Virgils Eclogues, vvith his booke De apibus, concerning the gouernment and ordering of bees, translated grammatically, and also according to the proprietie of our English tongue, so farre as grammar and the verse will well permit. Written chiefly for the good of schooles, to be vsed according to the directions in the preface to the painfull schoole maister, and more fully in the booke called Ludus literarius, or the grammar-schoole, chap. 8

THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF VIRGILS Georgicks.

THE ARGVMENT.

THe Poet in this fourth booke doth prosecute most fully the ordering of Bees, and the man∣ner of making hony; which part was the last in the generall propo∣sition of the whole worke. And whereas ‖ this argument was of so small an extent, that it might be contained within a few verses, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ‖ dilates it by diuers ‖ digressions, an•• amplifies and adornes it by most pleasant ‖ translations. For he as∣signes euen to the Bees their certaine Commonwealth, giuing vnto them Kings, campes, Princes, courts, Cities, people, offices, exercises, and manners; and that with so great fitnesse, that he no where departs from his purpose, as forgetting his

borrowed speeches [and compari∣sons.]

This booke may also be diui∣ded into two parts: fo•• in the for∣mer part of it, he prosecutes▪ the care of defending and preseruing Bees: in the latter he sets downe the way by which Bees may be re∣paired againe when they shall be vtterly dead and gone. He makes one Aristaeus a sheepheard the au∣thor of this inuention; who is thought to haue first repaired his Bees being lost, by certaine yokes of oxen which he had killed [to that end.]

Another Argument of He∣rennius Modestinus a Lawyer.

THe Poet shewes next after, the fragrant kingdomes of hony distilling from the aire:

Moreouer the Hyblean Bees, & ‖ the waxen houses of their hiues.

And withall what flowers [are to be * made choise of] for Bees, and also ‖ what swarmes are to be chosen.

And finally * [he shewes] the drop∣ping hony combes, Gods heauenly gifts.

a

I Will foorthwith dispatch ‖ the hea∣uenly gifts of ho∣ny distilling from the aire: oh [worthy] Maece∣nas, ‖ looke on this part likewise.

I will declare vnto you admirable sights of things [so] light; both the ‖ couragious Cap∣tains, and also the man∣ners, studies, people, and skirmishes of [that] whole nation [of the Bees] ‖ in order.

The labour ‖ is in a small [matter,] but the glorie is not small, if [I those] aduerse pow∣ers will suffer any [man] [to prosper,] and [if] A∣pollo being called vpon, will heare.

b First of all a seate and standing is to be sought out for the Bees; whereto there neither can be ‖ entrance for the windes: (for why, the windes doe hinder [them] to carrie home

their sustenance;)

Nor yet the sheepe nor wanton kids ‖ can of∣ten leape vpō the flowers, ‖ or the heifer pasturing in the fields,

Can strike downe the dew, and waste the rising herbes.

And let the speck∣led newts [hauing] ‖ vg∣ly backes, be farre a∣way

‖ From [their] fat stals, and also the bee-eaters and other birds:

And [specially] the swallow markt on the breast with bloudie hands.

For they spoile all farre about, and carrie in their mouthes the flying [bees] a pleasant meate vnto their ‖ pittilesse nests.

But let there be cleare springs and standing ponds greene with ‖ mosse, and ‖ a little brook running through the grasse.

‖ And let the palme∣tree ouershade the en∣trance [of their hiues,] or the ‖ huge wilde o∣liue:

That when the new kings shall leade [forth] their first swarmes:

In their owne spring time, and [their] youth sent out from their hony combes shall sport [a∣broad,]

The banke neareby may inuite them to get [themselues] out of the heate,

And that the tree full in their way may en∣tertaine them ‖ with [her] branching harborowes.

Whether the water shall stand still, or whe∣ther it runne, ‖ cast sal∣lowes ouerthwart, and great stones ‖ into the midst [of it.]

That [the bees] may rest vpon bridges layde thicke together, and [may] ‖ lay open their wings vnto the Summer

Sunne; if that perhaps the violent Easterne winde shall scatter them ‖ lingring ouerlong, or shall plunge them into the water.

About these [pla∣ces] [let there grow] greene Cassia, and wilde thyme smelling all abroad, and store of ‖ winter sauory smelling strong; and let the banks of violets drink the moistening water∣springs.

c And also the hiues themselues, whether you haue them sewed [and made] with hollow barks, or wouen with lim∣ber twigs,

Let them haue nar∣row entrances; for Win∣ter hardens hony with the cold; and heate [in the Summer] dissolues and melts the same.

The violence of both these is ‖ to be feared alike to bees: neither do [the bees] themselues in vaine

besmeare with waxe, most painefully who shall do best the little breathing holes within their hiues, ‖ and fill vp the rifts with mosse and flowers, and pre∣serue a glue gathered to these same seruices, more ‖ clammie then birdlime [or] then ‖ the pitch of Ida hill in Phrygia.

Oft times also (if the report be true) [the bees] haue made their houses in caues digd within the ground; and they haue bene found deepe in hollow pumeise stones, and in the trunke of an eaten tree.

‖ Yet both da••be their clifted hiues, with ‖ mud layd smoothly on, defending [them] round about, ‖ and also cast aloft vpon them, leaues thinly strewd.

d And suffer not the yough tree [to grow] neare vnto [their] hou∣ses,

nor burne ‖ red sea∣crabs on your hearth; ‖ nor trust the deepe fen [too much.]

Or where [there is] a noisome smell of mud; or where the hollow rockes ‖ do sound with the beating [of waters,] and [where] the like∣nesse of the voice beat backe rebounds.

e That which remains [is this] [that] when the golden Sunne hath cha∣sed away the Winter dri∣uen ‖ vnder the earth, and hath again set open the skie with Summer light,

‖ They forthwith tra∣uell through forrests and woods,

And suck the purple coloured flowers, and also being light [of bo∣die] do sip the vpmost streames.

Hereupon being chear∣full, with what delight I know not, they ‖ cherish [their] brood, and

[maintaine] [ their] hiues. Yea, hereupon they fashion out new waxe by skill, and make their ‖ clammie hony.

f Hence whenas you shall behold a swarme sent forth euen now out of their hiues vnto the skies, to waue through the cleare Summer aire;

And shall ‖ maruell at ‖ a darke cloud to be ‖ drawne with the wind:

Marke well: they do alwayes seeke sweete wa∣ters and houses among the boughes of trees. To this end sprinkle the ‖ appointed iuyces:

Bruz'd balme-mint, and the common grasse of hony-suckle.

And make a ringing noise, and tinkle round about the ‖ cymbals Al. of the mother [of the Gods.]

The [bees] will settle all together vpon their sprinkled seates: [yea] *they will get themselues

into the inmost cab∣bines ‖ after their man∣ner.

g But if they shall go foorth to fight (for dis∣cord oftentimes hath growne betweene two kings with great adoe,)

[You may] both pre∣sently [foreknow] the stomackes of the com∣mon fort, and also you may perceiue long be∣fore [‖ their] trembling hearts [prepared] for warre.

For why, that warlike noise of a brazen trum∣pet sounding harsh, doth checke those which do linger long.

And [after] a voice is heard resembling the broken sounds of trum∣pets.

Then hastily they go together, ‖ and glister with their wings.

They likewise shar∣pen [their] stings with [their] snouts, and fit [their] lims [to fight.]

And are gathered thicke about [their] king, and euen vnto the Em∣perours pauillion, and ‖ call [forth] the enemie with ‖ great cries.

Therefore when [they haue] got a faire and cleare Spring time, and ‖ open fields, they rush out of [their] gates: they runne violently to∣gether, ‖ a sound is made high in the aire: they mixt are gathered into a great round heape,

‖ And fall downe head∣long. The haile [falls] not more thicke out of the aire,

Nor yet such, store of acornes raine from th' shaken ‖ oake.

[The kings] them∣selues [flying] thorough the midst of the armies Al. with gallant wings,

Do exercise braue minds within their nar∣row breasts:

Endeuouring stoutly with all their power not

to yeeld, vntill the hea∣uie conquerour hath ‖ compelled either these or those to turne their backs in flight.

h ‖ These stirrings vp of their courages, and these so great skirmi∣shes,

Will ceasse, being ‖ repressed with the ca∣sting vp of a litle dust.

But when you haue recall'd both the ‖ lea∣ders from the battell,

Put him to death that seemes the worst, lest being a spend-all he do hurt: [but] suffer [him that seemes] the better, [that] he may reigne in the pallace [all alone.]

One [of the kings] will be bright burning red with spots shining like gold.

(For there are two kinds of [kings:]) this [which is] the better, [is] ‖ notable in coun∣tenance,

And ‖ bright with glistering specks: that o∣ther [king] is ill fauou∣red

‖ Through sloth, and draggeth his ‖ broad bel∣ly ‖ without all honour.

As [there are] two fashions of [their] kings, so the bodies of the common sort ‖ [are two, differing each from o∣ther.]

For why, some of them are rough and ill∣fauoured, like as when a thirstie ‖ traueller comes out of the deepe dust, and spits vpō the ground with [his] drie mouth: ‖ others do shine and gli∣ster with cleare bright∣nesse,

Gloring like gold, and [hauing] [their] bo∣dies dasht with equall spots.

This is the better brood: ‖ from hence at a certaine time of the yeare,

You may presse out

sweete hony, and not so sweete as liquid, and which will amend ‖ the ouer-much hardnesse of wine.

i But when ‖ the swarmes flie astray, and play in the aire,

And care not for [their] hony combes, and leaue [their] coole hou∣ses,

You must restraine [their] ‖ vnstable minds from [that] vaine sport:

Neither [is it] any] great labour to represse them. Plucke away the wings from [their] kings. [And then] ‖ not any one will be bold to flie so high, or to remoue the standards from [their] campes, the kings stay∣ing behind.

Let your gardens smelling sweete ‖ with saffron flowers entice them.

‖ And let the guard of ‖ Priapus borne in Hel∣lespont, with his willow hooke, [who is] Al. the keeper both of theeues and birds, saue them [from annoy.]

k Al. [And] he him∣selfe to whom such things are in regard, bringing thyme & ‖pine∣trees from the high moū∣taines, let him ‖ plant [them] largely round a∣bout the houses [of the bees.]

Let him labour. hard: [yea] let him set fruit∣full ‖ plants, and wa∣ter them with friendly showres.

l And now indeed, but that I would strike saile, and make haste to turne my foredecke to the land a little before the last end of my ‖ la∣bours,

I would perhaps de∣clare what care of hus∣banding [the ground] might beautifie both

ranke gardens and the rose-borders of Pestum, which beareth roses twise a yeare.

And how endiue delights to grow neare water sides.

And also [how] ‖ banks greene with ‖ parsly [de∣light therein.]

Yea how the cu∣cumber writhen among the herbes might grow to be very big.

Neither would I haue passed ouer in si∣lēce the Narcissus which so lately flowers, or the branch of the crisped ‖ branke vrsine.

And the pale ivies, and also the myrtle trees ‖ lo∣uing the shoares.

For I remember that I haue seene vnder the loftie towers of ‖ Oeba∣lia, (where the blacke ri∣uer Galesus ‖ moisteneth the yellow fields) an old man ‖ of Corycus,

to whom there befell a few acres of the coun∣trey, that was left [after the diuision [of the grounds.]

The soile whereof was neither fruitfull for feeding bullocks, nor the crop ‖ fit for cattell, nei∣ther yet [was it] commo∣dious for wine.

‖ Yet in this place he planting pot-herbes thinly here and there a∣mong the bushes, and white lillies round about, and ‖ verveine, and pop∣pie ‖ fit to be eaten:

Did match in con∣ceit the wealth of kings; and returning home ‖ late at night, furnished his table with dainties vn∣bought.

He gathered roses first in the Spring, and likewise apples in the Au∣tumne.

And euen when the hard Winter did burst the stones with frost, and stayed the course

of waters with [her] ice:

Euen then did he gather fresh leaues of pleasant Acanthus.

Oft blaming the ‖ late∣ward Summer, and the West windes lingring ouer-long [before they came.]

Therefore the same [old man] [was wont] t' abound first [of all] with breeding bees, & with store of swarmes and to gather foaming hony out of the ‖ pres∣sed hony combes.

He had linden trees, and the pine tree ‖ yeel∣ding most abundantly.

And as many apples as [each] fruitfull tree had in the fresh blossom, it had so many ripe in the Autumne.

He moreouer set in order lateward elmes.

And the hard peare∣tree and sloe trees now bearing ‖ plums.

And also the plane∣tree

giuing shade to folke drinking [vnder it.]

But I indeed H passe by these things, being bard [from them] by my vnequall space [of time,] and leaue them to be recorded of others here∣after.

m Now go to [then,] I will dispatch the qua∣lities which Iupiter him∣selfe ‖ hath added vnto bees: [‖ to wit] for what reward, they following the shrill sounds of Cy∣beles priests, and [their] tinkling cymbals fed ‖ the king of heauen in a caue of the hill Dicte in Creete.

n ‖ They alone haue [their] yong in com∣mon, and common houses [also] of [their] citie, and leade [their] liues vnder worthie lawes.

And they onely know [their own] natiue coun∣trey, and their certaine

dwelling houses.

And being mindfull of the Winter that will come, do take great paines, and lay vp in store, for the common vse, the things which they haue gotten.

For why, some of them toile for liuing, and are busied in the fields ‖ by a couenant made [a∣mongst themselues.]

‖ Part [of them] lay within the fences of [their] houses, the iuyce of Narcissus and clam∣mie gumme [gathered] from the barkes [of trees,] ‖ being the first foundations ‖ of [their] hony combes. And af∣terwards they fasten thereto gluish waxe.

Others bring forth [their] yong ones now at perfect growth, the hope [all their] stocke: Others [of them] ‖ fill vp the purest hony, and ‖ stretch out [their] cels with the finest life hony.

[And other some] there are, to whom the warding at their gates falleth for [their] lot.

And they by turnes do watch the raine and clouds of heauen.

Or else ‖ they take the ‖ burdens ‖ [of the bees] [then] comming [home.]

Or making an army, driue away from [their] hiues ‖ the drones ‖ a la∣zie cattell.

‖ Their worke is hote, and ‖ [their] fragrant ho∣ny smels sweete with ‖ thyme.

o And euen as the Cyclopians when they make vp in haste the thunderbolts [of Iupi∣ter] out of the softned iron lumpes;

Some [of them] blow with [their] bel∣lowes made of bull∣hides:

Others quench [their] hizzing mettals in the trough.

Etna groaneth through the stithies placed thereon.

‖ They among them∣selues lift vp their armes ‖ in order with great force, and often turne the iron with [their] pinsers holding ['t] fast.

None otherwise ( if that I may compare smal things ‖ to great.)

An inbred loue of getting [hony] doth euen inforce the bees of Athens, ‖ and euery [bee] in her owne place. p ‖ The townes [are] the charge [giuen] to the ancienter [bees,]

And to fence their hony combes, [yea] and to make them hou∣ses most cunningly de∣uised.

But the yonger [bees] returne [home] wearie late at night,

Loaden on the legs with thyme: ‖ they are

fed euery where both [vpon] the crab tree blossomes and gray sal∣lowes, ‖ and Casia and red saffron, and vpon the ranke linden trees, and also [vpon] the ironish coloured hyacinth.

q [There is] one rest from worke to all [of them,] one labour [is] vnto [them] all.

In the morning they rush out of [their] gates: [there is] no stay; againe whenas the euening ad∣monisheth them to de∣part at length out of the fields ‖ from feeding, then go they home; [and] then do they cherish [their] weary bodies.

‖ A sound is made, and they ‖ do buz about the bounds and entran∣ces [of their hiues.]

Afterwards whenas they haue reposed them∣selues [to rest] in their chambers, ‖ there is si∣lence [all] the night, & euery ones owne sleepe

possesseth [all their] wearie lims.

r ‖ Nor yet indeede do they depart farre from [their] hiues if it be like to raine; or trust vnto the aire when the Eastwindes will a∣rise.

But ‖ they are watered safely vnder the walls of the citie ‖ round a∣bout.

And they aduenture but short courses; and oft times do they take vp little stones, as floa∣ting boates [do take vp] balasse in a rough wa∣ter.

With these [same lit∣tle stones] they beare themselues leuell tho∣rough the emptie clou∣die aire.

s You wil wonder that that same manner [of li∣uing] hath so pleased the bees, that they do nei∣ther giue themselues to ingendring; nor being ‖ slothfull, do let loose

their bodies vnto lust; or bring foorth yong with pangs in birth.

But they do ‖ gather [their] yong ones with ‖ their mouth from flow∣ers and sweete herbes.

They [hence] pro∣uide [their] king and their yong progenie, and establish [their] courts and [their] ‖ waxen king∣domes.

t Oft times also they weare [their] wings by wandring among hard rockes, and of their owne accord yeeld vp [their] liues vnder [their] ‖ bur∣den.

They haue so great a loue of flowers, and [such a] glory of making hony.

u Therefore although the compasse of a small age entertaines them, ( for they do not liue aboue seuen yeares,)

Yet [‖ their] stock re∣maines immortall, and ‖ the fortune of [their]

house abides for many yeares; ‖ and the grand∣sires of their grandfathers are numbred [amongst them.]

x Moreouer ‖ Egypt and great Lydia, or the Parthian, ^‖ the Mede, [ or] Indian do not so ‖ obserue [their] king, [as bees do theirs.]

‖ The king being safe, the same mind [is] in them all.

[But he] being lost, they breake their faith, and they themselues spoile [their] hony made vp [in their cels] burst the frames of [their] ho∣ny combes.

‖ He [is] the prote∣ctor of [their] workes; him they admire, and all of them stand about him with great hum∣ming noise, and guard [him] ‖ thicke.

And oft times ‖ they lift [him] vp with their shoulders, and hazard [their] bodies in warre

[for him,] and do desire ‖ a glorious death by wounds [sustained for his sake.]

y Some by these signes, and following these examples, haue said that there is a part of the diuine vnderstanding and also heauenly spi∣rits in bees: for why [they say] that God goeth thorow all, both lands and coasts of the sea, and the high hea∣uen.

Hereupon [they haue affirmed] [both] the small [and] great cattell, men, and euery kind of wilde beast,

[Yea] euery one that is borne, to fetch [his] life.‖ [from hence,]

Know this [that they haue said] ‖ all things] to be restored hither final∣ly, and being ‖ resolued, to be surrendred again; and that there is no place for death, but that all things [so dissolued]

do flie aliue into the number of the starres, and [so] succeed [by course] in the high hea∣uen.

z If at any time you will emptie their Al. stately seate, and the hony which they haue preserued in [their] trea∣suries: first spurt vpon them [some] draughts of ‖ water warmed in your mouth, and hold before you in [your] hand smokes follow∣ing one another.

‖ They gather [their] great increase twise [in the yeare,] they haue two times of har∣uest:

‖ So soone as ‖ Tay∣gete hath shewed her honest face vnto the earth,

And ‖ Pleias hath pushed backe with [her] foote the scorned waues of the Ocean sea:

‖ Or whenas the same

[Pleias] shunning the signe of waterish Pis∣cis,

‖ Goeth downe more sad from heauen into the Winter waters.

a The bees haue an∣ger aboue measure: and being hurt they breathe in poison with their bi∣ting, and also leaue ‖ blind stings, hauing fastned them in the veines: yea and lay downe [their] liues in the [verie] wound.

But if you feare ‖ a hard Winter, and will spare [‖ for [the time] to come:

And shall haue pitie of [their] bruised hearts and [their] decayed e∣states:

Who then would doubt to perfume [their hiues] with thyme, and pare away the ‖ emptie waxe? for oft times▪ the newt not knowne of, eates away the hony combes, [and] beds

[are] made for moathes which flie the light:

And also the droane sitting scotfree ‖ at o∣thers meate,

Or else the cruel hor∣net thrusts in himselfe with [his] vnequall wea∣pons:

Or [that] direfull kind of moath; or [fi∣nally] ‖ the spider odi∣ous to Minerua, hangs [her] nets loose in the entrances [of the hiues.]

The emptier the bees shall be, so much the more eagerly all of them wil bestirre [them∣selues] to repaire ‖ the ruines of [their] decay∣ed stocke.

And will fill vp [their] hatches, and ‖ weaue [their] barnes with flowers.

b But if [their] bodies ‖ shall languish by [some] sore disease, (be∣cause life hath brought [euen] our misfortunes

vnto bees.)

(Which thing you may presently know by vndoubted signes.)

‖ There is forthwith another colour ‖ to them when they are sicke: an vgly leannesse doth ‖ de∣forme [their] looke: then carry they foorth the bodies of the dead out of [their] hiues, and make dolefull funerals.

Or they hang at the entries of [their] hiues ‖ clung by [their] feete.

Or else ‖ they all abide lingring within ‖ in their houses shut, both slug∣gish thorough famish∣ment, and slothfull by cold which they haue caught.

Then [their] sound is heard more heauie, and they hum ‖ trailingly.

As sometimes ‖ the cold South wind ‖ doth sound in th'woods:

[Or] as the troubled sea doth make a noise with [her] rebounding waues:

[And] as the vehe∣ment fire sounds hol∣lowly in fornaces shut vp.

c Here now I will aduise [you] to make sweet smels with the bur∣ning of Galbanum.

And [I would coun∣sell you] ‖ heartning them of your owne ac∣cord, & recalling them being faint, vnto [their] acquainted food, to bring in [for them into their hiues] hony in troughes of reed.

It shall likewise do them good to mingle herewith bruised gals and drie roses, or ‖ new wine ‖ boyled thicke with good store of fire, or bunches of raisins of the Sunne ‖ of the Psithian vine.

And thyme ‖ of A∣thens and strong smel∣ling centaury.

There is also a flower ‖ in the medows, ‖ where∣unto the husbandmen

haue giuen the name A∣mellus, an herbe easie [to be found] of them that seeke [it.]

For it sends vp a mightie bush out of one Al. turfe.

[The flower] it selfe is of a colour like gold; ‖ but a purple hue [as] of a blacke violet ‖ shines somewhat in the leaues, which are spread very thicke round about.

The altars of the Gods [ are] oft times deckt with garlands made [thereof.]

The taste [of it] is sharpe in the mouth: shepheards do gather it in valleys vsed to be mowne, and neare vnto the crooked streames of Mella.

Boyle the rootes hereof in odoriferous wine,

And set [the same as] meate [vnto the bees] in full troughs at the en∣trie [of the hiues.]

d But if all the brood shall faile any man of a sudden,

That he shall not haue [some left] where∣of the stocke of a new race may be supplied,

[It is] time ‖ to lay open also ‖ the memo∣rable inuentions of [‖ A∣ristaeus] the Arcadian maister, how corrupt bloud hath oft times brought foorth bees in bullockes newly killed. I will dispatch the whole report [thereof,] rehearsing it at large from the first begin∣ning.

For all the region [from that part] where the fortunate people of Canopus built by Alexander, bordereth vpon [the riuer] Nilus, ouerflowing as a stan∣ding pond with his streames powred out, and is carried about his grounds in painted boates,

And where [the same] riuer turning downeward all along from ‖ the [swartie] co∣loured Indians, wash∣eth vpon the coun∣tries neare vnto the Per∣sian armed with bowes & arrowes, and maketh greene Egypt fruitfull ‖ with his blacke sand: and rushing downe ‖ doth run abroad into seuen di∣uers mouthes.

[Euen all that region] doth repose her certain ‖ safetie in this art.

e First of all a little ‖ place and streightned for that same vse is cho∣sen out. This they make close with nar∣row roofe tiles and with straite walls. And they make foure windowes with the light let in a∣slope from the foure winds.

* Then a bullocke of two yeres old, beginning now to bend his hornes is sought.

‖ His two nosthrils and the breath of his mouth are stopt, al∣though he struggle ex∣ceedingly, and [his] fleshie parts being bruised throughout his whole hide are all dis∣solued whilst he is killed with bangs.

So they do leaue him lying ‖ in the inclosed place, and lay peeces of boughes vnderneath his ribs, [and also] thyme and Al. greene ‖ Casia.

This feate is done whenas the West winds do first begin to moue the waters;

Before the medow grounds be red with new colours, [and] be∣fore that the chattering swallow hangeth vp her neast in the rafters [of the house.]

f ‖ In the meane time ‖ [his] moisture being made warme in [his] ten∣der bones waxeth hote; and liuing creatures to

be seene ‖ in maruellous manner,

Lacking [their] feete at first, and straight∣way flickering [as] with wings,

Are mingled toge∣ther, and take in thinne aire more and more, vn∣till they haue burst [out of the hide] euen as a ‖ shower powred out of Summer clouds, or as the ‖ shafts out of the bow,

If at any time the Parthians light of foote do giue the first onset.

g ‖ Oh [ye] Muses, [tell me] what God [‖ hath beaten out] this [art,] who hath ‖ beat out this skill for vs.

‖ From whence this new ‖ experience of men hath taken her begin∣ning.

The ‖ sheepheard A∣rist••us forsaking quite the pleasant fields of ^‖Thessaly named Tempe neare the riuer Penous,

Hauing lost [his] bees (as the report goeth) by ‖ sicknesse and by ‖ famish∣ment,

Stood pensiue at the sacred head of the vt∣most part of [this] ri∣uer,

Complaining much, and speaking to [his] mother in his sort:

Mother Cyrene, mo∣ther [mine,] who dwel∣lest in the deepest bot∣tomes ‖ of this same ‖ gulfe, why hast thou bred me [comming] of the noble linage of the Gods, (if so be that ‖ Thymbraeus Apollo be my father as thou sayest,) [to be] hated of the heauenly destinies? or whither [is] ‖ thy loue of vs ‖ driuen from thee? why didst thou bid me ‖ t'hope for heauen?

Loe also I do leaue (although thou be my mother) this very honour of [my] mortall life, which [my] carefull

keeping both of fruites & cattell, had beaten out to me, making triall of all things.

But go to, and thou thy selfe plucke vp ‖ my happy woods with [thine owne] hand.

‖ Bring mischieuous fire to my stalls [of cat∣tell] and destroy my corne.

Burne vp [my] plants and thrust thy strong two edged hooke into [my] vines.

If thou be so wearie of my praise.

h But [his] mother perceiu'd ‖ a [mournfull] sound in [her] bedcham∣ber vnder [the bottome] of the deepe riuer: the Nymphs about her ‖ too∣sed Milesian wooll di∣ed Al. in a deepe glassie colour.

Both [the Nymph] Drymo and also Zantho, and Lygea and Philodoce, hauing [their] ‖ faire haire spred about their

white neckes.

Nesea [likewise] and Spio, and cke Thalia and Cymodoce,

And also Cydippo and yellow haired Lycorias: the one of them a vir∣gin,

The other hauing then first felt the pangs ‖ of bearing child.

And Clio and Beroe [her] sister, both of them the daughters of Ocea∣nus.

Both of them cloth'd in gold, and in spotted skins [of hindes.]

And in like manner Ephyre and also Opis, A∣sia [and] Deiopeia,

And Arethusa very swift, hauing at length layed away her shafts.

Amongst which, Cly∣mene told the idle care of Vulcan, the craftie sleights of Mars, and their pleasant thefts.

And numbred vp the thicke and three∣fold loues of th' Gods,

‖ [euen] from the Chaos.

i With which dis∣course the Nymphs be∣ing caught whilst that they spin, the dolefull moane of Aristeus pierst into his mothers eares, and all the Nymphes were amazed [sitting on] ‖ [their] glassie seates; but Arethusa looking forth before her other si∣sters, lift vp [her] ‖ yel∣low head aboue th' top of the water.

And being farre off [thus she spake,] Oh si∣ster Cyrene, affrighted not without [iust] cause, for so great a wailing: Aristeus himself, thy grea∣test care, sad for thy sake, stands weeping at the waues of Peneus [thy] father, and cals thee cruel by name.

The mother ‖ smit∣ten in her mind with a new feare, saith to her, Go to, bring [him hither] bring him vnto vs, [it

may be] ‖ lawfull for him to touch the thresholds of the Gods: [and] with∣all she commands the deepe riuers ‖ to depart all abroad where the yong man should enter in. But the water stood round about ‖ bowed af∣ter the manner of a hill.

‖ And entertained [him] in her vast bosome, and sent [him] vnderneath the ‖ riuer.

k And now admiring his mothers house and her watery realmes,

And also the ‖ lakes shut vp in caues, and the ‖ sounding groues▪

He went [forward,] and being astonied at the ‖ mightie mouing of the waters,

Beheld all the riuers flowing vnder the ‖ great earth, both Phasis and Lycus,

And th•• head from whence the deepe E••i∣peus first ▪ Al. bursts forth [and shewes] it selfe.

From what place ‖ father Tiberine, and from whence the streams of ‖ Anien [do come.]

And Hipanis ma∣king a great sound a∣mongst the stones, and ‖ Caicus flowing out of Mysia.

And eke Eridanus hauing two golden hornes in a buls face: then which not any o∣ther riuer flowes more violently thorough the fertile fields into ‖ the ‖ purple sea.

l After that he was come vnder the roofe of the bed-chamber [of his mother Cyrene] hanging all with pumish stone, and [that] Cyrene knew the needlesse weeping of [her] sonne: [her] sister Nymphes giue in order faire spring water for his hands, ▪ and bring [him] towels with the nap shorne off.

Part [of them] furnish the tables with dainties:

and oft do fill the cups: m the altars ‖ waxe full sweete with fiers of Pan∣chean wood.

And [then his] mo∣ther [said,] Take thou these ‖ cups of Lydian wine,

Let vs offer to God Oceanus, quoth she. And herewith she prayes both vnto Oceanus ‖ the father of all things, and to the Nymphs [her] sisters,

A hundred [of them] which ‖ [keepe] the woods, [and also] an hundred which keep the riuers.

Thrise did she sprin∣kle the burning fire with pure sweete wine.

Thrise the flame be∣ing ‖ vnderneath, flasht backe againe to th' top of the house.

With which luckie signe ‖ she confirming her mind, began thus.

n There is a Prophet of the sea ‖ in the Car∣pathian gulfe,

[Called] ‖ the skie co∣loured Proteus, who ‖ measures out the great sea [borne vpon] fishes backs,

And in a chariot drawne ‖ by two footed horses.

He is now gone to renew the ports of ‖ E∣mathia, and [his] coun∣trey Palene. Him do the Nymphs adore, and ancient ‖ Nereus himself, for ‖ [that] Prophet knoweth all things,

Which are, which haue bene, [and] ‖ which may be protracted to come ere long.

Because it hath so see∣med good ‖ to Neptune, whose ‖ monstrous heards of cattell, and huge sea∣calues he feeds ‖ vnder∣neath the gulfe.

o This [Prophet] ([my] sonne) is to be bound of thee before [thou aske him any thing] that he may spee∣dily tell thee euery cause

of the diseases [of thy bees,] and may giue thee good successe.

For ‖ he will not giue [thee] any precepts with∣out constraint; neither shalt thou moue him by intreatie. *Lay hard hands and bonds vpon him being caught: ‖ His deceits about these things will at length be vtterly frustrate.

I my selfe [about the noone-tide] ‖ whenas the Sunne hath kindled [his] middle heate,

When the herbes are thirstie, and the shadow is more ‖ welcome to the cattell,

Will bring thee into the secret [places] of th' ‖ old man, Al. whither he being wearie, doth retire himselfe from the waues; that thou mayest easily ‖ set vpon him ly∣ing fast asleepe.

p But when thou shalt hold [him] taken with hands and bands,

Then diuers ‖ shapes will delude [thee,] and faces of wilde beasts; for he will be of a sud∣den a rough bristled swine, and a ‖ blacke ti∣ger,

And also ‖ a scaly dra∣gon ‖ and a lionesse with a tawnie yellow necke:

Or else he will giue forth a crackling noise of fire: and so he will escape out of [thy] bands; or slipping a∣side [from thee] he will go quite away into the thin waters.

But how much more he ‖ turnes himselfe into all shapes:

So much the more (my sonne) tie hard his bands to hold him fast:

Vntill he shall be such a one, his bodie being changed [againe,] as thou sawest him, when he closed [his] eyes be∣ginning first to sleepe.

q ‖ These things she spake, ‖ and cast a∣broad a pure odour of r ‖ Ambrosia,

Wherewith she Al. sok't the bodie of [her] sonne throughout: but a sweete sent blew to him; hauing his haire neatly drest,

And ‖ an able vigour entred into [his] lims. s There is ‖ a huge caue in the side of a hill ea∣ten all away, whereinto ‖ very much water is dri∣uen by the wind, and parts it selfe into reflow∣ing creakes,

[Which] sometime [was] a most safe har∣bour for sea-men caught [by tempest.]

Within [it] doth Proteus close himselfe with the couer of a huge great stone.

* Here doth the Nymph [Cyrene] place the yong man turned from the light, ‖ with∣in the lurking holes:

‖ [and] she her selfe Al. went backe farre off obscured with clouds.

t Now the wood Dog-starre called ‖ Sy∣rius broyling the thirstie Indians burned in the skie, and the fierie Sunne had gone halfe his dai∣ly course: herbes withe∣red, and ‖ the sun-beames boyled the hollow riuers warmed to the mud, their vpper parts being drie.

u When Proteus went from the riuers, go∣ing vnto [his] wonted caues; ‖ the waterish na∣tion of the ‖ vast sea ‖ lea∣ping about him, sprinkled ‖ the bitter dew ‖ all a∣broad.

‖ The sea-calues lay themselues asleepe on e∣uery shore.

‖ Himselfe (euen as the keeper of a heard some∣times in th'mountaines, ‖ when the euening tide brings home [his] bul∣lockes from feeding to

[their] houses;

And [when] the lambs do whet on the wolues ‖ [their] bleatings being heard, ‖)

Sate downe full in the midst vpon a rocke and ‖ counts the number of them.

x Of whom because there was so fit an occa∣sion offered to Ari∣steus,

He scarcely suffering ‖ the old man to settle his wearie limmes [to rest,]

Rusheth [vpon him] with a great outcrie, and ties him with manicles lying all along. ‖ He on the other side, not vn∣mindfull of his skill,

‖ Transformes him∣selfe into all wonder∣ments of things,

‖ Both into fire, and into a most horrible wild beast, and into a cleare riuer.

But when he could find no meanes to escape

by any shift, being o∣uercome he returned into his owne shape a∣gain. y And at the length he spake ‖ with the [very mouth] of a man.

O boldest of all youths, for who (quoth he) bad thee ‖ to come vnto our house? or what doest thou fetch hence? But he [made answer,]

Oh Proteus ‖ thou know∣est; euen thou thy selfe knowest; neither is it [ possible] for any man ‖ to deceiue thee:

But leaue thou off to seeke [to beguile me.] We following the com∣mandements of the gods ‖ haue come hither to enquire of the Oracles concerning our decayed estate.

z Thus much spake [Aristeus.] At these words at last the Pro∣phet [Proteus] with great enforcement rolled his eyes burning with a ‖ red

fierie light,

And gnashing his teeth discōtentedly, ‖ thus opened he his mouth in oracles.

The wrath of no base power doth trouble thee,

Thou art punished for thy hainous faults: ‖ miserable Orpheus rai∣seth vp these stormes, [and yet] nothing ac∣cording to thy desert, if the fates did not resist: and rageth grieuously for villanie offered to his wife.

She indeed [poore] wench being neare vnto her death, whilst headlong [she] fled from thee by the riuers side, saw not a fell serpent before her feet, ‖ keeping the bankes in the deepe grasse.

But the companie of Nymphs called Dryades being of like age, ‖ filled the highest mountaines with [their] crie:

the Rhodopeian hils did weepe,

And the high Pan∣gean tops, yea the war∣like countrey of Rhe∣sus,

And also ‖ the Getes, and the riuer ‖ Hebrus, and likewise Orithya the Athenian Nymph.

a [But] he himselfe asswaging [his] sorow∣full loue with [his] hol∣low lute,

(O sweete wife) ‖ [did sing of] thee, [he sang of] thee by himselfe [a∣lone] in the desert shore:

[He sang of] thee at the comming of the day; he sang of thee at the departing of the same:

And entring into the iawes of Tenarus, the deepe ‖ doores of Pluto [the God of hell,] and into a groue all blacke with fearfull dark∣nes, he went both to the ‖ spirits, and ‖ to the dread∣full king,

And to the hearts that know not to waxe gentle at the prayers of men.

But yet the slender ghosts being moued with [his] song, ‖ went from the lowest seates of hell, and [so many] likenesses of [folks] lac∣king the light of life,

As thousands of birds hide themselues in woods,

When as the euening or ‖ a Winters shower doth driue [them] from the hils.

[Both] mothers and husbands, and the bo∣dies of couragious noble men ‖ discharged of life, ‖ boyes and vnmarried girles,

And yong men ‖ put into the fiers before [their] parents faces,

[All] which the black mud and foule ill fauou∣red reeds of Cocytus, and the fenne being Al. lothsome thorough her continuall standing

water compasseth about, and the [infernall] Styx ‖ nine times powred be∣tweene [the liuing and the departed] keepeth in [or includeth, compas∣sing them nine times about.]

Moreouer ‖ the very [hellish] houses them∣selues were astonied, & also the deepest dunge∣ons of death, and the furies of hell hauing their haire all intangled with blackish snakes: and like∣wise Cerberus the ga∣ping curre of hell, stayd his three mouthes.

And the wheele of Ixions torture stood still with the winde [there∣of.]

b And now [Orpheus] returning backe [from hell] ‖ had escaped all dangers, and [his wife] Euridice ‖ being restored [vnto him] ‖ came into the vpper aire, following behind [him,] (for why

‖ Proserpina [the Queene of hell] had giuen this law.)

c Whenas a sudden ‖ madnesse had caught away the vnwarie lo∣uer,

([ A folly] indeed to be ‖ pardoned, if the [in∣fernall] spirits knew ‖ to pardon [any thing.]

[He] stood still, and alas forgetfull [man,] and ‖ ouercome in mind, he looked backe vpon his owne Euridice, now about the verie en∣trance into the light. There [was] all [his] la∣bour lost, and the co∣uenants of the merci∣lesse tyrant all made voide, d and thrice ‖ a broken noise [was] heard from the Auerne ponds.

[Then] shee spake [thus,] O Orpheus who hath vndone both me miserable wretch, & thee [likewise.]

What so great a madnesse! loe ‖ the cruell

destinies call me backe a∣gaine: and sleepe [of death] doth couer [my] dazeling eyes.

And now ‖ farewell: [for] I am borne [a∣way] compassed about with a dreadfull dark∣nesse.

And stretching out to thee (alacke not thine) ‖ [my] feeble hands.

[Thus] she spake, and [vanished] sud∣denly out of his sight, e∣uen as the smoake be∣ing mixt together flies diuers wayes into the thin aire: neither saw she him after catching at [her] ghost all in vain, and desirous to speake many things vnto her, nor yet ‖ the ferriman of hell

Would suffer [him] to passe ouer any more ‖ the fen set betweene [the liuing and the infer∣nall ghosts.]

e What should he do? whither should he be∣take

himselfe, his wife be∣ing violently taken from him twise?

With what lamen∣ting ‖ should he moue the fiends, [or] with what voice [might he intreate] the Gods?

But she ‖ now cold, swims [back] in the Sty∣gian ferriboate.

f They say that he [then] mourn'd seuen whole moneths toge∣ther [without rest,]

Vnder a verie loftie rocke in the open aire, neare vnto the streames of Strymon forsaken [of all people], and that he oft repeated these same things vnder [those] cold caues,

Taming the tigers, and ‖ mouing the okes with [his] song.

g Like as the nigh∣tingale mourning vnder the shade of a poplar tree, ‖ complaines for her yong ones being lost: which the hard hear∣ted

plowman

‖ Obseruing, drew forth out of [their] neast vn∣fledge; but she wailes [all] the night, and sit∣ting on a bough, re∣news afresh ‖ her misera∣ble note, and fils the places farre and neare with [her] dolefull com∣plaints.

h No loue: no new mariages could moue his mind.

He all alone wan∣dered about the frozen Scythian coasts, and the riuer Tanais couered with snow, and eke the fields neuer without the Rhiphean frosts, com∣plaining for ‖ [his] Euri∣dice taken [from him] violently, and the grant of Pluto vtterly made voide; in regard of which most precious gift, the women of the ‖ Cy∣cones being scorned, ‖ dragged and scattered

the yong man pluckt all in peeces thorough the broade fields, amongst the sacrifices of [their] Gods, and the night ce∣remoniall rites of Bac∣chus.

And then withall whēas the riuer Hebrus OEagrius [of Thracia] carying [his] head pluc∣ked away from [his] white marble necke, tumbled [it] in the midst of the streame, [his] very voice and tongue now cold called Euridice, ‖ ah miserable Euridice, euen when his soule was flying a∣way.

The banks ‖ resounded Euridice thorough the whole riuer.

i These things [spake] Proteus, and cast himselfe into the depth of the sea.

And where he threw in himselfe, he whirl'd a∣bout the foming waues vnder the round turning

of the streame.

k But Cyrene [depar∣ted] not: for why, she of her own accord spake vnto [her sonne] ‖ fearing [much:]

[My] sonne, [quoth shee] thou mayest put away sorrowful cares out of thy mind.

‖ Shee [of whom Pro∣teus spake, is] ‖ all the cause of the disease: hereon the Nymphes with whom she vsed to dance in the high ‖ groues ‖ haue sent [this] misera∣ble destruction on thy bees. Thou [therefore] humbly offer gifts ‖ cra∣uing peace, and ‖ wor∣ship ‖ the Nymphes of the woods [which are] easie to bee intrea∣ted.

For they will grant [thy] requests, and qua∣lifie [their] wrath.

l But I will first tell thee in order, what is the maner of intreating [them.]

Choose out foure spe∣ciall bulls ‖ of excellent body, which feed for thee now vpon the tops of green ‖ Lyceus mount, and as many heifers of necke vntouched.

Make for these also foure altars neare vnto the stately temples ‖ of the Goddesses: ‖ and let out the sacred bloud forth of [their] throates.

And also leaue the very bodies of the buls in a groue full of greene leaues.

After whenas the ninth morning shall ap∣peare,

Thou shalt send vnto Orpheus [some] ghostly sacrifices, [namely] poppies causing forget∣fulnesse:

And thou shalt [like∣wise] offer a blacke sheepe, and shalt go see ‖ the groue againe.

[There] shalt thou ‖ worship Euridice appea∣sed with a heifer slaine.

m There was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no delay, [but] ‖ he ••orth▪ with obeyed ‖ the pre∣cepts of his mother:

Comes vnto the Tem∣ples, [and] ‖ reareth vp the altars, ‖ shewed [vnto him.]

[And] brings foure chosen buls of excel∣lent bodie, and as many heifers of vntouched necke.

Afterwards whenas the ninth morning did appeare,

Aristeus] sends to Orpheus the ghostly sa∣crifices, and went again vnto the groue.

n [And] here indeed they do behold a sudden wonder▪ and ••aruel∣lous to be spoken, bees ‖ for to make a buzzing noise throughout the dissolued bowels of the beasts in their whole bellies, and [as it were] *with heat to issue boyling out from their bursten ribs.

And mightie clouds [of bees] t'be drawne [in length] and now ‖ to flow together knitting in the top of a tree, and ‖ to send downe a clu∣ster like a grape from the limber boughes.

o These things I sang ‖ vpon the tillage of the fields, and [ordering] of cattell.

And concerning trees, whilst that great Caesar ‖ thundereth with warre ‖ at the deepe Eu∣phrates, and [as] a vi∣ctorious conquerour gi∣ueth lawes amongst a willing people, and [thus] prepares a way for hea∣uen.

Sweete Naples en∣tertained at that time me Virgil flourishing in the studies of vnrenow∣ned vacancie.

FINIS.

Notes

• There are foure bookes of Virgil called Georgica, meaning Georgica carmina, or documenta georgica, that is, instructions of husbandrie, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, terra, whereof is made 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, opus, of which comes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, agricola, an husbandman, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ••gri colendi peritus, viz. skilfull in husbandrie. The first of these bookes is concerning corne; the second of trees, especially of vines; the third of cattell; this fourth of Bees.
• [Virgil] doth prosecute most copiously the care of Bees, and the reason of mellification in this fourth booke.
• ‖

  The subiect matter of this booke.
• Was so straight [or narrow.]
• Consumed or spent.
• ‖

  Enlargeth it.
• ‖

  By matters [from the point.]
• ‖

  Borrowed speeches and comparisons.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of their chiefe 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or com∣mon halls.
• Studies or delights.
• Exceeds.
• ••dfull of.
• His 〈◊〉〈◊〉 translations.
• And this booke.
• Cut.
• For he prosecutes the care of defending, &c. in the former part of it.
• He prosecutes [or accomplisheth] the rea∣son [or way] whereby they may be repaired againe, when they shall die vtterly, in the lat∣ter [part.]
• From the foundation.
• Who is beleeued to haue repaired first his lost Bees, [viz his Bees being dead.]
• Forthwith [or now afterwards] the king∣domes smelling againe [or sweete smelling kingdomes.]
• Of ••iery h••ny [viz. falling from, or made, or gathered in the aire.
• And also the Bees of Hybla, Syn••d.
• Chosen.
• [He shewes] also the moist hony combes, being heauenly gifts.
• ‖

  By the meanes of certaine beasts which he killed, and vsed to that purpose.
• •• Their hony combes.
• ‖ What swarmes of Bees.
• ‖

  A Counseller at the Law.
• a

  These words contain 〈◊〉〈◊〉 proposition of this fourth booke, accor∣ding to the distribution in the very entrance of the first booke. Onely the tran••ition is more obscure then in the for∣mer bookes▪ thus in ef∣fect. Hauing dispatched my verse concerning cattell, which was my third part, I will now proceed to the orde∣ring of Bees, which is the last. Wherein by an Apostrophe or turning his speech to Maecenas, to whom he dedicated these bookes, he stirres him vp, and so all who shall reade it, to atten∣tion, from the admira∣blenesse of these things whereof he is to speake (being so smal in shew) concerning the whole gouernment of Bees, their Captaines, man∣ners, studies, people, skirmishes, and the like.
• I will execute [〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉] forthwith.
• ‖

  Gifts sent from heauen, and of a very heauenly or excellent nature.
• Of aierie hony.
• ‖

  Accept fauo••rably this part of my worke of husbandrie concerning bees, like as the former.
• Behold also.
• I will speake [or shew] to thee.
• Wonderfull spectacles [or shewes, as in playes] of light things, [viz. things but small, or not so much ac∣counted of.
• ‖

  Valorous leaders [or guides or kings.]
• And also [I will shew vnto you.]
• And studies [viz. endeuours or ex∣ercises.]
• And people.
• ‖

  Duly or plainly.
• ‖

  [Viz.] in the care about the orde∣ring of bees, yet the glory which comes to the husbandman is not small.
• I

  The old Romanes v∣sed to pray vnto certain Gods to help them, and to others not to hurt them, as to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Du∣•• & Robigus, &c.
• Battels or warres.
• Left [viz. ouerthwart, vnluckie, noisome, shrewd, or hurting diuine powers.
• Secondly, that though 〈◊〉〈◊〉 labour be but in a small matter, yet the glorie coming of the skill▪ is not small, so that the Gods be fauoura∣ble, and hinder not.
• Do suffer any man.
• b

  And that he may pro∣ceed in order, he shew∣eth that first a fit stand∣ing is to be sought out for bees; & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 describes the place meete for them, first by the things which are hurtfull to bees, that they may not be annoyed thereby, but stand remote from them; as first the winds hindring that they can∣not bring home their prouision.
• Doth heare, [viz. do direct and prosper.
• In the beginning a seate [is to be sought] for the bees, and a standing is to be sought.
• ‖

  Passage.
• Whither neither an entrance can be the winds.
• * Do forbid.
• Food, [viz. nourishment 〈◊〉〈◊〉 main∣tenance.
• ‖

  May oft bounce on the flowers, and tread them downe.
• ‖

  The wandring heifer, [viz. cattell going vp and downe.
• And the lizzards painted [in re∣gard of their fo••te backes [or vpon their foule backes] let them be away, [viz. let them not be neare.
• ‖

  May smite the dew from off the herbes, and weare or spoile the herbes which should rise vp.
• Secondly, cattell, as sheepe, kids, bullockes, or he••fers, eating vp or treading downe the flo∣wers, on which they should labour, or smi∣ting off the hony dew from them.
• ‖

  Filthy or horrible, as with painted circles in their backes.
• Meropes, birds haunting bee hiues, and deuouring the bees and their ho∣ny, called Wood-peckers or Eate-bees.
• Thirdly, venemous beasts, as newts, lizards or the like.
• Progne. How Progne Pandious daughter was changed into a swal∣low, see the sixt book of Ouids Metam. with Sabines Com. at large. She was turned into a swallow, as her hus∣band pursued her for the slaughter of her sonne It is, the markes whereof are on her breast.
• Signed [in regard of her] brest. Syn.
• Fourthly birds, as bee-eaters, spoyling both bees and hony▪ and swallowes deuou∣ring them as they flie vp and downe, and also carrying them to their yong.
• For they waste all things all abroad, and they carry in [their] mouth them [viz. the bees] flying, being a plea∣sant meate to their vngentle nests, [viz to their yong ones which deuour the bees brought by their dams▪]
• ‖

  From the full hiues fat with hony.
• Secondly, he set•• out the place by the thing•• which are good for bees, or by the efficient causes of their prospe∣ring, as first cleare springs and fountaines, faire standing ponds greene with mosse, or little streames running through the grasse for the watering of the bees, viz. where they may drinke most con∣ueniently.
• ‖

  Cruell, hard hearted, [viz nourished with the death of other creatures.
• ‖

  Weeds growing in it, and after a sort couering it.
• But liquid sountaines and stan∣ding waters greene with mosse, let be present [viz. let them haue, &c.]
• * Riuer flying [viz. running] by the grasse [let it be present.]
• ‖

  See that there be palme trees [viz. date trees or the like.
• The porch.
• Secondly, trees, plants or herbes. Trees, as the palme ouersha∣dowing the entrance of their hiues, or the wilde oliue to the same pur∣pose.
• ‖

  Great oliue tree, [viz. some other great trees which the bees like best.
• Also banks of herbs or lesse plants to allure the yong ones in the Spring to sport abroad and to get them out of the heate.
• In their spring, [viz. the time meet for their first going out.
• Yong bees.
• The banke neare may inuite [viz. allure or entice them] to depart [or giue place] to [or from] the heate [of the Sunne into the shadow.]
• And the tree meeting [them] may hold [or receiue them.]
• And great trees in the way to serue them to light and rest vpon. Thirdly, that they should haue boughes of trees, as of ••allowes or the like, to be layed ouerthwart in the wa∣ter.
• ‖

  With her boughes full of greene leaues, for the yong bees to light vpon.
• Whether the mo••sture [viz. water] shall stand sluggish, [viz. still, not mouing,] or whether it flow [viz. run] continually:
• ‖

  Cast into the midst [thereof] wil∣lowes layed acrosse and big stones.
• Or great stones to be set therein, for the bee•• to saue themselues 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for to rest vpon.
• ‖

  Into the midst of the water for the bees to light vpon.
• That [the bees] may stand sure vpon.
• And that they may spread their wings, lay∣ing them open against the Sunne, if the windes shall plunge any of them into the water.
• Often bridges [viz. lying thicke together, or many.
• ‖

  Spread abroad.
• The headlong East wind.
• Fourthly, that they should haue store of sweete smelling herbes to be planted round a∣bout the waters, and a∣bout the hiues, as namely Cassia, wilde marioram, winter sa∣uorie.
• ‖

  Staying long abroad.
• Or shall drowne [viz. dip them] into Neptune, [viz shall cast them headlong into the water.
• Let greene Cassi▪ [flourish] about these [places] or bee-gardens.]
• Of Cassia see before in the second Eclogue.
• Also bankes of vio∣lets, &c.
• Wilde bett••nie [smelling like wilde marjoram, or it may be taken for sa∣uorie.]
• ‖

  Hysope.
• Casting out a sauour grieuously, [viz. smelling very strong, or being strong of sent.
• Beds [or borders] of violets.
• Drinke the watering [or maiste∣ning] spring, [viz. let them be plan∣ted neare the water sides, where they may draw moisture.]
• c

  Hitherto the Poet hath described the bee∣garden, viz. the place fit for the stāding of bees: now he commeth to a second precept concer∣ning the hiues, to shew what ones they must be, both for the matter and fashion.
• Whether [they shall be] sowed to them with hollowed barks, [viz. whe∣ther you shall make them of barkes of trees sewed together,] or whether they shall be wouen with a limber twig [or ozier] viz. made of rods.
• First, for the mat∣ter, that they be made of hollow barks sewed together, or of rods or twigs.
• Secondly, for the en∣trance•• of the hiues, that they be narrow, to keep our both cold and heate: because the Win∣ter cold hardens the hony, and Summer heate dissolues it.
• Doth make thick [or doth thicken] or make hard] the honies.
• And heate remits [viz. dissolues] the same [honies] being molten [viz. made thin, that is, heate ••elts and dissolues them.
• That the violence and danger of both these is to be feared & prenen∣ted alike he proues fur∣ther, frō the endeuo••rs of the bees themselues against such iniuries of the weather.
• Both the violence [of cold and heate] is to be feared.
• ‖

  To be feared to bees, [viz. to be preuented.]
• Neither they do da••be in vaine, or without iust c••se.
• Daub•• ouer.
• That they stop close all the little holes and tifts in their hiues with waxe, mosse, flowers, and with a kind of glue more slimie then bird∣lime or pitch.
• Striuingly or by strife.
• In the roofes [or houses]
• ‖

  And stop.
• Vtmost parts [or skirts, viz. clifts or chinkes.]
• With fucus: some take this to be meant of a counterfet kind of waxe, but more pitchie, gathered of the gums of trees; others for a kinde of mosse.
• Keepe or saue.
• Offices or businesses.
• ‖

  Tough or gummie.
• ‖

  The pitch of the pitch trees of Ida [an hill in Phrygia,]
• The Phrygian Ida.]
• And that for more safetie against all such perill, they haue bene found to haue made their houses within the ground.
• Haue digged [their] house in holes digd out vnder the ground.
• And in pumeise stones all eaten.
• And so in trunkes of hollow trees.
• Altogether [or deeply.]
• Thirdly, for the bet∣ter preseruing the hiues from all such violence of weather and other inconueni••ces, to daub them smoothly with mud, & to strew leaues thereon to keepe the hiues moist from chop∣ping.
• Caue, [viz. the hollownesse
• Of a tree all eaten with rotten∣nesse.
• ‖

  Howbeit.
• Annoint thou [their] lodgings full of clifts [or rifts, or chinkes.]
• With smooth raud, [viz. smoothed on the outside, or finely tempered.]
• ‖

  Oxe dung or the like.
• Cherishing [them,] [viz. to pre∣serue them from all violence both of heate and cold.]
• ‖

  And moreouer cast vpon the hiues thus daubed, leaues here and there, [viz. to keepe the mud or dung moist and from chinking.]
• d

  After he proceedeth to giue warning of such things as are noi∣some to the hiues, like as he had before for the bee-gardens: as that the good husband should not suffer yough trees to grow too neare them; nor to burne the shels of sea-crabs neare vnto them: nor to let them stand ouer neare to deepe fens or stan∣ding waters.
• Neither suffer.
• Nearer to [their] roofes, [viz. hiues.]
• ‖

  Crabs or creuisses, which are red when they are sod or burnt.
• In [thy] hearth [or chimney,] whereby the smell may come to the bees.
• ‖

  Let not your bees stand neare vnto a moore or watery place being deepe.
• Or where the smell of mud [or dirt] is grieucus.
• Nor neare vnto any filthy smell of mud, nor any great sounding of waters.
• Nor where there is a loud ••ccho.
• Stones.
• ‖

  Do make a noise.
• By beating vpon.
• e

  Here now followeth a third precept concer∣ning the worke of the Bees in the Spring and in the Summer time. Where first the Poet describes the Spring by the efficient cause of it, to wit, the Sunne, viz. when the Sunne co∣ming nearer vnto vs, hath with his light cha∣sed away the Winter, and begins to bring the Summer; that then the bees trauell forthwith far and neare thorough forrests and woods, and all other places where they may gather their prouision.
• ‖

  Vnto the Antipodes, where it is Winter when it is Summer with vs.
• The image of the voice offended leapes backe [viz. where there is a great Eccho, which comes by the bea∣ting backe of the voice.
• ‖

  The [bees] presently passe through vplands or launds.
• Hath vnshut [or opened] heauen with the Summer light, [viz. the pleasant Sunne in the spring.]
• How they sucke it chitfly from the plea∣sant flowers.
• Reape [viz. gather the nourish∣ment or the prouision vpon] the flow∣ers.
• And being light of bo∣dy, they sip water wher∣soeuer they find it.
• And hauing so done, they returne home chearfully.
• Do taste lightly the vpmost flouds, [viz. the vpmost parts of the waters. libare q. labiare, i. e. primis labris at∣tingere.
• ‖

  Nourish.
• And both cherish their brood, and main∣taine their hiues.
• Sweetnesse.
• * Ofspring or issue.
• [Their] nest ••▪
• How hereupon they artificially frame their combes of waxe and hony.
• From hence they beate out as with a hammer or weild, viz. frame.
• Fresh waxe by art.
• Frame their.
• You shall now see aloft a troupe [of bees] sent forth out of [their] caues vnto the flarres of heauen, to swimme through the liquid Summer, [viz. the cleare aire in the Sum∣mer.]
• ‖

  Cleauing, glu••sh, gummie.
• f

  Afterwards vpon this occasion of their flying abroad, he cometh to a fourth precept, for the retaining of their swarmes with sweete smels of herbes, and with sounds.
• Behold, [or marke it well:] for] they.
• That when the kee∣pers of them see a great swarme of them gathe∣red like a cloud, and wauing in the skie, they then seeke waters, and a new house amongst the boughes of trees.
• ‖

  Wonder at.
• ‖

  A swarme of bees gathered round together like a darke cloud.
• ‖

  Caried or moued.
• And branching roofes, [viz. to make their abode amongst the greene boughes of trees.
• Balme gently bruzed. This is an herbe wherewith bees are delighted.
• Therefore to the end that they may settle, they are to sprinkle the places with the vsuall iuyces of certain herbs, as of balme, honysuc∣cles, and the like; or to rub them with those herbes, and withall to ring or tinkle with ba∣sons, cimbals, and o∣ther such like sounding things, to keepe them from flying quite away.
• ‖

  Wonted or vsuall.
• Vnnoble [or vile, because it growes euery where.]
• A tinkling noise as of basons.
• And shake the cymbals of [Cybele] mother [of the Gods] round about.
• To [or in] their seates medicined, [viz. prepared with such iuyces and herbes as are mentioned.]
• ‖

  The cymbals are tinkling instru∣ments which were vsed in the sacri∣fices of Cybele.
• Because by these meanes they will settle vpon the places so sprinkled.
• Al. Of Mars.
• They will hide [or betake] them∣selues.
• And will easily be gotten into new hiues thus rubbed and pre∣pared.
• Cradles [viz hiues fitted for them.]
• ‖

  By nature of their owne accord.
• g

  And hence he pro∣ceedeth to a fifth pre∣cept, concerning the battels of the bees, which he setteth out by a principall cause thereof, and by signes. The chiefe cause is dis∣cord arising betweene the kings or maister∣bees.
• Hath gone with a stately pace as in kings [viz. marched or crept] to two kings with a great motion [or stirre,] for that their kingdome is impatient of any consort, or they can∣not endure two kings.
• The minds of the common people.
• The signes whereby any one may fore∣know their stomackes, and their trembling hearts prepared for warre, and so their skir∣mishes are.
• Know.
• ‖

  Their hearts stirring [or rising] to battle.
• You shall heare the night before a warlike noise, as of a sounding trumpet, calling all forth to warre, and withall sundry broken sounds, as of trumpets.
• Of hoarse sounding brasse.
• Doth chide [viz. rebuke or prouoke and hasten forward.
• [The bees] lingring long [or ma∣king no haste.]
• Imitating.
• Then they go together among themselues trembling, [viz. qui∣uering with anger or with vio∣lence.
• And then the next day they go hastily toge∣ther, glistering with their wings, as souldi∣ers in armour.
• ‖

  And shine as souldiers in armour.
• Pens or feathers.
• And also they sharpen [their] darts with [their] bils [or nibs.]
• They will also shar∣pen their stings with their snouts, and fit themselues to fight.
• And make fit [their] armes, [viz. prepare them.
• They are mingled thicke about [their] king [for his preseruation.]
• Then they gather thick about their king, as the Romanes were wont about the Empe∣rours pauilion, and call forth their enemy with loud cries.
• To the very places of their Pretor [or Emperour.] It is an allusion to the maner of the Romanes to desire to be nearest to the Emperours tent or pa∣uilion.
• ‖

  Challenge [or prouoke.]
• ‖

  Mightie or loud humming.
• And thus when they haue got a faire calme sunny day in the spring, they rush out of their hiues, and runne vio∣lently together as soul∣diers to battell:
• A cleare spring, [viz. a faire day in the Spring or Summer.]
• ‖

  Large and wide fields, [viz roome enough.]
• It is runne together, [viz. they skirmish.]
• Whereby there is a great sound made in the aire;
• ‖

  A great noise is heard forth of the aire.
• In the high skie [or aire.]
• They being mingled together,
• And all the bees are gathered thicke into a great round heape. And straightway they fall downe killed or wounded out of the aire, as thicke as haile.
• Are w••un round like a clew or ball into a great orbe or circle [after the manner of an armie.]
• ‖

  They fall downe as dead.
• From the aire.
• So that the acornes fall not downe so fast from the shaken oake.
• Nor so much of the acorne doth raine, [viz. fall like raine] from the oake being smitten.
• ‖

  Ilex is taken for a kind of oake.
• The kings in the meane time flie tho∣rough the midst of their armies with their gallant wings,
• Al. With wings like ensignes,
• Do turne oft great courages in a narrow breast:
• And shew their braue mindes, encouraging their armies,
• Striuing [or encouraging them∣selues with all their might] so verie greatly not to yeeld.
• Stoutly enforcing themselues with all their power not to yeeld,
• The grieuous conquerours [or hea∣uie, as we say, an heauie enemie.]
• •• Vntill the one side being ouercome, be caused violently to turn their backs in flight.
• ‖

  Enforced.
• To giue their backes, being turned by flight.
• h

  Vpon this occasion the Poet cometh to a sixth precept, concer∣ning the recalling and quieting of the bees in these broyles;
• ‖

  These their furious rages.
• Strifts or battels.
• Shall rest [or be quiet.]
• Which is, by casting vp a little dust, viz. by throwing vp a few molds into the aire, which may be felt as raine in the midst a∣mongst them.
• ‖

  Supprest or appeased.
• With casting.
• ‖

  Kings, [viz. king or maister-bees.
• From the forefront of the battell.
• And withall teacheth how to continue their peace after, which is, by killing the worse of the two kings, viz. of those two maister bees, which were the cause of the battell.
• Giue him to death, [viz. kill that of them two] which [shall] seeme the wor••e, lest being prodigall he hurt, [viz. lest he proue a robber, or liue onely in consuming the hony, and get∣ting nothing.
• [But] suffer [that] the better may reigne.
• And he giues a rea∣son of it, lest he proue a robber.
• In the emptie hall, [viz. the Em∣perours pallace free from enemie, as sole king.
• But to preserue th•• better of them, that he may reigne alone, with∣out any other to pro∣uoke him.
• One will be burning with spots foule with gold, [viz. shewing yellow like gold. Catachrefis.
• And here for more clearenes, he describeth the kings or maister bees.
• That as there are two kinds of kings, so one of them which is the better, is of a bur∣ning red colour bright with gliftering specks, and of a more notable countenance.
• ‖

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, or notably knowne.
• In mouth.
• ‖

  Cleare or shining.
• With red scales [viz. with golden spots shining as scales in fishes.
• Horrible, vgly or lothsome.
• The other is vgly through his sloth, drag∣ging his broad belly, creeping in a base ma∣ner before or about the hiues mouth.
• ‖

  Idlenesse or lazinesse.
• And without all glory, [viz base] drawing his broade belly [vpon the hiues mouth.]
• ‖

  Broade, not round as in the other.
• ‖

  In a base maner.
• And moreouer shew∣eth, that as there are such differences in the kings; so there are two principal differences in the common sort like∣wise.
• As the faces [or formes] of [their] kings are two, so the bodies of the na∣tion [or common sort of bees] [are different.]
• Of the nation [of the bees.]
• ‖

  Are of two sorts, differing one from another, euen as the bodies of the kings.
• For that some of them are rough and illfauou∣red, as if they were all dustie ouer; which he illustrateth by a simili∣tude: That they haue on them a filthinesse like the spittle which the thirstie traueller co∣ming out of the deepe dust spits vpon the ground, and this is the worst kind.
• Being filthy [or foule] are vgly and lothsome.
• Drie with thirst.
• ‖

  Passenger, or wayfaring man.
• With his mouth being drie [with thirst and dust.]
• ‖

  Others are of a cleare and bright shining colour.
• The other sort of them shines and gli∣sters with a cleare brightnesse like gold:
• Burning with gold.
• Smeared or annointed,
• With like or euen drops, [viz. spots of euen bignesse.]
• And haue their bo∣dies dasht with equall spot••.
• This latter he shew∣eth to be the better brood.
• ‖

  From these bees.
• Of heauen, [viz. at a meete sea∣son.]
• And that these make the most liquid and ex∣cellent 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• You shall presse out, [viz. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or crush out.]
• Nor so much sweete as liquid, [viz. pure, clarified, or cleare from dregs.
• And to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [viz. fit to tame the hard taste of Bacchus [or of wine, Met. effic.
• ‖

  That is, to take away the vnplea∣santnesse or sharpnesse of wine or the like: or to make sweete wine called Mulsum, viz. bastard wine or Me∣theglin, by seething wine and hony together.
• Which will notably amend the ouermuch hatdnesse of wine, to make it most delicate.
• i

  Here he repeats again the fourth precept, con∣cerning the keeping of the swarmes, that they flie not away.
• ‖

  The bees rising together.
• Vncertaine [whither they will flie.
• In heauen, or aboue, as in the skie.
• And do contemne or neglect.
• First, that when they begin to sport in the aire, and to leaue their hiues, and so to offer to flie quite away, they be restrained and with∣drawne after this man∣ner following: viz.
• Cold roofes [viz hiues.]
• You shall forbid, [viz. withdraw or stay.
• ‖

  Wauering or vnstayed.
• From vaine play or pastime.
• By plucking off the wings from their kings
• To prohibite or stay them from fly∣ing away.
• Plucke thou off.
• For that then none of the rest dare be so bold to flie so high,
• ‖

  None of the bees dare be so bold, or aduenture.
• To go [or vndertake] a high iour∣ney.
• Or to offer to remoue their standards, viz. to prouoke their fellowes to flie away, so long as the kings stay behind.
• To plucke vp [to stirre yp the rest to flie away. This is a b••rowed speech, a Metaphor taken from souldiers, who by plucking vp and remouing their standards, do shew to their fellowes that they are about to go from that place.
• Those, [viz. the maister bees] lin∣gring.
• A second meanes of retaining them, is▪ by the sweetnesse of trees and flowers growing about or neare vnto the hiues, whereof sundrie kinds are mentioned before and after.
• Your orchards or gardens, &c. let them.
• Breathing out, or sending out 〈◊〉〈◊〉. i•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 delight.
• ‖

  With all such flowers as where▪
• ‖

  And let Priapus who is the god and preseruer of the gardens, be set at the entry of the bee-garden, with his wil∣low reaping hooke to driue away theeues and birds, and to preserue the bees.
• A third remedie, is by commending them to the guard of Priapus whom they made the god of their gardens, and placed him at the entrie thereof, with his willow hooke, to keepe away both theeues and birds, and to saue the bees from all annoy.
• ‖

  Priapus, sonne of Bacehus and Ve∣nus.
• Al. The keeper both of theeues and bees, with h•• sallow hooke saue them.
• k

  But here he returneth again to the second re∣medie; that he that hath a due regard of his bees to haue them to pros∣per, and himselfe to thriue, looke to that chiefly, to plant store of thyme and pine trees round about neare vn∣to his bees.
• Al. And let him.
• To whom such things are a care, [viz. who hath a care of bees that they may prosper.]
• ‖

  Yong pine trees.
• ‖

  Set them.
• The roofes, [viz. the bee gardens or the hiues.]
• Let him weare his hand with hard labour, [viz. with labouring hard.]
• And that he labou∣ring hard, set also other fruitfull trees about his grounds, being carefull in watering them till they take roote.
• Let him fasten downe fruitfull plants to [or in] the ground.
• ‖

  Sets of fruitfull trees.
• Let him water, [viz. let him powre vpon them] friendly showers, [viz. wholesome water like showers, or in stead of showres.
• l

  Vpon this occasion the Poet maketh a pro∣fitable digression to the pleasantnesse and com∣moditie of orchards & gardens, which he pro∣fesseth that he would haue prosecuted more fully, had be not pur∣posed to be very briefe in this treatise, which he expresseth by an alle∣gory taken from mari∣ner•• approching neare vnto the ha••.
• I indeed but that I may draw [downe] [my] sailes, and may hasten to turne my prore [viz. the forepart of my ship] to the lands: [that is, but that I desire to draw towards an end, as the weary mariner towards the land.
• Vnder [or about] the extreme ••nd of my labours.
• ‖

  Toiles or paines.
• Perhaps I would sing of, [viz. would write of in verse after this ma••er] what care of husbanding might adorne both the fat orchards [or gardens] and the r••siers [or rose∣gardens, or rose-beds of Pestū [a town of Lucania] bearing twise a yeare, [viz. where through the temperature of the heauens, the ground beareth abundance of roses twise in the yeare, to wi••, in May and September.
• That otherwise ••e would haue handled the maner of husban∣ding of gardens and rose-yards, to make them ranke and fruit∣full.
• And after what manner endiue, [viz. the herbes called endiue or sue∣cory.] might reioyce in the riuers well drunke of.
• Also the manner of planting endiue and succorie neare water sides.
• ‖

  Greene parsly banks.
• And how to haue the greene bankes of parsly.
• ‖

  A pium taken for common parsly, and not for garden parsly.
• And the cucumber.
• Likewise how to haue faire great cucumbers.
• The herbe [viz. herbes or weeds.
• Might increase into a belly.
• Had I held my peace of [or said nothing of]▪ the Narcissus or white daffadill bearing leaues [or flower∣ing] late.
• With store of Nar∣cissus.
• Sera pro serò, a Newter Ad∣iectiue for an Aduerbe.
• The twig [viz. of the herbe called branke vrsine.]
• Bowed or bent.
• Branke vrsine.
• ‖

  Acanthus or beare▪ breech. See be∣fore in the third Eclogue.
• Ivies.
• Mi••le trees and the like.
• ‖

  Delighting to grow neare the sea∣shores.
• This he confirmeth by the example of an old man of Corycus neare vnto Tarent.
• For I remember me to haue seene [viz. that I once saw] an old Corycian fellow vnder the high towers of Oeba∣lia, &c.
• ‖

  By Oebalia he meaneth Tarent built by the Oebalians, viz. the La∣cedemonians in the countrey of Ca∣labria.
• ‖

  Watereth.
• The tilled [fields] waxing yel∣low [with ripe c••rne.]
• ‖

  Of Cilicia: for Corycus is a towne of Ci∣licia:
• To whom there were a few acres of the country left, [viz after the di∣uision of the fields of Tarent made by Pompey to the old soldiers, not left & for saken as contemned by the owners. Some thinke it is meant, left by his ancestors, and made fruitfull by his husbandrie.
• Who hauing but a few acres of ground left after the diuision of the countrey.
• The soile whereof was neither fruitfull for grasse nor corne, nor yet commodious for vines.
• Neither was that [ground] fertile for bullockes, [viz. for pasture,] nor the corne growing on it [or puise.]
• ‖

  Good for other cattell, [or thuu, nor a fit crop for cattell, viz for sheep.
• Neither [was the ground.]
• To Bacchus, [viz. fit or good for vines.]
• Yet this old man planting herbes in that ground thinly here and there,
• ‖

  Yet this man, &c.
• He pressing [or pricking downe,] viz. setting.
• Pot-herbes [viz. herbes fit to be eaten, of diuers sorts] thinne in the bushes.
• ‖

  All herbes vsed about religious c••∣remonies, or to holy ends.
• ‖

  Meete to be eaten sparingly.
• Thought himselfe as rich as a king thereby.
• In [his] minds, [viz. in conceit] the wealth of kings [because it is the mind, not the cheft that maketh rich.
• And could at any time furnish his table with dainties of his owne growing, with∣out any further cost.
• ‖

  Meates, or pro••ision of his owne.
• At late night [or late in the eue∣ning.]
• Hauing abundance of roses in the Spring, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Autumne, and those ripe with the first.
• He loaded his tables.
• [He begun, or was w••nt] to plu••ke roses first, [viz. with the first.
• Or carpere for carpebat. Enal.
• And also [he plucked] apples [first] [viz. his were first ripe.
• And also store of greene herbes in the hardest Winter, when all elsewhere were kil∣led with the frost.
• And when the sad [or terrible] Winter euen now did burst the stones * with cold, and bridled the co••rses of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, [viz. of the ri••ers]
• With ice.
• Thus he proceeded still, watching his opor∣tunities, waiting on the time, and oft thinking i•• long before it came.
• Euen now did he sheare the tops of soft branke vrsi••e [viz. new sprung,] that is, he had fresh herbes.
• ‖

  Late.
• Staying long, [or making long de∣layes,] because the West windes are the first messengers of the Spring.
• Hereby he was wont to abound with bree∣ding bees and store of swarmes.
• With bees full of yong ones, and with many a swarme.
• And plentie of hony.
• ‖

  Crushed, or strained.
• Hauing all trees wherein the bees de∣light, as both linden trees and also pine∣trees.
• [There were] to him linden trees and the most plentifull pine tree, [or great abundance of pine trees.]
• ‖

  Most fruitfull [or profitable] [viz. for making their ho••y combes.
• And with how many apples [each fruitfull tree had clothed [or arayed] it selfe in the new flower [viz. at the first knotting] it held euen so many ripe [apples] in Autumne [viz. at the gathering] [that is, they did all pros∣per.]
• And maruellous in∣crease of apples; so that looke how many yong apples he had set on the trees presently after the blooming, so many ripe ones 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gathered in the Autum••e; all ••∣med to prosper.
• He also remo••ed [or translated] into order, [viz. into rowes, after the maner of a Quineu••x] late 〈◊〉〈◊〉, [viz. elmes that grow but showly.
• Very hard, [or the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and strong 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• He moreouer plan∣••ed 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• And withall peare∣trees and pl••m trees,
• ‖

  Plums, or damosi••s, not sloes, be∣cause the nature of the trees were changed by the change of the ground through his husbandrie.
• And al••o pl••ne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for shade.
• Now ministring [viz. affoording] a shadow to [men] drinking [vnder the same.]
• But he concludeth this digression, that he is en∣forced to cut off all lō∣ger discourse of these things through lacke of time, & leaues them to be recorded by others.
• H

  Ouerpasse or omit.
• Being separated [or excluded] by vnequall spaces, [viz. being hindred from hauing the like, or from finishing the worke by the short time of my life, or of my leisure, compared to that old mans.
• Leaue them to others to be rehear∣sed hereafter.
• And first he toucheth a fable concerning the originall or their first receiuing of their ex∣cellent qualities, which they are said to haue had from Iupiter, for a reward of feeding him when he was new born.
• m

  Here he cometh to a seuenth precept con∣cerning the nature and qualities of bees; where their whole work is ex∣pressed in diuers parts.
• The natures or gifts.
• ‖

  Hath giuen to bees besides what they had before.
• ‖

  What reward the bees had for fol∣lowing, &c. and feeding Iupiter.
• Of the Curetes [viz. of Cybeles priests called Corybantes, or of the people called Curetes, being the first inhabitants of Creet, who vndertooke the nursing of Iupiter, to hide him and his crying, from his father Sa∣turne, in a caue at the foote of the hill Dicte in Candie.
• That bees following the shrill sound that Cy∣beles priests made at his birth to the end that his crying should not be heard, found him in a caue of the hill Dicte in Creete, where he was hid from his father Sa∣turne, and fed him there with their hony. Of which fable see Ramus his Com. more at large.
• And [their] ratling brasses.
• ‖

  Iupiter.
• Vnder the Dictean caue.
• n

  Then he proceedeth to shew their admira∣ble qualities; as that they haue their yong ones in common, both bred in cōmon, and all hauing a common care of them: and also that they haue a citie and common halls, & leade their liues vnder wor∣thy lawes.
• ‖

  Onely the bees of all other creatures haue their yong ones bred in common of them all, and haue a common care of them.
• Children [viz. yong brood] com∣mon.
• [They haue also] roofes [viz. some houses] of [their] citie common, [viz. common hals. * Whereof they are alike partakers or partners in.
• And oft passe ouer [their] time [or the time of their life,] viz. liue per∣petually
• Vnder great lawes.
• And [the bees] alone have knowne their natiue countrey, and their cer∣taine houshold gods, [or priuate and severall houses, viz. their owne hiues or cels.
• And [they] being mindfull of &c.
• That▪ they onely of all creatures know their natiue country & their certaine dwelling hou∣ses.
• About to come.
• They trie labour by experience, [viz. they make experiēce of labours.]
• And lay vp things gotten in the midst.
• That they are mind∣full of Winter before it 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and take great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Summer to prouide and lay vp in store for the common vse against that time.
• For some [bees] do watch diligant∣ly for liuing [or food,] viz. do take all occasions to labour for liuing, and bring in pro••ision. Victu for victui.
• Are exercised [viz occupied.]
• After he sheweth how they deuide their workes:
• ‖

  By a certain appointment, or order.
• Agreed of, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• That some of them are busied in the fields to seeke and fetch in prouision, as by a co∣uenant amongst them∣selues.
• ‖

  Other some [of them.]
• Hedges or bounds.
• The teare of Narcissus, [alluding to the fable, because the boy Narcissus was turned into a flower; whereof before.
• Cleauing [or sticking] glue.
• Others worke with∣in their houses; laying the first foundations of their hony combs with iuyces of herbes and gums of trees.
• From the barke.
• ‖

  As, or for the first foundations.
• ‖

  To their hony combes.
• And then they hang vpon [them] stiffe waxe, [such as i•• stiffe and clammy, called propolis,viz. bee-glue.
• And so build there∣upon, framing and fa∣shioning their combes.
• Other [bees] bring forth [out of the huskes or skinnes wherein they are bred] the yong ones growne to perfe∣ction, [viz. as the hen hatcheth the chickens by sitting on them.] [or else do leade them abroad, and accustome them to labour.]
• Others breede and bring forth their yong, and leade them out, when they are come to perfect growth; thus accustoming them to labour.
• Of the nation [viz. of the continu∣ance and increase of their swarmes or hiues.]
• ‖

  Do fill the cel•• or combes with the purest and finest hony.
• Others of them fill vp their cels with the purest and finest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hony.
• ‖

  Fill full, or stuffe out.
• With liquid [or pure] ••ectar, [viz. the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and most excellent part of the hony.
• Others are appoin∣ted to ward at their gates.
• Custodie, [viz. keeping or watch∣ing] at the gates, hath fallen to lot, [viz. as to their lot or by lot, speaking after the maner, as it is in warre, to keepe out the enemie.
• And they do behold [or obserue] by course the waters [viz. drops of raine] and clouds of heauen, [that is, clouds ouercasting, and all signes of the w••ather, as of showers or stormes.
• And these by turnes do watch the raine and clouds.
• ‖

  They receiue.
• Or else take 〈◊〉〈◊〉 burdens of tho e which come loaden home, and work them in their hiues.
• ‖

  Loades
• ‖

  Of such bees as come loaden home, and do helpe them.
• Or making an army doe driue away the drones.
• Or an armie [of them] being made [viz. hauing gathered a troupe of them together.]
• Stalls. Metaph.
• ‖

  The droane bees without stings.
• ‖

  A sluggish or slothfuli beast, onely consuming their hony, and getting none.
• And generally he de∣clare••h how all of them do bestirte themselues in their worke, cach in their proper place, as sweating at it.
• ‖

  They plie their worke [viz as men vntill they sweate.]
• ‖

  Their hiues.
• Yeelds a sauour [or a sweete sent.]
• ‖

  By the herbs from whence they ga∣ther their hony and waxe.
• o

  Which diligence and haste of theirs, he illu∣strateth by a notable si∣militude taken from the Cyclopians, Vul∣cans Smiths, framing thunderbolts for Iupi∣ter.
• When the Cyclopes [viz. a people of Sicily hauing but one eie in their forehead, fained to be Vulcan•• smiths, and to make thunderbolts for Iupi∣ter.]
• Hasten.
• Lightnings.
• Out of masses [or wedges [of iron or other mettall] softened [in the fire, or pliant to worke on.]
• That like as they making vp their bolts in haste out of the soft ned iron lumps.
• Some [of them] take in blasts [or wind] and send it forth againe with bellows of bull-hides.
• Some of them blow the bellowes.
• Dip their mettals hizzing, [viz. coming out of the glowing fier.]
• Others quench their mettals hizzing in the troughes.
• Brasses, in a lake [or trough of wa∣ter as smiths vse.]
• Etna] a mountaine in Sicily bur∣ning with perpetuall fiers, through the abundance of brimstone and other matter in it: fained to be the shop or workhouse of Vulcan and the Cyclops for the often and great thundring and lightning in those parts.
• Etna in the meane while groaning vnder the stithies that are pla∣ced thereon.
• With the stithies.
• Layed vpon it.
• Those among them, who weild the ham∣mers, do lift vp their armes to smite in or∣der, and oft with their pinsers turne the iron holding it fast.
• ‖

  Others of them.
• ‖

  Making as it were a musicall har∣monie by the order of their strokes vpō the iron, to fashion it on the stithy
• With a paire of pinsers holding fast [the iron.]
• Euen so (to com∣pare small things with great)
• If it be lawfull to compare.
• A naturall loue of gathering and making hony, enforceth the li∣tle bees to bestirre themselues, and euery bee in her owne place.
• ‖

  With great.
• A loue bred in [them] [viz. a na∣turall loue.]
• Of hauing.
• Doth vrge [viz. vehemently presse or charge.]
• Of Cecropia, [viz. of the citie A∣thens, so called of Cecrops builder and king of Athens, where is most excel∣lent hony in abundance, for the store of thyme neare vnto it.
• ‖

  Euery one in her owne office.
• p

  Thus still going on in the former distribu∣tion of their workes, he she weth, that the elder bees haue the charge of the whole hiues com∣mitted to them.
• ‖

  The ancient [viz. elder bees] haue the charge of the townes [viz. of the whole hiues] committed to them.
• A care to the ancient.
• To fence their hony combes, and to make them houses in a most artificiall and exquisite maner.
• To fortifie.
• To fashion [or frame them] Deda∣lian roofes [viz. houses built with ad∣mirable art.
• Dedalus like [viz. artificiall, like as if framed by Dedalus that most cunning workman.
• The yonger labour abroad in the fields, & returne home wearie and loaden late at night.
• But the lesser [bees] betake them∣selues [home] weary at late night, [viz. late in the euening.
• How they seeke and trauell for their proui∣sion euery where both on the blossomes of crab-trees on fallowes which we call palmes.
• Full [in regard of or vpon their] legs, Syn. [viz. loaden with hony or waxe made of iuyce suckt out of thyme and other flowers.]
• ‖

  They feed, or get their liuing or prouision all abroad.
• So vpon saffron.
• The linden trees.
• The seruice trees [or crab trees.]
• The flower of the red Hyacinthus and all other sweete flowers.
• Greenish or gray sallowes, which we call palme trees, on which bees vse to lie very much.
• ‖

  Of Casia, see before.
• Fat tilly.
• The H••acinth of a blacke red co∣lour, like iron: of the flower so called, or red purple lilly, see before Ecl. 3.
• q

  Here he still goeth along, and to declare by the way what a com munitie they haue in labouring and resting together, and so like∣wise in sleepe and wat∣ching: That all of them rest together, and all of them labour together, that there seemes to be but one rest and one worke vnto them all.
• Of works to all, [viz. they all rest from their labour together, and they all worke together.
• They rush forth of the gates early in the morning: delay [is] no where: againe, when as the euening starre hath admonished, the same [bees] de∣part at length.
• How in the morning they rush out of their gates all together to worke, and so continue in labouring all the day till the euening admo∣nish them to depart home.
• ‖

  From seeking their prouision.
• They seeke their roofes, [viz. they returne to their ••iues.
• And then returne, and so refresh their wearie lim••.
• Then do they care for [their] bo∣dies.
• How at that time when they are got into the hiue, there is made a great humming noise by one of them flying about the hiue; who by her sound cōmandeth all to take their rest.
• ‖

  There is made a sound or noise, [viz. by one of them flying about, by her humming, commanding all to take their rest.]
• ‖

  Do generally make a great noise.
• Vtmost parts [viz. outsides] and thresholds,
• Composed [viz betaken themselues to rest.]
• So that after when they haue all reposed themselues, there is a great silence among them, that no stirring or noise is heard all the night.
• ‖

  There is no noise [all] the night.
• Into [viz. for or through] the whole night.
• The owne sleepe [of euery bee occu∣pieth &c̄. [viz. euery bee refresheth their weary lims by their sleepe.
• Thus euery one with rest and sleepe doth re∣create it selfe.
• Wearied ioynts.
• r

  Here is repeated their foreknowledge of the weather, and what they do therein. That if it be like to be rainie or windie, they wil not flie farre from their hiues.
• ‖

  But they do not depart or flie a∣broad farre.
• Go backe longer from [their] stalls, [viz. go farre off from home,
• Raine hanging ouer, [viz. if there be any raine presently toward.]
• Or do they trust the heauen, or skie. [viz they dare not commit them∣selues vnto the aire to flie abroad.
• The Easterne windes approching, or comming neare, [viz. when it will be wind.
• But they will seeke water neare them round about.
• ‖

  They drinke or fetch water.
• Being safe.
• ‖

  On euery side.
• And flie no further abroad then they may get home before the storme.
• And they trie [or assay] short ex∣cursions, [flights, walks or iourneys] [viz. to go no further then they may get home before the storme.]
• Or if they be ouer∣taken by the windes, they vse to take vp litle stones to peize and car∣ry themselues euen and steadily: like as floating boates do take vp ba∣lasse, [viz. do l••ade themselues with land or grauell] in a rough water, to preserue them safe, and to go the bet∣ter; euen so do they take vp these litle stones to beare themselues e∣uen through the emp∣tie aire.
• Vnstable [or wauering] boates [or barges.] Saburra, is the lastage or balasse wherewith ships are poized to make them go vpright, as grosse sand, grauell, or the like.
• The floud [viz. tide or surges, tos∣sing, and so putting the ship in dan∣ger.
• They peise themselues, [viz. make themselues weightie to go steadily.]
• Clouds or darke weather.
• s

  Next hereunto the Poet declareth the ma∣ner of the breeding of bees.
• That maner to haue pleased, [viz. that that custome hath so pleased, [or that they are delighted with such a kind of procreation.]
• Delight in companying together for the cause of generation, [viz. take delight in ingendring.]
• That they are not bred by ingendring, a•• most other liuing crea∣tures are.
• ‖

  Idle or sluggish, do loose, &c. or dissol••e, [viz. spend or weaken their bodies with lust.
• Venus.
• Or haue any lust.
• Or do bring foorth [their] yong ones with [painfull] endeuour or en∣forcement, as most other creatures.
• Neither bring forth their yong with paine or inforcement.
• ‖

  Chuse.
• But that they gather their yong ones with their mouthes, from sweet flowers & herbes as they gather their hony.
• Sonnes [viz. broed.]
• ‖

  Mouthes.
• Suffice [viz. supply or chuse a new king.]
• And that hence they prouide their king, make supply of their stockes, and establish their kingdomes.
• And their litle Romanes [viz yong to succeed in the place of the old.]
• Festen againe or set vp.
• [Common] hall••.
• ‖

  Hi••es, or combes, made ••hiefly of waxe.
• t

  In this place is repea∣ted the painfulnesse & diligence of these bees.
• They haue worne, [viz. rubd or worne away.
• That, they oft times weare their wings in earnest flying amongst stones & rocks, and oft die vnder their burdes.
• Erring farre away, [or 〈◊〉〈◊〉] in hard whetstones [viz. rockes or clefts, out of which whetstones are made] amongst which they flie.
• The cause whereof is brought in by an Epi∣phonema; for that they haue so great a loue of flowers, and take such glorie in making hony.
• Haue giuen vp their soule, [viz. haue died, or as we speake of men, haue yeelded vp the ghost.]
• ‖

  Loade.
• [Their] loue of flowers [is] so great, and their glorie [or pride] of making hony i•• [so great,] [viz. they take such a delight in it.
• u

  Here likewise is in∣terposed the age of bees, and how long they liue.
• Therefore albeit the terme of a narrow age receiue them, [viz. al∣though the age of bees be but short.]
• That they liue but a small time, not aboue seuen yeares common∣ly, (which is much too, considering their indu∣strie,) yet their stocke (if they be well looked to) and so the prospe∣rous state and honour of their houses remains almost immortall [viz. for many yeares] that the owners of them may recken the grand∣fathers & great grand∣sires of them.
• For neither more then a seuenth Summer is led of them.
• ‖

  Their race and progenie do not de∣cay vtterly.
• ‖

  The state or prosperitie of them being carefully looked into, abides very long.
• Stands by many yeares.
• ‖

  A man may number their progeny for many descents.
• x

  Vnto the natures of the bees, the Poet ad∣deth here their obser∣uance and honour to∣wards their kings: which he illustrates by comparisons frō some dissimilitudes and sun∣drie effects. The dissi∣militudes are these: that neither the Egyp∣tians, Lydians, Parthi∣ans, Medes, nor Indi∣ans, are so obseruant & carefull for their king, as the bees are for theirs.
• ‖

  The people of Egypt and of Lydia.
• Nor the people of the Parthians or ^‖ the Medes, [viz. the people of Me∣dia.
• [Or] Hydaspes [the riuer of India]
• ‖

  Reuerence and carefully preserue.
• ‖

  So long as their king bee is safe.
• One mind is to all, [viz. they are all of one mind.]
• [But their king] being lost, they haue broken their fidelitie, and they themselues haue plucked as under their hony built vp [viz. layed or hoorded vp in the hony combes.]
• For that their king being safe, all is in peace amongst them.
• And haue loosed [or dissolued] the wattles of [their] hony combes: and so hauing destroyed all, they flie away.
• But if he be lost, they break their faith, spoile their hony, and all their owne work which they haue made.
• ‖

  The king bee.
• The keeper [or preseruer.]
• As he is the protector of their workes, so they admire him with all re∣uerence, guarding him thicke round about.
• They admire him, or wonder at him with reuerence.
• With a thicke humming noise.
• They oft lift him vp and carry him on their shoulders, putting their bodies betweene him and all dangers cheare∣fully enduring wounds, and readily aduentu∣ring their liues for his cause.
• ‖

  Being thicke about him.
• ‖

  They bears him on their shoulders.
• Obi••ct their bodies in warre [be∣tweene his bodie and the danger] viz. when they skirmish with other bees.
• ‖

  A faire death.
• y

  Hence the Poet sheweth, that by these obseruations of their gouernment, and these former signes of their wisedome, some haue thought that bees haue reason and some part of diuine vnderstan∣ding.
• Certaine men haue said by these signes, and following these examples, there to be a part of the diuine mind and airie breaths in bees.
• Draughts from the firmament [or diuine draughts] viz. such spirits as they draw from heauen.
• God to go through all, [viz. that God is a spirit, and i•• in all the ele∣ments, and euery where, as the Poet said before, Iouis omnia plena.
• For that God is in all things, going tho∣rough all, both earth, and seas, and heauen.
• Tracts.
• The lesser cattell, heards [or droues of beasts.]
• And so euery crea∣ture to fetch their life from him, and so from heauen.
• Of wilde beasts.
• Euery [man] being borne to fetch [or get] to himselfe [his] thinne lines, [viz. life or vitall spirits.]
• Yea that all things dy∣ing, surrender vp their liues backe againe thi∣ther.
• ‖

  From God.
• To wit.
• ‖

  That all things are restored.
• Afterwards [or in the end.]
• ‖

  Dissolued by a separation of the soule from the bodie.
• To be restored [hither,] viz. into the hea••ous, or to God.
• Neither [any] place to be for death.
• And that the spirits of all things that are dissolued, do flie vnto the starre••, euery one to his owne fatal starre▪ and after returne from heauen into new bo∣dies as need is, and thus keepe a continuall suc∣cession both in heauen and earth.
• But [all things] to flie aliue into the number of a signe in heauen, [viz. into their owne fatall starre, from which they came,]
• To succeed to the high heauen, [viz. to succeed or follow againe in their place in heauen, whence they came.
• z

  And from hence he proceedeth to an eight precept, concerning the time of emptying their hiues.
• Vndaube, or vncouer, [viz. to the end to take forth the hony combes, [or, if you will take forth of the hiues.
• And the hony kept in their trea∣sures.
• That when the ow∣ners of them will take some of their hony forth, they first spurt vpō thē some draughts of water out of their mouthes, as if it rained, to cause them to keepe within their hiues, and smoake them with swampes, to cast them for the present into a kinde of swoone.
• Sprinkling before draughts of wa∣ter, warme [these draughts] with [your] raouth. or make warme with [your] mouth draughts of water sprinkled [on them,] [either sparsus for spargens, or sparsos.
• ‖

  Water sprinkled on them will cause them to keepe in for feare of raine, and smoke wil cast them into a swoon till you haue taken forth the hony.
• Fumes of swampe, or galbanum, or the like.
• ‖

  The bees fill their hiues twise in the yeare, or the husbandman gathers the increase of the bees, viz. of hony and waxe twise, &c.
• This they do twise in the yeare, viz. in the Spring and in the har∣uest, which two times are described by the ri∣sing and setting of the seuen starres.
• Heauie [or loaden with increase.]
• There are two times of haruest, that is, of gathering their hony, viz. in the spring and in the haruest, i. e. twise in the yeare.
• ‖

  First when.
• Together.
• ‖

  Taygete and Pleias are two of the seuen starres called Pleiades. By this speech following is meant, that the ho∣ny is to be gathered twise in the yeare, viz. at the rising and setting of the seuen starres.
• The first when the seuen stars called Pleia∣des rise in the euening: which starres are set out by the names of two of them, Taygete and Pleias.
• ‖

  And also when the same, &c. [viz. at the setting of the seuen starres.
• Hath thrust backe.
• The despised riuers of the Ocean sea with [her] foote, [viz. at the ri∣sing of the seuen starres.
• The second time is at the setting of the se∣uen starres, viz. when they go downe at the arising of Pisces ouer against them.
• Flying from the signe of the wa∣terish fish, [viz. because at the setting of the seuen starres, Piscis riseth ouer against them.
• ‖

  Sets seeming to descend into the O∣cean sea, and so more sorrowfull, or more sad by reason of the Winter showers which then begin.
• a

  Hitberto the Poet hath set out the nature of bees, by their cau∣ses, works, subiects, ad∣iu••cts: now he com∣meth to the euils and dangers belonging to them.
• Anger is to them, [viz to the bees.]
• As first, that they will be angry without mea∣sure, and being hurt, they will bite and sting.
• They inspire poison into the bitings, [viz. they send poison into the places which they bite, or they poison the place bitten.
• And with their biting will breathe in a kinde of poison into the place bitten; and will also fa∣sten their stings so deepe, that commonly they leaue them behind them, and their liues withall.
• ‖

  Short stings which can hardly be seene to be plucked forth.
• Darts.
• And putting [their] liues in the wound, [viz leauing oft their stings in the wound, and then they die pre∣sently after, because with the sting, if they lose it, they lose some of their entrals.
• A second euill, is their pouertie, through the lacke of hony in the Winter time, and by reason of robbers, a∣gainst which he teach∣eth the remedie: That if you feare a hard Winter, and haue pitie on your bees, and care to preserue them:
• ‖

  Hard, because the bees get nothing that time, but onely spend.
• ‖

  For [the time] to come,] viz. lest the bees d••e through lacke of food, or being discouraged flie away.
• Minds or stomackes.
• And shall haue pitie of [their] bro∣ken matters.
• That you perfume their hiues with the smoke of thyme, and also pare away all the emptie waxe.
• But who can doubt.
• To smoke [their hiues] with the smoke of thyme, with which the bees are much refreshed.
• And then he giues reasons why he would haue that waxe so ta∣ken away.
• Cut or take away the emptie wax.
• ‖

  The waxe that hath no hony in it.
• Emptie [viz. voide, superfluous, vnprofitable.
• Stellio is taken for the lizard, or a beast like the lizard, hauing spots in the necke like starres.
• Vnknowne [viz. not perceiued.]
• Because that otherwise there wi••l new 〈◊〉〈◊〉 breed or get into it, which wil eate away the hony cōbs And likewise moathes.
• Eates vnto [or into.]
• Places to lie in [or neasts] are hea∣ped vp to ••thes [or by ••athes] viz. ••oathes get into the hi••es and con∣sume all▪ or beetles.
• And also idle droanes will get into it, which will consume the pro∣uision of the litle bees.
• Free, [viz. idle, or partaker of no office or worke with the other bees.
• ‖

  Liuing (as we speake) at another man▪ trencher, [viz. on the labours of the litle bees] * intermixeth himselfe.
• The sharpe [or stinging] hornet, so called because nine of them (as is said) will kill a man.
• Or hornets with their cruell stings.
• Hath intermixed himselfe with vnequall weapons, [viz. with hi••sting far bigger then the stings of the bees.
• And finally spiders will be bred there▪ which will weaue and spred their nets loose in the mouthes of the hiues, to hang the bees as they enter in.
• Vengible [or cruell.]
• Of worme breeding in hi••es.
• ‖

  The spider is said to be enuied of Minerua, because being a girle of Lydia, she durst challenge Minerua in spinning, and so was changed by her into a spider.
• Enuied.
• Hath hanged her loose [or wide] nets, [viz. her webs wherein the bees are hanged.]
• In the doores or gates.
• Lastly he addes this reason for the cleane taking away of all the emptie waxe. Because the emptier the hiues shall be, the more ea∣gerly will the bees be∣stirre themselues to re∣paire their decayes, and to fill vp their emptie roomes.
• By how much the bees shall be more exhausted, [viz. drawne emptie of ho∣ny, or more emptied.]
• By so much.
• Sharply or fiercely.
• Will apply [themselues] to amend▪
• ‖

  The losses or damages
• Of their kind, being sliden, [viz. spent or wasted.]
• Will fill together.
• Foros, hatches, [a metaphor bo∣rowed of mariners, who loade their ships with merchādize by the hatches.
• ‖

  And make vp their combes with waxe and like matter gathered from flowers.
• Make like wea••ers worke.
• b

  Then followeth a third annoyance or euil of bees, which is by dis∣ease, for that they vse to be diseased as well a•• other cattell.
• ‖

  Shall pi•• away▪
• With a sad▪ or sorowfull disease.
• Chances.
• You may know now by signes not doubtfull [viz. certaine or manifest.]
• Whereof he giueth fixe signes, viz. where∣by to know that they are sicke.
• ‖

  So soone as they are sicke, they are straight way of another colour [viz. a bad colour]
• As first, that they wil be then of a bad dustie colour.
• ‖

  In them, [or the sicke bees are of another colour.
• Secondly, they will be of an vgly leannesse.
• Horrible [viz. ill fauoured.]
• ‖

  Marre [their]
• Countenance, or visage.
• Then they carry forth out of [their] roofes [or houses] the bodies of [the bees] wanting light, and leade sad [or sorrowfull] funerals or burials.
• Thirdly, by their ca∣rying out of dead bees.
• Fourthly▪ their hang∣ing together ••unged by their feete at the mouth of their hiues.
• Or they do hang, knit together by [their] feete at the thresholds of their hiues.
• ‖

  Clustered, or wrapped, or tangled together.
• Fiftly, their lingring in their hiues, and sloth, thorough famishment or cold.
• ‖

  All of the•• linger [or loyter]
• ‖

  In their hiues, [as if it were shut vp.
• Famine or hunger.
• Through cold contracted or drawne vpon them.
• Sixtly, by their hea∣uie noise, humming in a trailing maner, as oft drawing their breath.
• ‖

  Drawing out their noise weakly, [or oft drawing their breath, as in them that are readie to die, or more broken.
• Which last signe is illustrated by three si∣militudes: That their noise is then as the noise of the Southwind in the woods.
• ‖

  The South wind being cold or coole, [viz. because it is cold, as all other winds in their owne nature.
• ‖

  Doth make a low noise in the woods.
• Or as of the sea be∣ing troubled with her rebounding waues.
• With [her] waues [or surges] flow∣ing backe againe.
• Fierce [or scorching] fire burnes, making a hollow sound.
• O•• finally like a ve∣hement fire sounding hollowly in close for∣naces.
• The fornaces or ouens being shut vp.
• c

  Whereunto ••e ad∣ioyneth nine remedies.

  As first, to perfume or smoke their hiues with sweete smels, as by burning Galbanum, or the like.

  Secondly to hearten them, by laying hony in troughes of reed for them to feed vpon, in the hiues mouth, or be∣fore the hiues.

  Thirdly, to mingle with the hony the de∣coction of bruised gals.

  Fourthly, to mixe therewith drie roses.

  Fifthly, or to mingle with it new wine boy∣led thicke in stead of the former.

  Sixtly, to lay them bunches of raisins of the Sunne of the best vines for the bees to suck vpon, or to make them decoctions there∣of.

  Seuenthly, decoctions made with thyme.

  Eightly, Decoction of centaury.

  The ninth and last by the decoction of the flower called Amello, which h••be the Poet describeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 large by sundry circumstances: As first, that it groweth in medowes.
• I will perswade [or counsell you] to burne odours of Galbanum [which is a kind of gu•• issuing out of a cer∣taine herbe in the Summer time] viz. to smoke and perfume their hiues with Galbanum.]
• Exhorting [viz. encouraging them [that is]
• ‖

  To hearten and reuiue your bees by seeding them with hony.
• And calling them.
• Weary or weake.
• Vnto their knowne nourishment or sustenance, [viz. to encourage them to labour againe.
• In reeden chancels or pipes.
• It shall profit [them,] also to min∣gle [with the hony] the bruised taste of gals, [viz. the decoction of gals.
• New wine boiled to the halfe.
• ‖

  Botled till it be very thicke, or sod to a third part.
• ‖

  Of the best vine or grape, [viz. to make another decoction]
• Fat with much fire.
• Or bunches of grapes layed open [or dried well in the Sunne] gathe∣red] from the Psithian vine.
• ‖

  And a decoction made of thyme and centaury.
• Of Cecropia.
• ‖

  In medow grounds.
• Of this herbe are two kindes, the great and the small. The Physitians thinke the greater to be here vnder∣stood.
• ‖

  Which the husbandmen call A∣mell••, [as some thinke, of Mella •• ri∣uer in France, neare vnto which much of it groweth, [or rather a riuer of Lucania, as followeth after.
• ‖

  Which the husbandmen call A∣mell••, [as some thinke, of Mella •• ri∣uer in France, neare vnto which much of it groweth, [or rather a riuer of Lucania, as followeth after.
• Secondly that the hus∣bandmen call it Amel∣lus.
• Easie to [men] seeking [it.]
• Thirdly, that it is an herbe easie to be found of them that seeke it.
• For i•• lifts vp [or shootes out.]
• A huge wood [viz. great store of stalks] and leaues or many branches out of one stalke or roote.
• In that first it sends foorth many branches out of one roote.
• And secondly for that the flower is of a gol∣den colour, the leaues of a purple hue, some∣what like a blacke vio∣let spread very thicke round about.
• ‖

  But the leaues are of a purple co∣lour, somewhat like a blacke violet.
• But a purple colour.
• ‖

  Shines somewhat duskishly.
• Which [leaues] are powred out very many round about, [viz. which grow very thicke about.
• Thirdly, that the al∣tars of their Gods were wont to be deckt with garlands made thereof.
• Are oft adorned.
• Collars or chaines [viz. garlands] knit [or tied together with a threed.]
• Fourthly, it is set out by the taste, that it is sharpe in the mouth.
• Fifthly by the place more particularly where sheepheards vse to gather it, viz. in val∣leys wont to be mown, and specially neare vn∣to the riuer Mella, where it groweth plen∣tifully.
• In mowne valleys [viz. where no woods grow, or in medowes before they be mowne.]
• Flouds of Mella.
• Mella (as was said) i•• thought to be a riuer of France, or rather of Lu∣cania, which is nearer vnto Naples, where Virgil writ this worke, as M••yen iudgeth.
• Lastly he teacheth the manner of the de∣coction of it, to wit, by boyling the rootes thereof in the most o∣doriferous wine, and then to set it as meane for the weake bees in ••ll ••roughes in the en∣trie of their hi••.
• In wine smelling sweete [or mixed with spices smelling sweet.]
• Bacch••.
• Wicker b••kets or panniers [or o∣ther vessels, a•• treys, pipes, or the like.]
• In the doores.
• d

  After all this, now to∣wards the end of the worke, he sheweth the maner of the restoring and repairing of bees againe, if all the whole brood shall faile, viz. by the putrified bloud of a beast.
• The issue or stocke, &c. [viz. if any mans bees shall die wholly.
• Neither shall he haue from whence the kind of a new stocke [or brood] may be recalled.
• To which purpose he brings in a long fabu∣lous storie concerning the memorable inuen∣tion of Aristeus a king of Arcadia, in finding out this deuice of re∣storing bees, by the bloud of a bullocke newly killed.
• ‖

  To shew in like manner.
• ‖

  The deuice of Aristaeus worth re∣membring.
• ‖

  Aristaeus is said to haue bene king of Arcadia, and the first finder out of this inuention of repairing bees de∣cayed, and sundrie other concerning bees.
• By what meanes foule [or vn∣cleane, or not pure] bloud.
• Bullocks being new killed.
• Where he first vseth a short exordium to a ve∣ry long narration: That he will dispatch the whole report hereof, rehearsing it at large frō the first beginning.
• All the fame of it.
• Repeating [viz. fetching it] more deeply from the first originall.
• Then he enters into the narration, first by describing the place where this was first in∣uented, viz. Canopus Pelleus in Egypt, neare the mouthes of Nilus, where the bees being vtterly lost by the ouer∣flowings of Nilus, were repaired by this deuice.
• The fortunate nation [viz. the wealthy people] of Canopus Pelleus, a citie of Egypt neare Alexandria, which Canopus, Alexander the great built, and is called Pellaeus, because Alexander who built it, was borne in Pella. vid Mein.
• Dwelleth neare vnto Nilus stan∣ding as a pond [his] streame being powred out [or let out.]
• Ramus and Frischli•• do take it that Alexan∣dria built by Alexander, is here meant, being neare vnto Canopus a litle Iland by one of the seuen mouthes of Nilus. Which ouerflowing•• of Nilus are thus set out: That they make that part of Egypt neare thereto, for the time of the ouerflowing like a standing pond. So that the people there are for that time faine to be carried about their grounds and countrey in boates.
• And [the people] is caried about their countreys [or fields] in painted brigandines, or galliots, [viz. for all the time that the countrey is ouer∣flowed by Nilus, which is for almost fourescore dayes, beginning at the ri∣sing of the dog-starre, watering and fatting all their grounds. vid. Mein. & Ram.
• And whence.
• And secondly the place is more particu∣larly set out to be; where Nilus turning downeward from E∣thiopia, washeth vpon the countries neare vn∣to the warlike Persian.
• Bending downeward, welnigh from, &c.
• Vrgeth [or pressethon, or cometh neare vnto, or troubleth.]
• ‖

  The Ethiopians, not the East Indi∣ans. See hereof Mein. and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• The neare places of Persia, [viz. the places not farre off from Persia.]
• Wearing a quiuer, [viz. louing ar∣cherie.]
• And where by the mud which it leaues behind it, it makes E∣gypt fruitfull.
• And makes fruitfull Egypt being greene, [viz. more greene then other countries through this ouerflowing of Nilus.
• Doth lay her safetie, [viz. for the preseruing of her bees in this art of the repairing of them.
• And so rushing down∣ward, deuides it selfe into 7 diuers mouthes, whereby it is emptied into the sea.
• ‖

  With the blacke mud which it lea∣ueth behind it when it hath ouer∣flowne.
• ‖

  Diuides it selfe into seuen diuers mouthes, whereby it is emptied into the sea.
• Euen all that region vpon the occasion of this experiment, relies vpon this art for the repairing of their bees.
• First a very little place.
• ‖

  Sure experience of this skill or pra∣ctise of repairing bees.
• e

  And so he proceeds vnto a full description of this art it selfe. First for the place where this feate may be wrought: That there must be a place made streight of purpose with walls.
• Drawne together [or made streight or narrow] for the same vses.
• ‖

  Roome.
• They presse this place, [viz. they make it close] with a roofe tile of a narrow roofe.
• They adde.
• And couered close with narrow roofe tiles.
• With an oblique [viz. thwart or slope] light, [that is, not full outright but descending downewards.
• Which place must haue foure windowes, whereby to let in the light aslope downward from the foure winds.
• Then a calfe now crooking his hornes in his two yeare old forehead is sought for this purpose.
• Secondly for the matter, that there must be a bullocke of two yeares old, taken for this purpose.
• ‖

  They stop his nosthrils and his breath, though he struggle much, and kill him with bruising his flesh tho∣roughout his whole hide.
• The double nosthrils, [viz. both the nosthrils] are stopped] and the breath of the mouth is stopped to this [bul∣locke] striuing against it [or strug∣gling] much.
• Which bullock must be strangled by stop∣ping his nosthrils and mouth.
• And all his flesh with∣in his hide must be bruised with blowes & bangs.
• Bowels [viz. all his inward parts.]
• Beaten.
• Multa pro multum.
• Throughout his hide being whole, [viz remaining whole.]
• Are vnloosed [to him,] being kil∣led with strokes or blowes.
• Thirdly, that he must be left lying in the place so inclosed with peeces of greene boughes, and also store of thyme and casia newly gathered vnder∣neath him.
• Put.
• ‖

  In the place shut vp.
• And put vnder his ribs branchie fragments [viz. peeces of branches or boughes of trees.
• Fourthly, it is descri∣bed by the time when it is to be done, viz. in the beginning of the Spring; which is set out by sundrie other cir∣cumstances, as first, when the West winde begins to blow.
• Al. Fresh, recentes, [viz. newly ga∣thered.]
• ‖

  Of Casia see before.
• This thing is done [or effected,] the West windes first driuing forward, [viz. thawing or stirring] the waues, [that is, in the first beginning of the Spring.
• Medowes.
• Secondly, before the medow grounds be decked with flowers.
• Thirdly, before the building of the swal∣low.
• f

  After, followeth the euent hereof, that the moisture of the bul∣locke thus waxing hot and purrifying, by the meanes aforesaid, li∣uing creatures will ap∣peare in a maruellous multitude and manner, without feete at first like little wormes.
• ‖

  Before the coming, or at least be∣fore the building of the swallow.
• ‖

  In the meane while.
• ‖ The bloud being warmed in the bones all bruised, [viz. by the meanes of the time and place.
• ‖

  In wonderfull sorts.
• By and by they will flicker as with wings.
• Manners.
• After receiuing more liuelinesse from the thinne aire,
• Cut short [viz. as it were mai••ed and vnperfect] of their feete like litle wormes.
• And by and by making a noise, as it were, with fins, or wings.
• They burst out of the hide abundantly; which bursting out of them in such an admi∣rable number, is illu∣strated by two simili∣tudes:
• Pens or fethers, Al. with fins.
• Are mixed.
• And catch in thin aire, [viz. ga∣ther vitall spirits or life.]
• That they powre out as thicke as drops of raine out of the clouds in a great Summer shower:
• ‖

  A vehement shower powred out of the clouds in the Summer time.
• Or as the shafts are sent out of the bowes when the Parthians giue the first onset in battell.
• ‖

  Arrowes, * [are sent out]
• The sinew, [viz. the bow-string which was wont to be made of si∣newes] driuing [them.]
• If at any time [viz. whensoeuer] the light Parthians enter their first battels, [viz conflicts or skirmishes with their enemies.]
• g

  Here the Poet to procure more attentiō to that which follow∣eth, turnes his speech vnto the Muses, and in∣uocates them to helpe him in finding out and relating this great mat∣ter; what God inuented this skill.
• ‖

  Oh ye daughters of Iupiter, who re∣member all things.
• ‖

  Hath inuented or found out.
• ‖

  Found out this skill or cunning.
• Art.
• ‖

  Vpon what occasion.
• From whence this new experience came.
• ‖

  Practise or triall.
• Then he proceeds to his long narration con∣cerning Aristeus, and the recouerie of his bees. How he went vnto his mother Cy∣rene a Nymph for aduice, who sent him to Pro••eus a God of the sea, of whom he learned this art. Where first he describes Aristeus by his calling; that he was a shepheard, viz a great maister of husbandry, chiefly of bees; and secondly by his countrey, Tempe, those pleasant fields of Thessaly, neare the riuer Peneis; and thirdly, in that he hauing lost his bees by sicknesse and by famishment, did quite forsake that his plea∣sant countrey.
• ‖

  The great husband Aristeus being skilfull about cattell, trees and bees, as followeth after.
• Flying from,
• The Peneian Tempe, [viz. Tempe neare the riuer Peneus in Thessaly, running betweene Ossa and Olympus.
• [His] bees being lost (as the fame [is]) by, &c. [or when his bees were lost.]
• And went to the head of the riuer Peneis; where standing verie penfiue at that sacred fountaine, he makes a grieuous complaint vnto his mother Cyrene.
• ‖

  Diseases comming of famishment. Hysteron proteron.
• ‖

  Hunger.
• Sad.
• Speaking in this ma∣ner as followeth, in the words of the Poet.
• Vtmost riuer, [viz. at the foun∣taine of Peneus.
• Mother Cyrene, &c.
• Where first he calls his mother by her name; and secondly de∣scribes her by her ha∣bitation, that she dwelt in the deepest bottoms of that riuer.
• Many things.
• [His] parent in this voice [or speech.]
• [My] mother.
• Which holdest, [viz. inhabitest.]
• Secondly he aggra∣uates his complaint by the wrong which she had done him; that she had bred him, and that of the noble linage of the Gods, (if Apollo was his father, as she said) yet to liue enuied of the Gods or fates.
• The lowest bottomes or places of, &c.
• ‖

  Cyrene was thought to dwell in a caue of Pindus, whence Peneus springs, there to be worshipped as a Nymph or Goddesse.
• ‖

  Riuer.
• Begotten me being odius to the fates
• ‖

  Apollo was called Thymbraeus, ei∣ther of Thymbra a towne of Phry∣gia, where was great store of the herbe Thymbra, viz. Sauorie; or of Thymber a riuer of Troas, neare which Apollo had a Temple.
• And so expostulates with her, asking what was become of her loue towards him, and why she had put him in hope to be receiued into the number of the Gods, or to liue that heauenly life, seeing he could not be per∣mitted the honour of this mortall life, which he had attained by his owne wisdom, industry and experience in his carefull ordering both of cattell and fruites.
• Being odious to the fates, [viz. that I should liue enuied or odious to the Gods.]
• ‖

  The loue wherewith thou wast wont to loue vs.
• ‖

  Departed.
• To thee.
• ‖

  To hope to be receiued into the number of the Gods.
• Behold or see also.
• Thee being [my] mother.
• Wittie custodie.
• And after he wish∣eth her, if she enuied his prosperous estate, that she should then de∣stroy all the fruites and hopes or his labours, as if pluking them vp with her owne hands.
• Had beaten out to me, [viz. had inuented or prouided for me,] trying all things.
• ‖

  My fruitfull trees, [viz. destroy all the fruites and hopes of my labours.
• That she would con∣sume with fire all his cattell, corne, and store.
• ‖

  Set fire vpon my stalls of cattell, or roomes of store, [viz. burne vp all my cattell and store.]
• Yea that she would burne vp his plants, and destroy his vines if she was weary of his praise.
• Kill [viz. waste] [my] haruests or graine.
• Moue [thy] strong twibill, axe, or vinehooke vnto my vines.
• If so great tediousnesse [or weari∣nesse] of my praise haue taken thee, [viz. taken hold vpon thee,] or if it ••rke thee of my praise.
• h

  The Poet hauing thus described Aristaeus and his complaint, de∣scends to the Nymph Cyrene the mother of Aristeus, and her an∣swer: wherein first he sheweth how she per∣ceiued a dolefull voice, and then describes her both by the place wher she was, viz. in her bedchamber, vnder the deep riuer Peneus; and also by her attendants, the Nymphs round a∣bout her. Which Nymphs are againe set out by their work, that they toosed Milesian wooll of a deepe glas∣sie colour; and by their names, to wit, Drymo, Zantho, Ligea, Philodo∣ce: and these like wise commended by their beautie in their haire, viz. hauing their faire haire spred about their white neckes.
• ‖

  A dolefull noise, [viz. the complaint of her sonne Aristeus.
• The Nymphs [standing] about her.
• ‖

  Caried.
• Milesian fleeces [viz. of the citie Miletum.]
• Counterfeited.
• With a full colour of glasse.
• Al. A Saturan colour, of Saturum a citie neare Tarent, where such colours were much died.
• For the reason of these names set Ramus com on this place.
• Being powred out [or spred] in re∣gard of [their] bright haire [or locks] by [or about] their white necks.
• ‖

  Gay, or gallant.
• And with these Ne∣sea, Spio, Thalia, Cymo∣doce, Cydippe and Lyco∣rias, which two last are noted, that one of them was a virgin:
• And yellow Lycorias, [viz. Lycorias with her golden lockes.
• The other of them hauing had one onely child.
• Th'other then first hauing tried by experience the labours [or trauels] of Lucina. By Lucina is vnderstood Iu∣no or Diana, so called because they two ruled the trauell of women, and helped in bringing the child to light.
• ‖

  Where the Poet counts adulterie theft.
• Vnto these are added Clio and Beroe, which two are honoured by their descent, that they were the daughters of Oceanus.
• Girded in with gold.
• And also by their at∣tire, that they were clo∣thed in gold, and spot∣ted skins.
• And with painted skins, [viz. gar∣ments or girdles made of speckled Deere skins.
• With these in like manner are numbred others, as Ephyre, Opis, Asia and Deiopeia.
• And also.
• And Deiopeia of Asia [or Asia Goddeslike.]
• And also Arethusa, who is commended for her swiftnesse, hauing layed away her shafts wherewith she pursued the chase.
• Her shafts being layed away at last, [viz. after that she had layed away her shafts, and left off her hun∣ting.]
• Amongst which [Nymphs] [the Nymph] Clymene
• Shewed [or related] viz. sang of,
• The vaine [or needlesse] care of Vulcan.
• The deceits of Mars. Hereof see Ouids Met.
• And amongst them all Clymene, who told them merrie tales to passe away the time, & make their work more pleasant. Of which tales some few are noted, to giue a ••aste to the rest.
• Sweet thefts, [viz. stolne delights] betweene Mars and Venus.
• And Clymene numbred the thicke loues.
• ‖

  From the beginning of the world. Metam. I.
• i

  But here the Poet re∣turns to declare the ef∣fect of Aristeus moane, that thogh the Nymphs were caught with much delight, whilest they were spinning, through the pleasantnesse of her discourse and her pretie tales, yet the dolefull moan of Aristeus pierst into his mothers eares.
• With which verse.
• Catched or taken [with delight.]
• Whilst they roll downe or twist the soft yarne with their spindles.
• The mourning of Aristeus infor∣ced [or entered violently into] his mothers eares.
• And that all the Nymphes sitting on their glassie seates were much amazed there∣with.
• From [their] glassie seates.
• ‖

  Their seates being bright like glasse [as water which is shining, that it may be discerned thorough.]
• And thirdly how A∣rethusa looking forth before her other sisters to know the noise and what it meant, lift vp her golden head aboue the top of the water.
• ‖

  Shining head, or golden head.
• From the vppermost waue, [viz. the vppermost part of the water.
• Waue.
• And farre off.
• And that she percei∣uing what it was, thogh standing a far off, spake vnto her sister Cyrene, (who was exceedingly affrighted at the dole∣full moane) & shewed her the whole matter.
• Exceedingly terrified.
• By so great a groane, [viz. pitifull mourning.
• To [or for thee.]
• How her son Aristeus who was her greatest care, being very sad for her cause, stood wee∣ping at the riuer side, & called her cruell.
• Waue, [viz. at the side of [the ri∣uer] Peneus.
• Smitten in regard of her minde. Synech.
• ‖

  Astonished.
• Wherunto the answer of Cyr••nes his mother is adioyned, and first is set downe a preparatiō to her speech: How she being smitten with a new feare, returned againe this answer vnto Arethusa: That she should go and bring him in vnto her. That it might be lawfull for him to approch and enter within the thresholds of the Gods, sith he was the sonne of a Nymph and of a God.
• To this [Arethusa.]
• ‖

  For him [because he was the sonne of a God and of a Nymph.]
• And withall how she commanded the wa∣ters to depart, and to make way where her sonne should enter in.
• ‖

  To auoide, or giue place, [viz. to make a way.
• How thereupon the waters obeyed, stood about him.
• Should bring in his steps, [or the going of the yong man might bring him in.
• The waue.
• ‖

  Crooked [or bowed crooks] into the face [viz. after the maner or fashion of a mountaine or hill.
• And receiued him accordingly, and sent him vnderneath the ri∣uer vnto his mothers house.
• ‖

  And receiued him in her huge cha∣nell.
• ‖

  Streame.
• k

  Then the Poet shews his wondering at the things he saw in this his passage amongst the waters. How he admi∣red his mothers house, her watery realmes, the great: standing ponds within ••he ground, frō whence the fountaines and di••ers riuers issued, and also how he won∣dered at the sounding groues.
• Maruelling [or wondering] at the house of his mother which had bred him.
• Kingdomes.
• ‖

  These are fained to be the Thea∣ters of the Nymphes.
• ‖

  Huge motion or tumbling.
• ‖

  Large or spacious.
• How he still going forward, was asto••ied at the huge tumbling of the waters, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great riuers flowing vn∣der••e at•• the earth.
• And [admiring] the lakes, [viz. standing ponds or meeres, the recep∣tacles of the fountains or from whence the heads of diuers riuers issued.
• * Sliding.
• And did behold.
• ‖

  Issues forth.
• A•• Phasis and Lycus.
• And to behold the heads of diuers great riuers, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 both of the deepe riuer E••ipous,
• Al Snatcheth forth it selfe.
• From whence.
• And also of the an∣cient riuer Tiber.
• ‖

  The ancient riuer Tiber [doth burst forth.]
• And so likewise the head of Anien, of Hipa∣nis, Caicus & Eridanus. Which three riuers are set forth by their seue∣rall circumstances. As Hipanis for making a great sound, running a∣mongst stones: Caicus flowing out of Mysia.
• ‖

  Anio a riuer neare Tibur.
• Sounding as amongst stones, [viz. roughly and vehemently,] Saxosum pro Saxo••.
• ‖

  Caicus a riuer of Phrygia, coming out of Mysia.
• Eridanus, that it hath two golden hornes in a buls face.
• And Eridanus being golden [in regard of his] double hornes in [or with] a buls countenance. Synec. It seemeth to be called golden, either in regard of the signe in heauen so called, golden with ••larre: or for the riches of it by the ca••tell feeding on the banks thereof; or the townes and cities neare vnto it. And it is said to be bull faced, for the roaring or vio∣lence thereof. It is now called Padus.
• And that it floweth most violently into the sea through the fertile fields.
• Then which [riuer.]
• Flowes in [or runnes] more violent into the purple sea thorough the fat well tilled fields.
• ‖

  The Adriaticall sea called purple for the blacknesse, in regard of the depth. The sea i•• commonly called ••ce∣ruleum, viz. azure, or skie coloured.
• ‖

  And bring him fine towels.
• l

  Then followeth a se∣cond part of the na••ra∣tion of the maner of his receiuing into his mo∣thers house, and enter∣tainment there; and also his sending vnto Pro∣•• for his entertain∣ment. How after he was entred into his mothers house, (which is descri∣bed that it was roofed o••er with hanging pu∣mish stone,) and after that she knew that the cause of her sons wee∣ping might easily be remedied▪ the Nymphs which attended vpon her (each in their or∣der,) some of them brought him sweet wa∣ter for his hands,
• After that [it was] throughly come [of him] into the roofes, [viz. vnder the roofes] of the bed-chamber hanging with pumish stone, [viz. be∣ing of pumish stone hanging ouer their heads.]
• Vaine [viz hurtfull to him, and which might be helped.]
• [Her] naturall sisters giue liquid fountaines to [his] hands in order, [viz. each in order, or many of them attending in order.]
• The naps shorne.
• Loade.
• And fine towels to wipe withall.
• Meate or delicates.
• Others of them furnish the table with dainties, and oft fill the cups.
• And set againe full pots.
• m

  For his sending to Proteus, the Poe•• shew∣eth what holy rites were vsed. How the Nymphs first burnt vpon the al∣tars great store of in∣cense made with sweet Panchean wood.
• The altars grow great with Pan∣chean fiers, [viz. with fiers of sweete wood or of frankincense of Panchea a countrey in Arabia where is store thereof.
• ‖

  Are incensed, or haue great store of frankincense burnt on them.
• ‖

  Pots, goblet••, or sacrificing cups.
• Meonian wine. ••
• And then how his mother filling certaine sacrificing cups of Ly∣dian wine, inc••tes him to offer to Oceanus the great God of the sea.
• Let vs sacrifice or touch lightly.
• Together.
• And how withall she prayes both vnto that great Oceanus, whom she calls the father of all things, and to the Nymphs her sisters.
• Oceanus the great God of the sea, sonne to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Vesta.
• ‖

  The Poet followes the opinion of them which thought all things to be made of the water.
• A hundred [whereof there are] which, &c.
• ‖

  Are Goddesses of the woods, a hun∣dred of the riuers.
• Which sister Nymphs are described by their number and their char∣ges; that a hundred of them kept the woods, and another hundred kept the riuers.
• She powred [or all to sprinkled] a∣bout thrise the burning fire with li∣quid Nectar, [viz. that excellent drinke of the Gods.
• Vesta the Goddesse of the fire, put for fire.
• And thirdly how she thrise sprinkled the fires vpon the altars with most pure Nectar.
• ‖

  Vnder the wine cast on, it flasht backe to the top of the house.
• Finally, how the flame thereof flashed vp three times to the top of the house.
• With which good signe of happy successe she comforting & assu∣ring her selfe, as if she had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the spirit of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 began to direct her so•• Ari∣steus for his going and seeking vnto Prote••s, as followeth.
• ‖

  She assuring her selfe, as being in∣spired by Oceanus, began to speake thus.
• n

  That there was a Prophet of Neptune in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sea,
• Of Neptune.
• ‖

  In the gulfe of the Carpathian sea, which is so named of an Ile betweene Rhodes and Creete, called Carpathus.
• ‖

  Proteus of the colour of the sea.
• Whose name was the skie coloured Proteus, which Prophet vsed to be carred ouer the sea on fishes backs.
• ‖

  Swims ouer the huge sea.
• By fishes.
• And in a chariot drawn by two footed horses.
• And with a chariot of two footed horses ioyned [or tied thereunto] viz. with a chariot tied to the horses.
• How this Prophet was at this time gone to review the ports of Emathia and his coun∣trey Palene.
• ‖

  The Gods of the sea were fained to be of the forepart horses, fishes of the hinder.
• He now hath visited againe the ha∣uens of Emathia.
• And how for his di∣uine knowledge the ve∣ry Nymphs did adore him, and euen Nereus that ancient God of the sea did honour him, for that he foreknew all things both past, pre∣sent, and to come.
• ‖

  Emathia is taken for Thessaly, wherein Proteus is said to haue reig∣ned first.
• Both the Nymphs do worship him, and also the great aged Nereus [who is the father of the Nymphes] [doth worship him.]
• ‖

  Nereus a God of the sea.
• ‖

  That Proteus.
• Hath knowne all things.
• Then for the confir∣matiō hereof, she giues the reason of his diuine knowledge: That it see∣med good to Neptune thus to grate him ther∣with, for his good ser∣uice done vnto him, in tending of his beards of cattell, to wit, both his sea∣calues and all o∣ther monsters of the sea.
• ‖

  Or which may be drawne on, [or prolonged] to come by and by [or here∣after.]
• ‖

  To Neptunes grace.
• ‖

  By these monstrous heards, he meanes the huge fishes and sea mon∣sters, as whales and the like.
• Filthy, [viz. ugly, great.
• ‖

  Vnder the gulfe, [viz. in the depth of the seas.]
• o

  After she shewes him the maner how he must consult with this Pro∣teus: That first he must bind him before he ask any question of him, to the end that he might the more speedily make knowne vnto him the causes of the diseases of his bees.
• My sonne, this [Prophet Proteus] is to be catched of thee before with bonds, [viz. thou must bind him first because he will tell thee nothing, but being inforced.
• Dispatch readily.
• All the cause of the disease.
• And grant him good successe for the repai∣ring of them.
• And may prosper the euents [or fal∣ling out of things.
• Because he would not teach him any thing but by constraint.
• ‖

  He will not tell thee any thing.
• For that he could not moue him by any in∣treatie.
• Force.
• Bow him.
• And therfore she ad∣uiseth to catch him of a sudden, and to bind him by force.
• Stretch out hard force [or vio∣lence] to [him] taken.
• ‖

  His subtill deuices about, &c.
• And then howsoeuer he would for a time vse sundry deceits to escape his bonds, yet at length all his shifts would be frustrate, and he should certainly preuaile.
• Shall be broken [as] vaine at length, [viz. that he will tell thee]
• I my selfe will leade thee into the secret places [or walkes] of the old man, [viz. Proteus.]
• ‖

  Whenas the Sun doth parch in the middle of the day.
• Also to this purpose she promiseth that she her selfe will conduct him to the very place where he may finde Proteus asleepe. That about the noone time of the day, when as the Sunne is most hote, so that the herbs begin to parch, and that the cat∣tell seeke after the sha∣dow to stand vnder, to saue them from the heate, she would guide him to the secret place of this old man.
• Do thirst [or parch, as crying for water.]
• ‖

  Pleasant or delight some.
• ‖

  Gods of the sea are fained to be old men and gray haired, because of the foame of the sea.
• Al. Whither he being wearied of the waues, or with the water.
• Doth receiue or betake himselfe.
• Whither he being wea∣ried by reason of his age & toyling amongst the waues, retires him∣selfe to rest.
• ‖

  Come vpon him.
• Lying in sleepe.
• p

  And here she rehearseth againe the maner how her son should inforce him, when he had caught him. That he must hold him fast and binde him sure, be∣cause he would change himselfe into diuers shapes, to the end to delude him, or to af∣fright him, so to cause him to let him go.
• Catched with.
• That so he might come vpon him of a sudden, lying fast asleep.
• ‖

  Shewes or likenesses.
• Mouthes.
• For he will be made suddenly a horrible [or dreadfull] swine.
• ‖

  A cruell tiger.
• That he would be turned of a sudden into a swine, and to a blacke tiger.
• ‖

  A dragon full of scales.
• ‖

  A she lion.
• Likewise into a scaly dragon.
• With a necke of a deepe yellow shi∣ning like gold.
• And into a fierce lio∣nesse.
• Or else he will giue a sharpe [or shrill] sound of a flame of fire.
• Or else he would seeme like a flame of fire, making a crack∣ling noise to escape out of his bonds.
• Fall out, [viz. get away.]
• Or sliding away, he will go into the thin waters.
• Or to slip away into the water.
• But by how much more he shall turne himselfe.
• Against all which she forewarneth him, to looke well to it, that the more he should so change himselfe, he should tie and hold him so much the harder,
• ‖

  Change.
• Formes.
• My sonne stretch more, by so much the bands holding him fast.
• Vntill he come vnto his right shape againe, as he was at the first.
• What a one thou hast seene him.
• Couered.
• With sleepe begun, [or [his] sleepe begun] [viz. beginning to sleepe.]
• q

  Cyrene hauing thus directed her sonne, she moreouer prouides that he may be liuely & valorous against the time of this his conflict with Proteus, the better to preuaile. And to this purpose she cast vpon him a pure odour of Ambrosia.
• ‖

  Thus she spake.
• Sa••d.
• ‖

  And [withall]
• Powred abroad.
• A liquid smell [or sauour, or iuyce.]
• r

  Ambrosia ab a pri∣••atiua, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 mor∣talis, because it is ••aid to make them immor∣tall who taste thereof, as Nectar of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, occido, non occido, Ramus.
• ‖

  By Ambrosia is either meant an herbe commonly called Oke of Ierusa∣lem, or Oke of Paradise; or else it is taken for the meate of the Gods, as v∣sually in the Poets, like as Nectar is the drinke of the Gods.
• With which she powred [or wet] throughout the whole bodie of [her] sonne.
• A sweete winde [or blast] brea∣thed vnto him, his haires being com∣posed, [viz combed, and neatly set in order.]
• ‖

  A liuely ablenesse.
• Al. Throughly annointed, or led tho∣roughout.
• Came.
• s

  After all this, doth the Poet describe the place of Proteus re••t, more fully, where Cyrene sets her sonne to catch him in such sort as she had directed.
• ‖

  A mightie great ho••e.
• Of a mountaine all eaten away [with the waters.]
• Wherewith she soked his whole bodie tho∣roughout, & blew vpon with so sweete a sent, that a liuely vigour en∣tred into his lims.
• ‖

  Great store of water.
• Is gathered by the wind.
• And [the waue] doth cut or deuide it selfe into bosomes brought backe, [viz. hollow turnings of water banks, where the water is beate backe.]
• In time past a most safe standing [or rode] to the mariners being cat∣ched.
• Within Proteus doth couer, [viz. is wont to couer, or hide himselfe for his retire.]
• That there is a huge caue in the side of a hill eaten with the water, where the waues dri∣uen in by the windes are beaten backe.
• Barre or shut.
• Vaste or mightie.
• Here the Nymph [his mother] doth place the yong man [viz. Aristeus] turned from the light [that is, aside from the caues mouth, whereby the light came into the caue, that Proteus should not see him.
• Which place was sometime a most safe harbour for sea-men caught by tempest.
• ‖

  In a secret place.
• How within this ca••e Proteus vsed to retire & rest himselfe, couering the mouth of it with a very great stone.
• ‖

  She also withdrew her selfe a far off, couered with a cloud.
• And how within a creake hereof she pla∣ced her sonne secretly, that he might stand close▪ and not be seene.
• Al. resistit, stands backe, [viz. stood aside.
• Obscure with clouds, [viz. much hidden.
• t

  Then he declares the effect of her aduice, how all things came to passe accordingly; and first sets out the time of his surprising him in such sort, that it was the beginning of the dog∣days, viz when the dog∣star burnes in the skie, and about the midtime of the day, which is thus set forth by causes and effects: That the Sunne had gone halfe his daily course, the herbes wi∣thered, the hollow ri∣uers waxed warme e∣uen vnto the mud, ha∣uing their banks drie.
• Now Syrius vehement [in bur∣ning] parching or scorching.
• ‖

  Syrius is a starre in the mouth of the signe called the Dog, at the arising whereof are great and intemperate heates.
• That she withdrew her selfe farre off, ob∣scuted with a cloud.
• Did burne in the heauen, [viz. did cast his fiery influence from heauen.
• Had drawne halfe the orbe, [viz. had past halfe the world, that is, was come to the midst or height of heauen, viz, to the noonesteed.
• ‖

  The scorching sun had warmed the riuers to the mud.
• Iawes [viz. mouthes or tops of the riuers] viz. their banks drie all about the tops.
• u

  Secondly, Proteus his going to sleepe, is am∣plified by the place whither he went, viz. to his wonted caues;
• Flouds.
• Seeking his accustomed holes, [or priuie lurking places.]
• ‖

  The fishes of the sea.
• ‖

  Huge great sea.
• ‖

  Bounsing about him, as triumphing for excessiue ioy.
• ‖

  The seawater which is bitter in taste.
• ‖

  Far abroad, like as fishes do when they leape.
• ‖

  The sea monsters.
• Strew themselues in sleepe in a di∣uers shore.
• And likewise by his at∣tendants, the sea-calues bounsing vp about him as reioycing at his pre∣sence, and sprinkling the water all abroad.
• ‖

  Proteus himselfe.
• ‖

  Whenas his cattell go home from feeding.
• And thirdly by the sea monsters, laying themselues to sleep on euery shoare. Lastly, Proteus reposing himselfe to rest in the midst amongst them. Which the Poet illustrates by a fit similitude taken from a heardman in the mountaines: That as he, when his bullocks returne from feeding in the euening,
• At what time the lambes by their blea∣ting set the teeth of th▪ ••olues on edge, doth then sit downe vpon some rocke or some o∣ther high place, and counts the number of his cattell:
• Do sharpen the wolues [or set their teeth on edge.
• ‖

  By their bleating in the euening.
• ‖

  Sits downe on a rocke, and tels his cat tell, euen so Proteus
• Sate downe together [in the midst of his great troupes of fishes.]
• Being the middle.
• Euen so did Proteus set downe himselfe to rest in the midst of his great troupes of fishes.
• ‖

  Rehearseth the number of them, [or numbers them.]
• x

  Then followeth the aduenturing vpon him by Aristeus, and the whole manner of it for the speedinesse and vi∣olence thereof.
• Of [taking] whom [viz. which Proteus] because a facultie [or liber∣tie] is offered to Aristeus,
• Hauing suffered
• How he seeing now his fit opportunitie, scarcely suffereth the old man to repose his weary lims to rest,
• ‖

  Proteus,
• To compose his wearied lims.
• Rusheth with a great crie, and takes before [or preuents him] lying downe with manicles [viz. bonds [or gives] for his hands.
• But rusheth vpon him with a great outcrie,
• Catcheth him lying all along to sleepe, ties him fast.
• ‖

  Proteus.
• Contrarily.
• How Proteus on the other side remembring his skill,
• Of his [deceitfull] art.
• ‖

  Disguiseth and changeth himselfe,
• Transformes him∣selfe into maruellous shapes.
• Into all miracles [or maruellous likenesses] of things.
• As both into fire,
• ‖

  Both into the likenesse of fire, and of fierce wilde beasts, and a liquid floud [or streame.]
• And into the like∣nesse of a horrible wild beast, and also into a cleare riuer.
• Finally, when he can finde no meanes to es∣cape by any delusion or deuice,
• But when he found flight by no deceit.
• Deceit, [viz. sleight or deuice.
• Being ouercome he returnes into his owne shape againe.
• He returnes into himselfe, [viz. he came to his owne likenesse.
• y

  And then he at length speakes with a mans voice: Demanding of him the causes how he durst be so bold?
• ‖

  With a man•• voice.
• Who bad him come vnto his house? or what he fetched thence?
• O thou most confident [yong man] of [all] yong men.
• Commanded thee,
• ‖

  To enter into my dwelling house.
• Vnto which demands Aristeus makes answer.
• Houses.
• That he knew the causes well enough.
• He answered.
• That it was not pos∣sible for any man to go beyond him by decei••.
• ‖

  Thou knowest why I came, and what I would.
• And therefore wisheth him to leaue off either to seek to beguile him, or to enquire the cause.
• For that he was come thither, following the command of the gods; and moreouer that he came to enquire of the Oracles of the Gods, euen of himselfe, (who at that time gaue their answers) what he was to do for the repairing of his decayed estate, viz. for the recouerie of his bees.
• Granted] to any man.
• ‖

  To outreach thee by deceit.
• But ceasse thou to be willing [to de∣ceiue me with thy sleights, or to know why I am come.
• We hauing followed [or obeyed.]
• ‖

  Are come hither.
• To seeke the oracles [of the Gods] my things being sliden, [viz. mine e∣state or stocke being decayed.]
• z

  Aristeus hauing thus spokē, Proteus strange∣ly rapt by a diuine fu∣rie, (as Prophets haue bene wont to be in giuing their answere) speakes vnto him as an Oracle. But first his fu∣ry is described notably. How he rolled his fie∣rie eyes with great en∣forcement;
• He spake [or vttered] thus much, [viz. Aristeus answered thus.
• The Prophet rolled his eyes burning [or flaming] with red fiery light, at these words.
• Writhed or turned.
• ‖

  Glaucus here seemeth to be taken for a fiery rednesse, a•• in the eyes of lions.
• Gnashing [or grinning] grieu••sly [being enforced.
• Gnashed his teeth dis∣contentedly, and then thus began to manifest the oracle, concerning the cause of the losse of his bees. That it was for the death of Euridice, which he had caused; for which the Nymphs her sisters killed his bees. Which he vtters thus by the contrary more particularly How it was not the displea∣sure of any meane pow∣er, but euen of a God that did him that an∣noy. That he was puni∣shed for his hainous fact: and that Orpheus the famous musitian (worthy of all commi∣••eration) had raised vp all that euill against him, yet nothing so great as his desert, (as he should find if the fates did not resist) for villanie offered vnto his tender wise.
• ‖

  Thus he began to shew the destinies of the Gods.
• In destinies.
• The angers not of no diuine power, [viz. of none of the meanest Gods, or of no lesse a power then a God] do ex∣ercise thee.
• Luis, not lues, [viz. thou abidest punishment for, [or thou redeemest or purgest by thy punishment] thy] great offe••es committed.
• ‖

  Orpheus the Poet worthy of much commiseration, stirreth vp against thee all these euils.
• Raiseth vp to thee those punish∣ments.
• Nothing at all for thy merit, [viz. nothing so much as thou deseruest.]
• Except that [or but that the de∣stinies resist,] viz. of Apollo thy fa∣ther, and Cyrene thy mother.
• For his wife being rauished, [or in danger to be rauished by Aristeus, [or for his wife being violently taken a∣way [from him.]
• Yong wench or girle.
• Readie to die [with feare of thee.]
• Whilst she fled from thee all head∣long, [viz. in haste without regard.]
• By the flouds [or riuers]
• A cruell [fierce or huge] water ser∣pent or adder.
• For that whilst ••he fled away from him, as for her life, and almost dead with feare, run∣ning headlong by a ri∣uers side, was stung to death of a sudden by a most fell adder, which there lay watching in the deepe grasse.
• ‖

  Watching.
• Herbe, [herbes or weeds by the ri∣uer side.
• Being equall [in age] with Orpheus wife] viz. all the yong Nymphs.
• ‖

  Made the mountaines ring with their crie.
• Whereupon all the whole company of the yong Nymphs called the Dryades that were of equal age with her, filled the highest mountaines with their crie: in so much as the very mountaines themselues did seeme to mourne and weepe;
• The Rhodopeian towers haue wept, [viz. the tops of the mountaine Rho∣dope in Thracia being like towers, la∣mented] viz. by reason of the Nymphs there hauing their abode.
• As both Rhodopey,
• And the high mountaines called Pangea [in Thracia neare Macedo∣nia.]
• And Pangea,
• And the countrey of Rhesus,
• And the warlike earth of Rhesus, [viz. of Thracia where king Rhesus reigned after.
• And also the Getes,
• The riues Hebrus in like manner: and so Orythia the Athenian Nymph.
• ‖

  The Scythians called Massagets.
• ‖

  A riuer of Thracia.
• And Actias Orithya [viz. Ori∣thya of Acte or Athens the daughter of Erichthonius king of Athens.
• a

  But yet how Orpheus himselfe though excee∣dingly bewailing his deare wife, yet labored to asswage his sorowful loue with doleful songs & with his hollow Iute. Which harmony of his is set out both by the places and times, and things on which it wrought, and how farre it did auaile. That he sang of his sweete wife, both by himselfe all a∣lone in the desert shore, and also how he sang of her in the morning, at the breaking of the day & in the eurning like∣wise at the departure of the same, still sounding out E••ridice in most 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sort.
• Comforting [his] sicke [or pensiue] loue with [his] hollow lute made of a torteise shell, [or after the fashion of a torteise shell, for thence was (as they say) the first inuention of the lute.]
• ‖

  He sang of thee continually.
• Louely shore.
• The day coming.
• [The day] departing.
• And hauing entred into the Tena∣rian iawes, [or mouthes, or gaping holes.
• Tenarus is a Promont••ry in Laco∣nia, where for the deepe concauities, is thought to be the descent into hell.
• ‖

  Dungeons.
• Of Dis.
• And so entring into the very iawes of hell, and into the deep dun∣geons of Pluto, and into a groue all blacke with fearfull darknesse, he went to the infernall spirits, and to the dread∣full king, euen vnto Pluto himselfe.
• A groue or wood dark with a black feare, [because there is perpatuall and most dread full darknesse.
• ‖

  Infernall spirits, ghosts, or diuels.
• ‖

  To Pluto.
• Not knowing [or being ignorant how] to waxe gentle [or 〈◊〉〈◊〉] by hu∣mane prayers, [viz. that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 can be quieted or appeased by any prayers or meanes. This appeasing them by Or∣pheus was extraordinary and onely for a time, by the sweetnesse of his me∣lodie.
• And vnto the ghosts which cannot be ap∣peased or quieted by any prayers of men.
• But the thinne shadowes moued to∣gether.
• But yet were moued by the sweetnesse of his harmonie.
• So that they came from the lowest seates of hel to heare him l••te and sing.
• ‖

  Came and flocked to heare Orphe••s to sing and play.
• Erebus is properly a certain dark∣nesse, vsed for a riuer of hell, here for hell it selfe.
• Which comming of theirs, is amplified by their multitudes, and also by their sorts.
• Of [men.]
• How many thousands of birds, [viz as many or as thicke as birds which flie to the woods, &c.
• That they came in such numbers, as birds flocking to the woods in the euening time.
• When the euening [doth driue them]
• Or when a Winter shower driues them from the hils.
• ‖

  A wet or sharpe storme.
• And for the sorts of them, that there came both mothers and hus∣bands, couragious no∣bles, boyes and girles.
• Mountaines.
• [These ghosts are] mothers and husbands.
• ‖

  Departed.
• Yong men also which had bene burnt to ashes before their parents faces.
• ‖

  Lads.
• ‖

  Burnt to ashes in the fiers made for that purpose.
• Before the faces of [their] parents.
• Euen all the ghosts of all sorts whith were within the bounds of hel, came to heare him: which bounds are li∣mited by Cocytus that lothsome riuer of hell, made so noisome, for that the water neuer moueth.
• Cocytus is a riuer of hell, flowing out of Styx.
• Vnlouely with slow water, [viz. because the water neuer moueth.
• Al. Vnfit to be sw••mme in.
• And by Styx the in∣fernall fen compassing all nine times about.
• Styx is said to be a fountaine [or fen] of Arcadia, so cold, that it kills whatsoeuer ••rinketh of it: here taken for the fen of hell, à nomine 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, tristis.
• ‖

  For the vnderstanding of these words, nou••es Styx interfusa, Ser∣uius saith, that by the nine circles are meant the seuen circles of the seuen plannets and the two circles of fire and aire, which nine circles compasse the earth, intermixt with water, and so this Styx which is said to be in the midst of the earth: but for this I leaue it to better iudgement.
• This is yet further amplified, that not only thes••, but also the very hel••ish houses théselues were astonied there∣with, & the deepest dun∣geons called Tarta••a.
• And not they alone, but that euen the hel∣lish furies were wrapt therewith. Which fu∣ries are described as ha∣uing their haire all in∣tangled with blackish snakes.
• ‖

  The fiends inhabiting the hellish houses.
• Haue bene astonied or amazed.
• The inmost [deep] dungeons called Tartara.
• And the Eumenides [furies or hags of hell, daughters to Acheron and Nox,] being intangled [or ha∣uing intangled or wrapped] skie co∣loured snakes with [their] haires, stood astonied to heare Orpheus.
• Yea that Cerberus the gaping curre of hell left off his yolping.
• And moreouer, that the very wheele of Ixi∣on, whereon he was tor∣mented, stood still; and euen the wind did stay, whereby it was whi••lde about before.
• Cerberus a dog with three heads, which as the Poets fained was porter of hell.
• Kept [viz. left off his yolping.]
• Of Ixions orbe, viz. the round en∣gine whereon he was tormented by Iupiters appointment, because he had sollicited Iuno to adultery] stood still [or stayed] with the wind [viz. toge∣ther with the winde of it, by which winde it rolled about before] to the end that they might heare Orpheus.
• b

  And finally the Pro∣phet sheweth, that his musick so farre preuai∣led, as that he had reco∣uered his Euridice a∣gaine, vpon this condi∣tion and law, that he looke ••ot behind him vnto her, vntil they were both quite forth of hel: wherunto they had pro∣ceeded, which is thus set forth by the Poet. That he was returning back from hell, had escaped al dangers, with his wife restored vnto him, and was coming out of the infernall darknesse into the light of this world; and yet euen there o∣uerthrew all his labours and hopes again, onely forgetting that law of Proserpina the Queene of hel, in looking back vnto his Euridice.
• Carrying backe [or plucking backe] [his] foote.
• ‖

  Was past.
• Chances 〈◊〉〈◊〉 misfortunes.
• ‖

  Whom he had recouered againe.
• ‖

  Was comming into the vpper aire, [viz. into the light of the world, out of the darknesse of hell.
• ‖

  Proserpina Plutoes wife had giuen this law, that if Orpheus looked backe vpon his wife vntill she was quite out of hell, and in the vpper light of the world, he should lose her againe, for that she should returne backe into hell.
• c

  Which is also further amplified by the causes and manner thereof. That a sudden madnes through the vehemen∣cie of his affection, caught away his vnwa∣rie minde to looke backe vnto his Euridice (which though it was a great fault against such a law and vpon such a perill, yet was it a fault that in that case might wel haue bin pardoned if the infernall spirits could pardō any thing. Notwithstanding hee onely standing still, and but casting his eye be∣hind him to her at the first glimpse of the light lost all his hope; the grant of the mercilesse tyrant being vtterly made voide.
• ‖

  Folly of too much loue.
• Tooke [viz had surprised or caught away the minde of Orpheus at vna∣wares.
• [A madnesse,] [viz. a passion of loue to be forgiuen.
• ‖

  To shew any pitie.
• ‖

  Conquered or surprized of minde, [viz. by the passion of [his] mind.
• Alacke.
• ‖

  A great noise of many voices toge∣ther [was] heard from the standing waters of Auernus, [viz. the lake of hell,] the fiends reioycing at the re∣turns of Euridice.
• He looked backe vnto his [wife] Eu∣ridice.
• About the very light, [viz. some∣what before full light, or so soone as he was come within the glimpse of a∣ny light.]
• Powred out [or spilt.]
• Leagues [viz. grant.]
• Vngentle [viz. pitilesse] tyrant [Pluto.]
• Burst [or broken.]
• d

  Then followeth the lamentable moane and woe of both of them thereupon.
• ‖

  The commandement of Pluto calls me backe.
• Lost [or vtterly cast away or de∣stroyed.]
• Wretched woman.
• That though the fiends did exceedingly reioyce thereat, so that there was heard a great broken noise at of many voices together, of those infernall spirits from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ponds, yet they both lament; and first she poore wretch cries out vnto her husband that he had vndone both her and himselfe, de∣manding what so great a madnesse in him had vndone them both? for that the cruel 〈◊〉〈◊〉 now called her backe to hell againe.
• What madnesse, [ah] so great [hath vndone vo••]
• ‖

  The commandement of Pluto calls me backe.
• Doth hide my lights [viz. eyes] swimming [in teares.]
• And the sleepe of death began to couer her dazeling eyes.
• ‖

  O Orpheus farewell.
• And so she bids him farewell, for that she perceiued her selfe to be borne away, being compassed about with a dreadfull darknesse. And then stretching out her feeble hands vnto him, which she told him were none of his:
• I am caried.
• With a huge great night.
• And I alas not thy [wife] [as thou imaginedst.] It is an answer to that before, Euridicem suam respexit.
• ‖

  The weake [or feeble] palmes of my hands.
• Hauing spoken, she vanished suddenly out of his sight, like smoke vanishing into the thin ••ire, so that she saw him not after.
• And fled away diuerse [or asun∣der from him] suddenly out of his eyes, euen as the smoke mixt together flieth into the thi•• winds or blasts.
• And he poore man catching at her shadow all in vaine, and desi∣rous to haue spoken many things vnto her, and to haue gone after her, yet could not.
• Furthermore [or further.]
• Shadowes.
• Willing.
• For that the ferriman of hell would not suffer him any more to passe the fen betweene the liuing in this world and the infernall ghosts.
• ‖

  Charon that caried soules oúer the three riuers of hell, Acheron, Cocy∣thus and Styx, as the Poets faine: whence some of the heathen haue bene wont to put a litle peece of mony into the mouthes of the dead to pay for their feriage or fare.
• Suffered him.
• ‖

  Styx.
• Set against [them.]
• e

  This wofull distresse of Orpheus, the Prophet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 amplifieth a∣gaine, adorning it with this demand, what he should haue done in this case, whither he should haue betaken himselfe, hauing his wife thus violently ta∣ken away from him twise? by what lamen∣tations be could 〈◊〉〈◊〉 possibly either moue the fiends, or intreate the Gods.
• Carry himselfe.
• Snatched away.
• Weeping.
• ‖

  Could he moue,
• And that she now be∣ing cold, swims back in the Stygian ferryboate.
• The infernall spirits or diuels.
• Moue the [infernall] powers.
• She indeed.
• ‖

  Being dead,
• Did swim [or was caried backe in the ferry boate of hell.
• f

  For Orpheus likewise. Proteus amplifies and sets out his lamentation both by the time, pla∣ces and effects, and fi∣nally by his miserable death. For the time; that men say that he mour∣ned seuen whole mo∣neths together without euer taking rest.
• [Men] shew [or report] him [viz. Orpheus] to haue w••pt.
• In order [without intermission.]
• Vnder an airie rocke, [viz. high in the aire.]
• And for the place, that this he did vnder a high rocke neare vnto the riuer Strymon a place little inhabited through lakes & fens, oft repeating his old song.
• At the waue [viz water] of Stry∣mon a riuer of Thracia, hauing in some places no people neare vnto it by meanes of fens and lakes by it, and oft ouer flowings.
• And to haue oft rolled ouer these things.
• Also for the effect of his song, that there he tamed the tigers with his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and made the very okes to moue.
• Asswaging the tigers, [viz. the fiercenesse of the tigers, or delighting the cruell wilde beasts.]
• ‖

  Making the very okes to moue.
• Verse.
• g

  This ••e illustrates by a most apt ••imilitude taken from the nigh∣tingale. That like as she mourning vnder the shade of a poplar tree, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in most dole∣full ••ort for the taking away of her yong ones by a hard hearted plow man, who finding them drawes them out of their ••east vnfledgd, e∣uen so did he.
• What a one [or as] the nightingale sorrowing [or lamenting] vnder a poplar shade.
• ‖

  Bewailes her yong ones being lost.
• Which [yong ones.]
• Hard plowman.
• ‖

  Marking.
• Fetherlesse, [viz. before they had fethers.]
• And like as she wailes all night long, and sit∣ting vpon some branch euer renewes afresh her wofull note, filling all places farre and neare with her dolefull com∣plaints, so likewise did Orpheus.
• Weepes.
• In a branch, [viz. on a bough of that tree from whence her yong were taken] begins againe.
• ‖

  Her dolefull song.
• Verse.
• All abroad.
• Sorowfull [mourning or lamenta∣ble] complaints.
• h

  Afterwards he enlar∣geth and sets out yet further, the excesse of his mourning, that it was so great, as no new loue or mariages could moue his mind at all:
• No Venus [or lust.]
• No mariages haue bowed, [viz. moued or inclined [his] mind.
• But that he wandred pensiue all alone in the most cold countries, both through the fro∣zen Scythiā coasts, and neare the riuer Tanais, which is vsually coue∣red with snow; and vp and downe the cold Rhiphean mountaines neuer free from frost, alwayes dolefully com∣plaining for his Euri∣dice so taken from him violently, and the grant of Pluto thus vtterly made voide.
• He viewed all alone the Hyperbo∣rian ice, [viz. the cold countries of the North towards the North pole.]
• Snowish [or white with snow, or euer mixed with snow.]
• And also [he wandered thorough] the fields neuer depriued of as a wi∣dow, [viz. neuer voide of] the Rhi∣phean hoare frosts [viz. the frosts vp∣on the Rhiphean hils.]
• ‖

  His wife Euridice.
• Gifts of Dis, [the God of hell] all in vaine.
• For which gift [viz. in respect of which Euridice] the mothers of the Cycones being despised.
• And finally, that his mourning was so exces∣siue and so endlesse, that he came to despise all other women in regard of his Euridice. Where∣upon followed his miserable death by the women of the Cyconians, who seeing themselues and all other women scorned by him, pluckt him in peeces amongst them, yea they dragd & strewed his quarters through the broade fields, at the time of the sacrifices of their Gods, euen at their Bac-chanalia, when they ce∣lebrated their night ce∣remoniall rites to Bac∣chus in most odious manner.
• ‖

  The Cycones are a people of Thracia dwelling neare the riuer Hebrus.
• Despised [by Orpheus.]
• ‖

  Pluckt Orpheus in peeces being then but a youth, and strewed his quarters thorough the broad fields at the time of the sacrifices and night ceremonies which they vsed at their feasts of Bac∣chus.
• Spread [or scattered.]
• The holy things of the Gods.
• And which is of all o∣ther most memorable, that yet his loue remai∣ned such to his Euridi∣ce, that when as his head being pluckt off from his white marble neck, was throwne into the riuer Hebrus, as it tum∣bled vp and downe in the midst of the stream, his voice and tongue, though he was now cold, called still Euri∣dice.
• The rites or ceremonies of Bac••hus [wont to be celebrated in the night at their Bacchanalia or feasts of Bac∣chus.]
• Hebrus a riuer of Thracia, called OEagrius of OEagrus king of Thra∣cia, and father of Orpheus as i•• thought.
• Rolled [it] in the middle gulfe [viz. midst of the gulfe [or streame.]
• Ah miserable Euri∣dice; euen whē his soule was flying away.
• The voice it selfe and the cold tongue did call Euridice.
• So that the bankes throughout the whole riuer resounded still Euridice.
• ‖

  Alacke Euridice p••re wretch.
• [His] soule flying away [or depar∣ting] viz. when his ghost vtterly de∣parted.
• ‖

  Resounded with the Eccho.
• In the whole floud.
• i

  This was the summe of the answer of Pro∣teus. And when he had made an end of his speech, the Poet shew∣eth how he cast him∣selfe into the depth of the sea.
• Proteus spake [or answered] these things, and gaue himselfe by a throw
• Into the deepe sea, [viz. leapt into the depth of the sea, or maine sea.
• And how where he threw in himselfe, the waters whirld about their foming waues vn∣der the round turning of the streame.
• And which way he gaue [him∣selfe.]
• Fr••thing waue [or water] vnder the whirlepit [or vpper crowne of the waters.]
• k

  Yet that his mother Cyrene who had secret∣ly withdrawne her selfe to hearken, and care∣fully to looke to the comfort of her sonne, departed not from him so as Proteus did; but seeing him in much perplexed feare, spake vnto him most cheare∣fully: That he might now put away all sor∣rowfull cares out of his mind, for that he vnderstood the cause of all his woe.
• ‖

  Being very fearfull.
• But Cyrene [the mother of Ari∣steus [did] not [so,] [viz. cast not her selfe likewise into the sea, nor yet feared.
• ‖

  Euridice Orpheus wife.
• ‖

  The whole cause.
• That all his losses were for that violence offered to Euridice, and for her death ensuing thereupon, for whose sake the Nymphs with whō she vsed to dance in the greene woods, sent all that miserable destruction vpon his bees.
• It is lawfull to put away sad cares out of [thy] heart.
• From hence.
• ‖

  Wood••.
• ‖

  Haue thus destroyed [thy] bees.
• She practised dances.
• To [thy] bees.
• ‖

  Seeking reconciliation.
• ‖

  Adore.
• After also hauing thus manifested vnto him the cause, she shewes him likewise the remedie.
• ‖

  The gentle Nymphs of the woods, [viz. the Goddesses of herbs and flow∣ers, gentle or easie to be intreated.
• That he must hum∣bly offer gifts vnto those Nymphs of the woods, (which as she ••els him were easie to be intreated) and that he must adore them, crauing peace: because they would easily be appeased so, and grant him his requests.
• Thou being suppliant reach [out] gifts.
• * For they will giue leaue vnto [thy] vowes or wishes] and will remit their angers, [viz. they will be pacified.]
• l

  And withal she directs him in order what the maner of his intreating them must be.
• * Of praying [or making supplica∣tion] vnto them.
• Ch••ise [or pickt out.]
• ‖

  Of body peerlesse or matchlesse.
• Which now feed vpon the tops of greene Lyceus for thee.
• That he must chuse foure principall buls of most excellent bodies of all those which feed vpon mount Lyceus in Arcadia, and as many heifers which neuer had borne yoke.
• ‖

  Lyceus a hill of Arcadia.
• With necke vntouched, [viz. which neuer bare yoke,] [because the sacri∣fices must be whole and vntouched.]
• Appoint to these foure altars at the high temples. Foure, as it may seeme according to the number of the foure windowes and windes mentioned be∣fore.
• And that he must make for these foure altars neare vnto the tēples of the Nymphs,
• ‖

  Of these Nymphs.
• ‖

  And kill these buls.
• Where he must kill them, so letting out the sacred bloud out of their throates.
• Also that he must leaue the bodies of these in a groue full of greene leaues.
• Of the exen in a leauie groue.
• And that the ninth morning after he must offer some ghostly sa∣crifices to Orphe••s,
• Whenas the ninth morning shall shew her risings, [viz. in the morning of the ninth day.]
• As namely of pop∣pies, causing forgetful∣nesse.
• Orphei casus Graec.
• Deadly poppies, [viz. causing for∣getfulnesse vnto death, if they be ve∣rie much.]
• And also a blacke sheepe.
• Kill [for a sacrifice] a black sheep] [because the infern••ll spirits are de∣lighted with blacke sacrifices.]
• And then go and vi∣site the groue againe where their bodies lie.
• ‖

  The groue where the bodies of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are.
• There to adore Eu∣ridice, offering to her a heifer to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her likewise.
• ‖

  Adore Euridice being appeased, [viz. seeking to appease her with a heifer offered to her.
• m

  All which things the Po•• sheweth how Aristeus did according ••y without delay, obey∣ing in all things the pre∣cepts of his mother.
• [There was] not [any] delay.
• ‖

  Aristeus.
• Dispatcheth [or puts in execu∣tion.]
• ‖

  The commandements.
• How he came into the Temple, erected foure such altars as she had directed him.
• ‖

  Erecteth or buildeth the altars.
• ‖

  Directed [by his mother.
• And also how he brought foure such choise buls & as many ••heifers of vntouched necke.
• Buls pickt out [viz. singular.
• Excelling or notable.
• Their necke being vntouched, [viz. which neuer bare the yoke.]
• And after when the ninth morning did ap∣peare, he sacrificed to Orpheus as he was com∣manded, and went a∣gaine vnto the groue.
• Whenas the ninth morning had brought in her risings, [viz early in the morning on the ninth day after.
• He sends the infernall sacrifices to Orpheus, [viz. he sacrificed to Or∣pheus.]
• And visited againe the groue, [viz. where the bodies of the beasts were left.]
• n

  Then the Poet re∣lates the effects of all, how euery thing an swered his desire.
• Monster.
• That here they did behold a sudden won∣der, and almost vncre∣d••ble to be spoken.
• ‖

  Stridere & effervere tertiae co••∣iugationis vt olim.
• Throughout the molten bowels, [viz. di••solued by putrefacti••.]
• That first bees made a buzzing noise tho∣roughout all the bodies of the beasts.
• Of the oxen.
• Wombe [viz. bodie]
• To boyle out [viz. to issue out 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it were boyling.]
• And then issued as it were boiling out of their bursten ribs and 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• And ••asurable clouds to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 drawne along, [viz. swar••es lik•• clouds.]
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they s•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rudes of them, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mightie clouds 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out in length, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the aire, ••d for to swarme together knit∣ting in the tops of tree••, to h••ng downe like great clusters of grapes from the li••ber boughs.
• ‖

  To swarme and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• In a chiefe [or high tree,] [viz. high in a tree.]
• ‖

  To let downe,
• A grape, [viz. to hang downe in a great cluster like a huge bunch of grapes.
• Bowing or bending, &c.
• o

  Thus the Poet hauing made an end of his long storie of Aristeus, concerning the reco∣uery of his bees, and for the manner of re∣pairing them when all the stocke is v••terly de∣cayed, comes to the conclusiō of the whole work of his Georgicks, with a briefe rehearfall of all the things contai∣ned therein, and also of the time and place in which hee wrote. That these things he had sung of the ••illage of the fields, and of or∣de••g of cattell, and concerning trees.
• I sang these verses, [viz. I writ these things in verse.]
• ‖

  Of or concerning the manner of the tillage of the field••,
• And vpon trees.
• That great [viz. mightie and most renowned [Augustus] Casar.
• ‖

  Fighteth valiantly and terribly like the thunder, against the Parthi∣ans, hauing ouercome the Armenians.
• ‖

  Neare the riuer Euphrates.
• And being a conquerour ordaines lawes amongst a people willing to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to submit themselues.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉, a way to heauen, [viz. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by v••lorous acts.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉, [viz. Naples a most famous citie of Campania, called first Parthenope of one of the Syrenes so named buried there.]
• And this at the time whenas Augustus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thundered 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wa••e ••∣gainst the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hauing subdued the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 menians, and was ••∣daining good 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a∣mong•• a wicked ••∣ple; and so was preparing a way for heauen, or at least for diuine honours in the earth.
• * Of v••noble idlenesse, [viz. of Poetrie, which requires a kinde of i∣dlenesse in vacant time from busi∣nesse, according to that of the Poet, Caemina secessum scribentis & otia quaerunt. It is also called v••noble, be∣cause learning commonly brings so little honour or riches through mens v••thankfulnesse, or lacke of respect, or for that idlenesse brings no honour.
• Nourished me.
• And finally that he wrote these bookes of his Georgicks at Naples, flourishing in his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Po••trie, which he calls ignoble vacancie.