me witnes, who in the first of his Fasti, concluding this matter, saith, that for an eternall memoriall of his arriuall and good instituti∣ons, the Italian posteritie in their money of mettale, figured the ship wherein he came vnto them.

At bona posteritas puppim formauit in aere, Hospitis aduentum testificata dei.

Allegorically, as before; when in any mans action or natiuitie Iupiter is predominant, then doth he controle Saturne, depriuing him of his power and dominion, and driuing him out as his inferior. Sabinus thinketh that Saturne was therefore saide to be driuen into the infernal dungeons, for that he is of all other Planets, the most remote and furthest from the earth, making that infi∣nite and vnmeasurable height of Heauen, to be this Tartarus, this infernall or strange and far remoued region. But the most conceipted allegory for this

purpose, is that folowing: for although that in Saturns time and raigne, that is, by the in••luence and vertue of this Planet Saturne, the seede is preserued in the bowels of the earth, and congcaled or thickned in the bodies of sensible cre∣tures at the first generation and conception; yet when these things are brought forth and receaue increase and augmentation, then doth Iupiter shew him∣selfe to be King, and dealeth all in all, driuing out olde Saturne into corners, and blinde and obscure places, where the first seedes of things lie hidden, which only are subiect to Saturnus iurisdiction.

Time is swift and euerpassing without stay: which may bee the cause why Saturne is changed to a swift courser, when his wife tooke him dallying with Philyra, of whom he begat Chiron the Centaure as hereafter will appeare.

Thus haue wee the good olde Saturne in his raggs, with his foure chil∣dren before him, his consuming syth in his right hand, and a stone couered with cloth put to his mouth, with the left hand.

Out of Eusebius, he may be thus also figured: himselfe couered with a long roabe: two eyes before, as many behinde: of which foure, two did euer watch, whilest other two slept: foure wings were fastned to his shoulders, two spread foorth, as though he were ready to flie, two pluckt in, as though he meant to stand still: he had also two wings at his head. The foure eyes and wings note, that Time, though it seeme to sleepe, yet alwaies watcheth, and yet so watcheth, as it seemeth still to sleepe: and, as it standeth, it flyeth away, and yet in flying, af∣ter a manner standeth still. The two wings at his head are said to represent the intellectuall facultie and reasonable power of mans minde, the old Philosophers being of opinion, that the soule receaued from Saturnes spheare, the gift of rea∣son and intelligence.* 1.3

Saturne his wife had diuerse names. Rhea, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 à fluendo: either be∣cause euery thing floweth from the earth, as from a fountaine, or that the flow∣ing raigne is made of vapors and exhalations from the earth. Vesta she is also called, because she is Vestita, that is, couered with corne and grasse as with a vesture: or, quia vistat, because she standeth by her owne force, quasi vista, ac∣cording to that of Ouid in his Fasti.

Stat vi terra sua, vistando vesta vocatur, Causa{que} par graij nominis esse potest.* 1.4

The other Vesta, Caelius his wife, differeth not much from this: but that she seemeth to figure the very essence of the earth; and this, the fruitefull effi∣cacy, operation, and assistance thereof, whereupon she was called Opis, as I saide before, of helpe or assistance: Cybele, of a Ph••igian Mountaine so called: or rather, as Festus Pompeius thinketh, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifying a Cube; sith in olde time they did consecrate a Cube vnto here the reason was for that a Cube which way so euer it be throwne, stādeth alwaies direct, representing therfore, the not remoueable stability of the Earth. Lastly she was called Magna mater, the

great mother both of Gods and men, sith as well the Paegan Gods as men, being both mortall, must both acknowledge the earth their foundor and benefactor, whereof more in Tassoes Messagiero. She is couered with a Diadem bearing diuers turrets; the circuit of her Crowne signifying the compas of the Earth, and her turrets, the stately buildings of the same, according to that of Lucre∣tius lib. 1.

Muralique caput summum cinxére corona, Eximijs munita locis quòd sustinet vrbes.

Her garment is allwrought with flowers and bordered with branches, noting, that all such things proceede from the Earth. Her Chariot is drawne by Lions, o•• foure wheeles: the foure wheeles giue vs to vnderstand, that although the Earth be immouable, yet all earthly things are in continuall motion and alte∣ration, according to the foure seuerall constitutions and seasons of the yeare. The Lyons note the mightie and Lyonlike operation of the celestiall bodies vp∣on the earth: or, that husbandmens bodies must be strong like Lions: or lastly, that the stoutest were tamed, and must liue and dye on and in the earth. Her scepter is a signe of earthly pompe and dignitie. Round about her be emptie and vacant seates; either, for that the earth hath alwaies places of habitation in store for succeeding people; or, for that houses, cities, and countries become many times desolate by pestilence, famine, sword, fire, or otherwise; or, because many regions were then thought to be vnhabitable. Isidorus maketh her hold a key in one hand; for that the earth is, as it were, closed and shut vp in the win∣ter, fostring then and cherishing in her lap the seede, till spring time come, and then she openeth her selfe▪ and therefore is April so called of Aperio, quasi Aperilis, the open, or opening moneth, as Ouid doth expound it,

Aprilem memorant ab aperto tempore dictum.

Coribātes her priests stand round about her, al in armor: & so should euery mā, priest, swaine, or whatsoeuer, be ready with life and limme to defend his natiue soyle. The noyse of Taburs had (as Ouid also testifieth) his beginning frō Iupi∣ters birth, who, as I said before, was by that meanes concealed frō his father Sa∣turne: some referre the roundnes of the Taburs, to the roundnes of the earth, & others there be who think that the Taburs and Cymballs did note the windes, stormes, clouds, & thunders; al which come of the exhalatiōs of the earth, moun∣ting vpwards. Pinus is sacred vnto Cybele, for that Atis a sweet young youth who she loued, was by her transformed into the same for pitie, seeing the poore boy (being reiected of her for violating his vowed virginitte) plague his owne body, by cutting off those partes wherewith he had offended. This Atis (saith Eusebi∣us) representeth flowers which are fayre in shew, but fade and fall away, before they bring forth any fruite, which is the cause, that he is said to be depriued of his fructifying members, the tale is sweetly told by Ouid in his bookes de Fastis. Another Vesta they made to be Saturns daughter, signifying that vitall heate, which, dispersed all ouer and through the bowells of the Earth, giueth life to

all earthly things, On her seruice attended the Vestall Virgins in Rome, so called of their Mistres Vesta, of whom also Ouid in the same booke hath lear∣nedly discoursed; among other things, adding this,

Nec tu aliud vestam, quàm viuam intellige flammam.* 1.5

In Saturns time, the harmeles simplicitie of his subiects gaue name to the golden age, as I said before; which by degrees declining to siluer, and brasse, in the end became all of yron. Then did Astraea leaue the polluted earth, and set∣led her selfe betweene the Starres called Leo and Libra, the Lyon, and the Ba∣lance, couering her face in the cloudes for griefe to behold such impietie. Al∣legorically, Astraea, of Astrum, a Starre, is celestiall and heauenly Iustice: a Iudge must be stout and of good courage, as a Lyon, least for feare of menaces he spare the due execution of iustice: yet he must also weigh each thing in an vpright ballance, that affection or corruption doe not peruert iudgement: Her face is couered with clouds: for, a Iudge must not behold the parties with af∣fectionat and preiudicat eyes, seduced by wrath or drawne away by Partialitie.

Astraea thus gone, the Giants began to rebell: a bloudie broade, borne of Coelus his bloud, falling on the earth, when Saturne his sonne depriued him of his virility. Some other make them to be borne of Neptune and Iphime∣dea: Neptunes broode is furious and vnruly by reason of the superaboundant store of vnbridled humors: and Ihimedea, is nothing else but an obstinat and selfe-wild conceite and desire grounded in the minde, and not remoueable. These allegorically are seditious and rebellious subiects in a common wealth, or schismaticall and haereticall seducers in the Church. Iupiter, the King or supreame gouernour: the Giants, rebells or heretikes: the hills, their aspiring deseignes and accursed stratagems: Ioues lightning, the iust plague and confu∣sion of such attempts: their serpentine feete signifie their permicious and poyso∣nable policies, and their monstrous and most degenerate deformitie in opposing themselues against the commonwealth. The battaile was fought in Phlaegra a sulphurus part of Thessalia, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is to burne. There is yet extant a frag∣ment of Claudian, entituled, Gigantomachia, the bataile of the Giants where∣in many of their names are particularly set downe, the historicall truth is ex∣tant in Theagenes and Eudoxus. Of the Giants bloud came the bloud-thir∣sting Lycaon; in truth a tyran of Arcadia, who first did violate the l••••res of truce and league by killing and sacrificing vnto Iupiter, a certaine hostage sent from the Molossi: whereon came the fable, that he set mans flesh before Iu∣piter, to trie, if he were a God or not. This Lycaon for his crueltie, is here transformed into a wolfe, which in Greeke is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, agreeable to his aun∣cient name. That which foloweth of the generall deluge or ••••••••dation, is bor∣rowed, by likelihood, out of Moyses, by adding thereunto the conceit of Deucali∣ons and Pyrrhaes casting of stones behinde their backes for the renuing of our stony generation, For, both Lucian reporteth, that Deucalion entred an arke,

and beasts and fowles with him: and Plutarch, that he sent forth a Doue, which returning, brought a signe of the decreasing waters, all which agree with the hi∣storie of Noe. As for Deucalion, he is said to haue raigned sometime in Thes∣salia, which being for the most part drowned by sodaine waters, himselfe and his wife Pyrrha assembled on Mount Parnassus all such as escaped: and by their wisdome (figured by the oracle from Themis) brought them to be sociable a∣gaine, and multiplie as they did in former times.

But all this while we forget the poore Prometheus, who yet lyeth groaning on the mountayne Caucasus, for stealing fyre from heauen to make his image lyue: and taketh it very vnkindely, that we haue, in this creation of the world, made noe mention of him, by whose bold enterprise, Man, the best part of the world, was both framed first, and quickned afterwards. Minerua, lyking Pro∣metheus his woorke, bad him aske what he would that was in heauen, to fur∣nish his begun woorkmanship: he aunswering, that, vnles he were there to see what was in heauen fit for his purpose, he could desire no certeyne thing, was brought vp thither by Minerua: where; seeing euery thing quickned with fire, he dre••e secretly neere to the Chariot of the Sunne, and thence kindled a sticke, and with that fire gaue life to his image.

Historically, Prometheus is sayd to be the first who made any image of man, of clay, whence this poeticall imagination tooke his beginning, and by continu∣ance of time grewe to this (by the accustomed policies of the olde deceauing ser∣pent, who is euer ready to further Atheisme and ••dolatry) that Prometheus was honoured as a God, and had Temples dedicated, and Altars erected for his seruice accordingly. As apeareth by Pausanias, who reporteth, that in the Academy of Athens, there was an altar consecrated vnto Prometheus, and that at certaine times apointed for that purpose, diuers men came thither, and there lighted a number of burning brands, running with them one after an o∣ther all in a rowe to Athens, in such sort, that whosoeuer caryed his fire brand burning quite to the Citie, was reputed Victor: and if any mans brand were extinguished or put out by the way, he gaue place to his fellow folowing.

Allegorically, Prometheus is the fore-seeing and fore-knowing of thinges before they come to passe (for soe the very woord importeth,) as Epimetheus is the knowledge which we get by the end and euent of things already past & gone, whose daughter is Repentance. Prometheus was the sonne of Iapetus & The∣mis: Iapetus is nothing els (saith Proclus) but the most quick motion of hea∣uen, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of mouing and flying: An Eagle consumeth his hart, a wise mans minde is euerfull of meditations: as much as by the day the Eagle deuoureth, somuch the night restoreth againe; soe, learned mens cogitations admit intermissions, but noe interruptions: he was bound to a piller, or columne; The minde is bound fast to the body, and there chained for a while: some make him bound to the Mountaine Caucasus, for that there he obserued the re∣uolution of the heauens: The yeelding and giuing place to the succeeding fea∣lowe

or companion that runneth, meanes nothing els, but that the whole course of this present life, is full of woe and miserie, which when they are once ended, our race is ended also, and they that come after vs, take at our hands, as by tra∣dition, the like fire brands of calamities, as we our selues sustained before. Re∣my Belleau bringeth in Prometheus lamenting in his Bergerie, Thus,

Noble race de dieux, semence Titannine, Qui retires du ciel ta premiere origìne,

And so foorth, as foloweth there in that his complaint: so passionate, as that I am sory not to repeat it, & yet so copious as that I haue no time to rehearse it▪ especially hauing spent somuch of the day about this outworn Chaos, which, I hope, will therfore seeme pardonable, because the vnderstanding of all other poeticall tales and transformations by likelyhoode to be toulde, must needes re∣ceaue great light from that which hath beene spoken. Here good Elpinus paw∣sed awhile: and sith Pan had beene by him ef•• soones mentioned in this his dis∣course, it was thought conuenient by the Lady Regent, that Menal••as his song should be spent on that subiect: who thus began accordingly.

A Roadian Syrinx was a Nymph most noble, amongst all Naiades and Dryades, that, in olde times highly renowned Arcadian fountaines and mountains euer aforded. Fleshly Satyrs, Fauni, Siluani dayly desired Braue bony Syrinx loue, yet loueles braue bony Syrinx Fleshly Satyrs, Fauni, Siluani dayly deceaued. Syrinx tooke noe ioy in ioyes of Queene Cytheraea, But vowd life and loue, and hart and hand to Diana. Lyke to Diana she lyu'd, for a virgins lyfe she professed, Lyke to Diana she went, for in hunting roabes she delighted, And with bow and shafts stil practysd lyke to Diana; Onely the diffrence was, that, in-hunting-mighty Dianaes Bow, was made of gowld, and Syrinx bow of a cornell: Which noe great diffrence was not so greatly regarded, But that Nymphs and Gods eu'n so were dayly deceaued, And hunting Syrinx for mighty Diana reputed, So nere by Syrinx was mighty Diana resembled. Pan, with a garland greene of Pinetree gayly bedecked Saw this Nymph on a time come back from lofty Lycaeus, And his rurall loue in rurall sort he bewraied. Scarce had he sayd, Bony sweete: but away went braue bony Syrinx, Went through hills and dales and woods: and lastly aryued, Where gentle Ladon with mylde streames sweetely resounded, Ladon stopt her course, Ladon too deepe for a damsell. Then, quod Syrinx, Help, deare sisters; let not a virgin,

Immaculate virgin by a rurall Pan be defyled. Rather let Syrinx be a mourning read by the ryuer, Soe that Syrinx may be a mayden reade by the ryuer. By and by Syrinx was turnd to a reade by the ryuer: By and by came Pan, and snatcht at a reade for a Syrinx, And there sight and sobd, that he found but a seade for a Syrinx. Whilst Pan sighs and sobds, new tender reades by the whistling Wyndes, did shake and quake, and yeelded a heauy resounding, Yeelded a dolefull note and murmur like to a playning. Which Pan perceauing, and therewith greatly delighted, Sayd, that he would thenceforth of those reades make him a Syrinx. Then, when he had with wax, many reedes conioyned in order, His breath gaue them life: and soe Pan framed a Pastors Pipe, which of Syrinx is yet still called a Syrinx,

SHort & sweet, quod Elpinus; & I meane not my self herein to be ouer-long. Pan therfore is sayd to haue two horns on his forehead, reaching vp euen to the heauens; a red & fiery face, a long beard hanging down on his brest, a staffe and a Pipe compact of seauen reedes in his hande, a spotted and freckled skinne on his body, crooked, rough, and deformed lymmes, and legges like a Goate. Cupid and Pan contending for superiority, Pan had the woorst, and the worst was this, that he extreamely loued Syrinx, who extreamely hated him. Besides a certaine historicall discourse of an Arcadian, called Siluanus, who to ease his Loue-sittes, was much addicted to Musike, and first (as is reported,) found out the Pipe made of seauen reeds, there is in this tale a more philosophicall conceit. Pan in Greeke, as I sayd, signifieth, All▪ and doth both by name & naturall line∣aments betoken that vniuersall efficacy of nature, ruling and gouerning all. The two horns on his forehead reaching vp to heauen, represente the Arctike and Antarclike poles. His spotted skinne is the eight Spheare, distinguished with those heauenly lights of innumerable starres. his fiery face, conteyning two eares, two eyes, two nosethrills, and one mouth, proportionably shadow the fiery and bright nature of the seauen Planets, His long bristled beard and bush, be the beames of the Sunne, and other Planets and Starrs, whose influence is the cause of earthly generations. His crooked▪ rough, and deformed lymmes, are the foure Elements, and the bodies thereof made, which, compared with those aboue, are altogether rude and homely. His Goates feete & leggs note out the crooked course of things terrestriall: for euen as Goats go neuer streight, nor con∣tinue any setled and direct co••rse▪ but wander and skipp here and there; so, what soeuer is vnder the Sphere of the Moone, obserueth no constant and immutable proceeding, but confusedly changeth from this, to that, from that, to an other, without any intermission. Pan was in loue with a spotles and pure virgin•• vni∣versall nature affecteth and earnestly desireth a celestiall and perpetuall con∣stancy

in these inferior bodies. Syrinx runs from Pan; soe doth immutable con∣stancy forsake these inferior matters, which are dayly tossed to and fro, and continually subiect to tenthousand alterations. Syrinx in her maine flight is stopped and stayed by the Riuer Ladon: in like sort, the heauens and caelestiall bodies (which by reason of their continuall motion are like to a Riuer) dooe stay and bridle that wandring and inconstant constancy of inferior bodies: and though the heauēs thēselues, by reason of their perpetual motiō seeme somewhat varyable and inconstant, yet this their instability is indeed most stable, and mo∣tion immutable, noted by this spotles virgin transformed into reades, which be∣ing moued and breathed vpon by the life-inspiring Zephirus, yeelde this sweete melody; as those celestiall globes are said to doe, by the impulsion and direction of their intellectuall guydes and Spyrites. Hereupon is Pans pipe made of seauen reades, figuring that heauenly harmony of the seauen Planets, caused by their neuer-ending circumduction and reuolution. Pan lastly, besides his pipe, hath a staffe also, Sith by the stayed and setled motion of the seauen Planets, this vni∣uersall efficacie of nature ordereth the proceedings of these inferior bodies ac∣cordingly. The tale is told by Ouid, and Achilles Statius.* 1.6

Mydas the golden asse, and miserlike foole (who was faine to vnwish his wish of transforming euery thing into golde by his tutching thereof) prefer∣red Pans rurall harmony before the heauenly skill of Apollo, and was therfore woorthily rewarded with asses eares for his labor: which deformyty, though for a time he concealed, by couering it with his purple bonnet, yet at last was disco∣uered by his Barber, who neither daring to tell it any body, nor being able to keepe it secret, digged a pit in the ground, and therein whispered, That his ma∣ster Mydas had asses eares: which pit being by him then filled vp with earth a∣gaine, brought forth a number of reedes, which blown by the winde, repeated the buried woords, vttered by the Barber, to weet, That King Midas had asses eares. A golden foole and a silken asse, may fo•• the time be clad with purple, & delude the gazers on, but when the reades growe, that is, when after his death the learned begin to write, and lay him open to the world, then is his nakednes discouered. Pan commonly hath his garland of the leaues of a Pinetree: he was accompted the God of Sheepe and Shepheards, and kept in the woods. Such was Siluanus, who therfore had his name of Silua, signifying a wood. Fauni and Satyri may hether also be referred, whom Iupiter calleth rusticall and halfe∣gods: Ouid 1. Metamorphose••n.

Sunt mihi semidei, sunt rustica numina Nymphae. Fauni{que}, Satyri{que}, et monticolae Siluani, Quos quoniam caeli nondum dignamur honore, Quas dedimus certê terras habitare sinamus.

These Satyrs are sayd to be lytle Dandiprats, with two horns, crooked noses hayry and rough bodies, and goates feete. Plutarch writeth in Syllaes lyfe, that there was one of them caught not farre from Apollonia a city of Epirus, and brought to Sylla: which being by many interpreters demaunded who or what he was, vttred a kinde of voice, but such as no man vnderstood, it being a sound that resembled the neying of a horse togeather with the bleating of a Goate.

It is reported, that Antony the Eremite, saw and spake with such a Satyre in the Desert of Egipt: who confessed that himself and his fellowes were but mor∣tall creatures, inhabiting the wildernes, although the Gentiles seduced and blinded did honor them as Gods, calling them Fauni and Satyri: adding fur∣ther, that he came as sent from his companions, desiring Antony to make in∣tercession for them to his and their God, whom they did know and acknowledge, to haue come into the world to saue the world. Besides these rurall Gods, the auncient Poets perceauing that there was a life-giuing moysture and efficacie of humor, in trees, hilles, seas, flouds, lakes, wells, and such like, haue apoynted them their seuerall Nimphes and Deities, as Ladies of the same, hereof came these names, Dryades, Hamadryades, Ephidryades, Oreades, Napeae, Naiades, Limniades, and such others. The Satyrs aboue spoken of, by reason of their wanton and lasciuious nature, are made companions of Bacchus, the drunken God: but sith by talking of Pan, I haue thought of them here, I meane to leaue both him and them to their forrests and rurall harbors.

Pan thus dispatcht it was thought good, that Saturne his children should be remembred in order: and first, Iupiter, by Damaetas, whose tale was much to this effect.

IOue, as he looked downe fro the skies, sawe beautiful Io, Saw, and said, well mett, faire mayde, well woorthy the thundrer: Toyle not thy sweete self, it's too hoate, come fro the scorching Sunne, to the cooling shade: loe, here, and here is a harbor. If thou dar••st not alone passe through these desolat harbors Fo••e feare of wilde beasts; let a God be thy guide by the forrest, And noe trifling God, but a God that welds the triumphant Mace, and hurls lightnings, and thunderbolts from Olympus. Io fled for feare, for loue Ioue hastened after; And for a quick dispatch, both lands and seaes on a soddaine Ouer-cast with a cloude, and soe caught bewtiful Io. In meane time Iuno Ioues wife lookes downe fro the heauens, (Seeing lightsome skies at myd-day soe to be darkned, Yet noe foggs or mystes from pooles or moores to be lyf••ed) Meruailes much, and asks, if her husband were in Olympus, Who transformd sometimes to a Bull, sometimes to a golden Showre, was woont each where such slippery prancks to be playing,

Ioue was not to be founde; why then, qd Iuno, without doubt Fowly deceaued I am this day, or fowly abused. Down straight way fro the skies in a iealous fury, she flingeth, And those coosning clowdes, and darcknes roundly remoueth. Ioue foresawe this geare: and faire white bewtiful Io, Straight with a tryce transformde to a fayre white bewtiful heyfar. Iuno geu's good woords (although, God knows, with an ill will,) And commends this Cow, and sais; ô happy the Bullock Whoe might once enioy this fayre white bewtiful Heyfar. Then she begins to demaunde, who brought that Cow to the pasture, Of what kynde shee came, and what man might be the owner. Ioue, that he might shyft off busy Iuno, towld her a lowde lye, That nought els but th'earth brought forth that bewtiful Heyfar. Iuno wel acquainted with her husbands wyly deuises, Askt this Cow for a guift: Then Ioue was brought to a mischif: Wha•• shal he dooe? shal he geue his louing Io to Iuno? That were too too harde: shal he not geue Iuno the Heyfar? That would breede mystruste: shame spurrs on, Loue is a brydle: And shame-brydling loue, noe doubt, had lastly preuayled, But that, alas, if a wife, if a syster, a Lady, a Iuno, Eu'n of a Ioue, of a Lorde, nay eu'n of a brother, a husband Shuld be denyed a Cow, then might it seeme to be noe Cowe. Thus gate Iuno the Cowe: but yet shee feared a Bull stil: And, to be more secure, she deliuered Io to Argus For to be carefuly kept, whose waking head had an hundred Eyes; two slept by course, and but two only; the other Stil kept watch and warde: Which way soeuer he looked, Euer he lookt to the Cowe, Argus lookt euer on Io. In day tyme shee feedes, yet feedes stil watched of Argus, Feedes on boughes and grasse, (foode too too sowre for a sweete lasse) Drincks of pitts and pooles, drinck noething fit for a damsell. All night long shee's tyde by the ouer-dutiful Argus, And on bare could ground her tender side she reposeth. When she begins her griefe, and woefull case to remember, And would lyft vp her handes, to beseech vnmerciful Argus, Noe hands are left her, to beseech vnmerciful Argus. When she recounts her smart, and meanes her woe to be vttring, Io lowes as a Cow, insteede of an heauy bewayling, Io the lowing Cow frights Io the lasse, by the lowing. When to the syluer streames of fathers brooke she repayreth, Fathers syluer streames shewe daughters head to be horned, Io the horned Cow, with her hornes feares Io the damsell.

Euery water-nymph stil lookt and gazed on Io, Neuer a water-nymph thought this same Cow to be Io, Inachus her father still lookt and gazed on Io, Ioes owne father did neuer thinck her his Io: And yet poore Io went euery day to the aged Inachus: once himselfe pluckt grasse, and gaue to the heyfar: Io the guift for giuers sake, very kindly receaued, And with streaming teares her fathers hand she besprinckled, Lykt and kissed his hand: and would haue gladly reuealed Her mischaunce; and this new transformation vttred, But stil, grones and lowes, insteede of woords, she deliu'red. At last, two letters with her hoofe shee prynts by the ryuer, I, and, O, for a signe of late transfigured Io. Inachus howld when he read this doleful letter of Io. Inachus howld, and cride, and clipt disfigured Io, Hangd on her horns and neck: and art thou Io my daughter? Io my daughter, alas, ô most vnfortunat Io. Inachus euery where hath sought for beutiful Io, And now findes her a Cow, insteede of a beutiful Io. Io better lost then found: for I lost her a braue lasse, But now haue found her, not a lasse, not a wench, not a woman, Found her a Cow, dumbe Cow, whose language is but a lowing: Whereas I, suspecting no such thing, sought for a husband For my deare Io, and Io hoapte for a yong son; Io must haue calues for sons, and bull for a husband. Inachus and Io thus leaning either on others Neck, complaind and wept: then coms illuminat Argus, And driues father away from daughters sight, to the fountains, And driues daughter away from fathers sight, to the mountains. Iupiter impatient to behold disconsolat Io, Commaunds Mercurius, to deceaue vntractable Argus. Mercury putts on his hat, takes staffe and wings in a moment, Flyes to the earth: where hat for a time, and wings he remoueth, And th'inchaunted staffe, as a sheepehooke, only reteigneth, And so plods to the downe with an oaten pipe as a pastor, And stil playes, as he plods, which strange mirth greatly delighted Cow-keeping Argus: who could not rest, til he called Mercury vp to the mount. Now Mercury sits on a mountaine Hard by Argus side, and tells him there, of a purpose, This tale, and that tale: how worthily Phoebus Apollo Plagued prowd Niobe, and Pallas scorneful Arachne; And each tale had a song, and euery song had a piping.

Argus twixt nodding and gaping lastly demaunded Who found out that pipe. Then Mercury gins to remember Pan and Syrinx loue: but or halfe was brought to an ending, Argus his hundred lights were all obscur'd with a darcknes, Al bade him good night. Here Mercury quickly repressed Both his pipe and voyce, and slumbring Argus he blessed With th'inchaunted staffe, that much more soundly he sleeped: By and by, fro the neck, his nodding head he diuided, And so by one clowd, one hundred starrs he eclipsed. Iuno was all in a chafe; and Argus death she bewayled, And with self-same eyes her Peacocks traine she be-painted: And made poore Io, possest with an hellish Erinnis, Run fro the east to the west, and neuer finde any resting: Til by Ioues good meanes, fel Iunoe's fury relented, Forgaue poore Io, and gaue her leaue to be lightned, And, for a further blisse, to be call'd Aegyptian Isis.

DAn••aetas had now done: and Elpinus thus recontinued his intermitted la∣bor. Iupiter in latine, is quasi Iuuans pater, that is, a helping father. In greeke he is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, à viuendo, of liuing, as being the autor and giuer of life. He reduced the old world from barbarisme to ciuilitie, he builded temples for the Gods, made lawes for men, and hauing subdued most part of the earth, diuided the same among his brethren and kinsfolke, reseruing to himselfe the mountaine Olympus, where he kept his court. Allegorically, these and the like be the effects and operations of this beneficiall planet Iupiter. Olym∣pus, is of it selfe most high, passing the clowdes, the word is asmuch to say in Greeke, as, all and wholly light and bright, and so taken for heaven. Iupiter is commonly pictured sitting, sith the eternall Monarch of heauen, and earth, is alwaies immutable, one, and the same, and neuer subiect to any alteration. His vpper parts are bare and naked, the lower, couered and concealed, signifying, that those superior and celestiall spirites conceaue the hidden mysteries of Iupiter, who will not disclose himselfe to mortall men, dwelling on earth, and clogd with the heauie burden of a corruptible body. In his right hand he holdeth an all-ruling scepter, in his left, a sin-correcting lightning, and his Aeagle stan∣deth by.* 1.7

The scepter noteth a temperate rule and moderate gouernement, correspon∣dent to the mylde nature of that mercifull planet: yet he wanteth not a light∣ning to plague the wicked, which is therefore ascribed vnto him, sith he is mid∣dle betweene Saturne and Mars, whose contrary and repugnant qualities con∣curre both together in Iupiter, aswell the extremity of colde from the circle of Saturne, as the furious heate from the spheere of Mars, whose conflict and

strugling together causeth thunder and lightning: whereof there bee three kindes. The first, bright and cleare, of a most wonderfull piercing and subtile nature, melting gold, siluer, and brasse in a purse, the purse neuer tutcht, de∣stroying the childe in the mothers wombe, the mother no way hurt, killing and spoyling a man, his garments not somuch as schorched. The second is that which burneth, and is red: the third is somewhat moyst, and burneth not, but maketh black and blew: which was the cause that his lightning was called Tri∣sulcum. The Aegle is his byrde, as being, by report, neuer tutcht with thun∣der, but looketh directly on the burning beames of the sunne, and is King of birds, as Iupiter is Monarch among the Gods. Among trees, the oake is sacred vnto him: because in olde time, the oake by her ackorns, is said to haue giuen l••fe and foode, and Iupiter himselfe is the author of life. He maried his sister Iuno, so also called, à Iuuando, of helping. Allegorically, Iupiter noteth the celestiall and fierie region, Iuno the ayrie and inferior; and because that cele∣stiall is immediately conioyned with this terrestriall, (and either of them is light and yeelding, leuis & mobilis) they are called brother and sister: and sith the celestiall by reason of his heate is the agent, and the inferior because of her moysture the patient or recipient, they be therefore also Man and Wife, for without heate and moysture no procreation. But of Ioues mariage it were fitter time to speake, when Iuno his Wife comes in place. Now therefore to his Mynions and louetricks, which transformed him into sundry shapes of brute beasts: for this immoderate lust and wantonnes, is not onely beastlike it selfe, but maketh them also beasts which giue themselues ouer thereunto.

For the matter remembred by Damaetas, I haue heard, that the Phaeni∣cians did vsualy sayle to Argos in Greece: and being there on a time, when they had made shew of their marchandise, and diuers women of Argos (among which was also Io daughter to Inachus their King) came thither of purpose to buie; the Phaenicians tooke them away all to their ships, and brought them to Aegypt; where this Io was giuen in mariage to Osiris the Aegyptian King, surnamed Iupiter Ammon, as Diodorus Siculus maketh mention: and Io herselfe was afterwards among them honored for a goddesse, by the name of Isis. And because the Aegyptians, in respect of husbandrie, did with di∣uine seruice and ceremonies honor a Cow, thereupon the fable tooke his ground, that Io being stolne by Iupiter, was transformed to a Cow. The im∣pression of a Cowes hoofe, resembleth a greeke ω with an 1 in the middle: whereupon it is said, that Io with her foo••e wrote her name on the banke of her fathers brooke. Natalis Comes maketh this ethicall moralization of it. The celestiall and heauenly power in Man, called reason or vnderstanding, figured by Mercurius, doth moderate, pacifie, and temper all those inor∣dinate motions and affections proceding from that other facultie of the minde, proucking to wrath and anger. This cholerike and angry parte of mans mi••de as long as it resteth, may bee called Argus, sith 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: signifieth heauie

and slowe: but being once prouoked and incensed, it hath an hundred eyes, looking to euery corner for reuenge, and cannot be quiet, till Mercury dis∣patch him, that is, till Reason suppresse and keepe him vnder: Pontanus expoundeth it physically, making Mercury to be the sunne (by whose beames hee is euer lightned) the white Cowe the Earth, Argus the Heauen, his eyes the Starres, which glister by night, but by the suns approach, are all dashed and extinguished.

Quin & Mercurium mutato nomine dicunt Argum somnifero victum strauisse caduceo, Insomnem, centum{que} oculos, ac lumina centum Pandentem, & niueae seruantem pascua vaccae. Argus enim Coelum est, vigilantia lumina flammae Aetheriae, & vario labentia sydera mundo. Quae passim multa sublustris noctis in vmbra Collucent, sed mox phoebo exoriente perempta Torpent luce noua, & candenti lampade victa Emoriuntur, & obscuro conduntur Olympo.

Iupiter conueyed away Europa, Agenors daughter in a Ship called, The Bull, which was the cause why hee is saide to rauish her by transforming himselfe into a Bull. In that hee was turned to a golden showre to obtaine Danae: we see, that golde ouerruleth, and that, as Cicero somewhere saith, A∣sellus auro onustus in castellum ascendere potest, an asse loaden with golde will enter any strong holde. Or else, Danae may represent mans soule, and Iupiters golden showre, the celestiall grace and influence deriued into our mindes from aboue. Niobe, for her excessiue pride and contempt of God, is worthily plagued, yea so extreamely plagued in those very thinges wherein she chiefely vaunted, that for very anguish of heart and vntolera∣ble woe, shee is saide to bee turned to a dull and senceles marble stone. The like mischife befell Arachne, who being endued with excellent qualities, thought scorne of the goddesse which was her good Mistresse, and might haue beene her patronesse; and was therefore transformed to a spyder.

Elpinus hauing concluded this discourse, it was commaunded by the La∣dy regent, that because Iuno was by nature and mariage conioyned with Iupiter, they should also ioyntly be remembred, before any other of Saturns broode were medled withall. Fuluia therefore being apoynted for this nar∣ration, for that shee could not readily call to minde any memorable tale of Iuno herselfe, sang as foloweth of the Nymph Eccho, who was alwaies ta∣ken to be Iunoes daughter.

TIresias, Iunoes and Ioues iudge, blinde, yet aseer, Foretolde Narcissus this destinie. This pretie yong Boy Shalbe a man many yeares; if he neuer looke on his owne face. This seemde strange for a while, but th'end proou'd all to be too true. For, braue Narc••ssus (when he came at length to the sixteenth Yeare of his age, and might seeme either a boy, or a batchler) Had so louely a looke, soe sweete and cheareful a countnance, That Nymphes and Ladies Narcissus dayly desired: Yet soe loueles a looke, so prowd and scorneful a countnance, That Nymphes and Ladies, Narcissus dayly refused. Eccho once a day, the resounding Eccho, that aunswers Euery question askt, and yet no question asketh, Saw this gallant youth, as he hunted a deere by the forrest. Eccho the tatling Nymph was a true bodie then, not an onely Voyce, as now: although eu'n then that voyce was abridged Like as now: and this was done by Iuno the Empresse, Mother, as it was thought, to the prating Dandiprat Eccho. For when Ioue with Nymphs himselfe did meane to recomfort Here and there by the woods, and fetch his flings by the forrests, Shee with a long discourse her mother Iuno deteigned, Till Nymphs all were gone, and Ioues deuotion ended. Iuno perceauing these tricks, cut short the deluding Tong of pratling elf: yet pratling elf thus abridged Of too much tatling and babling in the beginning, Vseth her ould custome, by redoubling words in an ending. Therefore when she see's Narcissus goe to the forrest, Step for step thither by a secret path she repayreth, Burning still for loue: and as she nearer aproacheth Vnto the loued boy, soe she more mightily burneth. How-many thousand times, poore soule, she desirde a desiring And intreating speech to the wandring boy to be vttring? But fatall nature would noe-way grant a beginning. And yet, what nature permits, she greedily listneth For some sound, which may make her to be quickly resounding. At last Narcissus from his hunting company straying Wisht and sayd, O God, that I could see, some-body comming. Eccho repeated agayne these last words, Some-bodie comming. Some-bodie comming? Where? qd wandring hunter amased, Come then apace: And, Come then apace, poore Eccho replied. Narcissus wonders, lookes back, see's noe-body comming; Why, qd he, callst-thou me, and yet stil runst fro my calling? Cryest and fliest? And, Cryest and flyest? were dolefuly doobled.

Then, qd Narcissus, let's meete, and both be together: Eccho, these last words with most affection hearing, Answered him fiue times, Let's meete, and both be together, And soe runs to the boy, in a fond conceipt, fro the bushes, Clips him fast by the neck, and offers friendly to kisse him. But prowd boy, as prowd as fayre, disdainfuly frowning, Flies from her embracements, and sayes, Let greedie deuouring Boares and beares be my graue, if I euer yeeld to thy pleasure. Eccho sayd nothing, but, I euer yeeld to thy pleasure. And, for griefe and shame to be too too proudly repulsed, Hides her-selfe in woods and caues, and dwels by the deserts, And yet loues him still, still pines with vnhappily louing. Careful loue, and sleeples cares brought Eccho to nothing, Nothing but bare bones with an hollow heauie resounding. For flesh was cleane gone, and quite consum'd to a powder, And life-giuing blood went all to an ayre from a vapor. Yea, very bones at last, were made to be stones: the resounding Voyce, and onely the voyce of forelorne Eccho remaineth: Eccho remaineth a voyce, in deserts Eccho remaineth, Eccho noc-where seene, heard euery where by the deserts. Iuno laught no lesse, then when shee saw in Auernus Prowd Ixions wheele turne with reuolution endles. But th'ouer-weening princox, was iustly rewarded; Who, for not louing others soe loued his owne-self, That selfe-will, selfe-loue, as he saw himselfe in a fountaine, Made him loose himselfe, for a fading shade of his owne-self.

THis tale being thus tolde by Fuluia, Elpinus tooke occasion thereby to dis∣course of Iuno much after this manner. Iuno, Ioues wife and sister, as I sayd before, is the Lady of mariage, and gouernesse of child-birth, called there∣fore Lucina, à Luce, sith she, as a coelestiall midwife, helpeth to bring forward the children in lucem, into light. These proprieties are assigned vnto her, for that she resembleth the vertue and efficacy of the ayre, and al this inferior com∣position, as I haue already tolde. Oceanus and Thetis brought her vp: the ayre is made of water rarified and subtiled. She brought foorth Vulcan vnto Iu∣piter: the ayre incensed and made hoate, breedeth fire. Homer maketh Iupi∣ter binde Iuno with a golden chayne, hanging two great masses of Iron at her heeles, and that she thus tied, could be loosed by none, but by himself: Iuno is the ayre; the two weights of Iron, be the earth and water, betweene which two & the superior bodies she hangeth chayned: & this golden chayne is the cohoe∣rent concatenation and depending of things vnited so in order, as none but only the almighty Iupiter can dissolue the same. The Peacock is Iunoes bird, and

draweth her chariot: Iuno is the goddesse of riches and honour, which are as glorious in shew, and as transitorie in truth, as the Peacoks spotted trayne, and make men as prowd and insolent, as a Peacocke, which in a vaunting and bragging conceipt▪ displayeth to the beholders, her feathers bespprinckled with Argus his eyes. Her Nymphs and handmayds expresse the variable change & alteration of the ayre▪ portending either fayre or fowle weather, windes, stormes, rayne, hayle and such like: of whom Virgil maketh mention, 1. Aeneid. where Iuno offreth Aeolus the fayrest lasse of all her fourteene damsels.

Sunt mihi bis septem praestanti corpore Nymphae; Quarum, quae forma pulcherrima, Deïopeiam, Connubio iungam stabili, propriam{que} dicabo, Omnes vt tecum meritis pro talibus annos Exigat, & pulchra faciat te prole parentem.

Iuno might well command Aeolus, the king of windes, sith winde is no∣thing els but the ayre stirred, or an exhalation blustring in the ayre: therefore in that place Virgil maketh him thus answere Iuno.

Tuus ô regina, quid optes, Explorare labor; mihi iussa capessere fas est. Tu mihi quodcun{que} est regni, tu sceptra, Iouem{que} Concilias, tu das epulis accumbere diuûm Nymborum{que} facis tempestatum{que} potentem.

Historically, Aeolus dwelling in a very hilly and windy countrie, percea∣ued and foretolde the mariners, by the flowing and reflowing of the seas, and such other Physical obseruations, what weather they should expect, noting and declaring vnto them before hand the sure and vnfallible tokens of the rising windes and tempests, whereupon he was called the king of windes, and his king∣dome Aeolia, of his name: where he with his regall mace in his hand, pinneth vp those blustring brethren in his dungeons, barred with huge hils and moun∣taynes, as there Virgil also beareth witnes.

Talia flammato secum dea corde volutans Nymborum in patriam, loca foeta furentibus auftris, Aeoliam venit: hic vasto rex Aeolus antro Luctantes ventos tempestates{que} sonoras Imperio premit, ac vinclis & carcere frenat. Illi indignantes magno cum murmure, montis Circum claustra fremunt: celsa sedet Aeolus arce, Sceptra tenens, mollit{que} animos, ac temperat iras,

Ni faciat, maria ac terras coelum{que} profundum Quippe ferant rapidi secum verrant{que} per auras.

The windes are painted winged, with swelling and puffing mouthes and cheekes, among the rest, Boreas hath this peculiar, that his feete be serpentine, according to his pinching and byting nature* 1.8

As Mercury is Iupiters messenger, so is Iris Iunoes. Iris hath her name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of speaking, for she speaketh and telleth when rayne is towards. Iris is the Rayn-bow, and Iuno is the ayre, wherein those raynie clowdes are clutte∣red together. Iris is the daughter of Thaumas and Electra: Thaumas is the sonne of Pontus, the sea, or water: and Electra is the daughter of heauen, or the sunne. Thaumas signifieth wondring and admiration, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and this bow, in truth, is euery way wonderful, by reason of those so many strange colours appearing therein. Electra is perspicuitie, or serenitie; of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the sunne, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, bright and serene: so this bow proceedeth from water and serenitie, to weete from the reflexion of the sunnes beames, in a watery clowde. Iuno her selfe sitteth on a throne, with a scepter in her hand, a crowne on her head, and her Peacocke standing by her.* 1.9

Iupiter iesting with Iuno, whether man or woman had more pleasure, the matter was referred to Tiresias, who had been both woman and man: but gi∣uing sentence with Iupiter, was depriued of his sight by Iuno. It is not good therefore to iudge betweene our betters. Tiresias was a sage and contempla∣tiue man: and such are commonly blinde to other matters, for that they scorne these inferior things, as hauing vowed their whole soules to more heauenly cogitations. Eccho is Iunoes daughter, for she is nothing els, but the reuerbe∣ration and reduplication of the ayre. Eccho noteth bragging and vaunting▪ which being contemned and despised, turneth to a bare voyce, a winde, a blast, a thing of nothing. Narcissus is a louer of himselfe, and so it falleth out, that vaunting and bragging loues self-loue: He is turned to a flower, florishing to day, and fading to morrow, as such ouerweeners alwayes doe.

Ixion graced by Ioue, would needes dishonour Iuno: Iupiter framed a counterfait Iuno, intruth nought but a clowde: which Ixion vsing in stead of Iuno, begat the Centaures. This is a note of ambitious and aspiring loue, And these Centaures hereupon were called Nubigenae. Historically they li∣ued in high mountaines in Thessalia, which gaue occasion to this fiction. They were called halfemen, for that being practised in riding, they grew most ex∣pers therein, sitting on horses continually, so that they seemed not men and hor∣ses distinct, but a thing made of horse and man together. These rude fellowes enraged with wine and lust, set all on an vprore at Pyrithous his wedding.

But to returne to Eccho, I remember an odde conceited dialogue between her & the affectionate louer, which as I heard it of late of a forren Pastor, so here for nouelties sake, I repeate it: that some of our company may another time either worke on the same ground, or lay himselfe a new foundation.

VAlli, sassi, montagne, antri, herbe, & piaggie, Colli, selue, fontane, augelli, & fere, Satyri, Fauni, & voi ninfe leggiadre, Odite per pietà la pena mia. Vdite come amor mi mena a morte Legato in duro e indissolubil nodo? odo. Voce odo; deh chi sei tu, che rispondi A l'amaro & dolente piànger miò? Io. Ninfa sei forse? di, se ninfa sei Tu, che di questa voce formi il suono? Sono. Ninfa sei dun{que}? deh dimmi anco il nome, Ch'io sappia chi si moue à pianger meco. Echo Hora poi ch' Echo sei, porgimi orecchio, Odimi, se l'udir non ti dispiace. Piace. Tu vedi, com'io piango amaramente, Deh mouati pietà del mio cordoglio? Doglio. Se di me duolti, vuoi porger consiglio Al profondo pensier in cui m'inuoglio? Voglio. Ma che premio fia'l tuo, se'l mio tormento In qualche parte almen perte si annulla? Nulla. I'ti ringratio. Hor dun{que} mi consiglia, Poiche piu altro premio non richiedi. Chiedi. Tu vedi, Ninfa, com'amor mi strugge Chi'ò corro à morte, e à pena me n'aueggio? Veggio. Che mi consigli? che faro perch'io Troui pietá là dou' amor mi chiama? Ama. Vorrei saper che cosa è quest' amore, Questo, che tutto m'arde, e che m'infiamma. Fiamma. Che fiamma è questa? come non finisce Di consumar, se mai non si rallenta? Lenta. In che loco s'annida? oue soggiorna? Che parte è quella, ou'arde a mio dispetto? Petto. Com'entra dimmi? oue troua la via, Perch'ella dentro al petto si trabocchi? Occhi. Entra per gliocchi? parmi hauer inteso, Che molti per vdir s'namoraro. Raro. Dimmi, che cibo è'l suo, doue si pasce,

Che par che dicontinuo ella m'acore? Core. Se m'arde 'lcor! debbo durare ancora Al giogo, ou i'o mia liberta perdei? Dei. Adun{que} vuoi, chi'o stia nel mio pensiero Constante ancor, benche sia afflitto e stanco? Anco. Tante lagrime spargo, e nulla gioua, Dimmi, sarebbe forse il pianto in vano? Vano. Che faro dun{que} acciò al mio casto ardire, Che m'arde, honesto premio si reserui? Serui. Credi, che l'amor mio le sera grato, Et ch'ella fia del mio seruir contenta? Tenta. Ogni via tentaro, se credi, ch'io Possa allcun premio riportarne poi. Poi. Hor qual esser deuro, se pur talhora Il dolor mi fara tremante infermo? Fermo. Ma che faro, s'egli cosi mi strugge, Ch'in pianto la mia vita si distempra? Tempra. Com'io la temprero, s'amor non cessa Di saettarmi da la terza Spera? Spera. Dun{que}, ninfa gentil, lo sperar, gioua, E la mortale passion raffrena? Frena. Qual sia la vita mia, se senza speme Terrammi preso amor con man' accorta? Corta. Se siano corti i giorni di mia vita, Non saran lieti almen, benc'hor m'attristi? Tristi. Che sperero? mi lice sperar forse Che far mi debba vn giorno amor felice? Lice. Vorrei saper chi mi dara speranza, Poich'a sperar la tua ra gion m'inuita? Vita. Vita haura dun{que}? hauro poi altro s••o Non mi las'io giamai mancar di Spene? Pene. Pene? Sperando adon{que} che mi gioua? Ma chi sia causa, che di pene i tema? Tema. Tema la causa fia? deh dimmi il vero, Dun{que} tema potra farmi mendico? Dico. Ahi lasso, ahi discortese, empio timore, Hor questo dun{que} il mio piacer conturba? Turba. Pommi far peggio? dimmi se puo peggio Seguir à queste membra afflitte e smorte? Morte. Morte? se dun{que} il timor passa'l segno, Talhor si more per souerchio amore? More. Come lo scacciero? l'alma si strugge, 〈1 page missing〉〈1 page missing〉

Che non lo vuole, piange, e si dispera. Spera. Tu pur dici ch'io spera, speme forse Credi, che sola sia, ch'altri consola? Sola. Leuera tutto, ò parte del tormento, Lasso, che mi consuma, e'l cor mi parte? Parte. Adun{que} la speranza per se sola Beato non potra far mi giamai? Mai. Ma oltre amore seruitute, e speme, Che ci vuol? dimmi'l tutto a parte a parte. Arte. Chi mi dara quest' arte forsi, amore Altri chi sia, se no' è amor istesso? Esso. Insegna dun{que} amor, dun{que} a gli amanti, Amor delver amor l'arte dimostra? Mostra. Dimmi di gratia, scopriro la fiamma, ò mi consigli, ch'io non la discopri? Scopri. A cui debbo scoprirla? ad ogn'un forse? ó bastera, che sol l'intenda alcuno? Vno. Vuoi che ad vn sol amico fia palese, Celato à gli altri sia'l colpo mortale? Tale. Sapremo soli tre dun{que} il mio ardore, Se vuoi, che con vn solo mi consoli. Soli. Ma dimmi quale deue esser colui à cui l'ardor secreto mio confido? Fido. Trouerans'in amor fedeli amici C'habbin riguardo poi d'amico algrado? Rado. Come dun{que} faro perche lo troui Che fia fedel, si come si ricerca? Cerca. E s'io lo trouo, che potra giouarmi? Forsi talhor la passion rileua? Leua. Hor questo che mi detti, dimmi'l modo Vero d'amor, dimmi di gratia'l vero? Vero. Se questò è il vero modo, i'son felice, Homai non temo, che'l dolor m'atterri. Erri. Perch' erro? forsi anchor altro ci vuole? Perche senz'ale il mio pensier non vuole? Vole. Altrro ci vuol ancor? non basta questo? Deh dimmi'l ver, non mi lasciar incerto? Certo. Che ci vuol dun{que} di per cortesia, Perche di gioia sia l'alma consorte? Sorte. Sorte? hor altro ci vuol accioche in fine Voglia, espeme in van nò starò in sorte? Sorte. In somma di, sopra tutto che gioua,

Hor resta in pace, ninfa, io ti ringratio, Che co'l tuo ragionar par che mi auiui? Viui.

Philoueuia, being next by turne, was willed to remember what she could con∣cerning the watery Nymphs & Ladies of the seas; that therby Elpinus might shew his conceipt touching Neptune, the second heire of Saturnus. And this was her song.

SCilla sate her down, then a mayd, now changd to a monster, Sate her down on a banck with sea-borne Dame Galathea, Down on a flowring banck, not far from sulphurus Aetna. And there gan to recount ten thousand wilie deuises, Wherewith poore young youths in scornful sort she deluded. Yea, but alas, sayd then, with a far-fet sigh Galathea, They that seeke thy loue, yet suffer dayly repulses, Beare mens face, mens heart, and so are safely repulsed. But Galathea the wretch, (ô woful wretch Galathea) Could not auoyd leawd lust and rage of lout Polyphemus, Capten of Aetna'es f••ends, but alas, but alas with a danger, Nay with a death, ô death: and there grief stopt Galathea. At length, inward woe with weeping somwhat abated, Thus, for Scillaes sake her dearlings death she remembred. There was (woe worth was) was a fayre boy, beautiful Acis, Acis, Faunus boy, and boy of louely Simethis, Acis, Faunus ioy, and ioy of louely Simethis, Best boy of Faunus, best boy of louely Simethis, Most ioy of Faunus, most ioy of louely Simethis: And yet better boy, and greater ioy by a thousand Parts, to the blessed then, but now accurst Galathea, Then to the syre Faunus, to the mother louely Simethis, As Galathea thus did loue her beautiful Acis, So Polyphemus alas did loue his lasse Galathea, And Galathea still did loath that lusk Polyphemus. O deare Lady Venus, what a sou'raigne, mighty, triumphant, And most imperious princesse art thou in Olympus? This rude asse, brute beast, foule monster, sidebely Cyclops, This Polyphemus loues: this grim Polyphemus, a mocker Of both Gods and men: this blunt Polyphemus, a terror Vnto the wildest beasts: this vast Polyphemus, a horror Eu'n to the horrible hils and dens, where no man abideth, This Polyphemus lou's, and doates, and wooes Galathea: Forgoes his dungeons, forsakes his vnhospital harbors,

Leaues his sheepe and Goates, & frames himself to be finish, Learns to be braue, forsooth, and seeks thereby to be pleasing, Cuts his bristled beard with a syth, and combs with an Iron Rake, his staring bush, and viewes himselfe in a fishpond; And there frameth a face, and there composeth a countnance, Face for a diu'ls good grace, & countnance fit for a hell-hound. His bloodthirsting rage, for a while is somwhat abated, His brutish wildenes transformd to a contrary mildenes: Strangers come and goe, sail-bearing Ships by the Cyclops Passe and safely repasse, and neuer feare any danger; This Polyphemus now, is changd from that Polyphemus. Telemus in meane time, as he sayld by Sicilian Aetna, (Telemus in birds-flight had a passing singuler insight) Came to the ougly Gyant, and said, that he should be depriued Of that his one broad eie (which stood there filthily glooming In middle forehead) by crafts-contriuer Vlysses. Blinde foole, qd Polypheme, can a blinde man loose any eie-sight? Poore Polypheme of his eye was by Galathea depriued Long since, and cares not for crafts-contriuer Vlysses. Thus contemning that which after proued a true-tale, Either in hellish caues his diu'lish carkas he rouzeth, Or, by the shaking shore and sea-side lazily stalketh, Or, very rockes themselues with a lubbers burden he crusheth. There was a hill, that stretcht with sharpned point to the sea-ward, And had both his sides with Neptune dayly bedashed: Hither he climes, and here his cart-load lims he reposeth, Here his fellow Goates, and Rams, and Sheepe he beholdeth: Then layes downe his staffe (his walking staffe was a Pine-tree, One whole huge Pine-tree, that might wel serue for a main mast Vnto an Armado) and after, takes vp a iarring Pipe (fit for piper Polypheme, fit lute for a lowby) Compact of fiue-score and fifteene reedes, with a clumsie Fist, and scrapes, and blowes, and makes so shameful an out-cry. That both lands and seas did groane with a deadly resounding, Hearing this fowle Swad such rustical harmony making; For there vnder a rock, as I lay, and leaned in Acis Lap, this song I did heare, and beare with a heauy remembrance. More white then Lillies, then Primerose flowre Galathea, More fresh then greene grasse, more slyke & smooththē a cockle Shell, thats washt and worne by the sea, more coy then a wanton Kyd, more brigt then glasse, more ioy to the heart then a winters Sunne, or sommers shade, more fayre and seemly to looke on

Then straight vp-mounting plante-tree, more cleare then a Christall Streame all froz'n, more woorth then a hoorde of melloed apples, More sweete then ripe grapes, more soft then downe of a cignet, And, (so that thou couldst accept poore woorme Polyphemus) More deare then Diamond to the louing woorme Polyphemus. And yet more stubborne then an vntam'de Ox, Galathea, More light then floating billowes, more hard then an aged Oake, more rude then a rock, more tough then twig of a Willow, More violent then streame of a brooke, more fierce then a wilde-fire, More sharpe and pricking then thorns, more prowd then a Peacock, More spiteful then a troaden snake, more curst then a whelping Beare, more deafe then seaes, and (which most greeues Polyphemus) More swift-pac't then a Hart, then winged windes, Galathea. O, but alas, run not, looke back, and know Polyphemus. My bowre with maine rocks and mounts is mightily vawted, That scalding sunbeames in summer neuer aproach it, And blustring tempests in winter neuer anoy it: My trees bend with fruite, my vines are euer abounding With grapes, some like gold, some others like to the purple: And both golden grapes, and purpled grapes be reserued For my sweete purpled, my golden wench Galathea. Thou with thine owne hands maist easily pluck fro the bushes Blackbery, hipps, and hawes, and such fine knacks by the forrest, Damsons, sloes, and nutts: and if thou wilt be my wedded Wife, each tree and twig, and bush shall bring thee a present, Euery bush, twig, tree, shall serue my wife Galathea. All these sheepe be my owne, which quickly without any calling Come and run to the pipe of their good Lord Polyphemus: And many thousands more, which either range by the mountains, Or feede in valleys, or keepe their places apointed And stalls hard by my bowre: and if thou aske me the number Of them, I know it not, for beggers vse to be telling How-many sheepe they keepe, my goodes, Galathea, be endles, My sheepe nomberles: yet among these so-many thousand Flocks of sheepe, not a sheepe did I euer prooue to be fruitles. Thou thy-self maist see my goates and sheepe to be stradling With bagging vdders, thou maist see how-many lambkins, And yong kyds I doe keepe, kyds and lambs both of a yeaning. Milke I doe neuer want, and part I reserue to be drunken, Part in curds and cheese, with thrift I prepare to be eaten. Neither shall my loue Galathea be only presented With birds neasts, kyds, doues, and such like paltery stale-stuffe,

And common loue-toyes, which easily may be aforded By each carters swaine: Polyphemus found on a mountaine Two braue yong Beare-whelps, either so like to an other, That who marks not well, will soone take one for an other: These did I finde of late, and these doe I keepe for a token, For to be playfellowes for my bonilasse Galathea. O then scorne not me, scorne not my guiftes, Galathea; This body shalbe thy spoyle, and this bloud shalbe thy bootie, These sheepe shalbe thy goods, and these hills shalbe thy dowry. Sweete pig, scorne not mee; for I know myselfe to be comely, Often I looke in a lake, and set my selfe by a fishpond, Making mine owne eyes of mine owne eyes the beholders, And when I see my face, I delite my face to be seeing. Looke how big I doe looke, how strong and stordily squared, Mark how mighty I am: no thundring Ioue in Olympus, (You fooles tell many tales of a thundring Ioue in Olympus) No great thundring Ioue is greater then Polyphemus. See what a swinging bush giues cou'ring vnto my countnance, And, as a thickset groaue, makes dreadful shade to my shoulders. My Flesh's hard indeede, all ouer-grown with a bristled Hyde, and rugged skin; but that's but a signe of a mans hart, And is no-more shame to the strong and stowt Polyphemus, Then broade leaues to a tree, then faire long mane to a foming Steede, then synnes to a fish, then feathers vnto a flying Fowle, or woolle to a sheepe. One eye stands steedily pitched In my front: but an eye, yet an eye as broade as a buckler. And what, I pray you, hath this sunne any more but his one eye? And yet he sees all things, and all things only with one eye. Lastly, my syre Neptune with threeforckt mace, as a sou'raigne Rul's in Sea's: and so shall sea-borne dame Galathea By taking Polypheme, best ympe of Seaes, for a husband, Haue also Neptune, chiefe Lord of Seaes, for a father, Earth-shaking Neptune, that stroue with mighty Minerua For the renowned Athens (as he often towld me his own-selfe) And raisd vp Troy walls with threatning towres to the heauens: With whose rage both Lands and seaes are fearefuly trembling, At whose beck springs, wels, floods, brooks, pooles, lakes be obeying, As soone as they heare his Triton mightily sounding. Then, Galathea relent, and yeeld to thy owne Polyphemus, Sith Polyphemus yeelds himselfe to his owne Galathea, Sith Polyphemus yeelds: who cares not a rush for a thundring Heu'n, and heauens King: thy frowning's worse then a thousand

Lightnings and thunders. Yet I could forbeare thee the better. If thou didst aswell scorne others, as Polyphemus. But why should Galathea refuse well growne Polyphemus. And yet like and loue and wooe, effoeminat Acis? Whome if I catch, Ile make him know, that great Polyphemus Arm's as strong as great. Ile paunce that paltery princox, Trayle his gutts by the fields, and teare his flesh in a thousand Gobbets, yea ile powre his bloud, hart-bloud to the waters: Eu'n thine owne waters, if I euer take Galathea Dealing with that boy, dwarfe Acis, dandiprat Acis, Elfe Acis: for I boyle with most outragius anger And most raging loue: me thinkes whole sulphurus Aetna. Aetna with all his flames in my brest makes his abiding, And yet neither loue nor wrath can moue Galathea. Thus when he had this sweete loues lamentation ended, Vp-gets th'one eyde feende, and rangeth abroade by the forrest, Roaring out, as a bull, driu'n back with force from a heyfar: And at length spies out vs two there downe in a valley, Mee and Acis alas vnawares; and cries in a fury, Endles griefe and shame confound forelorne Polyphemus. If that I make not now your loue toyes all, to be ended. This did he roare, but he roarde this with so hellish an outcry, That mount Aetna with eccho resounds, and griesly Typhoeus Groanes for feare, and breaths foorth flashing flames to the heauen••, Vulcan starts fro the forge, and Brontes runs fro the Anuile, And swelting Steropes, with barlegd ougly Pyracmon Leaue their Iron tooles: yea Pluto the prince of Auernus Heard this yelling feende, and feared, least that his owne hound Cerberus had broke loose with three-throate iawes to the heauens. Here I alas for feare, dopt vnderneath the reflowing Waues, and poore Acis fled back, and cride, Galathea, Helpe, Galathea, help; and let thy boy be receaued In thy watery boures, Polyphemus murdereth Acis. Cyclops runs to a rock in a rage, and teares in a fury One greate peece, as big as a mount, and hurl's it at Acis: And but a litle peece thereof tutcht bewtiful Acis, Yet that litle peece orewhelmd whole bewtiful Acis. Here I alas, poore wretch, wrought all that desteny suffred For to be wrought, and causd his strength to be freshly renued, His life eu'n by a death now more and more to be lengthned, And his dearest name and fame to be dayly remembred, And my selfe and him, by a heauy diuorce, to be ioyned.

His blood sprang fro the lumpe; his blood first cherefuly purpled, Then by degrees it changd, and rednes somewhat abated, And lookt like to a poole troubled with raine from Olympus, Afterwards, it clearde: then lumpe cloaue, and fro the cleauing, Flowring reades sprang forth, and bubling water abounded. Beutiful Acis thus was then transformd to a horned Brooke; and yet this brooke tooke name of bewtiful Acis. Acis a louing streame, runs downe with a louely resounding, Downe to the great sou'raigne of seaes with speedy reflowing, There, his yearely tribute to the three-forckt God to be paying▪ And there, his Galathea for euermore to be meeting. Here Galathea did ende: and coy dame Scylla departed: Whom sea-God Glaucus (new God, late made of a fisher) Lou'd, but vnhappily lou'd: and wept, when he saw her a monster.

THen, quoth Elpinus, Neptune was the second of the three brethren and sons of Saturne, which had the whole frame of the world parted among them; Ioue had the heauens, Neptune the seaes all the rest was Plutoes. Historical∣ly, as some thinke, Ioue had the East, Pluto the West, Neptune the seacosts: howsoeuer, Neptune is soueraigne of the seas, who also many times shaketh with his imperiall mace the very foundations of the earth, according to that of Ouid,

Ipse tridente suo terram percussit, at illa Intremuit, motu{que} vias patefecit aquarum.

For, in coast adioyning to the sea, earthquakes and inundations of waters are most vsuall. Homer for this cause calleth Neptune 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Earth-shaker. And as Pallas was president of Towres, and Iuno a gouernesse of Gates, so Neptune had care of the groundworkes and foundations of buildings; which are neuer said to be firme, vnles they be laide as deepe as the water. Therefore as Neptune was hired by Laomedon to builde those stately walls of Troy, so in the subuersion of the same, himself is as busie afterwards, as apeareth by that of Virgil 2. Aeneid.

Neptunus muros, magno{que} emota tridente Fundamenta quatit, totam{que} è sedibus vrbem Eruit, &c.

For towres, Virgil 2. Aeglo.

Pallas quas condiditarces, Ipsa colat.

And 2. Aeneid.

Iam summas arces Tritonia, respice, Pallas Obsedit, nymbo effulgens, & gorgone saeua.

For gates, Virgil 2. Aeneid.

hic Iuno Scaeas saeuissima portas

Prima tenet, socium{que} furens à nauibus ignem Ferro accincta, vocat.

Cymothoe, is Neptunes seruant, signifying the swif••nes of the waues and billowes: for, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is a waue, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is to run, as if a man would say, a run∣ning waue. Triton is his trumpeter. Plyny reporteth that the Vlyssiponense•• sent ambassadors to Tiberius Caesar, giuing him to vnderstand, that in then countrey, there was one of these Tritons seene and heard singing: being a sea-monster, resembling a man by his vpper partes, and a fish by those belowe this co∣lour was like the sea-water; his skinne hard with shels: and is called Nep∣tunes trumpeter, to sound the retreite, when his master would haue the sea to be calme; because when he is heard thus singing, or seene apearing in the water, it is a signe of calme and fayre weather. Neptunes mace is also Tridens, three∣forked, for that there is a triple and threefold vertue in waters, the first in wells, which are sweete: the second in seaes, and they are salte: the third in lakes, be∣ing vnpleasant and vnsauory: or rather, because euery one of the three brethren hath somewhat to doe in euery part of the tripertite kingdome: which may also be a cause why Iupiters lightning is also Trisulcum, and Plutoes Scepter Tri∣dens. For albeit Iupiter is especially predominant in heauen, Neptune in the seaes, and Pluto in the lower regions; yet that almighty and all-ouerruling pow∣er is indifferently aparant in euery of these three kingdomes, and in heauen is called Iupiter, in seaes Neptune, below Pluto, whome therefore Virgil calleth stigium Iouem, the stigian Iupiter.

Neptunes wife, is Amphitrite, the water it selfe, gouerned by Neptune, no∣ting the e••ficacie of nature ruling in seaes & deeps. She is called Amphitrite of compassing, enuyroning, or turning about, as the sea embraceth and incloseth the earth. Neptune had an infinite number of sons and daughters: moysture is fit for generation; which was the cause that Thales the Philosopher made wa∣ter to be the ground and beginning of euery thing; and Virgil calleth the sea, the father of things,

Oceanumque patrem rerum.

Oceanus of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, swift, for so is the flowing of the sea. When Neptune was kept from Saturnes deuouring mouth, his mother shewed a colt, insteede of him: and when Pallas and Neptune contended, who, as most beneficiall, should giue name to Athens, he with his mace stroke the earth, whence issued a horse: either for that a horse is swift, and the sea is violent; or because Neptune first taught how to ride a horse; or by reason that a horse loueth plaines and large places, where free scope is to run, as is the sea, for that cause called, aequor. Therefore the Romaine sports called Ludi circenses, wherein the race of horses was vsual, were celebrated in honor of Neptune; and Horace maketh Vlysses his sonne speake thus to Menelaus,

Non est aptus equis Ithacae locus, vt neque planis Porrectus spatijs, neque multae prodigus herbae,

Neptune, with his Queene Amphitrite, standeth in a great shell as in a chariot, drawne with two horses, whose hinder parts ende in fishes, a Tridens in his hand, a white and froathy crowne on his head; with hayre, beard, and roabe, of color like the sea-water.* 1.10

His Nymphs are called Nereides: of which kinde, Theodorus Gaza saith, that himself sawe one cast on a shore: fashioned like a woman in her vpper parts, but ended like a fish. Galathea is so called of whitenes, and noteth the very froath of the Sea. Humor and moysture be the chiefe causes of augmentati∣on; Neptune therefore, as hee hath many children, so hath hee some of them great and monstrous; among others, Polyphemus: who, though vast and rude, yet loued, (such is the force of loue) but loued like a lowte, such is the home-borne education of rurall clownes. Polyphemus, as the rest of that rout, was called Cyclops, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as hauing but one round eye in his forehead; in truth meaning a buckler, framed round like an eye, although Seruius doe o∣therwise expound it. Hee is reported to bee a bloudy and theeuish manqueller, robbing and spoyling all along the Sicilian shore: from whome Vlisses wiselie esc••ped, and was therefore said to haue bored out his great eye with a firebrand. This tyran Polypheme loued a noble Lady named Galathea, but could not obteine her: at last, vsing force for law, kept her violently: and perceauing that she affected one Acis, more then himselfe, murdered the youth Acis, and threw his bodie into a riuer, which thereof bare that name. Allegorically, as some will haue it, Polyphemus is a miserable and worldly keeper of sheepe and kine: he loueth Galathea the Lady of milke: and, knowing that moyst places be best for milke, cannot abide, that Galathea should come nere Acis, a riuer in Sicilia, whose naturall proprietie was saide to be such, as that it would drie vp and consume milke.

Glaucus loued Scylla: but being reiected of her, he intreated Circe to make her affectionate by charming. Circe at first sight falleth in loue with Glaucus, who in like sort refuseth her, whereupon she infecting the waters where Scylla vsually bathed herselfe, transformed her into a monster, which afterwardes be∣came a rock. This Glaucus, perceauing the fish which he had caught, by tasting a certaine herbe, presently to leap againe into the water, himselfe, for triall, did pluck and eate, and by vertue thereof transformed, threw himselfe also into the sea: where he was deified. The tale is reported by Ouid in the end of the thir••eenth and beginning of the fourteenth of his transformations, and ex∣pounded by Tasso in the second part of his dialogue, entituled Gonzago, oue∣ro del piacer honesto: where, by the deified Glaucus, he vnderstandeth the intellectual part and facultie of man: by the sea wherein he fisheth, the body and all bodily matters, being the matter subiect of naturall philosophie, and subiect to continuall alteration like the sea: by his fishing, the discoursing and sylogisticall reasoning of Intellectus: by his netts: the instruments of naturall

Logick: by the fishe caught, those generall maximaes▪ and vniuersal grounds, and true conclusions and consequences: by the herbe which he did bite, the hea∣uenly delite of contemplation, whereby he was made a God: by the casting of himselfe into the sea, his comming and descending from the quiet rest of con∣templation, to the variable sea of action and operation, figured also by the dou∣ble shape and twoforked tayle of Glaucus and the other sea-Gods. Thus doth Tasso transforme Glaucus to a God: and by a little turning of his exposition, he turneth him thus to a brute beast. Glaucus, by tasting the herbe, leapeth into the sea, together with his fishes: that is, by yeelding to the inchaunting force of pleasure, he so drowneth himselfe in the Aphrodisian sea of sensuality, that he becomes altogether beastlike.

Historically, Scylla and Charibdis were two rocks in the Sicilian sea. Scyl∣la had that name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of spoyling; or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of vexing: or else 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of whelps or dogs, sith the beating of the waues vpon the rocke, made a noyse like the barking of curs. Charibdis was so called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of gaping, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to sup vp, or deuoure.

By Typhoeus, Sabinus vnderstandeth the burning and flaming exhalati∣ons, cause of that fire in Aetna: which clustred together, and wanting free p••s∣sage, shake the earth, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is, to smoke▪ see Virgil 3. Aeneid. and Ouid. 5. Metam. It seemeth, that the violent fury of the windes, is here also shadoed by Typhoeus: for, his hands reach from East to West, and his head to heauen, a∣greeing with the nature of the seuerall windes blowing in euery coast of Hea∣uen. His body is couered with feathers, noting the swiftnes of the windes: a∣bout his legs are crawling adders, so the windes are oftentimes pestilent and hurtfull, his eyes are red as fire, and he breathes flames out of his mouth; for, the windes are made of hoate and dry vapors.* 1.11

Acis made a riuer, is said to be horned: Hornes are attributed vnto riuers, either because the crooked turnings and windings thereof resemble hornes, or for that the furious noyse of roaring and raging waters is like the belowing of a Bull, or lowing of an Oxe or Cowe. They are crowned with reades: reades grow plentifully in watery places, they are figured with long hayre and beard, like a man, alwaies lying, leaning on one elbow, or on some great vessell, whence water issueth aboundantly. I neede not make any explication hereof, all is so manifest.* 1.12

Among other sea-borne monsters the Mermaides must not be forgotten, they had the face and proportion of women to the waste, & thence downewards, the resemblance of fishes: some others giue them wings, and scraping feete, like the feete of hens: they were three, Parthenope, that is, Virgins face: Leu∣cosia, white and faire, and Ligia, which is, sounding. They were borne of Ache∣lous, noting moysture, and the muse Calliope, that is, faire spoken: the one

sang, the other sounded a trumpet, the third played on a lute, so sweetely, that such as sayled, were enticed thereby to the dangerous rocks where they frequen∣ted. Vlysses being to passe that way, commaunded his companions to stop their owne eares with wax, and then fasten him to the mast of the ship, least that in∣chaunting melodie might be their bane: which policie did so confound the Si∣renes with shame and sorrow, that they thereupon threw themselues headlong into the sea. Ouid maketh them Proserpinaes companions, who losing their Lady and Queene, were thus made birds in part, and yet reteigned their former face and beautie. Suidas saith, that in truth, they were certaine blinde and dangerus rocks, which by the breaking and beating of the billowes, did make such a sweetely resounding murmur, that it allured the passengers thither, to their owne destruction. Whatsoever they were, Allegorically they signifie the cosning tricks of counterfeit strumpets, the vndoubted shipwrack of all affecti∣onat yonkers: and therefore is it said by Virgil, that the Mermaydes rocks are all ouer spread with bones of dead men, whose destruction their deceaueable al∣lurements had procured. Xenophon is of this minde, that the Sirenes did learnedly and sweetely extoll the famous acts of renowned men: and that there∣fore Homer maketh them entertain Vlysses with their pleasing voyce, who in∣deede was for politick stratagems the chiefe ornament of Greece: and no doubt, these sweete and glorious commendations of great mens exploites, are the most effectuall charmes, to worke any impression in an heroicall minde, and with this conceite of Xenophon, Cicero doth also agree. Besides these three already named, some adde fiue others, that is, Pisinoe of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to perswade, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the minde: Aglaope sweete of looke: Thelxiope, louely of looke; for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is to please and delite. Thelxinoe, delighting the minde: and Aglaophone, with the pleasant voyce. They were tearmed Sirenes, of drawing, deteigning, and al∣luring men vnto them, as the Greeke word importeth.* 1.13

Of the marine monsters, Proteus yet remayneth: who being King in Ae∣gypt, did so wisely apply himselfe, and frame his wit to euery particular acci∣dent, that he was said to turne and transforme himselfe to any kinde of shape. Some referre this to the custome obserued of the Aegyptian kings, who neuer came abroade, but hauing some one or other ensigne on their head, as a token of their imperiall maiestie: and this they changed continually; sometimes vsing the image of a Lyon, sometimes of a Bull, sometimes this, and sometimes that, which variety gaue ground and occasion to this fable. It is reported, that hee raigned in the Isle Carpathus, whereof, the Carpathian sea by Aegypt, had his name: which because it had great store of sea-calues and other sea mon∣sters, Proteus himselfe was called Neptunes heardsman, keeping his seaish flocks. Cornelius Gemma, in his booke de diuinis naturae characterismis allegorically expoundeth this tale out of the fourth of Virgils Georgicks, ma∣king Proteus, a type of nature. Plato compareth him to the wrangling of brab∣ling

sophisters: and some there be that hereby vnderstand, the truth of things obscured by so many deceauable apparances: Lastly, there want not others, which meane hereby the vnderstanding and intellectual parte of mans minde, which vnles it seriously and attentiuely bend it selfe to the contemplation of things, shall neuer attaine to the truth, as Proteus would neuer reueale his propheticall knowledge, but first did turne and winde himselfe euery way to es∣cape, vntil with bands he were enforced thereunto, as Homer (the first author of this inuention) in the fourth of his Odyssea discourseth at large.

Lady Proserpina, with her mother Ceres, fell to Amaryllis, who by talking of them, discoursed also of Pluto, and so made an end of the three mightie Mo∣narchs of the world.

PLuto the Duke of diu'ls, enrag'd with an hellish Erynnis, Gan to repyne and grudge, and moue a rebellius vprore, For that he wanted a wife: and now eu'n all the detested Infernal rablement, and loathsome broode of Auernus Clustred on heapes and troupes and threatned wars to Olympus. But Lachesis, fearing lest laws layd down by the thundrer, By the reuenging rout of feends might chance to be broken, Fate-spinning Lachesis cry'd out to the prince of Auernus. Sou'raigne Lord of damned Ghosts, and mightie Monarcha Of Stygian darknes, which giu'st each thing a beginning, And by thy dreadful doome, doest draw each thing to an ending, Ruling life and death with iurisdiction endles; O let those decrees and fatal lawes be obeyed, Which wee three sisters for you three brethren apoynted: Let that sacred league and peace last freely for euer; Stay these more then ciuil warres, vnnatural vprores, And intestine broyls: aske Ioue, and stay for an aunswere, Ioue shall giue thee a wife. His rage was somwhat abated, Though not well calmed, yet he yeelds at last to the fatall Sisters intreating and teares; although with an ill will And a repyning heart, and Mercury sends to Olympus With this round message: Tell Ioue that stately triumpher, Pluto cannot abide to be thus controll'd by a brother, Imperius brother: who though that he maketh a rumbling With scar-crow thunders, and hurls his flames in a fury On poore mortall men; yet he must not think that Auernus Vndaunted Capten, with buggs can so be deluded. Is't not enough that I liue in darksome dens of Auernus, Where fire, smokes, & fogs, grief, plagues, & horror aboundeth, Whil'st vsurping Ioue keepes court in lightsom Olympus,

But that he must also forbid me the name of a husband, And restraine those ioyes which nature freely afordeth? Seas-sou'raigne Neptune embraceth his Amphitrite, And clowd-rolling Ioue enioyes Saturnia Iuno, His wife and sister, (for I let slip slipperie by-blowes) But scorned Pluto must stil forsooth be a batchler, Stil be a wiueles boy and childeles: But, by the dreadful Streames of sacred Styx I protest, if he yeeld not an answere Vnto my full content, Ile loose forth all the reuengful Broode of damnable haggs and hel-hounds vp to the heauens: Ile confound heau'n, hell, light, night, Ile cast on a cluster Blisful Olympus bowres, with baleful dens of Auernus. Plutoes tale scarce tolde, light-footed Mercury mounting Vp to the highest heau'ns, disclos'd each word to the thundrer: Who consulting long, at last thus fully resolued, That Stygian brother, should take Proserpina, daughter Vnto the Lady Ceres, pereles Proserpina: matchles, And yet fit for a match. Bloody Mars, and archer Apollo Sought her a long while since; Mars big & fram'd for a buckler, Phoebus fit for a bowe, Mars actiue, learned Apollo: Mars offred Rhodope, Phoebus would giue her Amyclas, And Clarian temples, and Delos fayre for a dowrie. Lady Ceres cast off bloody Mars, and archer Apollo, Contemning Rhodope, despising proffred Amyclas: And fearing violence and rape, commendeth her onely Dearling and deare childe to the dearest soyle of a thousand Louely Cicil▪ from whence with watery cheekes she returned Vnto the towre-bearing Cybele, and lowd Coribantes, On Phrygian mountains: Where shee no sooner aryued, But Ioue, spightful Ioue tooke opportunity offred, And by the secret sleights and wyles of false Cytheroea, In mothers absence her daughter alas he betrayed. Goe, qd he, my wanton, goe now whilst mother is absent, Bring her daughter abroad to the flowring fields of a purpose; Atropos hath decreed, that supreame Duke of Auernus My brother Pluto, must haue Proserpina, fatall Orders must be obeyd: thy iurisdiction hereby Shalbe the more enlarg'd, and fame fly daily the further, If very hell feele hell, taste hellish pangs of a Louer. Shee (for a word was enough) conueyd her away in a momēt, And (for so Ioue would) Pallas with stately Diana Ioynd as companions: all which three lastly aryued

There, where Lady Ceres her daughters bowre had apoynted. Wyly Venus drawes on simple Proserpina foorthwith, Vnto the greene medows: herself went first as a leader, Next came fayre Phoebe, and Ioue-borne Pallas Athene, And shee between them both, who both thē rightly resembled, Sweete yet sweetly seuere Proserpina: eu'n very Phoebe, If that a bow were giu'n, if a target, Pallas Athene. And sweete water-Nymphs by the careful mother apoynted, Their mayden Princesse with a princelike company guarded: Chiefly of all others, Cyane there made her aparance, Whom for her excelling conceipt, and seemly behauiour, Chiefely of all other well-Nymphs Proserpina loued. There was a Christal brook by the fields, that ioyned on Aetna. Called Pergusa, transparent down to the bottome; Trembling leaues as a veyle, gaue cooling shade to the water, Trembling leaues of trees, that crownd this lake as a garland; Euery tree displayd his flowring boughs to the heauen, Euery bow had a bird which therein made her abyding, Euery bird on bow tooke ioy to be cherefuly chirping, Euery chirp was a song, perswading all to be louing. Fresh-colored medowes were ouer-spread with a mantle Figured, and Diapred with such and so many thousand Natures surpassing conceipts, that maruelus Iris Was no maruel at al, and spotted traine, but a trifle, Prowd-hart Peacocks spotted traine, compar'd to the matchles Art, which nature shewd, in shewing so-many strange shewes. Hither these Ladyes are come, and euery Lady Plucketh at euery flowre; seeing each flowre to be more fayre, More fresh, more radiant, more louely, then euery Lady. In meane time Pluto wounded by wyly Cupido, Intends his iourney to Sicilia; Griesly Megoera, And fell Alecto his foaming steedes be preparing, Steedes, that drank on Lethes Lake, and fed by the ioyles Bancks of Cocytus. Nycteus and sulphurus Aethon Swift, as a shaft; fierce Orphnaeus with fearful Alastor, Ioynd to the cole-black coach, drew neare to Sicilian: Aetna; And seeking passage, with strange and horrible earthquakes Ouer-turnd whole townes, and turrets stately defaced. Euery Nymph heard, felt, and fear'd this deadly resounding, And dreadful quaking, but of all this deadly resounding And dreadful quaking, not a nymph there knew the beginning, Sauing onely Venus; whose heart with terror amazed,

Yet with ioy possest, was party to all the proc••eding. Duke of Ghosts, missing of a way, through so-many by-waies, And all impatient with loues rage, brake with his Iron Mace, the ••ebelling rocks, and piearst through th'earth to the heauens, Heauens all dismai'd to behold so hellish an obiect. Starres sled back for feare, Oríons hart was apaled, Charles-Wayne ran to the sea, that he euermore had abhorred, And by the yrksome noyce, and neighing of the detested And poysned palfrayes of Pluto, laesy Bootes Tooke himselfe to his heeles, and lingring wayne did abandon. Baleful breath of night-borne coursers darkned Olympus Chereful light, and loathed foame distild fro the bleeding Bits, infected th'ayre: and th'earth all torne by the trampling, Shakte and quakte for dread, and yeelded a heauy resounding. Ladies al ran away; Proserpina lastly remayned, Whom Stygian coachman both sought & caught in a moment. Pluto droue on apace, Proserpina woefuly wayling, Cald and cryed, alas, to the Nymphs, to the maids, to the Ladies; But Nymphs, Mayds, Ladies were all affrayd to be present, And her mothers chance, ill chance, was then to be absent. Now Stygian raptor those prayers lightly regarding In respect of a pray and prise so worthy the taking, Chears and calls his dreadful steedes, and shaketh his out-worne Bridle raynes, orecast with rust; and entreth Auernus, All vnlike himselfe, and much more milde then a Pluto. Ghosts and sprvtes came clustred on heaps, to behold the triumphant Tartarean Capten, with soe great glorie returned: Eu••ry one was prest, some bent their care to the coursers, Some to the coach, some strawd sweete flowr's, some lookt to the bride-bed. Elysian Ladies with a spotles company wayted On their new-come Queene, and carefuly sought to recomfort Those her virgin feares and teares. Ghosts wont to be silent, S••ng sweete wedding songs, and euery nooke in Auernus With banquets, meryments, and louelayes freely resounded, And whole hell▪ for ioy was speedily turnd to a heauen. Aeacus intermits his iudgements; stearne Rhadamanthus, And aus••ere Minos waxe milde: all plagues be remitted: Tantalus eats and drinks; Ixion's loost from his endles And still-turning wheele, Tityus set free fro the Aegle, Sisyphus extreame toyle by the rolling stone is omitted, And Danaus daughters from running tubbes be released. P••le Sac••te Tisiphone, with snake-hayrd ougly Megaera,

And euer-grudging Alecto, fell to carousing, And their burning brands embru'd with blood, did abandon. Birds might easily passe by the poysned mouth of Auernus, Men might safely beholde, and looke on stonie Medusa; No consuming flames were breathd by fyrie Chymera. Howling Cocytus with wine mirth-maker abounded, Lamenting Acheron hart-chearing honny aforded, And boyling Phlegeton with new milke chearefuly streamed: Cerberus held his peace, Lachesis left off to be spinning, And gray-beard feriman forebare his boate to be rowing, All tooke all pleasure, and all for ioy of a wedding. Lady Ceres all this meane time possest with a thousand Careful mothers thoughts, thought euery houre to be twenty, Till she returnd homeward: and home at last she returned, At last, but too late, to her house, but not to her houshold: Court was a wildernes, forelorne walkes, no-body walking, Gates turnd vpside downe, hall desolat, euery corner, Euery way left waste. But alas when lastly she entred Persephone's chamber, seeing her curius hand-work, And embroydred clothes, all ouer-growne by the copwebs, But no Persephone; such inward anguish amased Her distressed sprites, that neither a word fro the speechles Mothers mouth could once come forth, nor a teare fro the sightles Eyes; eyes, mouth, sence, soule, were nothing els but a horror: Only she clipt, embrac't, and kist, and only reserued Her sweete daughters work, poore soule, insteed of a daughter, After long wandring, by chance shee found in a corner Her deare daughters nurse, Electra, wofuly wayling, With rent roabes, scratcht face, and beaten brest, for her only Harts-ioy Persephone: whom shee as charily tendred, As dearest mother could euer tender a dearest Daughter: shee, when griefe and inward horror aforded Time to reueale it selfe, this woful storie recounted All at large: How Persephone was forc't to be walking Greatly against her mind, and mothers wil, to the meddowes, How foure black coursers conuey'd her away on a sudden, No-body knew whither, nor what man might be the autor: How her companions were all gone: only the louing And loued Cyane, for grief was lately resolued Into a siluer streame; and all those sweetly resounding Syrens, made to be birds in part, in part to be maydens, And she alone was left, left all forelorne in a corner,

Mourning Persephone and her so heauy departure. Silly Ceres hearing these dead newes, all in a furie Rayled on heau'n and earth, and ran to the sulphurus Aetna, Lighted two Pine-trees, and day and night by the deserts, Hils, dales, woods, waters, lands, seas, Proserpina searched, Searcht from th'East to the Weast: at last, al weary with endles Toyling and moyling, halfe dead for drink, she repayred Vnto a poore thatcht coat, and knockt, and meekly desired, That to a schorched mouth some water might be aforded. Th'ould Beldam coat-wife brought forth a domesticalHotchpot, Her chiefe food, both meat and drink, and gaue to the Goddes. Faintly Ceres feeding by the coat, was spy'd of a sawcie Crackrope boy, who mockt, and cald her a greedy deuouring Out-come witch in scorne: Whereat this Lady agreeued, And not forgetting Latonaes worthy reuengement On Lician Lobcocks, (who sith they rudely denied Water, were made frogs alwayes condemn'd to the water) Threw in this boyes face all that was left of her Hotchpot. Mocking gallowes thus by the Goddes strangely besprinckled, Was transformd to a Swyft; whose back grew al to be speckled, And his spiteful breast with wonted poyson abounded. Through what lands and seas this Goddes wofuly wandred, Twere too long to report: each part of th'earth she perused, Vainly perused alas: and home at last she returned Back to Sicil; cursing, banning, and daylie reuiling Euery soyle, but chiefly Sicil: Which now the detested More, then afore the desir'd: brake plowes, kild wearied oxen, Blasted corne, bred weedes and tares, sent forth the deuouring Foules, and too much drought, & too much raine from Olympus. Fields for corne and graine of late so greatly renowned, Are to a barren waste, and wilde heath speedily changed. Whilst childeles mother thus rageth, faire Arethusa (Who by the secret caues of th'earth from Pisa to Aetna Fetcheth a restles race) vp-lifted her head to the heauens, And these first tidings to the forelorne Lady reported, How herselfe of late taking her way by thefearfull, Imperiured Styx, saw her lost childe in Auernus, Somwhat sad, yet a Prince and supreame Queene in Auernus; Queene to the mighty Monarch & sou'raigne king of Auernus. Mournfull mother amas'd, for a while stoode like to a senceles Stocke or stone: at length, when fury remoued amasement, Vp to the heau'ns she flies, & makes her moane to the thundrer.

Lord and loue, qd shee, vouchsafe at last to remember, Take some care in time of poore Proserpina, think her If not mine, yet thine, and if thine, not to be stollen: But let passe what's past, let rape and rage be remitted, So that thy daughter from his hellish dens be deliu'red. T'were no disparaging, qd Ioue, if prince of a mighty Empire, Ioues brother might haue Proserpina, ioyned By both our consents in wedlock: darksom Auernus Should haue no cause then to repine at lightsom Olympus. Yet notwithstanding, if thou stand fully resolued, And that my brother Pluto must needs be refused; Then let Persephone both mine and thine be reduced, If she be fasting yet: for so hath Atropos ordred, And fatall orders are neuermore to be altred. Mother was ful bent, to reduce her childe from Auernus Destinie did forbid: for that Proserpina walking In Plutoes Orchard, by chance (worst chance of a thousand) Suckt seu'n Pomegranate kernels: and no-body knew it, Sauing Ascalaphus, who made it knowne to Auernus, And stayd Persephone: who then for a worthy requitall, Foule-tungd Ascalaphus, forthwith trāsformd to a Scricheowle, Foule and loathsome foule, whose neuer-luckily-sounding Voyce, brings baleful newes, and certaine signes of a vengeance. Ioue tooke paines, made peace: first iustly the yeare he deuided, Then, to the husband halfe, and halfe to the mother apointed, and by thease good meanes causd euery part to be pleased. Persephone six moonths with her husband dwels in Auernus, And six other months doth shew her selfe to Olympus. Lady Ceres all griefe and all contention ended, Sent forth Triptolemus with coach and corne to the people Scattred in euery coast, whose foode was kernel of ackorne. Triptolemus traueling through strange lands, lastly ariued On Scythian borders: where Lyncus, falsly pretending Life, intended death, and making shew of a friendly Host, his sleeping guest vnawares had shamefuly murdred, Had not Lady Ceres, his barbarus enuy preuenting, Lyncus turnd to a Lynx, and his vayn-glory repressed, Who of an others fact first autor would be reputed.

WEll, sayd Elpinus, sith Amarillis is safely returned from hell, I hope El∣pinus may haue the like successe: otherwise, so many fearefull monsters and hellish apparitions might well haue daunted a stouter heart then mine:

Pluto then, you see, the third brother, rauished Proserpina: the naturall e••ficacie and vertue of the earth (sayth Cicero, 2. de natura deorum) draw∣eth vnto it the rootes of corne, growing & increasing in the bowels of the earth. Ceres her mother seeketh Proserpina, and mourneth for her absence: the corne pursueth and foloweth the se••de: or, The earth seemeth to greeue, when the corne springeth not vp in due time. Proserpina was rauished in Cicil, the dea∣rest soyle to Ceres: that was a most fruitful and fertile Island. Arethusa (signifying the natural power and vertue of the seede and roote) is the first that tolde Ceres tydings of Proserpina: In continuance and conueniencie of time, by that naturall efficacie and operation of the roote and seede, the grayne and corne itselfe appeareth & springeth vp. Six moneths soe lies with her hus∣bādial the winter time, whilest the sunne doth soiourne in the southerne signes: six aboue with her mother, when the sunne returneth to the northerne signes, bringing corne to ripenes and maturitie. She had this name Proserpina, of the latine word, Proserpo, which is to creepe forwards, because the rootes creepe along in the body of the earth. She was gathering flowers when Pluto tooke her away, and kept her below; for then is that naturall vertue of the seede working, to produce afterwards the fruit and flowre accordingly. Pluto was accompted the Lord of riches and treasure: Pluto is the earth, whence al met∣tals are digged. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Greeke, signifieth riches: and in latine they called him Ditem, to note, Diuitias, that is, Rich, alluding to riches. Some make him blinde, because he dealeth partially in distributing riches, not according to desert. And they giue him a key in his hand, sith his hellish gates are so surely locked, that the Ghostes once entring, can neuer possibly returne. He is called the God of Ghosts, as some thinke, because he first instituted the funerall ob∣sequies and solemnities vsed at mens burials. He sitteth as a prince on a throne, with a crowne on his head, a scepter in his hand, and Cerberus, his dogge, at his feete. Cupressus is sacred vnto him, for it is vsed in funerals, and be∣ing once cutte, neuer buddeth or brancheth afterward.* 1.14

Proserpina being in hell, did eate: and, as some others report the tale, did eate poppie seedes; whose nature is to cause drowsines, sleepe, staying and resting. So Proserpina must stay below, till she haue gotten roote and bee well and sufficiently grounded. Her mother Ceres refused Mars and Apollo: for, wars, and ouer much heate of the sunne, are both bad for corne and plenty. Ce∣res, by reporte, first found and taught the vse of corne and grayne, and thereby brought men from that wilde and sauage wandering in woods and eating of Ackornes, to a ciuil conuersing, and more orderly dyet, and caused them to in∣habite townes, to liue sociably, to obserue certain la••es and institutions: and for these causes was her self made a goddesse, figured like a matron, with a gar∣land all ofthe eares of corne, hauing in one hand a little bundle of Poppie, as signes of fertilitie: and in the other hand a fire brand, wherewith she sought her

daughter. For in summer, when the beames of the sunne are hoate and burning. the countreymen seeke and gather the corne, then full ripe and ready for the sickle. Her chariot was drawne by two serpents or flying dragons: serpents are so called a serpendo, of creeping and crawling in and out, as the rootes of corne doe: or, for that the turning and winding bodies of dragons, resemble the croo∣ked furrowes of the earth. Ceres, the earth, great by Ioue, the temperat heate of the ayre, brought forth Proserpina, corne and graine: A sow was sacrificed to Ceres, for she rooteth & spoyleth the corne: so was the goate to Bacchus, for gnawing the vines: or, the sow is fruitefull, so is the earth; the sow euer wallo∣weth in the myre and earth, and Ceres herselfe noteth the earth.* 1.15

Besides Ceres, there were other goddesses, that had care of the fruite of the earth, as, Pales, that lookt to the Pastures, and was the Pastors goddes; Po∣mona, the Lady of Apples, hauing her name of the latine Pomum, which sig∣nifieth an apple. Flora, the goddes of flowres, and wife to Zephyrus: Bona dea, the good goddes, (otherwise called Fauna, à fauendo, of cherishing and fauouring) noting that quickning efficacy of the earth, which norisheth and fo∣streth the seede cast into the same. Flora, they say, in truth was a Romaine strumpet, called Laurentia; who dying, left her wealth, which was excessiue, to the people of Rome, who for her honor, made her a goddes of flowres, and cal∣led her Flora, of the word Flos signifying, a flowre.

Iupiter, by report of Plato, perceauing that the auncient edict, commaun∣ding euery man to be rewarded according to his desert, was not obserued be∣cause men being aliue were iudged by liuing iudges: did enact, that none from thenceforth should receaue triall, but after death: when all externall shewes of birth, bewty, strength, riches, nobilitie and such like, were altogether remoued. And that only his three sonnes, Aeacus, Minos, and Rhadamanthus (whereof the two last were borne in Asia, the first in Europe) should after their death, repaire to a meadow, called The field of truth (where were two waies, the one lea∣ding to the Elysian fields, the other to the place of torment) and there sit in iudgement of the spirites and ghosts of all, that had left their earthly mansion and habitation. Rhadamanthus was apointed to giue sentence of such as came from Asia; Aeacus iudged those of Europe: and Minos, if any doubt or am∣biguitie arose, was the discusser and determiner thereof. This was Ioues de∣cree, and thereupon, Rha••amanthus and Aeacus, with their rods in their hands, sit in iudgement, and Minos apart with his golden scepter, seriously inquiring into euery mans matter. Historically, Minos and Rhadamanthus were of Asia, Aeacus of Europa, all three iust and seuere; hereof came this tale. The damned ghosts are committed to the Furies to be plagued in Tartarus, so cal∣led, because therein be many 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Auernus, is the entrie to hell: historically, it was a place, whence proceeded so noysome an exhalation, as that birds could not flie ouer it, whereof it had that name in greeke so saith Virgil. 6. Aeneid.

Spelunca alta fuit, vasto{que} immanis hiatu, Scrupea, tuta lacu nigro, nemorumque tenebris: Quam super, haud vllae poterant impunê volantes Tendere iter pennis, talis sese halitus atris Faucibus effundens, supera ad conuexa ferebat: Vnde locum Graij dixêrunt nomine Auernum.

Cerberus is Plutoes dog, with three heades, watching that none goe out, but ready to let all in; fawning on these, deuouring those, according to his name. For 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and, by a more easie contraction of the word, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is a deuowrer of flesh, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: wherefore some vnderstand by him, the all-deuowring earth, eating and consuming all earthly bodies. Others, by Cerberus, in∣tend mans bodie, prest and appliable to all sensuall lust, but repugning and abhoring vertue and contemplation. His three heads be taken of some to represent those three necessarie euills, which withdraw men from contempla∣tion, I meane, hunger, thirst, and sleepe: to all which, we must offer a mor∣sell, as Sybilla taught Aeneas in Virgil, we must yeeld, but not too much; so much only, as thereby nature may be susteined. Natalis Comes expoun∣deth it thus: Cerberus is Couetousnes: and a couetous man laughes when hee sees gold come in; but it greeues his heart to lay out one penie. His three heads note the manifold guiles and deceites of couetous men, Qui omnes pe∣cuniae vias norunt, know all the waies in the world how to scrape coyne. Cer∣berus lyes in an hellish dungeon: a myser lurketh in corners, turnìng his rustie groates, without either profit to others, or pleasure to himselfe. Hercules drew him out of Hell, for, who can be a Hercules, and accomplish great mat∣ters, without money? Or thus, Hercules bound and brought out Cerberus, that is to say, he bridled and kept vnder concupiscence, and therefore retur∣ned safe from Hell: but Pyrithous going thither of purpose to rauish Plu∣toes Queene, and so to satisfie sensualitie, was deuoured of Cerberus: or, last∣ly, Hercules is a learned and absolute Philosopher: hee draweth the three-throated Cerberus out of Hell, by bringing to light the tripertite mysteries of Philosophie, naturall, morall, and dialecticall. Cerberus, for spite and rage, strugling with Hercules, did let his poysoned foame fall on the earth, whence proceeded the deadly Aconitum, for, what but rancor, can come frō a rancorous heart? Historically, as Pausanias reporteth, there was in a darke dungeō in Tae∣narus, leading to Hell, as the fame went, for the deepenes thereof, an hydeous and terrible serpent, which for his deadly poyson, and fearefull aspect, was cal∣led the Diuels dog, and was by Hercules drawne forth, and brought to King Euriftheus.

Acheron had his name, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because there flowe the waues of mi∣serie. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is the first riuer, that the Ghosts (hauing once tasted of Lethe's lake,) are to passe ouer: for, death aproaching, acertaine terror of conscience

tormenteth vs, and this is Acheron. Styx, (as it were, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, odious and ab∣horred) is that hate and detestation, which euery man now dying, hath a∣gainst such faults, as in his life time he committed. Styx ariseth out of Ache∣ron; for, this detestation proceedeth from that griefe. Styx dooth nine times compas Hell: for, there is nothing but hatefull griefe, and wofull detestation.

Iupiter and the other Gods were woont to sweare by the riuer Styx; which was accounted the most religious oath; sith, as I saide, it noteth hate and detestation, a thing repugnant to the nature of the Gods. Some say, they vsed to sweare by water; because as water is the most an∣cient ground and beginning of things, so an oath should bee most strictly obserued and religiously honored, as a thing no lesse reuerenced, then wa∣ter, the foundation of all: whatsoeuer was the cause, the matter is apa∣rant by Homer and Virgil euery where, that they sweare by Styx▪ which therefore was called the imperiured riuer. Ouid in Ibin.

Quique per infernas horrendo murmure valles Imperiuratae laberis amnis aquae.

Achilles Statius lib. 8. hath a discourse of a well called Styx, much like this.

The Platonists call the body a Hell, in respect of the minde, which be∣ing thither thrust downe, first, forgetteth all celestiall conceipts, drinketh of Lethe, and then passeth ouer Acheron: for, being bereaft of celestiall ornaments, it soroweth and greeueth, and therefore compast with Stygian waues, displeaseth itselfe, hateth and abhorreth his owne acts, howles, and makes pitifull lamentation; and that is Cocytus, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to howle and crie out, as Plato expoundeth it.

Lethe aboue mentioned, signifieth Obliuion; shee was sister to Somnus, sleepe: whereof there were two gates, the one of horne, the other of Iuorie: from that, came true dreames, false from this: for, as a candle inclosed in a lanterne made of horne, shineth and giueth light, because the matter is subtile and transparent, but contrarily in one of Iuory, because the matter is thick and condensate: so, if the bodie be temperate, the minde in dreames foreseeth the truth, but if it be troubled with surfeting, or otherwise, the dreames be false and confused. Phlegeton noteth, the firie and fretting darts of griefe and vexation, and is also called Pyryphlegeton, of fire and burning.

Charon hath his name of ioy and gladnes: this gladnes carieth vs ouer Acheron, after wee haue lamented our owne faults. Charon is old; so graue and sage aduice is that, which worketh this repenting lamentation in vs. Boccace, by Charon, vnderstandeth time, and maketh him the sonne of Night and Erebus. The furies, so named of the latine worde Furor, noting

madnes, be the Ministers of Pluto, ready to execute his reuenging wrath: the Athenians called them, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the seuere goddesses, the Sicyonians tearmed them, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, milde and wellwilling, by the contrary, meaning spitefull and cruell: or, simplie milde, because Orestes by Mineruaes aduice, pacified them at last, and was released of his rage and madnes. Their haire was all of crawling snakes, their garment, a long black gowne, downe to the anckles, girt with a snakie girdle, with serpents in the one hand, and a firebrand in the other, their eyes, face, and teeth, portending malice and vengeance: they were three, Tisi∣phone, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, reuenge, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, slaughter or murder Megoera, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to en∣uie: Alecto, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, neuer ceasing, or neuer at rest. They are sometimes called Erynnae, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to be moued with great grudge and indignation: or, of this word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifieth cursing and banning, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is, to heare, for that they are euer ready to giue ••are to such, as curse and call for vengeance: or else, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, the earth, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to dwell, because they dwell in the dark∣some dens of the earth. Lactantius compareth those three perturbations which tosse and turmoyle mens mindes, to weet, Wrath, Couetise, and Leachery, to these three furies.* 1.16

Much like in nature to these furies, were the Harpyes, faced like Virgins▪ winged like birdes, with pale and hungry visages, and crooked scraping clawes, deciphring flatterers, or rather, couetous and snatching worldlings. Harpyae, (saith Natalis Comes, expounding it physically) haue this name of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: no∣ting the furious violence, and rage of the windes: the first was called Ocypete, swiftly flying: the second, Aello, that is a storme or tempest: the third Celaeno, the darkenes of the clowds driuen with windes. They were the daughters of Thaumas and Electra, by reason of the strange and wonderfull nature and might of the windes, which are eleuated and lifted vp by the beames of the sunne from the purer & vpper-flowing water of the sea. Virgil describeth them, 3. aeneid. as the most detestable monsters, that euer issued out of the Stygian lak. Hither may be added those Haggs▪ called Lamiae, who with their sweete and maidenlike face, brest, and body, allure men vnto them, but with their ser∣pentine clawes destroy them afterwards.* 1.17

Chimera's vpper part was like a Lyon, the middle like a Goate, the lowest like a Serpent, slaine by Bellerophon. Historically, it was a mountaine in Ly∣cia, breathing out fire, whose top Lyons did haunt, in the middle were pastures, where Goates fed, and the foote was frequented by Snakes and Serpents. Belle∣rophon made it habitable, and was therefore saide to haue killed Chimera. Chimera, the type of inordinate luste, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 first inuadeth men fiercely like a Lyon, then want only and lasciuiously like a Goate, afterwards brings poyso∣ned sorrow and repentance figured by snakes and serpents. Bellerophon solli∣cited to folly by Antia, wife to Praetus King of the Arigiui, constantly refu∣sed

whereupon she falsly accused him to her husband, of violence offered. Bel∣lerophon by these meanes banished, passing through diuers dangers and perills, riding on the winged horse Pegasus, and bearing his terrible Gorgon, at last slew Chimera. He was called Bellerophon, either of one Bellerus, a Corin∣thian Prince, whom he vanquisht; or, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, for that hee rooted out euills and mischiefes: or else, you may so tearme him, as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a wise and prudent counsailer, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as Homer speaketh. Palaephatus repor∣teth, that Pegasus was the ship that brought Bellerophon. Allegorically, by Pegasus borne of the blood of Medusa, we may vnderstand immortalitie and euerlasting fame. For, vertue ouer-comming all terrible things, figured by Gorgon, breedeth fame: and fame is eternised by the sounding voyce of Poets: which was the cause that the learned well, was said to be opened by the hoofe of Pegasus, striking the Parnassian mount. Medusaes hayre (either for that Neptune in Mineruaes temple vsed her irreligiously, as Ou••d reporteth the tale 4. Metam. or, for that she gloried so much in her golden locks, as that she durst compare with goddesses) were turned into snakes, and the beholders thereof into stones. Medusa herselfe noteth lustfull beawty and voluptuous∣nes, turning men into stones; as making the greedy gazers thereon senceles and amased. None but Perseus, Ioues sonne, by Mineruaes help, ouercame her: ce∣lestiall grace and wisdome are the onely meanes, to represse this inordinate af∣fection. Some, by the three Gorgons, note the three faculties of the soule in man: Medusa, of the three sisters, was only mortall, figuring the sensible and liuing power, common to beasts, beheaded by Perseus, that is, kept vnder by the good Genius or celestial grace. The second was Stheno, the reasonable facul∣tie of the soule, the third Euryale, the light infused and intellectuall part. They turne the beholders into stones; for we must kill Medusa, all perturbations, and be in that respect, as dead as stones, else wee cannot enioy this intellectuall light. The borowed and common eye, which all they vse by course, is this infused light, deriued from one of them vnto another. Perseus beareth Gorgon; hee maketh men wonder at his excellent prowesse: Historically, Athenaeus re∣porteth, that in Lybia there was a kinde of beast like a calfe, killing with the very sight: one of them was brought dead to Marius, to Rome, his skinne be∣ing so diuersly colored that none there, could gesse what beast it was, and that Perseus, by likelihood, killed some of these, figured here by Medusa. Diodo∣rus saith, that Gorgones were stout and warring women, the captaine whereof, Medusa, was slaine by Perseus. Others vnderstand the earth and earthly af∣fections by Gorgon, dashed and daunted by Perseus borne of Ioue, that is▪ assisted by his heauenly helpe and influence. But I see, that Chimera, hath brought me too farre out of my way: Ixion therefore (to come back where I was before) is as I said already, plagued in hell, for his ambitious and aspyring arrogancie. The tale is notably well told by Kemy Belleau, 2. iòurnee, de la bergeric, beginning thus.

Ie chante d'Ixion I'emprise audacieuse, L'impudence, I'órgueil, & I'idole venteuse De la feinte Iunon, grosse de vent & d'aer, Ouurage industrieux des mains de Iupiter &c.

Bartholomaeus Annulus in his picta poesi, hereby noteth a polluted con∣science, which is euer his owne persecutor and tormentor, still flying, and yet still folowing himselfe, as Ixions wheele, that alwaies turns about, but neuer turns away. Sisiphus, being of Ioues counsaile, reuealed his secrets, and is therefore thus punished. Lucretius expoundeth it otherwise, of him that am∣bitiously gapeth after promotion, and is euer repulsed, toyling and moyling him∣selfe, with an endles rolling of a neuer-standing stone.

Sisiphus in vita quoque nobis ante oculos est, Qui petere à populo fasces, saeuasque secures Imbibit, & semper victus tristisque recedit. Nam, petere imperium, quod inane est, nec datur vnquam, Atque in eo semper durum sufferre laborem: Hoc est, aduerso nixantem trudere monte Saxum, quod tamen à summo iam vertice rursum Voluitur, & plani raptim petit ae quora campi.

Others expound it so, as meaning by the stone, the studies and endeuours of mortall men: by the hill, the whole course of mans life: by the hill top, the ioy and tranquillitie of the minde: by Hell, the earth, and men on earth: by Sisi∣phus, the soule and minde of man, which included in this prison of the body; striueth and contendeth by all meanes possible, to attaine to eternall rest, and perfect felicitie: which some repose in wealth, some in honor, some in pleasure: all which, hauing once gotten what they sought, begin againe as fast, to couet new matters, and neuer make an end of desiring: so that, he who first was wholly giuen to catch and snatch, being now growne to wealth, seeketh honor, and is as infinitely addicted to that vaine humor, as euer he was to the other miserable affection: this is the world, omnium rerum est vicissitu∣do: neither is it possible for any man (whilst he is a man) to enioy any setled felicitie in this life.

Tityus had his liuer, or, as some say, his heart, all day long deuoured by an Aegle; or, as others report it, by a vultur: and, as much as was consumed in the day, somuch was restored in the night; so that his torment was perpetuall. The liuer is the seate of lust and concupiscence, which in the night time su∣borneth vnchaste and wanton cogitations. Or physically thus, Tityus is the stalke or blade of corne, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, one letter being taken away: hee was horne of Iupiter and Elara, the daughter of Orchomenus, a riuer of Thes∣salia.

This Elara, noteth the naturall humor and milke-white moisture in the seede of corne: and without Iupiter, that is heate, and Elara, moysture, the corne can neuer prosper. Iupiter therefore accompanying with Elara, when she had conceaued, and was great, hid her in the ground, for feare of Iuno: she in the ground was deliuered of Tityus, who being borne by his mothers death, was brought vp and nursed of the earth. The sence hereof i•• this, the seede is caste into the ground, for feare of the iniury of the ayre, noted by Iuno: the mother dyeth, for the seede putrifieth: Tityus springs forth, being nursed by the earth, and aspyreth vp towards heauen, as though he were about to offer violence to Latona, and is therefore throwne downe and slaine by the darts of Diana and Apollo: that is to say, hee is ripened, and brought to maturity, by the heate of the sunne, and moysture of the moone, that at length hee may be cut downe by reapers. Vulturs consume his li∣uer: for, the chaffe and huske is left to birds, as being not conuenient for bread to be made thereof. He is stretched forth in length, so as with his body he couereth nine acres of land: meaning that the corne thus sowed and springing vp, possesseth and ouerspreadeth a great quantitie of grounde.

Tantalus, so named, as if a man would say, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, most vnfortunate and vnhappie, is the patterne of a miserable and couetous wretch, who aswell wanteth that which he hath, as that which he hath not: so Horace expoun∣deth it: But Ouid saith, he was thus tormented in Hell; to haue apples and waters alwaies before him, yet alwaies running from him, when he was a∣bout to reach them, because of his blabbing tongue,

Quaerit aquas in aquis, & poma fugacia captat Tantalus: hoc illi garrula lingua dedit.

Tantalus was Iupiters son, a man fully instructed with naturall and cele∣stiall Philosophie, and is therefore saide to haue eaten with the Gods, and to haue feasted and enterteigned them with a banquet; sith his whole delite was meditation and heauenly contemplation. In this banquet (to try whether the Gods knew all secrets) he killed and cut in peeces his sonne Pelops, and set him before them among other dishes: Ceres then present among the rest, did taste and eate the showlder of Pelops. Philosophers and learned men, whilst they wholly addict themselues to contemplation, neglecting their world∣ly and domesticall affaires, loose sometimes their goods, sometimes their chil∣dren, or wife, or otherwise. Ouid telleth the tale in 6. Meta. adding further, that the Gods then pitying Pelops, vnited his torne members, and insteede of the shoulder deuoured by Ceres, made one vp of Iuory plaguing his father in Hell, for his offence. Some others make a stone hang ouer his head, still like to fall and breake him to powder; to note out the continual labor and vexation of spirit, incident to euery man, that is seriously bent to earnest meditation. He is saide

to haue imparted vnto men, Nectar and Ambrosia, the drinke and meate of the gods: because he did communicate among them, those hidden treasures of heauenly philosophie: for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is immortall, and Nectar hath in effect the same signification, noting, that the gods are immortall, and cannot dye, ac∣cording to the verse,

Iupiter Ambrosia satur est, & nectare viuit.

Belides, or Danaides, were the fiftie daughters of Danaus, who killed their husbands all in one night, sauing only one; and are therefore enioyned to fill broken tubs with water still running out. Lucretius hereby vnderstandeth our vnthankfull mindes and vnsatiable desires, who still hauing, desire still to haue: so that nature powreth her infinite blessings into vs, as into broken vessels, which are euer empty and ready for more. It may signifie the whole estate of mans life, neuer setled, neuer satisfied, euer dooing and vndooing, and doo∣ing almost all, to no purpose at al. It may also note the exchecquer or treasury of a prince, which like the sea, still receaueth, and is neuer full: or lastly, the nature of a blab, that is like a broken tub, plenus rimarum, full of slifies, flo∣wing out here and there, keeping nothing secret, that is imparted vnto him. With these and such like monsters, and monstrous torments, the poets haue fur∣nished their hell. Virgil 6. aeneid, setteth downe all most plentifully, placing at the very entrance and gate of hell, a rable of hellish haggs, as woe, reuenge, wrath, sicknes, old age, feare, famine, penurie, death, labor, sleepe, warre, discord, and such others. The torments aboue rehearsed, are apointed for the wicked and damned ghosts: the good and blessed spirits enioy euerlasting happines in the Elysian fields, a place seuered from the comfortles lodge of the damned.

The Sirenes (which I had almost forgotten) sought for, and folowed after Proserpina: strumpets and wanton huswiues folow riches & aboundance, figu∣red by Proserpina, the Lady of fruite and corne, according to that olde saying, Sine Cerere & Baccho friget Venus.

The mocking boy made a Swift, Ascalaphus (borne of Orphne and Ache∣ron) turnd to an Owle, the loutes of Lycia transformed to Frogs, and Lyncus, changed to a Lynx, are all tokens of iust plagues inflicted on such offendors.

Triptolemus, historically, in a ship bearing the name of the Dragon, brought store of corne to Athens, being in his time miserably plagued with famine.

These discourses thus ended, the Nymphs were suffered to rest for a time, and the Pastors enioyned freshly to pursue their interrupted narrations. A∣mong whome Alphesibaeus told this tale of his master Phoebus.

PHoebus too too prowd for killing Pytho the serpent, Saw yong Lord of loue, with a bended bowe in Olympus: A••d must boyes beare bowes, qd Apollo? must a Cupido Leaue his mothers papps, and handle dangerus arrowes?

Leaue sharp tooles, poore child, and take vp a lamp or a firestick, Kindle a foolish fire in a harebraine boy, or a frantick Gyrle; or shoote at crowes, if boyes will needes be a shooting, Such warlike weapons are far more meet for Apollo, Who with a thousand shafts of late, confounded an ougly Snake, whose poysned panch all ouerwhelmed a countrey. Well, qd winged boy, content: let mighty Apollo Shoote at snakes: and Lord of Loue at mighty Apollo: And as much as a snake is lesse then mighty Apollo, Soe much, Lord of Loue is more then mighty Apollo. This sayd, yeelding ayre with fluttring wings he deuideth, And Parnassus mount in a moment nymbly recou'reth: There two feath'red shafts from painted quiuer he plucketh, Of strong, yet diuers operation: one with a golden Sharp head, breeding loue: and th'other fram'd with a leaden Blunt head, feeding hate: Loue-breeder woundeth Apollo, Hate-feeder Daphne: and eu'n as much as Apollo Lou's Daphne, so much this Daphne hateth Apollo. Daphne goes to the woods and vowes herself to Diana; Phoebus growes starke wood, for loue and fancie to Daphne. When that he looks on her haire, fayre haire and sweetly beseeming, Though vndrest, vntrest, blowne here and there by the shoulders: Then doth he think: ô if these loose, yet sweetly beseeming Locks, were drest, and trest, and not left loose by the shoulders, How-much more would they seeme fayre and sweetly beseeming? When that he lookes on her eies, like sparkling stars in a frostie Night: and lips, (yet lips to be kissed, not to be lookt on) And armes all naked, fro the milk-white wrist to the elbow: Then doth he think: If I ioy these outward partes to be viewing, O, what a heau'n were it, those secret partes to be tutching? O, what auailes it now, with scorneful words to be bragging, And with winged boy, nay wicked boy, to be striuing? O, what auails it now to be Titan, Phoebus, Apollo, Bright, burning, radiant, with sight, light, beauty abounding? Thou, whose beames did burne heu'n, earth, and watery Empire, Art now scorcht, nay burnt, yea burnt to the bones with a wilde-fire: Thou, who shouldst by right, be the due and daily beholder Of both land and sea, doost now looke only on one thing, Only vpon Daphne: fixing those eyes on a Virgin, Which thou owst to the world: and gerst vp rath in a morning, For to behold her face: and goest downe late in an eu'ning, Sory to leaue her sight: sometimes thy beames be eclipsed,

Thy face discolored, thy countnance chearful, apaled, And makst mortal men with a soddayne terror amazed, And all this for loue: for, loue makes strong to be weakned, Loue all-seeing sunne, on a soddayne makes to be darkned: Simple Daphne feares, and flies, for feare, from Apollo: Louer Apollo runs, and thus complains as he runneth. O, stay deare Daphne, thy best friend hasteneth after, Fly not away, sweet soule; for so sheep run fro the Woolu's-iawes, Hart fro the greedy Lyons, and fearful Doue fro the Aegle, Euery one from a foe: but Daphne flies from a faithful Friend, from a wounded soule, from a constant louer Apollo. Looke to thy selfe, Daphne, take heede, for feare of a falling, O, stay, haste makes waste, these thorns may chāce to be pricking Those thy tender legs, and all through fault of Apollo: O, these waies are rough, and ouer-growne with a thousand Briers, if Daphne needs will goe, let her easily goe on, Easily goe on afore, and Ile haste easily after. And yet let Daphne not scorne to regard, to remember, And mark wel, what he is, that beares such fancie to Daphne. Noe brute mountaine bird, no swayne, no rustical Hoblob, No threed-bare pastor, with an hyred flock by the forrest, Prowd of a bawling curre, of a iarring pipe, or a sheep-hooke, But burning Tytan, bright Phoebus, chearful Apollo. Delos mine Honnor, my fame and glory denounceth, And Clarian temples doe yeeld mee duetiful offrings. Simple wench, God knowes, thou knowst not Phoebus Apollo, And therfore thou runst as a simple wench, from Apollo, Worlds sight, and worlds light, worlds comfort, Phoebus Apollo, Soothsayer, singer, Ioues ofspring, Phoebus Apollo, Yea, and most stedfast, most cunning archer, Apollo, Had not that vile boy more stedfast hand then Apollo. Healing hearbs, strange rootes, sweet balmes, odoriferus oyntments Were found out, set forth, first taught by Phoebus Apollo, And yet alas, not an hearb, not a roote, not a balme, not an oyntment Is to be found that can cure cureles wound of Apollo. Phoebus spake; and more by Phoebus was to be spoken, Daphne breakes his speech, and runs for life fro the speaker. Sweet windes encountring Daphne (as loth to be leauing So braue lasse, and glad such tender lims to be tutching) With milde blasts did blow her garments easily backward, That bare skin, more white then snowe vntroaden, apeared, And wauing loose locks flew here and there by the shoulders.

Flight augments her forme, and barest parts be the brauest: Flight augments his loue, and nearest ioyes be the dearest: And as a nimble youth, as a youthful God, to the damsel Strayght with might and mayne, and all inraged he flieth, And leaues intreating and frames himself to a forcing. Like as a light-foot hound, and trembling hare, in an open Field, when as either runs, and either feares to be out-run, Either runs for life, and either runs for a hares life, Hare to prolong her life, and murdring hound to abridge it: Hound thrusts forth his snowt, girds out, and greedily snatcheth: Prest to deuour poore hare; poore hare scarce fully resolued Whether shee's yet caught or not caught, shrinkes fro the murdrers Teeth all on water: so Daphne, so was Apollo. Feare driues on Daphne, and loue stil lifts vp Apollo: Loue so lifts louer, that neare and nearer he vrgeth Poore fainting Daphne, now hard at her heeles he aprocheth▪ Eu'n so hard at her heeles, that Daphnes hayre by Apollo, Daphnes scattered hayre was blow'n by the breath of Apollo. Then weake and all spent, turning her face to the waters, Poenaeus waters, there this last boone she desireth. Father Poenaeus, lend helping hand to thy daughter, If you brookes are Gods, and haue such grace from Olympus, Let this gaping earth conuey mee downe to Auernus, Or, let this my face, too pleasing face, be defaced, Let this forme, which causd my former woe, be deformed, And to an other shape by transformation altred. Her words scarce vttred, lims al were starck in a moment, And her tender breast, all ouer-grow'n with a tender Barck, and locks were leaues, & bare armes grew to be branches: Swift foot was slow root, and crowne transformd to a tree-top; In stead of Daphne by the riuer sprang vp a Laurel, Laurel fresh and fayre, as fayre and fresh as a Daphne. Phoebus comes sweating and blowing vnto the new tree, And, for his old loues sake, beares endles loue to the new tree: Yet when he tutcht new tree, new tree was afrayd of a tutching; Vnder a bark of a tree, Daphne was felt to be panting; Yea, when he offred a kisse to the tree, in stead of a Daphne, Tree bent back fro the kisse, and started aside as a Daphne. Well, qd he, though Daphne shall neuermore be Apolloes Wife, yet Daphnes tree shall euermore be Apolloes Tree, and deck both head, and hayre, and bow of Apollo. Yea, those noble Dukes, great Lords, and martial Emprors.

Daphnes Laurel leaues at feasts and stately triumphings, In signe of conquest, shall euermore be adorning: And as Apolloes face is fresh and lyuely for euer, So shall Daphnes leaues grow greene and louely for euer, Thus did Apollo speak, and Laurell tree for a Daphne, Bowes her top for a head, and condiscends to Apollo. Daphne thus transformd: Clymene was lou'd of Apollo, Lou'd, and bare him a son; Phaeton; too youthful a yonker, Whose ouer-weening was his ouerthrow, by presuming Rashly beyond his reach, his fathers coach to be guiding: Like to the foolish boy, who mounting vp to Olympus, Burnt his wings and wax, and soe fell downe to Auernus.

YOu are a good scholler of the best master, sayd Elpinus to Alphesibaeus: And your masters mother, as I haue heard say, was Thia, that is, Diuine: & his father, Hyperion, going ouer vs, or aboue vs, as the sunne doth. Some o∣thers make his mother to be Euriphaessa, late Splendens, glistering far and neere: but the vsuall, and most receaued opinion is, that Iupiter begat both Sunne and Moone of Latona: who being great, could finde no resting place, by reason of Iunoes wrath: vntill at last she came to the wandring Delos, where she was deliuered of them both. The reason alleadged by some, is this; after that cōfused & vndistinct Chaos wherof alwas made, called Latona, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (as Plato would haue it) à Latendo, of lurking, and lying hid, and unknowen: Light (which chiefly proceeds from Sunne and Moone) was first framed by that all-framing creator. They are sayd to be borne in Delos (an eminent and high Island) because presently after the creation of light, things began to come to light, to be seene, to be knowen, which first lay confused and not perceaued, in the darkesome bottome of that all-including Chaos. Hereof came the name Delos, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to shew, or make playne and many fest.

Apollo hath long yealow hayre: noting his rayes and beames, which heate and hit, like dartes, a far off; and therefore is he called of Homer 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. He is young, fresh, and without any beard: for, his force neuer fadeth, and his heate is alwayes quickning. Therefore, the Tyran Dionisius did cut off Aesculapius his golden beard, saying, It was no reason, that the sonne should haue such a long beard, when as his father Phoebus had none at all. This perpetuall youth, and neuer decaying nor declining validitie of Phoebus and other the Gods, is figured by Hebe: signifiyng the very flowre of youth, whom Homer for the same cause maketh Ioues cup-bearer. This Hebe was Iunoes daughter: for, of the temperature of the ayre proceede all hearbs and flowres: Iupiter is her father: for, without the quickning heat of the ethereal region, no temperature can be in the lower ayre: yet some there be that would haue her borne of Iuno without any father: Hebe on a time, as she bare the cup to Iupiter, slipt, and in

falling, discouered those secrets, which maydens are not willing to reueale; Whereupon she was by Ioue depriued of her place, and Ganymedes prefer••ed thereunto. The sence whereof is this: when the flowers and leaues fall from trees, then doth the youth and honor of the hearb•• and trees growe to deca••; and Ganymedes, that is, winter, commeth in place. Hebe, they say, mar••••d Hercules; the fame of valyant and heroical personages, is euer florishing.

Others, by the rauishing of Ganymede by Iupiter, vnderstand the lifting vp of mans minde from these earthly toyes, to heauenly conceipts: that Ganyme∣des may be deriued of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to ioy and reioyce, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifiyng aduice & counsaile, as though mans soule thus rauished by Ioue, might welbe sayd to en∣ioy his heauenly comfort and counsaile, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Hebe was framed like a sweet lasse: her roabes figured and flowred, & her head also adorned with a garland of sundry flowers. The Corinthians erected her a temple, in a cer∣taine groue full of Cipresse trees: wherein such as escaped captiuitie & thral∣dome, hanged vp their gyues and fetters in honor of Hebe.* 1.18

Phoebus (so called, of the greeke words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, light and life) is not onely young and fresh, but he is also the author of Physicke, the founder of mu∣sick, the gouernour of the Muses, and father of Oracles, all which excellen∣cies proceede from the operation of the Sunne. His beames be pestiferous, if too hote, and therefore doth Homer make him plague the Grecian armie: but healthful, if moderate and temperate. Of this moderate heate of the Sunne, comes the temperature of the ayre: of a temperate ayre grow holesome hearbes and flowres, the simples and ingredients of euery physicall composition, and therefore Phoebus the author of physicke.

Phlegias is the heate of the Sunne; for, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is to burne: his daughter was Coronis, the ayre moderately moystned and heated, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: of this Coronis and Phoebus, Aesculapius, the temperature of the ayre, is borne: whose daughters were two: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, soundnes of body of good health; and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the efficacie of physicke in healing and curing mens bodies, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is, to cure. Aesculapius was slayne by angry Ioues thunder: Phoebus sory, and grieued for his sons death, slew in like sorte the Cyclopes, which made Ioues thunder: that is, the beames of the Sun, by degrees, doe consume that pestilent outrage of these contagious vapours and exhalations, causers of mortalitie. Aesculapius, being borne, was committed to Chiron, a most excellent Chi∣rurgian, to be brought vp: Chiron was the sonne of Saturne, and the Nymph Philyra: for, knowledge and excellencie in physick, as in all other artes, is gotten by continuance of time and long experience: whereof Saturne represen∣teth the one, and Philyra the other; so called of the greeke words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a louer: and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, experience, as a louer of experience (the mother without 〈…〉〈…〉 Chirurgy) by taking away the first letter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as if 〈…〉〈…〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and, for the moreeasie and smoother pronunciation, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈…〉〈…〉

is sayd to be halfe a man, and halfe a horse: sith surgery (and in olde times there was in effect no other part of Physick knowen but surgery) is auayleable aswell for horses and other beasts, as it is for man: and thus much to shew, that Phoebus is physicall. Now, he is also Musicall; and therefore Mercu∣rie gaue him a Lute; whereon he playeth; alluding to the harmonie of the coelestiall Globes, and the constancie and vniformitie, which the Sun obser∣ueth most strictly in his course, as euer keeping the Eclipticall line: for which cause he is the master of the nine Muses, ruling the concent and melody of the nine Sphaeres. The Muses are the daughters of Ioue (for all goodnes comes of Ioue) and of Mnemosyne, Memory. Their nurse was Eupheme, Honor and Fame: for, Honos alit artes, honor and commendation is a spur to a student. They were nine, proportionably to the number of the Sphaeres, whose gouerning spirites the Platonists and Pythagoreans would haue them to be. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, coelestiall, was the first, referred to the immoueable Sphaere, cal∣led 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Polymnia, to Saturne, a great singer, or singing much and of ma∣ny matters. Cleio, to Mars, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is glory and renowne. Melpomene, to the Sunne, singing, celebrating, extolling. Erato, to Venus, louing and amiable. Euterpe, to Mercurie, pleasant and delight some. Thalia to the Moone, flori∣shing. These be the eight Muses, as it were, the tunes of those eight Sphaeres, whereof is made the perfect concent and melodious harmonie, figured by the ninth, called Calliope, a sweete concent, the chiefe and guide of all the Muses, as Ouid witnesseth, 5. Metam:

Dedimus summam certaminis vni,

meaning Calliope. and,

Finierat doctos è nobis maxima cantus:

to weete, Calliope. They are called Musae, of the verb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is, to teach and instruct a man in those things, that are sacred and holy, diuine and mysticall, whereof came the word mysterie. They are also called Camenae, à canendo, of singing: and, Pierides, of the mount Pierius, where they were borne: They all, hand in hand, daunce in a round, and Phoebus in the middle: all liberall sciences are vnited and chayned together, the one depending on the other; noting that absolute 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and cohaerent concatenation and continuation of all inge∣nuous erudition. Lastly, Phoebus is the father of Oracles and prophecies, the eye of the world, seeing and hearing all things first▪ as Homer was woont to say, and Ouid in imitation of Homer,

Videt hic deus omnia primus.

Therefore Laurell is his tree, both for that it is alwayes greene, and neuer toucht with lightning (noting that the fame of vertue and learning is euer flourishing, and neuer dyeth) as also hoate and odoriferous, and (as it is repor∣ted) causeth true dreames being applyed to a mans head and temples: and

being cast into the fire, portendeth good luck, if it make a great noyce or crackling: bad, if either none, or but a little. Coruus, the Crowe is his bird: whose different chirps and prognostications of rayne, were obserued of sooth∣sayers and diuiners, whose maister is Apollo. Cicnus, the Swan, is also his bird: the Swan is white and bright as the sunne; a singer as Phoebus, a fore∣teller of his owne death, and so a diuiner as Apollo. Cicnus was king of Liguria; he loued Musick, and is therefore of Ouid turnd to a Swanne. Lastly, the cock is Apolloes bird, who dutifully saluteth him, and bids him good morrow euery morning. He is figured, a young fresh youth, hauing long hayre, no beard, a lute in the one hand, a bowe in the other, in a chariot draw∣en with foure coursers, Pyroeis, Eous, Aethon, Phlegon, Ignitus, Matutinus, Ardens, Comburens, being all Epithetes incident to the nature of the sunne: whose Pallace and Chariot are described by Ouid: 2. Metam: In Latine he is called Sol, quasi solus, alone and incomparable.* 1.19

Hercules kild Gerion, and brought away his oxen: where, by Hercu∣les, both Pierius and Hesiodus his interpreter, vnderstand the Sunne, sith he is the glorie and ornament of Iuno, that is, the ayre: for, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is Iuno, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is glory. And Gerion, they make to be winter, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which sig∣nifieth to crye or roare, thereby noting the roaring and blustring tempests of winter, which are calmed, and repressed by Hercules, that is to say, by the heate of the Sunne. The Oxen be the crashes of thunder, whose feareful sound resembleth the lowing of Oxen: and these thundrings are neuer lightly heard, but when Hercules hath slayne Gerion; when winter is ouerpast by the heate of the Sun.

Apollo being banished from heauen for killing the Cyclopes, fedde Admetus his Sheepe, Kine, and Oxen, by the riuer Amphrysus. Oxen set foreward husbandry, and the vitall heate and influence of the Sunne, is the chiefe cause of increase: so then, Apollo may well be called a pastor, because, as Pontanus sayth, he feedeth and maintayneth all that liueth,

Quòd pascat quicquid sub coeli nascitur oris.

The Assyrians (by report of Macrobius) especially honoured one God a∣boue others, whom they named Adad: which signifieth one: to whom they ioyned a Goddes, for a companion, called Atargatis: attributing all to these two: by whom they vnderstande the Sunne and the earth. The picture of Adad had his beames and rayes inclyning downewardes towarde Atargatis, shewing that the heauens worke on and in the earth, by influence from the sunne. Atargatis was so framed, as that her beames ascended vp∣wardes towardes Adad: notyng, that whatsoeuer the earth brought foorth, it came by operation of the coelestiall vertue. Vnder Atargatis was a

Lyon, signifying, that she was the great mother of all things, Earth: who, a•• I shewed before when I spake of Cibele, had her chariot drawen by Lyons.* 1.20

Aesculapius was borne by the death of his mother, as Ouid telleth the tale in the second of his transformations: where, after that he had shewed, how Apollo in his furie slew Coronis, great with Aesculapius, hee addeth thus,

Non tulit in cineres labi sua Phoebus eosdem Semina: sed natum flammis, vtero{que} parentis Eripuit, gemini{que} tulit Chironis in antrum. &c.

The vertue medicinable is hereby figured, drawen from the roots of hearbs, when the earth is pierced with the arrowes, that is, parched by the hoate beams of the Sunne. This is deliuered to Chiron, the learned and experienced Phy∣sitian, who thereof frameth wonderfull compositions.

Aesculapius is made sitting on a high seate, with a crowne of Laurell on his head, a long beard, a knotted staffe in his right hand (it is a difficult and hard matter to restore decayed health) and a Snake in his left hand: a serpent is quick of sight, and watchfull; so must a Phisitian be. A Snake may well bee taken for a signe of health; sith, as shee by casting her olde skinne, renueth her selfe, so the sick and crased body restored to his former health, seemeth to be young agayne.* 1.21

The morning is the fore-runner to the sunne, yet caused of the sunne. She is called the daughter of Thia and Hyperion, she is ruddie like roses, she hath yellow hayre golden roabes, and sitteth on a golden throne. Aurora loued Titho∣nus, Laomedons sonne; because he fett his wyfe from the East; hee being extreamly olde, was turned to a Grashopper: olde men neuer cease tatling and chirping. The distinctions of times called howres, Horae, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifieth to keepe; doe guide, conserue and keepe in order all proceedings what∣soeuer, and are the daughters of Ioue and Themis, to weete, Eunomie, Dice, Eirene: for, no way better shall a man perceaue the good or bad dealing of men, and the merciful or reuenging power of the Gods, then by the change of times & howrs: therefore they keepe heauen gates, and attend on the Sun, causing fayre or fowle weather, when they lust, for the profite or plague of mortall men.* 1.22

Now to Alphesiboeus his tale. Phoebus kild Pytho: the heat of the Sun consumed those pestilent vapors left after the deluge causing putrefaction, sig∣nified by this word, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, whereupon some think, he was called Apollo, of the verbe 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to kill. Pontanus,

Tum tellus grauis imbre & adhuc stagnantibus vndis Humida, anhela, vagos tollebat ad aethera tortus, Inuoluens caelum nube, & caligine opaca:

Hinc ille immanis Python, &c.

This made Phoebus vaunt: yet was he daunted by Cupid, and forced af∣fectionately to loue Daphne, daughter to the riuer Penaeus: whereby is vnder∣stood, that naturall and radicall humor of the earth, proceeding from the wa∣ters and riuers, that moysten her and make her fruitefull. The sunne coue∣teth this moysture, sends downe his attractiue beames to draw it vp, resolues it into vapors, and makes it fit for himselfe. On the other side, this moysture fli∣eth and withdraweth herselfe from the heate of the sunne, as from her deadly foe. Againe, the violent and piercing beames of the sunne, compell this moy∣sture to forsake the vppermost and superficiall parts of the earth, retyring back∣ward into the deepest and remotest parts thereof. Which, being thither come, and yet euen thither and there, persecuted by the scalding and searching rayes of Phoebus, is at last, by the meanes of the celestiall powers, and help of the wa∣tery floods and riuers, defended from the violence of Apollo, and conuerted in∣to fruitefull trees and plants. Daphne is transformed into a laurell tree, ra∣ther then any other, for that, by reason of her excellencie, continuance florishing greenenesse, odoriferous sent, and naturall heate, shee aboue all other doth shew her constitution to be tempered with due and proportionable commixtion of terrene moysture and celestiall heat••. Daphne is Penaeus his daughter: for, by the bankes and meddowes adioyning thereunto, an infinite number of law∣rell trees were growing. Apollo garnished his Lute and Quiuer with Law∣rell leaues: so should only famous poets, worthy of Apollos Lute: and renow∣med conquerors figured by his Quiuer, be crowned with Laurel, in token of their neuer-dying glory. Laurell is long kept; so is the fame of learned and valyant men: Laurell is alwaies greene: so is their praise eternall and euer-flori∣shing: Laurell is hoate and odoriferous: so dooth the heauenly-inspired spirit of poets, and all-contemning courage of Heroicall mindes, breath foorth the sweete sauour of vertues excellency: Lastly, Laurell is neuer tutcht with lightning, and their names are neuer defaced by Obliuion.

The other tale of youthfull Phaeton, and his father Phoebus, may first giue vs warning, neither to wish vnaduisedly, nor sodainely to yeeld to rash demaunds: nor vnconsiderately to performe a promise foolishly made. Phae∣ton, Semele, Theseus, and others, by their owne wishes procured their owne confusion. Phaeton was the sonne of Phoebus and Clymene: toweet the heat and inflammation procee••ing from the sunne. For 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is, to burne: and Cly∣mene, is the water, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to ouerflowe: and when these ouerflowing va¦pors eleuated by the sunne, are once inflamed, then doth this outragious heate breake out. Phaeton fell downe into the riuer Eridanus, after extraordina∣ry drought, folow commonly, inundations of waters.

Phaeton is beaten downe with thunder: for, these vapors raised vp by the sunne, and by the enuironing coldnes of the middle region of the ayre, thrust into a narrow straite; by strugling for passage, cause thunder and light∣ning,

til the outrage of that heate bee so consumed. Phaetons sisters, Phaetusa and Lampetie (noting heate and brightnes) did so sorowfully lament their brothers death, that, for pity, they were turned into poplar trees: that is, of this humor, and exceeding heate of the sunne, many kindes of trees and plants doe plentifully proceede. Lucian expoundeth it historically thus: Phaeton began seriously to obserue the course and re∣uolution of the sunne, but, preuented by death, could not finish his attempted enterprise. The ethicall moralization, (which Ouid himselfe tutcheth in his bookes de Tristibus) may be this: Phaeton, a youth, and therefore vna∣ble to gouerne, will needes be a magistrate: but alas, it is too great a burden for his weake shoulders.

Magna petis, Phaeton, & quae non viribus istis Munera conueniunt, nec tam iuuenilibus annis.

The gouernement and administration of a common wealth or kingdome, is a heauenly charge.

Sors tua mortalis: non est mortale quod optas.

It is also as heauy as heauenly. The beginning and climing vp, is hard and difficult: the top thereof subiect to a thousand perills and dangers, which make euen the most experienced, much to feare: and the discent or comming downe is headlong.

Ardua prima via est, & quà vix manè recentes Enituntur equi: medio est altissima caelo; Vnde mare & terras ipsi mihi saepe videre Sit timor, & pauida trepidet formidine pectus. Vltima prona via est, & eget moderamine certo.

Besides this, in a common wealth, there be Bulls, Centaurs, Lyons, Scor∣pions, and such like; that is, sauage and rude people, vngentle, cruel, craf∣ty, and enuious; to whose open violence and secreate supplanting the gouer∣ner is euer subiect.

Forsitan & lucos illic vrbesque deorum Concipias animo, delubraque diti a donis Esse: per insidias iter est, formasque ferarum, Vtque viam teneas, nulloque errore traharis, Per tainen aduersi gradieris cornua tauri, Haemoniosque arcus, violentique ora Leonis

Saeuaque circuitu curuantem brachia longo Scorpion, at{que} aliter curuantem brachia cancrum.

Againe, the rude rablement of the vulgar sort, will hardly be maistred, or brought to any conformitie.

Nec tibi quadrupedes animosos ignibusillis Quos in pectore habent, quos ore & naribus efflant, In promptu regere est: vix me patiuntur, vbi acres Incaluêre animi, ceruixque repugnat habenis.

These and such other imminent mischiefes laid open by Apollo, he falleth at last to intreating and perswasions▪ and fearefull cares of a louing father.

Pignora certa petis: do pignora certa timendo, Et patrio pater esse metu probor, aspice vultus Ecce meos: vtinamque oculos in pectora posses Inserere, & patrias intus deprendere curas.

But ambition can heare no reason, and Phaeton will needs sit in his fathers chariot.

dictis tamen ille repugnant▪ Propositumque petit, flagratque cupidine currus.

This chariot is the glorious type of earthly honor and dignitie: the axell tree all of golde, golden buck, golden follies of the wheeles, and siluer spokes: the collars, traces, and hownces glystred with Chrysolites, and other pretious stones, which rauish the minde of the yonker Phaeton.

Aureus axis erat, temo aureus, aurea summae Curuatura rotae, radiorum argenteus ordo: Per iuga Chrysolithi, positae{que} ex ordine gemmae Clara repercusso reddebant lumina Phoebo.

And againe,

Dumque ea magnanimus Phaeton miratur, & optat. &c.

Phoebus his horses note the vulgar people, as I said before, altogether fierce and outragious: the bridles are the stay of gouernement. Phaeton thus being obstinate, & resolued to be a ruler, is now instructed how to rule. Spare the whip, reine them hard.

Parce puer stimulis, & fortius vtere loris.

The whip noteth a rigorous and tyrannicall kinde of commaunding and o∣uerruling: the reines, a moderate and temperate kinde of discipline. Mount not too high, fall not too lowe, keepe betweene both.

Altius egressus, caelestia tecta cremabis, Inferius terras, medio tutissimus ibis.

These praecepts ended, the yong headed officer, by the fauour and countenance of great men, is set aloft in his brauery.

Occupat ille leuem iuuenili corpore currum, Statque super, manibusque datas contingere habenas Gaudet, &c.

But when any tumult or sedition is stirred vp among the people, then is he nobody, and esteemed of nobody.

Sed leue pondus erat, nec quod cognoscere possent Solis equi, solitaque iugum grauitate carebat. Vtque labant curuae iusto sine pondere naues, Perque mare instabiles nimia leuitate feruntur, Sic onere insueto vacuos dat in acre saltus, Succutiturque altè, similisque est currus inani.

This happeneth to al such magistrats as will not rule according to Apolloes rule. The sunne indeede hath a contrarie motion to that of the heauen: but he trauerseth the heauen gently, not crosseth it ouerthwartly: and so must a ruler ouerrule the stubburne vulgar. Phaeton, poore youth, when all is on fire, all on an vproare, is at his wits end.

Tum verò Phaeton cunctis è partibus orbem Aspicit accensum; nec tantos sustinet aestus.

Then Iupiter, at the pitifull complaint of the earth, that is, the common∣wealth, coms to helpe.

Intonat, & dextra libratum fulmen ab aure Mittit in aurigam. &c.

Where foloweth the miserable end of these lusty commaunders, brought to vtter confusion.

Illîc fraena iacent, illîc temone reuulsus Axis &c.

When all is come to al, Phaetons ambitious conceit, gaines naught but this to comfort his destruction, that when by his aspiring, he hath procured his owne ouerthrow, men may say after his death, This felow caried a braue minde, and shott at mighty matters.

Hic situs est Phaeton, currus auriga paterni, Quem si non tenuit, magnis tamen excidit ausis.

The like folly and fall was that of Icarus, who soared so high with his wax∣ed wings, that he gaue name to the Icarian sea, wherein he was drowned. Ouid 8. Metam. sweetely telleth this tale, and in 3. de tristibus, as sweetely doth ex∣pound it.

Sith Mercury and Apollo were reconciled and made good friends, it was apointed, that Damon should ioyne Mercury to his companion Phoebus: who did it briefly, thus.

LOuely Coronis kild by the balefull darts of a louer, And tale-telling Crowe made black, for a worthy requital: Yong Aesculapius, by repenting hands of Apollo Cut fro the mothers wombe, was carefuly sent to the schoolehouse Of Centaure Chiron to be taught: who made him a cunning Surgeon; so cunning, that he dead men strangly reuiued. Whereat Ioue incenst, with thunder fram'de by the Cyclops, Stroake him dead himselfe, who cured somany deaths-wounds. Titan, sad to behold his son so spitefuly murdered, On slaughtred Cyclops, his slaughter kindely reuenged. Thundring Ioue much wroth, that such as fram'de him a thunder Sould suffer violence, and not from death be protected, Expelled Phoebus, for a certaine time, from Olympus. Phoebus in exile now, contents himselfe with a pastors Poore estate, and feedes Admetus flock, by the riuer Amphrisus: so sweete and so secure is a pastors Harmeles life: life next to the matchles life in Olympus. Once in an eu'ning-tide, whilst Phoebus lay in a valley, And with rurall pipe bestowd him••elf on a loues-lay, His sheepe (sheepe indeede, that leant no eare to a loues-lay) Through Pylian pastures chaunst heere and there to be straying. Mercury, Ioues prety Page, fine-filcher Mercury, saw them,

Caught and brought them away, and kept them close in a thicker. Phoebus knew nothing▪ for no-bodie saw, but an ould churle, One ould canckred churle, which there kept Mares by the mountains, Called bald Battus: whome Mercury friendly saluted, Tooke him apart by the hand, and best perswasion vsed, Gaue him a lambe for a bribe, and prayd him so to be silent, Feare not, alas, faire sir, qd Battus: it is but a trifle, Tis but a trick of youth, some stragling sheepe to be taking: Kings may spare, and lend to the poore: And this very senceles Stone (and points to a stone) of this fact shalbe reporter As soone, as Battus: Ioues Nuntio gladly retired, Yet, for a further proofe, both face and fashion altred, And, as a countrey clowne, to a countrey lowt he returned. Gaffer, I misse viue sgore vatt wedders: zawst any vilching Harlot, roague this way of late? canst tell any tydings? I••hill geue the an eawe, with a vayre vatt lamb for a guerdon. Battus perceauing his former bribe to be doobled, Turnd his tale with a trice, and theaft to the theefe he reuealed. Vnder yonsame hill they were, yeare while, by the thicket, And'cham zure th'are there. Iste true, qd Mercury smiling, Ist tr'ue, thou false knaue, and wilt thou needes be betraying Mee to myself? and then false Battus turnd to a Tutch stone, Tutch stone, yet true stone; which each thing truely bewraieth, And no-man thenceforth for no bribe falsely betrayeth. At last, all brabling and altercation ended, Mercury and Phoebus made friends, gaue one to another Mutual embracements, and tokens: Pastor Apollo Gaue his charmed staffe to the Nuntio Mercury: and the Nuntio Mercury gaue his Lute to the Pastor Apollo. Thus they parted friends: to the flock went Pastor Apollo; Mercury sored aloft, til he seas'd on bewtiful Herse, Sister of Aglauros possest with damnable enuie And cursed Couetise, and worthily turnde to a black-stone, Black-stone, signe of a minde all black and fowly defiled. Not long after this, Phoebus with Mercury; ioyned In faire-prowd Chione: Chione bare either a dearling: Mercury, Autolicus did father, Apollo, Philammon; Th'one well knowne for a theese, and th'other fit for a fiddle; But faire-prowde Chione was kild at last by Diana.

ELpinus glad of so short a discourse, made as short worke in explication of the same. Mercury was Ioues messenger indeede, yet not vsed onely by

Ioue, but sometimes by other Gods also. His feete were winged, his hat win∣ged, his face beardles, his body bare but that he had a cloake cast ouer his shoul∣ders, he held in his hand a staffe called Caduceus, which Phoebus gaue him in exchange for his Lute: the serpents, winding it about, are a signe of concord; and the rod it selfe was borne of those who intreated of peace, called thereo•• Caduceatores. His winged hat and feete shew, that speech and words (whereof Mercury is the best deliuerer) once being vttred, fly without returne, according to that of Horace,

Nescit vox missa reuerti.

And else where,

Et semel emissum volatirrcuocabile verbum.

And Homer calleth words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, winged words.* 1.23

Mercury, according to his diuers aspects, worketh diuers influences in mens minds: if he be predominant, he afordeth eloquence, elegancy, learning, and espe∣cially mathematicall knowledge. If he looke on Ioue luckily, he giueth skill in Philosophical & Theological speculations: if on Mars happily, he maketh good Physitians, if vnhappily, he maketh thē either bad Physitians, or starke theeues: whēce came the fable, that Mercury begate on Chione a notable theefe, called Autolicus, as musical Phoebus by the same mother had fidling Philammon. Mercury therefore is a plaine turnecoate good with good, bad with bad. Such as be Mercuriall, are commonly not very rich: yet they finde out now and then conceits and deuises to drawe money out of the chests of princes & mighty men; sith their crafty and cunning master Mercury, hath made them fit for the ma∣naging of princes affaires. And this was the meaning of the tale, that maketh Mercury steale Apolloes cattell: for, Apollo noteth Kings & potentates, and his flocks, are their wealth and riches, and the Mercuriall is the fitcher. If, by chance, his Legierdumaine be perceaued, he can so sinely smooth vp al by facility of discourse, that he neuer is vtterly disgraced by the mighty men. This their friendship and exchange noteth that incomparable vnion of Iouial intelligence with Mercuriall eloquence, the only flower of Kings courts, and felicity of com∣mon wealths. The periured Battus is as worthyly plagued for his double tongue, as the blabbing clawback, and Brewbate Crow▪ for his long tongue. Coronis kild by Apollo, noteth the withered hearbs, by the withdrawing of the moysture to the rootes; whereof already in Apollo. Only this we may remember, that Phoe∣bus killing Coronis, is a type of wrathfull iealosie, cause of present repentance. This tale (as also that of Herse & Aglauros) is in the second of Ouids trans∣formations: and the other of Chione, (signifying, that pride will haue a fall) in the eleuenth.

Mercuries reconciliation with Phoebus being thus briefely expoun∣ded, it was thought good time, to talke of Mars, who, (as seemed by the late discourse) is also diuersly affected by or to the same Mercurie. Cori∣don

therefore, whose courage was most martiall, being hereunto apoyn∣••ed, and remembring no famous transformation by him effected, did what hee could, and sang thus of Mars, and his Mistres Venus.

WHil'st lymping Vulcan did lay on loade on his anuile, With sweating Steropes, and fram'de Gradiuus a breast-peece: Gradiuus tooke paines; and sweete Cytheraea belabr'ing, With like endeauour made horned Vulcan a head-peece. Phoebus saw them first (Phoebus see's euery thing first) Saw, and gree'ud very much, so shameful a sight to be seeing, Ran to the forge straightway, and there told al to the blacksmith, Iunoes fayrefac't childe, Cytheraea'es bewtiful husband. Mulciber astonied, stood starck horne-dead for a long while: Downe falls hart, downe falleth his head, downe falleth his hammer, And no life, no soule, in senceles carkas apeareth. At last, fine small nettes, and chayne, of wire he deuised, So small and so fine, that sight must needes be deceaued; Much more fine and small, then finest threed of a copweb: And so craftily fram'd, and with such my sterie forged, That, with a pluck they claspt, with a tutch they speedily cloased, And held each thing fast, and each thing greedily grasped. These with sleight and art on adultrous couch he reposeth; And, in a secreate place expects polluted adultresse, And hoate raging Mars: who there lay louely together, Either on others breast, and either in armes of another. When sweete tickling ioyes of tutching came to the highest Poynt, when two were one, when moysture fully resolued Sought for a freer scope, when pleasure cam to a fulnes, When their dazeling eyes were ouer-cast with a sweete cloude, And their fainting soules, in a sleep, in a swowne, in a loue-trance: Then was Mars fast tide, fast tide was dame Cytheraea, Then was Mars cooled, cooled was dame Cytheraea. Mars the adulter lay entangled with Cytheraea, And Cytheraea lay entangled with the adulter: Vulcans wires hold fast, they lye vnseemely together, Either on others breast, and either in armes of another. Mulciber in meane time causd chamber dore to be open, And calld Gods, to behold so strange and louely a wonder: Some laught, some smiled, some wished so to be shamed, No-body but Neptune could possibly pacifie Vulcan. Lady Venus let loose, was spitefuly wroth with Apollo, And his broode with lust and rage shee dayly bewitched:

Sometimes Leucothoe with an endles loue he desireth, And sometimes Clytie, and sometimes louely Coronis. Euery day new loue, new lust, new flames be prepared By Cytheraeaes meanes, for this tale-teller Apollo.

POore Vulcan, qd Elpinus, was ouermatcht; and did therefore well to returne to his forge, and not sight with Mars, the God of sighting. Ioue, they say▪ had Minerua without a mother, and therefore Iuno would needs haue Mars without a father. Mars is that hote and furious disposition, fit for wars. Hee was borne in Thrace, a warlike and bloody countrey: his nurse was called, Thero, signifiyng fiercenes and cruelty: he is figured g••im, ••ierce, and sterne▪ allarmed: his chariot is drawen by two horses, which Homer calleth, Ter∣ror and Feare: his companions be, Feare, Fury, and Violence, and Fame, with a trompet, goeth before, all eyed, winged, and clad with a thinne and fine roabe•• shee is learnedly set forth by Virgil, 4. Aeneid: and sweetely by Ouid, 12. Metam.* 1.24

Bellona. so called of Bellum, which is War, was a goddes, that entermedled whith Martiall affayres also. She is paynted like a furious woman, with a whippe in the one hand, and a firebrand in the other.* 1.25

Victoria, Victorie; was paynted with a sweet Virgins face, winged, flying, hauing a branch of Palme in the one hand, and of Laurel in the other; both signes of Victorie.* 1.26

Now to the fable of Mars & Venus. Venus, that is to say, Wanto••nes, ioyned with Mars, which noteth hoate and furious rage, giuing themselues ouer to ex∣cessiue and inordinate pleasure; are by Phoebus, figuring the light of reason, accused to Vulcan, who representeth naturall heate; which is weakned by this inordinate lust. Vulcan, by Phoebus his counsaile, linketh them together to their shame: for, when naturall heate is quailed, then the rage of lust is abated, yrkesome repentance and languishing debilitie ensuing thereupon. Vulcan sheweth them both to be mockt of the Gods: the naturall heate complayneth, as it were, and sheweth to all the other faculties (called Gods by reason of their heauenly frame and function) his decay and impotencie: whence foloweth of necessitie the impayring of all the other faculties: especially he calleth foorth Neptune, Mercurie, and Apollo; sith Neptune by reason of moysture, noteth the nourishing power deriued from the Lyuer: Mercurie, the sensible part pro∣ceeding from the brayne: and Apollo the vital and quickning vertue com∣ming from the heart; which three are extreamly preiudiced by immoderate lust. No man could pacifie Vulcan, sauing only Neptune: nothing can restore the decay of nature, but supply of moysture and nourishment. Venus

incensed, persecutes with deadly hate, the whole family of Phoebus, for this discouery: for lust is a continuall aduersary to reason, euer maligning and op∣posing it selfe against all her proceedings: the tale is briefly tolde by Ouid: 4. Metam: and more largely by Homer, 8. Odyss: and otherwise expounded by Plutarch, in his discourse of Homer. Ouid in the fourth of his transformati∣ons largely discourseth, how Leucothoe was turnd to a sprig of franckencense, and Clytie to an hearb called Heliotropium: that noting the sweet and odori∣ferous influence of the Sun, this expressing the nature and name of that hearb, euer turning towards the Sun.

The Nymphs were all this while behinde hand in their songes: therfore the pastors were now suffred to pawse for a season: Pallas, Diana, and Venus, being referred to Licoris, Aresia, and Cassiopaea. Licoris the mery lasse, sayd as fo∣loweth.

WHen the rebelling broode of th'earth layd siege to the heauens, And Ioue all in vaine had wasted his ord'nary thunder, Fire-forging Vulcan contriu'd new darts of a wondrous Mixture, more violent then Ioues first ord'nary thunder. When Gods thus victors were all secure in Olympus, And new-found lightning had plagu'd the rebellius ofspring•• Ioue bade fire-cunning black smith, for a friendly requitall, Aske and haue, what he would, and most sincerely protested By Stygian waters, that nothing should be denied. Ould limping Dottrel would needs ask Lady Minerua, Of peace and of wars chiefe guide and Lady, Minerua, Ioues ioy, borne of Ioue, Ioue only without any Iuno. Well, qd Ioue, then speak and speede: if Lady Minerua Yeeld her selfe to a smith, let a smith take Lady Minerua. Vulcan limps on apace, prowd of so louely a Lady And peareles Paragon: When he came at last to the Pallace, And there found Pallas, th'ould buzzard gan to be bussing Th'inuiolate Virgin: th'oulde fumbler gan to be fingring Th'immaculate mayden: who by and by with a stately Frowne, and austere looke, his rashnes boldly rebuked. Black smith intreateth, prowd Pallas stoutly denieth, Gray-beard contendeth, but manly Minerua repelleth. At last, with striuing and strugling sti••ly, the sharp-set▪ Ould ••ornicator was now so throughly resolued, Fully resolued now, and now so fowly resolued, That the resolued blood contending long for a passage, Powr'd it self at length on th'earth, in steed of a Pallas. Vulcan somewhat coolde, and seeing stately Minerua Obstinat and peeuish, conuey'd himself to his hammers.

But the resolued blood which Pallas prowdly refu••ed, Was suckt vp by the earth straight way, and gladly receaued; Wherof Erichthonius was borne, faire boy to the middle, But fowle snake downward. Which monster, Lady Minerua Gaue to the three sisters to be kept, inclosd in a casket, With strayte commaundment, that none looke into the casket, None peepe in to the childe, or see so fearful a monster. Pandrosos and Herse kept tutch with Lady Minerua, Curius Aglauros would see what might be the matter, And chest vnclosed, disclosed a boy, with a serpent. There was a chattring Chough, which spying down from an elmetree, Saw all their dealings, and shewd all vnto Minerua: Who in stead of thanks, this brew-bate crow did abandon, And tooke Nyctimene transformd to an Owle, for her handmayd. Thenceforth euery Chough, for a mock, was called a Iack-dawe; And each prating Iack, beares yet this name of a Iack-dawe.

PAllas, qd Elpinus, was Ioues daughter, borne of his head, without any mo∣ther: for, sapience and coelestial wisdome is the gift of Iupiter: & her seate is in the head: and women, though they haue many times too much witte, yet haue they commonly as little wisedome. She was borne armed: wisdome is ne∣uer weaponles; or, wisdome is the synew of warre. Vulcan, with an axe of A∣damant, did cut Iupiters head, whence Pallas proceeded, a pure and spotles Virgin. A Virgin; for, wantonnes and wisedome can neuer agree: Pure and spotles; for, that superior parte of the ayre, represented by Iupiters head, is pure and incorruptible. Mercurie and Minerua were figured both together in Vniuersities; he noting eloquence, she sapience: that without this, is commonly hurtfull, this without that, is seldome auayleable, both together are most excel∣lent. This was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Mercurie, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Minerua. She had a manly countenance and fierce: and glittering and flaming eyes. Her Helmet was of gold: wisdome shineth and is a glorius protection. Her head is therwith couered: wise men conceale their deuises and cogitations; which was the cause also, why commonly there was on her helmet, the image of a Sphinx, betoken∣ing silence and secrecie, hauing the head, face, and breast of a mayden, the wings of a bird, and the rest of the body like a Lyon: propounding obscure rid∣dles, and deuouring those that could not vnfold them. Her speare is long: Va∣lor and wisedome are mighty, and reach far. Her Shield is of Cristall: wis∣dome is bright and cleare. In her breast-plate was Gorgons head: wisdome is wonderfull to the wise, and maketh fooles amazed. The picture of Pallas, cal∣led Palladium, came downe from heauen into Troy; and, till it was gone, Troy could not be taken: wisdome is coelestiall, and the onely safegarde of Cities, and common wealths.

Pallas was so called because shee slew Pallas a Gyant: or, of shaking her speare, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Minerua, à memoria, of memory, the treasury of wisdome: or, a minuendo, of diminishing: for, strength is diminished and weakned by earnest and continuall meditations: or, à minando, of menacing: for she is warlike as well as wise, and of Bellum, Warre, called also Bellona: though some distinguish them, making Pallas to note policie in wars; and Bel∣lona, blood slaughter, murder, and destruction. Pallas bare away the name of the city of Athens, by bringing foorth the Olyue, noting fertilitie, more benef••cial to Cities, then Neptunes horse, fit forwarres: or, because students spend much oyle in their Lamps, as Demosthenes did, who was reported in al his life time not to haue consumed so much wine, as oyle: or, for that she first in∣uented the vse of oyle.* 1.27

Minerua was also the Goddes of spinning, weauing, and curious working of cloath: and therefore was she figured sometimes with a distaffe in her hand. She reiected the Crow for his tatling: blabs be no companions for wise men, who vse to think before they speak, and yet not vtter all they think. In his place, she admitted the Owle, who seeth in darknes, and is solitary and silent: all which properties are agreeable to the conditions of a Philosopher & wise man. Athens was her chiefe delight: Athens was the most famous and learned Vni∣uersitie in all Greece; and she is the Lady of learning.* 1.28

Now for the explication of this wooing of Minerua, Vulcan must first be described: for, as by Minerua, the learned and witty contriuing of any worke is intended; so Vulcan, that is ••ire, is the instrument to effect these inuenti∣ons: and, because all thinges cannot be effectually wrought, which are cunningly deuised, therefore wooing Vulcan can neu••r get Mineruaes good will. His hatte was of a skiecolor, bright and cleare, for, so is that coelestiall ••ire of it selfe, but his feete are lame, and so is our earthly fire, impure, and not a∣ble to ascend vpwards directly, but shaketh and limpeth, this way, and that way, by reason of the terrene corruption: Or, if you take Vulcan for the naturall heate of mans body, then he may be therefore sayd to be lame, because this vi∣tall heate doth increase, decrease, and alter, according to the difference of mens ages, and diuersity of the constitutions and complections of their bodies, and is neuer one and the same, or long like it self. Iupiter offended, to see this fowle babe Vulcan take his mothers part, threw him out of heauen: and he falling in the Isle Lemnos, brake his legge.

Historically, he raigned in Aegypt, was a stout warrior, halted by a wound re∣ceaued in battaile, & first found out the way to make armor of Iron; which gaue cause to these poeticall conceipts, calling him the black smith, forger of armor for all the Gods. Vulcan was maryed to Venus: for, without naturall heate, no procreation. Vulcan strugleth with Minerua, but to no purpose; for, of that ae∣ther••al 〈1 page missing〉〈1 page missing〉

fire, and subtile part of the skie▪ figured by Minerua, nothing is produced: But Vulcan, that is, the grosse and more earthly heate, powring himselfe on the earth, is the author of diuers and sundry procreations, noted by the diuers shape of Ericthonius, signifiyng strife, and the earth. Ericthonius, to couer his serpenti••e feete, inuented chariots to ride in. Historically, lame he was, and first author of chariots, by Virgils reporte: 3. Georgic:

Primus Ericthonius currus, & quatuor ausus Iungere equos, rapidis{que} rotis insistere victor.

Vulcan was also called Mulciber, quasi Mulcifer, quià mulcet ferrum: because the fire doth mollifie the hardnes of Iron, and maketh it malleable. He is paynted with a hat, as I sayd before, lame, black, swartie, filthy, for all the world like a smith at his forge.* 1.29

Next to Licoris folowed Aresia, with a more pitifull song, and fitter for her seuere and maydenlike disposition, wholly vowed to Diana, of whome she sang:

LOng, and far wandring Cadmus, by the help of an earthborne Serpents broode, and good aduise of Lady Minerua, Founded Thebes at last: but alas, no sooner he founded Thebes, but vnhappy nephew, made grand••ire Cadmus vnhappy. Luckles, vnhappy nephew Acteon, ioyed in hunting, Ouermuch hunting, til his own hounds hunted his own-self. And yet no mischiefe did he work, but suffred a mischaunce, No fault, but Fortune, causd his poore head to be horned. Acteon on a time from his house vntimely departed, And to the green wood went with his hounds and hunts-men about him. Morning all was spent, and Phoebus loftily mounted Iust twixt East and Weast, drew euery shade to be shortest. Mates, sayd Acteon, it's now ful time to be resting; Wee haue had good sport: now burning Phoebus on each side Scalds vs, take vp toyles, and cease any more to be toyling; Next day, eu'n by the break of day, wee'le back to the forrest. Acteons counsel was lik'te, his company rested, Tooke vp tooles and toyles, and ceas't for a while to be toyling. There was a Dale, with Pine and Cypresse daintily shaded, Called Gargaphia, sacred to the Lady Diana. In whose furthest end was a playne and natural harbor, And yet so pleasant, so sweet, so chearful a harbor, That no arte could stayne this playne and natural harbor:

Harbor vauted aboue with bending bowes of a thousand Tall trees: walled about wi••h stones wrought only by nature, And (which gaue most grace, and was to be chiefly regarded) Watred sweetly within, with a bubling spring that abounded with cleare cristal streames: whose brim was cherefuly mantled With grasse, hearbs, and f••owers: And here was lately ariued Sou'raigne Lady regent o•• ••orrests, mighty Diana, And her mayden troupes; wi••h purpose there to be bathing Their vnspotted limmes, all weake and weary with hunting. And no sooner was that Virgin Lady ariued, But qviuer, sharp dartes, and vnbent bow she deliu'red Vnto her hand-mayd squire, who them with duety receaued. Some pluck off buskins, some tuckt-vp roabes be remouing: Nyphe brings water: Crocale stands still by Diana, Fine-fingred Crocale, her loose hayre daintily tressing. But whilst Lady regent with a naked company guarded, Washt her self in spring, and no-mans company feared, In comes Acteon, from sleeping company seu'red, In comes Acteon, by chance, to the company naked. Naked Nymphs seeing, that a man saw them to be naked, Smote their naked breasts, and made so woful an out-cry, That woods, wells, and caues in like sorte yeelded an out-cry: And with naked breasts gaue cour'ing vnto the naked Goddes their mistres, ioynd all in a round, in a compas. But their matchles Queene, and Sou'raigne Lady Diana Was too talle to be hid by that same company naked, Ouer-lookt them quite, and so was seene to be naked: And like scarlet clowdes, where Tytans beams be reflected, Was their Mistres face, when she was seene to be naked: Red for shame, and red for griefe: for shame to be naked, And for griefe much more, for griefe to be taken vnarmed. Yet, thogh weaponles, she raught both hands to the wel-spring▪ And Acteons ••ace with water deadly besprinkling; Now, sayd shee, go tel, that thou sawst Lady Diana Naked, spare not a whit. This short narration ended, Poore Acteons head with an ould Harts hornes she adorned, Made eares sharp, nose flat, neck long, made armes to be spindle Shancks, and fingers feet, and couered al with a specled Hyde: and least any part of a Hart should seeme to be wanting, Fearful thoughts, and fleeting legges are giu'n to the hartles New hart Acteon, who feares, and flies by the forrest, And, as he flies, wonders, that he flies so fast by the forrest.

But when he came to a brook, & saw his head to be horned, And mouth enlarged, poore Hart, with terror amased Whould haue cryed, Alas: but, alas, poore soule he deliu'red Not so much as, Alas: sighs and brayes onely remayned For to bewray his griefe, and teares powr'd foorth with abundance, Trickling down his checks, not his own cheeks now, but a Harts cheeks. Of th'ould Acteon, th'ould minde now onely remayneth; And this same ould minde is tost and turnd with a thousand Conceits, cares, and feares. For, what shal he doe? shal he go home Vnto the King and Queene, or wander alone by the desert? Shame driu's Acteon fro the one; and feare fro the other: Shame, on a King and Queene with a horned face, to be staring, Feare, for a man forelorne by the desert stil to be wandring. As thus he stood doubting, his dogs espied his horned Head, light Loelaps first, with nimble-footed Aello Called alowd to the rest; and then whole kennel aproached: Nebrophonos, Dorceus, Harpya, Lycisca, Melampus, Pamphagus, Agriodos, Pterelas, Hylaeus, Hylactor: These and as many more, through thick and thinne, by the wayles Wayes, by the rocks and clyffes, by the hedge and ditch, by the desert Run for a pray, and poore Acteon runs from his owne houndes, And is chac'te himself, who was so lately a chacer, Hunted of hounds himself, who that same day was a hunter: Acteon makes sporte and play with his houndes in a morning, And that self same day is a pray to his hounds by the eu'ning. Oftentimes did he strayne himself, and sought to be speaking Vnto his houndes, O leaue, leaue your vnnatural outrage, Let your master alone: But no words could be aforded: And the redoubled crie in mean time rang by the forrest. Greedy Melanchaetes did pinch him first by the haunches, Next came Theridamas: Oresitrophos hangd by the shoulder. These last, though latest, by crossing ouer a hill top, Gayne-coapte Acteon, and held him fast, til his other Hounds came trolling in: Who all so greedily fastned On poore Acteon, that he scarce had so many morse••s, So many seu'ral bits, for so many houndes to be biting. Acteon stil pluckt, stil powr'd foorth playnts to the forrest, Groaned at euery gripe, and brayed at euery biting, Groand as a man, brayd out as a Hart, and playnd as a Hart-man▪ And on bended knees, with dolefull lookes he beholdes his Hounds, and would, if he could, intreate and humbly beseech them. But mery hunts-men cheare their houndes, and neuer imagin▪

This to be Acteon: but looke each way by the forrest For their Acteon; and hallow al by the forrest For their Acteon, (Acteon shaked his horned Head, when he heard his name) and al complaine, for his absence From so goodly a sight, from so vnlookt for a pastime; Where poore Acteon, God knowes, did wish to be absent, But was forced, alas, to be too vnluckily present, And saw more then he sought, & felt much more thē he lookt for. Cursed curres, Hell-hounds, their guts too greedily glutting, Their Lord Acteon, instead of a stagge, be deuouring. So nothing but death, yea death by so many deaths-wounds Pleasd the reuenging minde of too too stately Diana, Yet not so austere, yet not so stately Diana, But that her owld Mynion with a looke more louely regarding, Beautiful Endymion she could finde time to be kissing.

AResia had no sooner ended; but Elpinus, seeing the day well spent, began as foloweth, without expectation of any further commaund. Diana was sister to Phoebus, and daughter to Latona as I sayd before; Lady of hunting, regent of woods. Diana is so called, as if a man would say Deuiana, a stragler or wan∣derer: for, the Moone strayeth from the Eclipticall line, as hunts-men wander in woods and forrests, or els she may be called Diana, quià diem praecedit, be∣cause she is, as it were, a fore-runner to the day. She is also called Luna, à luce, of her light: figured with a sweet and amiable looke, and maydenlike face, her garments tuckt vp, her quiuer on her back, a fire brand in her hand: noting ei∣ther the pinching torments of child-birth, whereof she also (by reason of her moysture) in a Goddes, or the light which shee afordeth for direction of men in the night season, wherof she is the gouernesse. Her chariot is drawen by white Harts; Harts be swift, an•• the Moone doth soonest dispatch her reuolution. She is sister to Phoebus, and therefore called Phoebe, for, she boroweth light from him; and they two equally deuide the time betweene them, hee ruling the d••y she the night. Her garment is changeable: the Moone hath diuers 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a••d apparitions. Her daughter was Herse, that is Deaw, whom she conceaued of Iupiter. Her shafles note her influence.* 1.30

She is also called Heca••e. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifieth an hundred: which simple & determinate number, is put for an infinite or great number: meaning, that the Moone hath many and infinite operations in and ouer these inferior bodies. She had three faces, called for that, Triuia, Triformis, and Tergemina. For, in hea∣uen she is called Luna, in the woods Diana, vnder the earth Hecate, or Proser∣pina. That of these three faces, which was on the right side, was the face and head of a horse, figuring the swif••nes of the Moone in ending her reuolution.

The left was of a dogge, noting that when she hideth her self from vs, she is then Proserpina with her hellish hounde: the middle was of a boare, signifying her iurisdiction in fields and forrests. When the Gods fled into Aegypt, for feare of Typhoeus, and euery one transformed himselfe to some vncoth shape, Luna turned herselfe into a cat; who seeth in the night, aswell as in the day: and her sight doth increase and decrease, accordingly and proportionably to the Moone.* 1.31

It is historically reported, that Cadmus vanquishing one Draco, King of Beotia, established himselfe in his throne: and that afterwards, being beset with the friends of the dead King, who all combined themselues together to re∣uenge his death, he politikely, with seditious rumors, set them together by the eares among themselues, and so distracting and seuering their forces, easilie ouercame them: and this he did, by the aduise of Pallas: it being a part of wis∣dome, by these meanes to weaken the aduersaries power, which otherwise vnited would be more strong. Others, by the dragons teeth sowed by Cadmus in Beo∣tia, vnderstand letters, which he first brought out of Aegypt into Greece: and, by the seditious and murdering brethren, they meane the men learned and lettred, the one still confuting and oppugning the other. Nazianzenus hereby noteth them that abruptly climbe vp to honor and dignitie, from base and lowe degree, without either vertue or erudition.

Actaeon fed and maintained a number of idle and vnthankefull persons, no∣ted by his doggs. Others expounde it thus: we ought not to be ouer curious and inquisitiue in spying and prying into those matters, which be aboue our reache, least we be rewarded as Actaeon was. Ouid. 2. de tristib.

Inscius Actaeon vidit sine veste dianam: Praeda fuit canibus non minus ille suis. Scilicet in superis, etiam fortuna luenda est, Nec veniam laeso numine casus habet.

Or lastly, thus, a wiseman ought to refraine his eyes, from beholding sensible and corporall bewty, figured by Diana: least, as Actaeon was deuoured of his owne doggs, so he be distracted and torne in peeces with his owne affections, and perturbations. The names of his hounds are all fet from the naturall quali∣ties and proprieties of doggs: Laelaps, Aello, Nebrophonos, Dorceus, Har∣pya, Lycisca, Melampus, Pamphagus, Agriodos, Pterelas, Hylaeus, Hylac∣tor, Melanchaetes, Theridamas, Oresitrophos: signifying, Swift, Tempest, Killbuck, Spy, Snatch, Woolfe, Blackefoote, Eateal, Sauage, Lightfoote, Wood∣man, Ringwood, Black▪ Kildeare, Hillebread.

Endymion watching in the night, to obserue the course of the Moone in the Hill Latmos, was said to be kissed of the Moone. Which may also be the cause

why they of Thessalia were saide to force the Moone downe from Heauen, with their charmes and incantations, for that they were very curious in noting her nature and reuolution. Endymion, by some others, is a figure of the soule of man, kissed of Diana in the hill, that is, rauished by celestiall contemplation.

Pan enticed the Moone into the woods, by giuing her a faire fleece of white wooll: that is to say, nature doth induce and perswade the soule, by the gift of sensible bewty, to come downe into this world of generation, and propagation signified by the wood; Virgil hath some such thing. 3. George••on.

Munere sic niueo lanae (si credere dignum est) Pan deus Arcadiae captam, te, Luna, fefellit, In nemora alta vocans; nec tu aspernata vocantem.

Faire Venus was now left for faire Cassiopaea: who thus discouered the loue betweene her and Adonis.

MYrrha, the fathers hoore, and brothers mother, a myrrhor Of most monstrus lust, was late transformd to a Myrrh-tree: O how could sweete Myrrh come from so sinful a Myrrha? Myrrha made Myrrh-tree, brought forth incestuus ofspring, And yet most delicate, most sweete, most bewtiful ofspring, Dame Natur's dearling, heu'ns ioy, worlds woonder, Adonis. Either take wings, bowe, and shafts from louely Cupido, Or giue bowe and shafts, and wings to the loued Adonis; And let louely Cupid stand hard by loued Adonis Either on others side, and aske, who list, the beholders, Which is louely Cupid, which is this loued Adonis; Euery man will swere, that both are louely Cupidoes, Both are Lords of loue, and neither loued Adonis, So like euery way were loue and loued Adonis. Yea such grace, such face, such eyes had loued Adonis, That very Enuies eyes must needes praise loued Adonis. Lord, how swift is time, and slideth away on a sudden Vnperceaud, vnspide? That wretched, lewdly begotten, Sisters, grandsires son, closd yesterday in a Myrrhe-tree, Borne but yesterday, is now so louely an infant, Sweete childe, tall springall, braue youth; that Queene Cytheraea Loues natures dearling, heu'ns ioy, worlds woonder Adonis. Lord of loue, by a chaunce, as he playd with Queene Aphrodite His louing mother, did rase her breast with an arrowe. Hence, qd Lady Venus, with this same paltery arrowe;

And putts back her son: but that same paltery arrow Gaue her a deeper wound indeede, then first she beleeued. Now Cytheraean bowres and towres Cytheraea renounceth, Fishy Cnidos, with watry Paphos Cytheraea refuseth, Yea leaues heau'n it selfe for loue, for loue of Adonis. Now she delites to be gay, and frames her lookes to be louely, Trims and tricks her selfe, and all for loue of Adonis. Sometimes downe by a well with Adonis sweetly she sitteth, And on Adonis face in well-spring louely she looketh, And then Adonis lipps with her owne lipps kindely she kisseth, Rolling tongue, moyst mouth with her owne mouth all to be sucking, Mouth and tong and lipps, with Ioues drinck Nectar abounding. Sometimes, louely records for Adonis sake, she reciteth; How Laeander dyde, as he swamme to the bewtiful Hero▪ How great Alcides was brought from a club to a distaffe, How Medea the witch causd golden fleece to be conquerd, What lost Euridice; who first came safely to Circe. Sometimes vnto the shade of a braunched beech she repaireth, Where sweete bubling brooke with streames of siluer aboundeth, And faire-feathred birde on tree-top cherefuly chirpeth; There her voyce, which makes eu'n Ioue himselfe to be ioying, Vnto the waters fall, and birds chirpe ioyfuly tuning. Sometimes vnto the woods, and pleasant parks she resorteth▪ With tuckt-vp garments, and Quiuer, like to Diana. And there harmeles game pursu's with loued Adonis, Trembling hare, swift hart, and Roebuck loftyly horned: As for Beares, and Woolu's, and such wilde beasts, she detested, Lest any harme might chaunce, by the chace thereof, to Adonis. Whilst that Lady Venus did thus conuerse with Adonis, Making more account of a heauens-ioy, then a heauen, Ioue sent forth summons through purple-veiled Olympus, Forth-with commaunding all Gods and euery goddes, There at a stately triumph, on a certeine time to be present. Then was Lady Venus compelld to returne to Olympus Greatly against her minde, and leaue her loued Adonis: And yet afore she returnd, shee turnd herselfe to Adonis, And thus tooke her leaue, last leaue of loued Adonis. Sweete boy, sith that I must of force now goe to Olympus, (Neuer afore did I so vnwilling goe to Olympus) Make much of thyself, and ile make haste from Olympus. Sweete boy, looke to thyself, goe not too oft to the forrest, Where sharpe-tusked boares, and rau'nous woolus be resorting,

And strong stoordy Lyons are each where fearefuly roaring. Parks and launds are walkes more meete for yonker Adonis, Harts and Hyndes are game more fit for gentle Adonis. Tis no wit, sweete boy, with a greater foe to be striuing, Tis no wit, to be stout with strong, to be haughty with hardy: Forbeare for my sake, for my feare learne to be fearefull, Meddle not with beasts, whose euery limme is a weapon, Euery stroake is death: least too stowtharted Adonis Buy his praise too deare: thy face, yeares, bewty, behauiour Which possesse my soule, wil neuer moue the deuouring Woolues, and bristled swine, wil neuer finde any fauour In blood-thirsting eyes of a rugged bare, or a raging Ougly Lyon, most ougly Lyon; whose merciles ofspring Chiefly of all other wilde beasts Cytheraea detesteth. Then she begins to recount, how fayre and swift Atalanta Chaunst at length in race to be ouercome, by the golden Apples, which herselfe of her owne grace, gaue to the thanckles Hippomenes, whose loue was therefore turnd to a lewd lust, So lewd; that Cybeles temple was fowly defiled, And themselues to Lyons, for a iust plague, speedily changed, Drawing her chariot, whose church they lately prophaned. Then, qd shee, fly these; and not these only, but all those Beasts, that will not fly. Such counsel gaue she Adonis, But no such counsel would serue too youthful Adonis. For, no sooner was sweete sea-borne Nymph Aphrodite Conueyd in chariot by siluer swans to Olympus, But to the wilde wood went too wilde and wilful Adonis: Where, when his hounds on a time, by chaunce, had rowzed a wilde-boare, Himselfe sets on first, and boare in a brauery woundeth. Boare enrag'de, runs forth, with foaming tusk, to Adonis, And teares those very parts, those tendrest parts of Adonis, Which were stil most deare to Adonis deare Aphrodite, Teares, and wounds, and kills Aphrodites loued Adonis. And now, eu'n iust now, when wilde Boare murdred Adonis, Ioues great guests were gone, and all solemnities ended, And sweete louely Venus from Olympus newly departed; Thinking euery howre to be two, and two to be twenty, Til she beheld her boy: but alas too soone, she beheld him: Downe fro the skies she beheld her long-lookt loued Adonis Dismembred, wounded, with his owne blood all to besprinckled. Then to the dolefull dale, where murdred Adonis abideth, Her milke-white coursers, with might and maine she directeth,

Leaps downe, rents her roabes, and poore breast all to bebeateth, Teares hayre, scratcheth face, and deathswound deadly bewaileth. Hellish Fates, qd shee, though world be depriu'd of Adonis Corps, and loued lymmes, by you; yet world, to the worlds end, In despite of you, shall yearely remember Adonis, Yearely remember mee, by remembring yearely Adonis. Yea, this purpled blood wil I speedily turne to a purple Flowre; which shalbe a grace to the ground insteede of Adonis. If that Apollo could transforme his boy Hyacinthus Into a flowre for a fame, to the mourning flowre Hyacinthus, Which stil beares, ay, ay, in leaues, in signe of a wailing: If that Apollo could his dolefull boy Cyparissus, Turne to a dolefull tree, to the ioyles deadly Cupressus, Shall not Lady Venus doe the like for loued Adonis? Then with life-giuing Nectar, sweete blood she besprinkleth, And the besprinkled blood, with a round top swells, as a buble: Purpled round by degrees, is speedily changd to a purpled Flowre, that beares faire leaues, and fraile leaues; euery winde-puffe Blowes them away. So good things goe, so dyed Adonis: Flowre fades, eye dazeleth, face wrinkleth, bewty decayeth.

CAssiopaea, said Elpinus, hath so passionately discoursed of Venus and Ado∣nis, that I feare me, vnder these names, she mourneth her owne loue, and vttreth her owne affection. Howsoeuer it be; Saturnus, that is, Tyme, with his sithe, as I said elsewhere, cut off his fathers manlike parts: of which, cast into the sea, Venus was borne. So Saturne destroyeth, Venus bringeth foorth; and both are necessary for the continuall propagation of these inferior bodies, sith the corruption of one, is the generation of another. Venus is faire, bewty enticeth to lust. She is naked, loue cannot be concealed. She is borne of the sea, louers are inconstant, like the troubled waues of the sea: Hereof was shee also called Aphrodite, of the froath of the sea, being like to Sperma. Shee is called Venus, qd ad omnia veniat, or else, à venustate: Swans and Doues drawe her chariot; Doues are wanton, and Swans are white and musicall, both being meanes to procure loue and lust. Myrrha is sacred vnto her, so is the rose also: that, because it is thought to cause loue; this, because it is fayre and fraile, pleasant and pricking, hauing a thorne aswell as a flowre, as loue hath. In Saxo∣ny, she was figured naked, in a chariot drawne with two Swannes and two doues, her head bound with myrtle leaues, a burning starre on her breast, a globe representing the earth, in her right hand, and three golden apples in her left: Behinde her were the three graces, back to back, hand in hand, and apples in their hand.

The first picture of Venus.

Now, for Venus her loue to Adonis, and lamentation for his death: by A∣donis, is meant the sunne, by Venus, the vpper hemisphere of the earth (as by Proserpina the lower) by the boare, winter: by the death of Adonis, the ab∣sence of the sunne for the sixe wintrie moneths; all which time, the earth la∣menteth: Adonis is wounded in those parts, which are the instruments of pro∣pagation: for, in winter the son seemeth impotent, and the earth barren: nei∣ther that being able to get, nor this to beare either fruite or flowres: and there∣fore Venus sits, lamentably hanging downe her head, leaning on her left hand, her garments all ouer her face.* 1.32

Pontanus expresseth it thus,

Terra etenim solem queritur deserta cadentem, Inuidit quem tristis hyems, cui saeuior apri Horret cana gelu facies, cui plurimus imber Crine madet, geminos & cùm malè contudit armos. Ac veluti virgo absenti cum sola marito Suspirat sterilem lecto traducere vitam, Illius expectans amplexus anxia charos: Cum grauidos aperit{que} sinus, & terra relaxat Spiramenta, nouas veniat quà succus in herbas, Diglomerat{que} niues, & grandine verberat auras. Nam cùm sol rebus praesit pater ipse creandis, Vt sese ad manes brumae sub frigore transfert, Tum tellus vidua sulcos oblimat in alno, Et tandem complexa suum laetatur Adonim.

Adonis was turnd to a fading flowre; bewty decayeth, and lust leaueth the Iust full, if they leaue not it. Equicola, expoundeth it thus: Adonis was borne of Myrrha; Myrrhe prouoketh lust: Adonis was kilde by a boare, that is, he was spent and weakened by old age: Venus lamenteth, lust decayeth.

The companions of Venus were the three Graces; virgins▪ free, mery, ami∣able, all ioyning together. So good turns must bee willingly aforded without grudging. Some make Mercury their leader, because good turns ill bestowed, be bad turns; benefacta malè collocata malèfacta arbitror, therefore wis∣dome and discretion figured by Mercury, is here requisite. The first of them is Euphrosyne, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to make mery, to cheare and comfort: the second Aglaia of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to bewtifie. The third Pithus, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to perswade; or, Tha∣lia▪ florishing, as others name her. Some make them winged, because a good turne is little worth, vnles it come quickly.

Gratia, quae tarda est, ingrata est gratia: namque Cùm properat fieri gratia, grata magis.

Two of them looke towards vs, and one fromwards vs: we must yeeld double thanks, and double requitall for good turnes. They be in greeke called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of mirth and ioy. Natalis Comes referreth it to the tilling and fertiltie of the earth.* 1.33

The one hath in her hand a rose, the second a Dye the third a braunch of mir∣tle. The rose noteth ioy: the Dye is a token, that they ought to come in course. The myrtle, that they should neuer be forgotten but alwaies florish and continue fresh and greene.

Before wee leaue Venus, wee must remember her sonne Cupido, who, (to omit the philosophicall discourses of the Platonists concerning diuers loues) was pictured, a boy; louers are childish: blinde; they see no reason: naked; they cannot conceale their passions: winged; loue soone flieth into our eyes and soules, and louers are light, as feathers. His bowe and arrowes note, that he hitteth a farre off: his burning lampe, the quickning light, and yet consuming heate of loue, Dulcis amaror amor.

Venus hauing brought forth Cupid, and seeing that he did not thriue, and growe; was told by Themis, that if Eros had Anteros, if Cupid had another Cupid for his brother, who might contend in loue with him, he would doe well. Venus hereupon, brought forth Anteros, and presently Eros reuiued, loue was lusty: and, as the one increased or decreased, so did the other, neuer deliting, but either in others loue and liking. Eros was figured with a branche of palme in his hand: Anteros contended to wrest it from him, but could not. Hee that will be loued, must loue: vt amêris, amabilis esto. We must contend to ouer∣come and get the palme and victory, by louing more, then we be loued so shall we still be loued more, Fomes amoris amor.* 1.34

Many yong waggs wayte on great Cupido: they are borne of Nymphs; yong, naked, and haue curled hayre, and changeable colored winges: sometimes with a lampe or a bowe, sometimes without either bowe or Lampe.

Moschus in his wandring and fugitiue Cupid, maketh him not blinde, but hauing bright and cleare eyes. Tasso hath the like in Italian, to that of Mos∣chus in greeke.

The particuler histories briefely tutcht in this tale, as by the way, may as briefely be thus expounded. Leander and Heroes loue is in euery mans mouth: the light of the lanterne or lampe extinct (that is, naturall heate fayling)

lust decayeth, and Leander tossed with the cold storme of old age, is at last drow∣ned. Ouid in his epistles passionately setteth it downe, and Boscan hath made a whole volume of it in spanish, entituled Historia de Leandro y Hero, beginning thus,

Canta con voz suaue y dolorosa, O musa, los amores lastimeros, Que en suaue dolorfueron criados. Canta tambien la tris••e mar in medio, Y à Sesto de vna parte, y d'otra Abido, &c.

Hercules was also called Alcides, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ force and might: he was the sun of Iupiter and Alemena: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is strength and prowes. So then, Hercules is the type of a valiant, constant, and resolute Heros, borne of Iupiter, that is, endued with all heauenly qualities effected by Ioues influence, and so borne, as to purchase himselfe eternall fame and glorious renowne through the world by his admira∣ble aduentures: which for that they were attempted and atcheeued by the mali∣tious instigation and prouocation of Iuno; himselfe was thereof in Greeke na∣med accordingly: for, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is Iuno; and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, glory, or renowne, as I haue already mentioned: others had rather deriue the name, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ which noteth vertue & valor. In his infancie he strangled two snakes; the meaning is, that he began euen then to represse wantonnes. Afterwards hee slew a Lyon; noting wrath, pride, and crueltie; & ouercame Hydra, the almost inuincible, & still breeding beast, Enuy. Hydra lurked in moores & fennes; Enuy creepeth on the ground, in base and abiect brests. Troy could not be taken without his arrowes: his arrowes are a figure of heroical fortitude. He wrestled with Antaeus, who euer throwne downe to the earth, receaued new strength from the earth, till at last, hee lifted him vp, and strangled him in the ayre: so the spirit still striueth with the body, but neuer can ouercome it, till he lift it vp so high from the ground, that with his feete, to weete his affections, he receaue no new assistance from his mother the earth. Diomedes, who fed his mares with mans flesh, was by Hercules enfor∣ced to feede them with his owne body. By Diomedes mares, some vnderstand his whoorish daughters, who robbed and consumed all that came vnto them. He killed the mighty Hart, he freed mens hearts from feare. He was euer couered with the Lyons spoyle: a valiant man vseth open and Lionlike prowesse, and not treacherous and foxelike wiles. He brake one of the hornes of the huge riuer Achelous: he reduced one part of the saide riuer into his woonted course, which was the cause of great fertilitie to all the countrey: and therefore it is saide, that the horne was dekt with flowres, and called Cornucopiae, the Horne of a∣boundance. He fetcht away the golden apples of the Hesperides, kept by the watching Dragon: Hesperides, the daughters of Hesperus, are the starres: their garden is in the weast, wherein grow golden apples: for such is the nature of the starres, to glister like gold, and seeme round in shew like apples. They grow

in the weast, because the stars neuer appeare, but when the sunne setteth, and that is in the weast: for, all the day long they are obscured, by the surpassing light of the sunne. The neuer-sleeping Dragon, that watcheth these apples & keepeth the garden, is the cyrcle, called Signifer. Hercules brought these int•• Grece, that is, he brought Astrologie into his countrey. So was he, for the same cause, fayned to beare the heauens on his shoulders, whilst Atlas rested himself: because he learned Astrologie of Atlas: who is therefore sayd to holde vp the heauens, because he continually obserued the motions of the heauens, and was thereof called Atlas, of •• which here is a note of augmentation, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to beare and sustaine. The Pleïades and Hyades be called his daughters, because he first noted their course, and obserued their operation. Ouid in the fourth of his transformations maketh this Atlas to be a king of Mauritania, turned to a mountaine of his owne name, when Perseus had shewed him Gorgons head, for denying him entertainment. In trueth, Atlas is a most huge and high hill in Mauritania, so threatning the heauens, that it gaue beginning to this ficti∣on. Sometimes Hercules is paynted olde and balde, with his club, bow, and shafts, & smal chaynes or wyres drawen from his toung, to othermens eares: signifiyng, that his sweete toung wrought more, then his strong body: and that the aged e∣loquence is most piercing and auayleable, as Homer maketh manifest vnder the person of olde Duke Nestor.* 1.35

Thus did Hercules his searching and heroicall heart leaue nothing vn∣attempted: but by his reaching capacitie, and inquisitiue speculation, pierced through heauen and hel: yet alas he that ouercame all, was at last ouercome himselfe: He that mastred men, was whipped by a woman, and enforced by her to spinne and handle a distuffe in stead of an Iron clubbe: so doth wantonnes ef∣feminate the most warlike hearts, and so much harder it is▪ to resist pleasure, then not to be ouercome by payne. At length hauing passed through so many perils, and being infected with a shirt sent him from Deïanira, and polluted with the venymous blood of the Centaure Nessus, he burnt himselfe on the mount Oeta: that is to say, his terrestriall body being purged and purified, him∣selfe was afterwards de••fied and crowned with immortality.

Medea signifieth counsayle and aduice; the daughter of Aeta, and Idya▪ for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is knowledge or vnderstanding, and knowledge is the mother of coun∣sayle. Medea therefore (that is, such as are wise and aduised) leaueth her fa∣ther, & teareth in peeces her brother and children: to weete, all such affections as might be a let vnto her, and flyeth away with Iason, the phisitian and curer of her infirmities, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to heale or cure. But when Iason giues himselfe ouer to filthines, then doth Medea▪ good counsel, flie away in her chariot drawne with winged Dragons, noting wisdome and policie. Iason was many wayes en∣dangered, before he could atchieue the golden fleece: there is no man that can attayne to any excellency, without extraordinarie labour. The golden fleece noteth either great riches and treasure, or fame and immortality.

Euridice, the wife of Orpheus, figureth Appetitum, the coueting and de∣siring faculty in man. The serpent byting her heele, is affection & concupisence: for, veynes come from the heeles to those parts which are the instruments of lust. Therefore when Thetis washt her sonne Achilles in the Stygian waters, he was inuiolate and vnwoundable in euery part of his body, sauing only his heele, by the which she held him when she washed him, and in the same heele was hee wounded by Paris in the temple of Apollo, when he came to mary Polixena, that is to say, affection and lust to Polixena drew on his confusion. In imita∣tion whereof, the good Thomalin in the new Shepheards Kalender, singeth thus of the winged boy.

Therewith afrayd I ran away: But he that earst seem'd but to play, a shaft in earnest snatched: And hit me running in the heele; For then, I litle smart did feele, but soone the sore increased: And now it ranckleth more and more, And inwardly it festreth sore, ne wot I how to cease it.

Orpheus the husband of Euridice, an eloquent and wise man, so wrought the rude people, that he made them sociable and conformable: when he obtei∣ned the bringing backe of his wife from Hell, he was inioyned not once to looke back towards her: A wise man ought not to be withdrawen from his con∣templation, by any passion or affection whatsoeuer.

Circe may be either physically or ethically expounded: physically thus, She was called Circe, à miscendo, of mingling and tempring: for in the ge∣neration of bodies, these foure elements, as we call them, must needs bee tem∣pered: which commixtion and composition is done by the influence and opera∣tion of the Sunne: and therefore Circe was borne of the Sunne and Perseis, the daughter of Occanus. Perseis or Perse is the humor and moysture of the Ocean, supplying the place of the matter or the woman, as the sunne is the ef∣ficient or the man. Circe had foure maydens, the foure elements: they ga∣thered hearbs and flowres for her witcherie; these elements are autors of all motions and alterations. Circe herselfe is immortall; the generation of things is perpetuall. She transformed men into diuers shapes: for, as I sayd before, the corruption of one is the generation of another, not the same, but altred and transformed. She dwelt in the Isle Aeaea, so called of the groaning and wayling of mortall bodies, which by reason of the decay and dissolution of this bodylie composition, are subiect to diseases and griefes: for, ae, ae, ai, ai, sig∣nifieth,

alas, alas. She could not transforme Vlysses: the soule cannot be destroyed, though his companions, noting the elements cohaerent to the body, were changed. Shee wrought many wonders by inchaunting, she darkned the Moone, stayed the waters, dryed the fountaynes, burnt grasse and hearbes, and so foorth; vnorderly mixtion or composition, with abundance of vapours lifted vp, darken the moone, and worke twenty such like inconueniences. Ethically thus, lust is caused of heate and moysture, the Sunne, and Perseis: If she ouer rule vs, she transformeth vs into the shapes of seuerall beasts, ac∣cording to the sundry beastly pleasures wherein we delight: vnles some hea∣uenly helpe be aforded vs, as was to Vlysses. so Homer fayneth some of Vlys∣ses companions to be deuoured by Polypheme the Cyclops, some by the Le∣strigones, and some swallowed vp of Scylla, and such as were not dismayed with perils and daungers, did yet yeeld and giue ouer themselues to pleasure and sen∣sualitie, whereof diuers became effeminate with the delicacie of the wanton Phaeaces: and others in the region of the Lothophagi, by tasting forren fruit, did forget their own coūtrey. The third sort, that resisted both pleasure & paine, was ouercome with couetise; and, whilst Vlysses slept, opened the bagg stuft with winde (which Aeolus shut vp, and gaue to Vlysses) hoping it had been stoared with treasure. Lastly, a number of them drawen away with ambition and vayn-glorie, would haue yeelded to the deceiptfull sweetnes of the Syrenes, had not their Capten stopped their eares with waxe, as I sayd els-where, and caused himself to be bound to the mast of the ship: only Vlysses escaped▪ by hea∣uenly help only, and liued with Circe familiarly. Horace,

Rursus quid virtus, & quid sapientia possit, Vtile proposuit nobis exemplar Vlyssem, Qui domitor Troiae, multorum prouidus vrbes, Et mores hominum inspexit, latum{que} per aequor Dum sibi, dum socijs reditum parat, aspera multa Pertulit, aduersis rerum immersabilis vndis. Sirenum voces, & Circes pocula nosti, Quae, si cum socijs stultus cupidus{que} bibisset, Sub domina meretrice fuisset turpis & excors, Vixisset canis immundus, vel amica luto sus. Nos numerus sumus, & fruges consumere nati, Sponsi Penelopes, nebulones, Alcinoi{que} In cute curanda plus aequo operata inuentus, Cui pulchrum fuit in medios dormire dies, & Ad strepitum cytharae cessatum ducere curam.

Atalantaes swiftnes is stayed, and herselfe out-run by golden apples for, what cannot gold effect? She & Hippomenes are turnd to Lyons: lust is furius.

They being made Lyons, are afterwards tamed, bridled, and enforced to draw Cybeles chariot: by olde age lust and loue are calmed. Hyacinthus his death teacheth vs not to toy; and Cyparissus, not to mourne too much for a thing of naught.

The Pastors being now ouertaken by the Nymphs, began to bestirre them∣selues: among others, Ergastus, whose course was then come, ioyned Herma∣phroditus to his mother Venus, much after this manner.

LOuing Lady Venus, bare Mercury, Hermaphroditus, Hermaphroditus, a youth so braue and like to the father, Hermaphroditus, a boy so sweete and like to the mother, That, whosoeuer knew Hermes and Aphrodite, And lookt on braue youth, on sweet boy Hermaphroditus, Would say, Lady Venus bare Mercury Hermaphroditus. Water-nymphs for a time brought vp this yonker in Ida; But when sixteen yeares were spent by the yonker in Ida, Yonker could not abide, to abide any longer in Ida. All his ioy was now his fortune for to be trying, And forren countreyes with curius eye to be seeing, And outlandish wells, and vnknowne springs to be knowing. After much traueling, many strange sights, and many wonders; At last, from Lycian borders his course he directed Vnto the neighbor coasts of Caria: where he ariued Hard by a cristall poole, poole cristal-cleare to the bottome, And so ••ransparent, that a man might easily number Euery smalest stone, from th'vtmost brim to the bottome. There no barren reeke, no pricking reede was abounding, There no sedge, no rush, no moorish weede had abiding: But with fayre green turfe pooles brinck was chearfuly bordred, Green turfe with fresh flowres & sweet hearbs daintily painted. There no boyes pluckt flowres their gay nose gaies to be making, Nor no nymphs: but a nymph: one nymph, and only but one nymph, One and only but one; but no such one in a thousand. For, neither car'd shee farre-wounding bow to be bearing, Nor with quick-sent hounds by the green-hewd woods to be hunting, Nor with water-nymphs by the smiling meades to be walking, Nor to Dianaes court with tuckt-vp coate to be trudging. Her feallow Fayries, stil prayd, and dayly desired; Salmacis, either take thee a darte, or a feathered arrow, And intermingle these idle toyes, with a fruitfull And commendable acte, and sporte of mighty Diana. Yet she neither tooke her a darte, nor a feathered arrow,

Nor would intermingle her idle toyes, with a fruitful And commendable act, and sport of mighty Diana: But contents her self with dayly domestical Harbor: Bathes her loued limmes, fit for so louly a water, Sits on flowring banck, and combs her sweetly beseeming Hayre, & lookes to the lake, and guides her combe by the water. Now her fayrest self, with finest lawne she adorneth, And fayre self, fine lawne on tender grasse she reposeth: Now fro the paunce to the rose, fro the rose to the lilly she wandreth, And herself with paunce, with rose, with lilly she paynteth. Whilst she bepaynts her self with a paunce, with a rose, with a lilly, Hard by the pearl-bright brooke, she beheld fayre Hermaphroditus, Hermaphroditus a far; so like to a God, to a goddes; That shee wisht him a God, yet feard that he might be a Goddes. But when man-like roabes declar'd that he was not a woman, Salmacis all on fire his diuine beautie desired, Salmacis all on thornes, for so sweete company longed, Yet stayd, though on thornes, til her head, face, coate she had ordred, And made all things fine, and then to the boy she repayred. O sweete boy, whose more then mortall beauty deserueth For to be deemed a God, what God shal I call the my sweete boy? If that thou be a God, thou seemst to be goodly Cupido: If but a man, most happy the man, who might be thy father, Happy the woman, whom thy sweet self mad'st to be mother, Happy the Nymph, whom so braue brother causd to be sister, Happy the nurse, whose milk did feede so chearful a suckling: But much more blessed, but much more happy then all these, Were that lasse indeede, who might be thy wife, be thy bed-make: If thou haue any wife, let mee be thy loue for a short time, If thou haue no wife, let mee be thy friend for a long time: Whether a husband bound, or whether free as a batchler, Giue me a lawfull ioy, or priuily doe me a pleasure. Thus she bespake sweete boy; but alas, sweet boy was abashed, Knew not what loue was, but blusht, yet sweetly he blushed, And wel, too too wel that blushing beauty beseemed. Salmacis askt but a kisse, when naught els might be procured, And fayre Iuory neck with her Iuory handes she beclasped: Either let me alone, or I goe, said Hermaphroditus. Nay, sweet friend, qd shee, stay here and play to thy pleasure, Stay and play by the poole, Ile goe: and so she retireth, And drawes back for a while, (yet looks back as she retyreth) Drawes back vnto a bush; and there all closely she lurketh,

And through euery creeke, to the boy shee craftily peepeth. Boy, vnspi'd, as he thought, as boys are wont, was a wandring Here and there by the meade; and comes at last to the water; Puts of his hose and shooes, and dips his feete to the anckles In the bedabling waues, that seem'd his toes to be tickling. By and by, draw'n on, by the coole and temperat humor Ofth'alluring lake, himselfe stark naked he stripped. But when Salmacis once had seene fayre Hermaphroditu•• Stript stark naked, alas her loue was turnd to a lusting, Lust to a rage, and rage to a fire, and fire to a flaming. Hardly she holdeth her hāds, she desires him now to be hādling, And all impatient his snow-white skin to be tutching. Stript boy leaps to the lake, lake serues as a veile to the stript boy, Bright transparent veile, as a glasse to a rose, or a lillie. Hid Nymph runs fro the bush, dispoyles her selfe in a moment, Casteth away her Lawnes, and flings her selfe to the water, Takes hold, embraces, clips, colls, clasps Hermaphroditus, (Striuing and strugling and wrestling Hermaphroditus) Feeles his naked lims, and sweete lipps all to be sucketh, Sticks fast, spraules, and turnes, and windes him about, as an Yuie Creepeth along on a tree, or a snake cleaues fast to an Egle, Snake snatcht vp fro the ground, by the gryping clawes of an Egle. Fond boy stil stil striues, and stil stil Salmacis vrgeth, And bowes her whole-selfe, bends her whole-selfe to the fond boy, Weighs him downe at last, and there lies all to be wrapped, All intangled lies, all intermingled about him. Peeuish boy, qd shee, now wrythe and wrest the a thousand Wayes, no way shall serue, for thus wil I holde the for euer. O, would God, would God, that I might so holde the for euer. Her boone was graunted: they liu'd so ioyntly for euer; They were one, not two: two coopled, yet not a coople, Neither boy nor wench, but a wench-boy now, or a boy-wench, Both, yet none of both; either, yet neither of either. When poore youth perceau'd this transformation, and saw Whereas he entred a man, that he turned back but a halfe-man: Eyes, and heart, and hand, and voyce, (but now not a mans voyce) Vp to the heau'ns did he lift, effeminat Hermaphroditus: Father, Mother, graunt this fountayne so to be charmed, That who goes in a man, may thence come foorth but a half-man. Hermaphroditus chaunce, moude Hermes and Aphrodite: And for a worthy reuenge, that well they speedily charmed, That who goes in a man, comes alwayes foorth but a halfe-man.

ELpinus was as briefe, as Ergastus had been tedious in his tale of his two wantons. If, qd he, at any mans birth, there be a coniunction of Venus and Mercurie, it maketh him neither man nor woman, both woman and man, giuen to inordinate and vnnaturall lust, noted by Salmacis. For these two planets are so repugnant, that they can neuer be well conioyned; sith Venus is all for the body, and Mercury onely for the minde.

LA secreta intelligentia di questa fauola, secondo alcuni, è, che nelle matrici delle donne sono sette le stanze che rioglieno il seme dell' huo∣mo: tre dalla parte destra, che producono i maschi, e tre dalla sinistra, che producono le femine, & vna nel mezzo, laquale ricogliendo il seme, ha forza di produrre l'uno e l'altro sesso insieme. e per questa cagione, vogliono dire, che Hermaphrodito nascesse di Mercurio, hauendo Ve∣nere raccolto il seme in quella stanza del mezzo: e pero sono chiamati & sono Hermaphroditi tutti quelli che sono concetti nella medesima stanza.

Meliboeus now lastly remayned of all the Pastors: who thus sent lusting Bacchus after wanton Venus.

CAdmeian Semele was great with child by the thundrer, Great with childe and quick. Whereat Saturnian Empres Iuno, frets and fumes; and brawles and scoldes with her husband, At last, what bootes it, qd shee, my winde to be wasting, As though in fore-times Ioue gaue any eare to my scolding? Nay nay, workes, not wordes must plague that drabbe, that adultre•• What? shall Iuno the Queene by a shameles queane be abused? Iuno the Sou'raigne Queene? shal I raigne in skies with a golden Mace and scepter in hand, and yet parte stakes with a strumpet? If that an outcome whore be my mistres, why am I called Ioues wife and sister? Nay sister alone: for I beare this Name of a wife for a shew, Ioues secret scapes to be cou'ring. Secret? nay shee vaunts, and takes a delight in her open Shame; shee's bagd forsooth, and great with childe with a vengeance; And lookes euery day and howre to be called a mother Of some brat, by a God, by a greatest God, by a thundring Ioue; which scarce hath chaunc'te in so many yeares to a Iuno, But let my mistres no more take mee for a Iuno, If that I make her not with her owne mouth aske for her owne death, If that I make not Ioue, yea Ioue himselfe, to be autor

Of this death. This sayd, inclosde in a clowde, she remoued: And to the huswifes house, in a ielous fury repayred. Foltring toung, hoare hayre, sunck eyes, legs lasily limping, Face plowde with wrinckles, did make her like to the olde nurse, Olde Beldam Beroe, Semeles nurse. And, of a purpose, After long tatling, at length shee came to the name of Iupiter, and then sight and sayd: Deare daughter, I pray God, That this prooue to be Ioue; but I doubt: for, alas, many harlots Vnder a fained name of Gods haue fouly deceaued Good-naturd damsels, and them with follie defiled. But suppose he be Ioue: yet that's not enough for a maydens Minde, vnles that he shew himselfe to be truly the thundring Ioue: for, a disguisde Ioue is no Ioue: aske him a token, Aske him a signe thereof, deare childe: and surely, beleeue mee, No signe's sufficient, vnles that he company with thee, In that self-same sort as he doth with Iuno the Goddes, In that Princelike guise, in that maiestical order, With Sou'raigne scepter, with fire and thunder about him. Simple soule Semele, instructed thus by the Beldam, Asked a boone of Ioue, as soone as he came to the entry, But tolde not what boone: Ioue graunts, & sweares by the sacred Horror of hellish Stix, that he would performe what he graūted. Why then, qd Semele, let mee kisse Ioue as a thundring And bright lightning Ioue, no lesse then Iuno the Goddes. Ioue would fayne haue stopt her foolish mouth: but a fooles bolt Was soone, too soone shot, which Ioue extreamly molested: For, neither Semele could vnwish what she had once wisht, Nor lamenting Ioue vnsweare that which he had once sworne. Therefore sore displeased, he gets himselfe to Olympus, And with a stearne countnance and grim look, heaps on a cluster Thick clowds, blustring winds, black storms, fires fearfuly flashing, And th'vndaunted dint of thunders mightily roaring: And yet he makes himselfe as milde as he possibly may bee, And allayes his Sou'raigne force, and leaues the deuouring Fearful thunderbolt, that stroke downe griefly Typhoeus. There is an other kinde of thunder: there is a lightning Framed much more light, and of lesse might, by the Cyclops, Cald the second scepter: this he takes, and comes to the chamber Of longing Semele: who prowd and vayne as a woman, With fond selfe conceit drew self-destruction onwards. For, mortal Semele was quite consum'd in a moment By th'immortal strength, and matchles might of a thundrer.

Yet, th'imperfect fruite fro the mothers wombe he remoued, And (so ran the report) in his owne thigh strangely receau'd it, Til by continuance of time it grew to a ripenes, And the apoynted time by degrres was come to a fullnes. Then by his aunt Ino, for a while was he charily fostred, And soone after that, to the Nimphs of Nysa, deliu'red: And good-natur'd Nymphs from Iuno warily kept him In bowres and harbors, and gaue him milk for a season. This same twice-borne babe at length was called Iacchus, Sweete boy, pleasant impe, fayre lad, braue yonker Iacchus, Neuer sad, free-tongd, free-hart, free-handed Iacchus, And, when he wanteth his horns, as milde as a maiden, Iacchus, But, when he hath on his horns, as fierce as a Tyger, Iacchus.

WHether Meliboeus bee beholding to Bacchus, or Bacchus to Meliboeus, I meane not to determine, said Elpinus: but this I haue heard, that Bac∣chus, a mightie warriour, ouercame Lycurgus, Pentheus, and diuers others, and subdued India, riding thence in triumphant manner, on an Elephant. Yet his greatest fame was procured by his inuention of wine, which hath made him painted and described accordingly, a yong mery youth, naked, crowned with an yuy garland, hauing a branch of a vine in his hand, riding in a chariot drawne by Tygers and Panthers: First, Bacchus is mery, Wine moderately taken▪ maketh men ioyfull; he is also naked; for, in vino veritas: drunkards tell all, and sometimes more then all. Tygers draw his chariot; druncken men are fierce and outragious. Of Venus and Bacchus, Priapus was borne: lust comes from wine and delicacie.* 1.36

He is Semeles sonne: that is, he is borne of the vine: for, Semele is so c••l∣led, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of the shaking of boughes, her boughes being euer tossed and still wauering with the winde. Ioue was his father; for, wine hath a kinde of heate naturally incident vnto it: neither will vines growe in cold places. He was sowed into Ioues thigh, and so borne againe: for, wine is eftsoones pressed and troaden with feete. He is a companion of the Muses: wine quickeneth the wit. Women be his priests: women are sooner ouercome with wine, then men. He was, of the Aegyptians called Osiris; and was torne in peeces by the Ti∣tanes, and enterred, and yet reuiued, and had his seuered limmes laid together a∣gaine: For, of euery twig or braunch or grift of the vinetree, cut off, and burie¦ed in the earth, whole vinetrees spring forth againe. He hath sometimes hornes, then is he intolerable, and fierce, like a Bull, being drunke immoderately. Sa∣tyres, and such wantons be his folowers; and among the rest, Silenus is his Tu∣tor, a fat, grosse, stammering drunckard, balde, and flatnosde, with great cares, short neck▪ and swelling bely, riding on an asse, as not able, for swelling, to stand

on his feete; all effects of beastly carowsing. The water-nymphs tooke him from the burnt ashes of his mother, and brought him vp: the vine-tree is moyst of nature: or rather, the burning fire of Bacchus, must be quenched, wine must be allaied. He is called Bacchus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of raging. Bromi∣us, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, à fremendo, of roaring and hurlyburly. Lyaeus, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of freeing•• and thereof, liber in latine, for wine freeth men from care and thought. Iac∣chus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of crying and showting.

A strepitu Bromius, qd vociferetur, Iacchus, qd curis soluat corda, Lyaeus erit.

Horace thus describeth his operation.

Quid non ebrietas designat? operta recludit, Spes iubet esse ratas, in praelia trudit inermem, Sollicitis animis onus eximit, āddocet artes; Faecundi calices quem non fecère disertum? Contracta quem non in paupertate solutum?

Yu•• is sacred vnto him: that being euer greene; and hee alwaies young and fresh.

The Pastors hauing all made an end; Syluia, Dieromena, and Daphne, had yet said nothing. Syluia therefore remembred Pomona: and Dieromena in meane time, made herselfe ready for Rhamnusia: as for good old Daphne, she was odd in number, and as odd in conceit, and therefore very like, either to say nothing, or nothing like to that which had been said before. Syluia spake, as here ensueth.

IN King Procae's time, Pomona, the Lady of apples Floorisht: ••aire Pomona, the brauest nimph of a thousand Wood-nimphs: no wood-nimph was found so good for a garden, None so circumspect, so cunning was, for an orchyarde. No wells, no waters, no hills, no dales she frequented, Fishing, and fouling, and hunting life she refused, Fruite, and fruite-bearing branches Pomona desired, Gardens were her ioy, and all her care was her orchyard. Insteede of keene darts, shee arm's herself with a shredding Hooke, and therewith cutts and pares the super••luus ofsprings, And ranck spreading boughes, which waste that natural humor, Which well sparde, makes stock to be strong, and fruit to be louely. Sometimes tender grifts from better tree she deriueth, And to a baser stock commits them for to be noorrisht. B••ser stock, full glad, so noble an impe to be fostring, Giu••s it ••ap for suck, and it most charily tendreth, And from nipping frosts, with her owne barck dayly defendes it.

Sometimes crumpled strings of thirsting roote she bewatreth, When raging dog-star burnt fruite-yard all to be scorcheth; And this is all her ioy, and herein stil she deliteth. As for Lady Venus, no such pastime she desireth, But walls her gardens, and orchyards warily wardeth, And mens sight shunneth, mens company dayly detesteth, Least by the rurall folk, violence might chaunce to be offred Vnto her owne sweeteself, or force and spoyle to her orchyard. What did not the Satyrs, that frisking lusty Iuuentus, And Pan with pine-boughes on his horns, and fleshly Priapus▪ And old Silenus, well stuft with youthful Iacchus, Old staggring Tospot Silenus, with many other Rurall Gods, t'obtaine so sweete and louely a goddes? Yet more then the Satyrs, then Pan, then fleshly Priapus, Then th'old Silenus; Vertumnus faithfuly seru'd her, And more hartily lou'd, though nomore luckily lou'dher. Howmany thousand times did he turne himself to a reaper, And in a reapers weedes, bare sheaues of corne in a bundell, And when he so was dreast, each man would deeme him a reaper? How many thousand times did he change himself to a mower, And with long-toothd rake, with crookt sithe went to the meddowe, And when he thus made hay, each man tooke him for a mower? How many times did he then transforme himself to a ploweman, All in a leather pilch, with a goade in his hand, or a plowestaffe, And so shapte, each man would sweare that he were but a ploweman•• Yea how oft did he frame and shape himself as a gardner, Prest with a shredding hooke his vines and trees to be proyning, And so dight, no-man did doubt, but he was but a gardner? If that he met with a sweard, or a souldiers coate, or a cassock, Cassock, coate, and sweard did make him march as a souldier. And, when baits and hookes, and angling rods he receaued, Fishers and anglers so well, so right he resembled, That both Nymph and fish might well therewith be deceaued. So, and so did this Vertumnus, slippery turnecoate Turne, and winde, transforme, and change himself to a thousand Shapes; and all, to behold Pomona the Lady of apples. At last, with gray heares his wrinckled browes he bespreadeth, Putts on a red thrumbd hat, with a staffe goe's lasily hobling, Like to an old Beldame: and thus she begins to be tatling. O braue sweete apples, and ô most bewtiful orchyard, O paradise-garden, fit for so louely a gardner: And so giu's her a kisse; (too wanton a kisse for a Beldame.)

Then sits downe on a banck, and casteth her eyes to the garden Stoarde with trees, and tree's with fruitefull burden abounding. Ouer against this banck, where these two fate, was a goodly Elme, that leant herselfe, as a louing prop to a vine-tree, Vine-tree inclining, with clustred grapes, on her elme-tree. See, said th'old Beldame, to the sweete fac'te Lady of apples, See th•• loued sight, and marke there, how many thousand Mutual imbracements, that vine-tree giu's to the elme-tree: Vine giu's grace to the elme, and elme giu's strength to the vine-tree, Either an others helpe, and either a ioy to an other. But yet alas, if th'elme stoode single alone fro the vine-tree, Or vine-tree be diuorct from her husbands company elmetree, Elme shuld haue nothing, but fruiteles leaues for a burden, Vine shuld lye on ground, which now mounts vp to the heauens, Then let Pomona example take by the vine-tree, Let Pomona loue, and ioyne herselfe to an elme-tree, Ioyne herselfe to a mate, or shew herselfe to be willing For to be ioynd to a mate. O how-many, how-many louers Should shee haue, if shee once shewd herself to be louing? Yea eu'n now (though now thou liue here sole in an orchyard, Sole in an orchyard here, and all inclosd as an anckresse) Sileni, Fauni, Siluani, all the delightfull Crewe of rurall Gods, stil run to the Lady of apples. But thou (if thou wilt haue this thy match to be well made) Take heede, learne in time, and leand thine eare to a Beldame, Who, as a woman, must of right, wish well to a woman, And as an old woman, must needes know more then a damsell, Disdaine these Demy-gods, that rome and range by the deserts, Wood-gods, woodden gods, pide Pan, and filthy Priapus, And take Vertumnus to thy mate, who, more then a thousand Sileni▪ Fauni, Siluani, dayly desires thee, And therefore (sith loue craues loue) more duly deseru's thee, And take mee for a pledge: for, I know, that nobody better Know's him then myself: his secreates all he reuealeth Vnto me, and in mee his surest trust he reposeth. And take this for a truth, Vertumnus goes not a gadding, Is not an out-come guest, but dwells hereby as a neighbour. Neither tak's he delite, his fancies dayly to alter, Or seeke for new loues, or choyce once made to be changing: Faithful Vertumnus loues with deuotion endles First loue and last loue, Pomona the Lady of apples: And can so con••orme, and frame himself to be pleasing,

That, what forme, or face, or shape Pomona desireth, Into the same himself Vertumnus speedily changeth. And, if like conceits are alwaies cause of a liking, You two loue and like with like affection, one thing. For, Pomona desires and loues faire plentiful orchyards, And Vertumnus takes first fruites of plentiful orchyards. And, though Vertumnus doe receaue these duetiful of••rings, And take in good part Pomonae's bewtiful apples, Plummes, and grapes, and hearbs, and flowres: yet he chiefly desireth Not those faire apples, but this faire Lady of apples, Not Pomonae's goods, but sweete Pomona the goddes, Not thine, but the alone. Therefore with mercy remember Vertumnus torments, and thinke, that he mercy desireth With my mouth: thinke, that with these mine eyes he afordeth Teares: fea••e louely Venus, who wills each Nimph to be louely, Feare Nemesis, that plagues such girles, as loue to be loueles. Then she begins to recount many old wiues tales to the Lady, How that Anaxarete, for scorning bewtiful Iphis, Was transformd to a stone: with a thousand more: of a purpose For to procure her loue: and bade her looke to the fatall Fall of Anaxarete, and learne thereby to be louely; So might budding fruite from nipping frosts be defended, And halfe-ripe apples from blustring windes be protected. But sith th'old trott's shifts, and tales were lightly regarded, Turnecoate Vertumnus to a youth was speedily turned, Braue youth, gallant youth, as bright and sheene, as Apollo Seemes, when burning beames, which clouds had lately eclipsed, Haue their streaming light, and blazing bewty recou'red. Youthful Vertumnus to the chereful Lady aproached, And now offred force: but no force needes to be offred: Sweete face, and faire lookes, causd castles keyes to be yeelded.

VErtumnus, qd Elpinus, to end all in one word, noteth the diuers seasons o•• the yeare: and is thus called of the Latine word, verto, which is, to turne, and Annus, signifying the yeare, as if a man would say, vertannus, the turning of the yeare. He is largely described and discoursed vpon by Propertius in the second Elegie of his fourth booke. Vertumnus at last, by turning himselfe to a youth, obteineth Pomona; that is, the spring comming on, the earth afordeth varietie of fruites and flowres. The like is that mariage of Zephyrus and Flo∣ra, celebrated by Ouid in the fifth booke of his Fasti. Vertumnus transformde to an old woman, goeth about to deceaue Pomona: it is good to abandon olde bawdes, which corrupt the mindes of tender girles.

The picture of Vertumnus.

Dieromena, hearing Syluia make mention of Iphis and Anaxarete, tooke occasion offered: and, by discouering her pride and plague, did thereby in••inuate the reuenging might of the seuere Lady Rhamnusia.

IPhis, a gentle youth (if a gentle minde be a gentry) Poore, yet rich, but rich in pure affection only, Loued a lasse of state, but alas vnluckily loued, Loued a noble dame (if a noble birth be a noblesse) Loued Anaxarete, whome pride stil causd to be loueles. Oftentimes he retir'de; yet loue stil forced him onward, Oft did he striue with loue, and yet loue stil was a victor, And a triumpher stil. Then poore disconsolat Iphis Yeelds pe••force, and seekes his wounded soule to recomfort. Sometimes vnto the nurse his secreate smart he reuealeth, And by the milk, by the pap, by the blessed breast, he beseecheth. Sometimes vnto the friends of noble Dame he repaireth, And their helping hand with streaming teares he desireth. Sometimes wooing words in louing letter he writeth, And ten thousand times his lordlike Lady saluteth. Sometimes greene garlands with deaw of teares he bemoystneth▪ And on posts and gates, his garlands watery fixeth. Sometimes tender side on threshold hard he reposeth, And there, locks and barres with curses vainly reuileth. Scorneful Anaxarete, with a frowning face, with a hard hart, Hart of flint, of steele, contemns him dayly, for all this: And to a disdaineful disgrace, to a surly behauiour, Adds a reproachfull speech, and mocks him, least any smallest Harts ease, smallest hope might stay contemptible Iphis. Iphis, vnable now t' endure these plagues any longer, Coms all impatient, and all inragd, to the damned Dore of proud Mistres, there this last passion vttring. Lady Anaxarete, ô now, sing, io triumphe, Sing a triumphing song: thou shalt no more be molested With vile woorme Iphis, poore pasthope, desperat Iphis. Vaunt thy self, and laugh, and let thy head be adorned With fresh laurel leaues in ioyfull signe of a conquest; Iphis yeelds, yeelds breath, last breath; sing, io triumphe, Feede that murdring sight with sight of murdered Iphis: So shal Anaxarete, eu'n in despite of her hard hart, Hardest hart, confesse, that I once yet wrought her a pleasure, Blood-thirsting pleasure, whe•• as Iphis murdered Iphis.

Yet let no man thinke, that I therefore leaue to be louing Fayre-prowd, louely-cruell, til I also leaue to be liuing. With double darknes mine eyes shal at once be eclipsed, Of suns burning beames and light vntimely bereaued, And of Anaxarete's sweete sight vnkindly depriued. Neither needes any man these tidings for to be telling; Iphis wilbe the newes, and Iphis wil be the bringer Of that selfsame newes: Iphis wil surely be present, And in presence dy: so Iphis shalbe reporter, So this Anaxarete in like sort shalbe beholder, And feede murdring sight with sight of murdered Iphis. Yet you gods (if mens affaires of gods be regarded,) Vouchsafe forlorne wretch with some smalle grace to remember; Let poore Iphis death, and cause of death be recorded: And by how much now his liuing dayes be abridged, Let, by somuch more his name and fame be prolonged. This said, brawne-falln armes, and eyes all watred, he lifted Vp to the posts, which earst with flowres he had often adorned, And there fastned a cord. These, these be the crowns, be the garlands, These be the flowres, which yeeld such pleasant sent to the scorneful Lady Anaxarete: so thrust in his head: yet he turned Head, and face, and eyes, eu'n at last gaspe, to the scorneful Lady Anaxarete: and there hangd woefuly tottring, With corde-strangled throate; his sprawling feete by the downefall Knockt her dore by chaunce; knockt dore did yeeld a resounding, Yeelded a mourneful sound, and made herself to be open, Wide open, to behold so strange and woeful an obiect. Dead dore, senceles dore, ten thousand times to be praised More then Anaxarete, who by no paines of a louer, By no intreating, by no perswasion, opn'ed Those dead eares, to receaue last words of desperat Iphis, Those curst eyes, to behold last teares of desolat Iphis, That prowd hart, to bewaile last fall of murdered Iphis. Dore once wide open, seruants ran forth with an outcry, Ran, but ran too late; tooke vp disfigured Iphis, Cold Iphis, palefact Iphis, nay, now not an Iphis, And his poore mother with a sight so deadly presented, Old mother, childles mother, nay, now not a mother. Woeful woman, alas, clipt, kist, embraced her Iphis, Wept, cride out, hould, roard, performd al parts of a mother: And to the graue at last with sollemne funeral honnors,

Brought through th'open streetes her sons dead corps in a coffin. Hard by the way, through which, this sad solemnity passed, Lady Anaxaretes braue bowre stoode loftily mounted: And, that dolefull sounde with mourning eccho redoobled Came to her eares at last (for now at last, the reuenging Goddes gan to requite) and forced her eyes to the windowe, For to behold and see poore Iphis laid in a coffin: Scarce she beheld and saw poore Iphis laid in a coffin, ••ut that sightles sight was starck and stiffe on a sudden, And her purpled blood to a palenes speedily changed. Back she remou's her feete, her feete will not be remoued, Back she reflected her head, but her head would not be reflected; Feete and head stock fast: and that same merciles hardnes, That same stone, which earst in her hard hart made his abiding, Dwelled in euery ioynt, and each where tooke vp a lodging And least noble dames might deeme my tale, but a fable, In towne of Salamis, where famous Teucer abided, (Whence this scorneful dame her noble gentrie deriued) Stony Anaxarete, for a lasting signe of a stony Hart, stands fram'de of stone, in church of dame Cytheraea. Then let noble dames, let Ladies learne to be louely, And make more account of a gentle minde, then a gentry. Loue makes lowest high, and highest harts to be lowly, And by these meanes makes both highe and lowe to bee louely.

THis reuenging goddes, qd Elpinus, was called Nemesis: she punished the insolencie of such, as in prosperitie bare themselues ouer arrogantly: especially those, who for their bewtie, were scornefull and disdainefull. She was also called Rhamnusia, of a place in Attica, where shee had a most sumptuous temple: and Adrastia, of one Adrastus, who was the first that euer did consecrate any temple vnto her. She was figured winged: for, punishment commeth quickly. She stoode on a wheele, and stearne of a ship: for she rolleth and ruleth all vpside downe. She held a bridle, and a rule or measure: for, we must temper our tongs, and deale iustly, as the Greke Epigramme expoun∣deth it.

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By Iphis wee may learne, not to looke too high: and by Anaxarete wee are taught, not to disdaigne the lowly.

The picture of Nemesis.

DAphne seeing euery body silent; knew it was time for her to speake. Madame, qd she, I can neither sing nor say very well: but sith I must needes tell somwhat, it is good to begin betimes, that I may the ••ooner make an ende. The best is, I meane not to be so full of parables, as that Elpinus shall haue need to make any explication. I haue heard my mother many times in good sobrietie, make a long discourse of certayne schollers of Cambridge, who would needes finde out some way to mount vp to heauen, and vnderstand those mysteries which bee aboue the Moone. For this purpose they met together at Dawes cros••e: where, after long de∣bating of the matter, it was resolued by the full consent of the learned as∣sembly, that they should seeke and search, passe and repasse, from East to Weast, some by lande, some by sea, till they had found the way to hea∣uen. O, it was a sweete sight, to beholde so many sageheads and gentle spi∣rites thus vnited and assembled together. All being ready, they all made haste: some embarqued themselues, some traueled by land: others stayed in villages adioyning, expecting some heauenly apparition or reue∣lation from aboue. They that were in the ship, began to consult of their attempt; when, loe, on the sodayn, (such grace the heauens afforde to them that be heauenly affected) there came a straunger, yet an Aca••e∣mique, vnto them: who perceauing that their resolution was, not to in∣termit their labour, till they had found the way how to goe to heauen a∣liue; toulde them, that peraduenture, himselfe could giue them best directi∣ons for that purpose: and that, if they would giue him the hearing, hee would discourse at large, both what himselfe was, and how diuers of his companions had attempted the like voyage, and what had befallen them in the same. They all thanked him, for his vnexpected courtesie; willed him to enter into the ship, and with this discourse helpe them to forget the daunger and yrksomenes of their trauel: which done, he thus began.

I was borne and bred fiue miles beyond S. Michaels mount, foure sum∣mers before the greene winter: Saturne was predominant at my natiuity; my father, a man of prouidence, perceauing my terrestriall disposition, would needes haue me admitted a scholler in the Vniuersitie, called the Garden, whereof we all were named Gardiners: Our Conuocation house was a Harbor sytuate directly vnder the Arctike pole, where, euery new Moone, my selfe and my fellow Gardiners assembled together, and sang such compositions as we had seuerally framed of the vertue of hearbs, the pleasaunt liquor of the vine, the ••weetnes of fruits, the profite of husband∣ry, and dressing of Gardens and Orchyards: in such sort that our Vniuersity became famous, by reason of diuers learned monuments, daylie there de∣uised, and thence proceeding, to the publike profit of the common wealth, as, The vulgar Dioscorides, The Garden of Ladies, The moralization of the Georgikes, with many such wonderous workes. And as our selues

were delighted in dressing and keeping of Gardens, so did we choose vs distinct names & additions of seueral hearbs accordingly: so that one was called a Violet, an other a Thistle, this Lettuce, that Succorie; the rest, ei∣ther Borage, Hmlock, Pasnip, Cowslip, Rosemary, or some like. But so it fell out on a day, as we were thus busied in our Harbour, we heard of a re∣porte scattered abroad, that a general deluge and inundation of waters should happen that yeare, as was foretolde by some idle Prognosticators. This straunge newes troubled the whole countrey; and, among others, vs poore Gardiners: who, hauing read this lewd Almanack, and considering the florishing discourses of these Astrologicall doctors (which threatned the Vines, Gardens, and Orchyards, with blasts, frosts, caterpillers, and a thousand such phantastical dangers) layd our heads together, and dealt, as I am about to tell you. First we offered sacrifice to Bacchus and Priapus, and then concluded, to send some of our Vniuersity as ambassadours to heauen: who by this one iourney, might doe a double seruice: the one, in seeing whether these tale-tell Astrologers had any ground for their predictions; the other in obtaining grace & mercie of the Gods, by graun∣ting plen••y & abundāce. Among others, Succhory, a pleasant & mery cō∣panion, had this conceipt in his head, to get vp to heauen. It were good, me thinks, qd he, to finde out a great & mightie Egle, so strong, that some two of vs might mount on his back, & he beare vs vp to the skies: Mary, we had need to look, that these 2 be not too heauy, or ouer-fat & corpulent, lest the Egle be ouercharged. Therefore the Fennel, and the Violet, in my fancy, be the fittest for this purpose, as being deft and nimble fellowes, and as light as may be. Nay, sayd Cowslip, there is no reason at all to vse the help of an Egle in this matter, because you know that Iupiter himselfe was once trans∣formed into an Egle, and caried vp to heauen an other kinde of burden, thē Fennell or Violet. Then out stept Hemlock, with his fryse bonnet, and sayd, that he had sound a better and more compendious way to heauen, then that. It were not amisse, qd he, if we had a cart; because the iourney is long: and, the ambassadours may by this meanes trauel with greater ease and fa∣cilitie. Besides this, they may therein conuey to Olympus, some of the best fruites of our Gardens, to present the Gods withal when they come thither. The graue aduice of this fore-casting Academike, was generally wel liked of: sauing that they could not conceaue, who should draw the Cart: and therefore this inuention, the more pitie, came also to nothing. All the Academike Gardiners deuised and mused much, how it might be brought to passe. Some remembring Lucians ship, thought it best to goe by water: Others, rather by land, through some great forrest, as Dante did: at last, they all agreed, that the surest way was, to make ladders of the poles that bare vp their hoppes, and by the meanes thereof, to builde and rayse vp a towre that should ouer-looke the whole worlde: and so might

they in short time pierce the clowdes: and by certaine engynes still draw vp new stuffe to increase the height of their fortification, if occasion were. The towre begun, and halfe ended (••or many hands make light worke) wee made choyce of three, the most expert men in all our Vniuersitie, in Astrologie, Mathematikes, and Philosophie; to weete, Hemlocke, Pasnip, and the Thistle, to be ambassadors. These three gathered diuers fruites, Raysons, and hearbs, to present the Lordes and Ladies of heauen withall, and to request diuers boones in the behalfe of our Vniuersitie. So we brought and accompanied them with great ioy, euen vnto the Lad∣ders, & saw them mount vp chearefuly. Hemlock was one Damoetas, of the Deareles parck, Fac-totū indeclinabile to the Lady of the Lake. Pasnip was a braue peece of a man, about foure and thirty yeares olde, fayre, streight, and vpright, so nimble and light, that he might well haue walked on the edge of a sworde, or poynt of a speare. The Thistle was more auncient, as hauing passed full fortie yeares, and was wholly addicted to contem∣plation.

After much mounting, when the learned Thistle was almost at the first heauen, he began to obserue and marke, whether Strabo, Ptolomaeus, and other measurers of the world, had made a good suruey thereof. He viewed the toppe of the mount Parnassus, where Lactantius and Plutarchus apoin∣ted the limites of the deluge; and perceauing that from thence, it was a thousand thousand myles vp to heauen, hee laughed at their follie, and made a mock of Berosus, who would needes finde out the centre of the earth, by the Arke of Noah. Thus iesting at their ignorance, and hauing his head full of Cosmographicall Proclamations, he began to discourse to his companions, of the situation and distance of kingdomes, mountaines, seas, riuers, & woods, of the eleuation of the Poles, the rising of the stars, & the names of euery prouince, with their lawes, statutes, customes, and dif∣ferent kinds of discipline. He shewed new-found worlds, neuer known to Africa, Europe, or Asia. He made Aristotle an asse, who neuer thought that al the Zone vnder the Zodiake was habitable. With these & the like specu∣lations and sweete sightes, they passed the time, and continued further on their iourney. And further let them continue a while, sayd the ruler of the company that came from Dawes crosse, in the mean time, whilst your Gar∣diners are mounting vp to heauen, let vs learne of you, what became of the fearful prediction of those Astrological masters. Content, qd the straū∣ger, & thus it fell out. When these famous Astrologers with their nūbers, poynts, measures, Astrolabes, signes, & instruments had concluded for cer∣taine, that this inundation should ensue, which would ouerflow & drown the whole world, so that not one person should escape aliue, publishing this their conceit abroad, by printing of their Almanacks and Prognosti∣cations,

shewing from day to day, in the houses of great men and palaces of princes, the signes, the eclipses of the moone, the coniunction of the planets, and other such fantasies, portending, as they sayd, this future in∣undation; they made euery man feare, and many run vp to hills, that, if they must needes dye, they might die last, and see others drownd before. Among the rest, the Prior of Saint Bartholomews, remoued from London to Harrow hill, and there bestowed an hundred markes, in fortifiyng and furnishing himselfe agaynst the flood. And now the time was at hand, when all should come to naught: When (I know not by what reuolution or influence) the ayre on the sodaine began to be black, clowds to lowre, and rayne to powre downe so fast, that euery man verily beleeued, the a∣strologicall predictions would prooue true in the ende, sith they seemed so likely in the beginning. This made men, women, and children, tag and rag, to climbe vp to trees, to the tops of houses, castles, and steeples, to saue their liues. All the world being thus on an vprore, there came an odde Astronomer, peraduenture hauing lesse learning, but surely more wit then the others, who seeing, what a pitifull howling and lamentation was made on euery side, began with bitter words and vehemencie of speech to inueigh agaynst the former Astrologers, saying, they were seditious fel∣lowes, worthy to be clapt by the heeles, and that all was starke false which they had put downe to the terror of the poore people, who of all other deaths were most vnwilling to be choakte with water. This new doctor was for his labour, accompted a foole of wise and foole: for, still as hee thus preached, it rayned still. At last, about two or three houres after, as God would, the ayre began to cleare vp, the rayne ceased, the storme was past, and all was well agayne. Then came foorth the amased people, from trees, rocks, and Castles, distracted betweene hope and feare, scarce resol∣ued whether themselues were dead or aliue, as if they had come from the new-found worlde, or out of Trophonius den: and by degrees comming to their former sence and witte, made great feasts and bonfires, for ioy that they had escaped a daunger which neuer hangd ouer their heads. The Astronomer that gaue out this comfortable contradiction, seeing that all fell out according to his speech (although peraduenture himselfe thought as the rest did) bare himselfe loftily, was made a doctor, and dubbed a knight for learning, which was neuer in his head: and the rest were scorned for fooles, which had published the contrary Prognosticati∣ons. Shortly after this, the first Astrologers, seeing themselues fouly ouer∣seene, and that this other doctor, by some Seraphical instinct, had foretolde the trueth, came vnto him, reuerēced him as a Demy-God, & desired him to imparte vnto them, the ground of this his knowledge, and conceipt: which done, they would acknowledge him for their onely master and

Capten in all their Astrological speculations. What ground, qd he? Mary▪ the surest ground, I assure you. For, are you such sottes, to imagin, that in this my prediction, I had regard to any astrological diuination, and not ra∣ther to a most sure and vnfallible consequence of reason, better then a thousand obseruations of signes and constellations? If this your vniuersall deluge had happened, my grand masters and doctors, who would then haue beene left aliue, to prooue me a lyer, all the world being drowned? If it happened not, (as in trueth it so falleth out) I was sure of the generall applause of the people, for this my plausible Prognostication. All the Con∣gregatio sapientum laughed hereat: And now, (qd the chiefe of their com∣pany) it is like that your fellow Gardners, are almost at heauen by this; therefore, continue your discourse, as they, I hope, haue continued their iourney. With a good will, qd the stranger, and thus it came to passe. My fellowes at last came to a fayre and playne clowde, which tutched the very top of their tabernacle, thinking they had beene at their iourneies end, and that it had been an easie matter, to haue dispatched the rest on foote: but they missed their ma••ke, and came short of their account, which troubled them not a litle. And as they stoode thus consulting with themselues, how they might safely passe further, beholde, there came on a sodayne, a man and a woman, riding on a litle clowde, as though it had beene a courser: who saluted them courteously, and bade them welcome; demaunding what they sought for, in so high a place, where it was very difficult to mount vp further, and more daungerous to goe downe agayne. We are Academikes, qd Pasnip, and being of late troubled and perplexed with the repugnant conceipts of Astrologers, and menaced and threatned with their vnhappy predictions, haue traueled hither of purpose to vnderstand whether their diuinations be true or not: and if, as they say, the Gods haue determined to plague vs, and our gardens with sterilitie and inunda∣tions, then haue we diuers petitions to be preferred to the immortal Gods, on the behalfe of our selues and our Orchyards: which being once perused, and accordingly considered by their diuine Maiesties, wee haue brought with vs such simple fruites, as our poore abilitie could afforde, to present their coelestiall Deities withall. It is a straunge thing, sayd the man on the clowde, to see you here so high: but what contradiction finde you among your Astrologers? Me thinks you presume very much, in daring to repre∣hend great clerkes, and mount vp to the skies, your selues being but Gardi∣ners and ignorant men. Though we be Gardiners, qd the Thistle, yet let not that be preiudicial vnto vs: for my selfe am a doctor of Astrologie, & can yeeld you an accompt of the opinions of the Chaldees, Aegyptians, In∣dians, Mores, Arabians, Iewes, Grecians, Romaynes, modernes & ancients whatsoeuer: al whose conceipts I finde as variable as the moone, & them∣selues altogether Lunatike▪ Before I make aunswere hereunto, qd the man

that rode on the clowde, I will tell you my name: I am called Intellectus, vnderstanding, and this my sister is named Fantasie, or Opinion. Our duty and function is, to guide and conduct to heauen, all such persons as here ariue, but not as you haue aryued: though indeede, by reason of the small number of them that mount vp hither, we are not so pestred with busines, but that we haue leasure enough to conferre with you. Well then, my friends, you must know, that there be diuers wayes here, all which will bring you to one and the same ende. True it is, that there is one way, through which very few passe; because they see so many strange and most myraculous apparitions, that when they returne agayne to their compa∣nions below on the earth, they can meete with nothing there, to the which they may fully compare or resemble those heauenly myracles, when they seeke to make reporte thereof to their friends, or other company, desirous of their coelestiall newes. And in trueth, for any one that commeth hi∣ther with a commendable desire, to reforme the disorders of mans life, there be fiue thousand, that ambitiously are driuen forward by a foolish curiositie.

When wee brought hither Plato, Aristotle, Proclus, Auerrois, and others that haue discoursed of the heauens, wee conducted them by such a way, that they saw but eight Sphaeres: Albertus magnus, I sake, and many others were guided through an other passage, and found out nine Sphaeres; and thus haue they euer from time to time, repugned their fel∣lowes conceipts. Without doubt, qd Hemlock, I beleeue it is, as you say: for, so among vs below, if a man aske how many miles it is from Tugford to Tasley; seauen sayth one, eight sayth another; nay, so many men, so ma∣ny different numbers of miles: insomuch, that hee which would indeede know the trueth, had neede to bring a line with him, and measure the miles himselfe.

These aspiring wittes, quoth Intellectus, when they are thus eleua∣ted, roame and wander about the incomprehensible quantity of the hea∣uens, without my companie, and frame of their owne inuention, fiue hun∣dred fooleries and monstrous imaginations in the heauens. Here they paynt a Bull, there a Dogge, here a Goate, there a Lyon, and such like, as beares, horses, and fishes: whereupon well might the Philosopher Bi••n reprehend their preposterus curiositie, who could not perceiue a fish swim∣ming in a brook, before their eies, and yet would find out fishes aboue the cloudes: and Thales was as worthylie mocked by his mayde, for that, whilst he was tooting on the starres, he fell into a ditch, not knowing what was before his feete, yet inquisitiue in searching out the secrets of heauen without my assistance. Such phantastical and frantick fellowes, were for iust cause banished the court, by the good and learned Alphonsus, king of

Arragon: for, it is truely sayd, that, The starres rule fooles, and wise men rule the starres. All these things, sayd the Thistle, are to me very fami∣liarly knowen, and I make no more accompt of these gessing Astrologe••s, then of very Asses. Therefore, to let passe these Galaxiaes, Epici••les, Cen∣tres, Motions, Retrogradations, Accesses, Recesses, and a thousand such trumperies; if it please you to direct vs in the playne way, we shall follow you as our guides, and honour you as our mast••rs. You seeme, qd Fanta∣sie, to be men of ingenuous and great conceipt, desiring Honor, and aspi∣ring to high matters: come therefore, we will aforde you all the helpe we possibly may: mount on this cloude with vs, which shall protect you f••om all anoyance of heate or colde. Incontinently, the clowde was eleuated vp to Olympus: and no sooner had they ariued in heauen, but Venus and Ganymedes (as women and children vse to doe) ran to them to see their flowers and fruites. Pasnip seeing Venus holde out her apron to receaue some of their prouision, gaue her leaue to take her choyce. Then came La∣dy Luna, who also tooke what shee would, and presently departed, as being inioyned euery day twice, to cause a flowing and reflowing in the Indian and Persian sea: besides a thousand other matters, wherewith she is euer occupied. Ganymedes was as busie about Hemlocke, who there so liberally bestowed the remnant of their fruites, that in the ende nothing remayne••.

Iupiter seeing these strangers aryued in heauen, in habite of ambassa∣dors, bade them draw neare, himself then sitting in counsayle. Where, the iolly proloquutor Hemlock, in the name of the rest, began a braue oration▪ & when he came to the poynt to vse these words: Loe here, the present which Priapus, the God of our earthly Gardēs, hath sent to your coelestial Maiesties: he foūd nothing at all left in his pannyers. Iupiter moued hereat, whould heare him no further; but catching him and Pasnip by the hayre of the head, threw them downe from heauen, to their Gardens on earth a∣gayne: With this transformation, that they should both thencefoorth haue the forme and nature of that roote, and weede, whereof they bare the names. The Thistle being all this while in heauen, and perceauing how rygorously his fellowes were handled; scratched off all his tender haire from his head, for very griefe and anguish; so that it neuer after grew vp so firmly agayne, but that euery yeare once (for a memoriall of this admy∣rable accident) euerie little blast of winde blewe it all about the fieldes and Gardens.

Thus perplexed, heeintreates Intellectus, and humbly besecheth him, that he would not forsake him in this extremitie. Intellectus pitying his wofull plight, excused him to the Gods, giuing them to vnderstand, that hee had neither in worde nor deede offended their diuine Maiestie.

Wherefore Iupiter, Phoebus, and Mercurie gaue him this prerogatiue and preheminence, that he might assigne new names to his nephews and suc∣ceeding posteritie, as Artichauks, and such like; which should euer after be had in great estimation among other fruites of the Garden, and serued at mighty mens tables as a dish of great dayntines and delicacie: and af∣terward gaue Intellectus leaue to leade him all about heauen; and to per∣use his petitions, that his Patent might be sealed accordingly. As the Thi∣stle was about to view the heauens; Stay, qd Intellectus, thou must first ob∣tayne the good will of Time; who must also haue a sight of these thy de∣maundes: therefore reade them, and let me heare what they are.

The petition of the Gardiners.

INprimis, that Hemlock neuer grow in Gardens; but onely in ditches and such like obscure and vnpleasant places, fitte for so vnsauorie and loathsome a weede.

Item, That none vnder the degree of an Esquire, haue his bed stuft with the downe of a thistle.

Item, That whosoeuer eateth buttered Pasnips without pepper, may dye without Auricular confession.

Item, That no man, vnles he may dispend foure nobles by the yeare in good free-holde, shall breake his fast with an Artychauck pye.

Item, That none aboue the age of seuen yeares, if he nettle his hande, shall be ridde of his payne by rubbing the place with a Dock, and saying, In Docke, out Nettle.

Item, That if any maried man vse any nosegay, wherein the flowers be odde in number, he may stand in daunger of Acteons penaltie.

Item, That whosoeuer drinketh Claret wine without Borage, or Sack without a sprig of Rosemary, may neuer be ridde of his Rheume by drin∣king Muscadell before he goe to bed.

Item, That if a man be like to haue a Feuer quartane, for want of a figge, the master of the Garden, by the aduise of two Phisitians, may giue him leaue to pluck and eate.

Item, That: Nay, qd Intellectus, no more Thats; for, this is too much already. These fooleries must not be any part of thy petition: thou shalt onely demaund a good stomack and taste, to the ende, that euery thing may be to thy good content and liking.

So they passed on, towards the auncient pallace of Time. Time was a great man out of all measure, shewing a kinde of maiestie in his forehead. His face had three seuerall semblances: his browe and eyes resembling middle age; his mouth and cheekes, youth: his beard, olde age. He had before him three great glasses, looking now in one, now in an other: and,

according to that which he saw in them, he framed his countenance: some∣times ioyeus and mery, sometimes graue and moderate, sometimes sad and heauy. On his left side, was Weeping; on his right side, Laughing. His gar∣ment was of such a color, as the Thistle could not possibly discerne it, al∣though, as hee tolde mee, hee marked it seriously, neither knew hee how to tearme it. He sawe about him an infinite nūber of se••uitors; the Day & the Night, with their daughter Aurora, betweene them both, and Howres and Minutes, their seruants: he sawe Peace, War••e, Plenty, Dearth, Life, Death, Riches, Pouertie, Loue, Hate, & other mighty potentates, euer looking on the face of Tyme, and conforming themselues to his countenance, were it mery, or sad. When he made any signe vnto them, they were all ready and prest to obey him; and at his commaunde, wrought this or that impression in the ••arth. At the feete of Tyme, stoode Desteny, with a booke before her which Fortune and Chaunce did tosse & turne incessantly, sometimes ouer∣skipping fiue leaues, sometimes ten, sometimes an hundred, sometimes a thousand, as they thought good. Tyme caused Desteny to write and lay downe al his decrees; cōmaunding foure other personages to put the same in execution, toweet, Spring, Summer, Autumne, Winter: which foure, commaunde in like sorte, the Day and the Night: the Day and Night com∣maunde the Howres; the Howres commaund the Minutes: the Minute bringeth this or that to passe in the world: and so doe they gouerne the hea∣uens, the earth, and all. Oftentimes there come messengers to the Day and Night, saying, such an one hath builded such a fortresse against the Maie••••ie and dominion of Tyme: another hath erected an image: a third hath com∣posed a booke, all intending to be masters & triumphers ouer Tyme. Tyme, perceauing this, looketh in his glasses, held by Verity, and doth but smile at their attempts, willing Desteny to write his pleasure, and giuing authoritie vnto Fortune. Fortune, taking delite in such toyes for a time, commit••eth them afterwards to the power of fire or war, or else returneth them againe before the feete of Tyme, where, as soone as they are once set downe, they vanish away presently, and neuer apeare againe.

These last words were scarce vttered dy the stranger Academike, but so∣dainely there arose an outragius tempest of snowe, hayle, raine, winde, thunder, and lightning all together: that, vnles by the good aduice of the fore-casting master, the double Canons, & al the great artillery of the ship, hab beene presently discharged into the ayre, to counterbeate and dismay, the roaring and thundring cloudes; no doubt, the poore ship had been bea∣ten to powder, and dasht to the bottome of the sea, with such like rage and violence, as if a man would breake with his fist, the shell of a nut, f••oating on the top of the water. The Lady Regent smiling▪ willed Daphne to re∣ferthe pitifull description of so wofull a shipwrack, to some other time, when they might there meete againe, for the like celebration of Amyntas death. In meane time, for a conclusion of this dayes exercise (sith it, see∣med

conuenient to end with him, with whome they began) Amarillis and Cassiopaea sang these verses, which Amyntas liuing had made of the death of Phillis: which ended, they all departed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••he first ••••cture of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Desti. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  ••he second ••••••ture of 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.3

  Saturnes two pictures.
• * 1.4

  Vt 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, d••catur.
• * 1.5

  Cy••••••s pictu••••.
• * 1.6

  Pa••spi••∣ture.
• * 1.7

  Iupite••s picture.
• * 1.8

  The pi∣ctures of the windes.
• * 1.9

  Iunoes picture.
• * 1.10

  ••eptunes ••icture.
• * 1.11

  The pic∣ture of Typhoem
• * 1.12

  The pi••∣tures of ri∣uers and floods.
• * 1.13

  The Mer∣maides pictures.
• * 1.14

  ••lutoes ••icture.
• * 1.15

  The pic∣ture of Ceres.
• * 1.16

  ••••e pic∣••••••es of the ••••ries.
• * 1.17

  ••••e pic∣••••••es of the ••••••pyes & ••••ggs.
• * 1.18

  Hebes ••••ctu••e▪
• * 1.19

  The first picture of the Sunne.
• * 1.20

  The picture of Adad, & Atargatis.
• * 1.21

  Aesculapius his picture.
• * 1.22

  The picture ••f Aurora.
• * 1.23

  Mercuries picture.
• * 1.24

  Mars his picture.
• * 1.25

  Bellonaes picture.
• * 1.26

  The pi••ture of V••ct••••••a▪
• * 1.27

  The picture ••f Pa••las with Mer∣••••rie.
• * 1.28

  ••he picture 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Minerua ••ith a di∣••••••ff••.
• * 1.29

  Vul••ans pi••ture▪
• * 1.30

  ••anae, ••••ctu••e.
• * 1.31

  The second picture of Diana triuia.
• * 1.32

  ••he second ••icture of ••enus.
• * 1.33

  The pic∣tures of th•• Graces.
• * 1.34

  The pic∣ture of E and Ant∣ros.
• * 1.35

  The pictu•••• of Hercule•• Gallicus.
• * 1.36

  The pictu•••• of Ba••ch••••