Gynaikeion: or, Nine bookes of various history. Concerninge women inscribed by ye names of ye nine Muses. Written by Thom: Heywoode.

PROSERPINA.

THe daughter of Iupiter and Ceres, shee was honoured in Cicilie, of which Prouince shee was called Cicula, of whom Seneca thus speakes,

Vidisti Siculae regna Proserpinae?

Hast thou seene the kingdomes of Sicilian Proserpine?

She is likewise called by Lucan, Ennaea, of the citie Enna.

Elo••uar immenso terrae sub pondere, quae te Cintineant Ennaea dapes?—

Shall I, oh Ennaea, discouer on what dainties thou feedest Beneath the huge waight of the Massie earth?

Manie fables of Proserpina haue bin introduc'd for our better instruction, by the ancient Poets; which is onely to expresse to vs the nature of the seedes, and plants; for Proserpina, by whom is signified the Moone, shining to vs one halfe of the moneth, and lying the other halfe in the armes of her hus∣band Pluto, that is, being halfe the yeare in Heauen and the other in Hell, sixe moneths beneath the earth, and as manie aboue: so is it with the vertue of plants, whose sappe for sixe moneths space, is by reason of the subterren cold, forc't and diffused vpward into the boughes and branches: againe, by the extreamitie of the Winters vpper cold, it is compulsiuely driuen backe downeward into the roote, beneath the earth: for so doth nature impart her power and vertue to all creatures and naturall bodies whatsoeuer, that they many obserue a mutualitie (if I may tearme it so) in their cooperation. After the like manner is the day sorted out for our labours and affaires, the night for our rest and repose. So likewise in explicating the power of Luna, or the Moone: some call her the daughter of Hiperion or the Sunne, because shee being Corpus diaphanes, that is a bodie cristaline, like reflectiue glasse, trans∣ferres the light receiued from her father, vpon the earth to vs; for which cause she is called also the sister of the Sunne: by the swiftnesse of her course her proper motions are declared. To expresse her nature alwaies appearing to vs greater, or lesser, is to signifie her strength and multiplicitie of wor∣king, therefore they alot her a garment of diuers and sundrie colours. In attributing to her the double sexes of male and female (as some haue com∣mented) the reason is, in that as shee is woman, shee infuseth an humor ne∣cessarie and profitable to the nutriment of all creatures: in respect of her

virile nature shee allowes a moderate and sensible heate, much auailable to increase, for without this heate, in vaine were her opperation, which is easi∣ly proued in all creatures that are pregnant and bringing foorth: therefore, shee is called Lucina, as the goddesse that brings creatures to light. She is like∣wise operatiue to corruption, which is the reason that sicke men and such as are troubled with anie greeuous maladie, are most in daunger of death in the criticall daies of the Moone.