Of the knowledge of these Pagan gods, which Varro boasteth hee taught the Romaines. CHAP. 22.
VVHat great good turne then doth Varro boast that hee hath done vnto his Cittizens, in the particularizing of the gods, and their worshippes that the Romaines must obserue? For what booteth it (saith hee) to know a Phisiti∣an by name and by face, and yet to bee ignorant what a Phisitian is? so likewise it booteth not (saith hee) to know Aesculapius vnlesse you know that he cures dis∣eases: otherwise you know not what to pray to him for. And this hee con∣firmes in another simyly saying: A man cannot liue well, nay hee cannot liue at all, if hee know not the Smith the Painter, the Carpenter &c. distinctly, where to haue this necessary, where that, where to bee taught this or that. So it is plaine, that to know what powre euery god hath, and vpon what obiect, is won∣derfull vse-full. For thence may wee gather whome to sue vnto for euery neede wee haue, and not follow the (a) Mimickes, in begging water of Bacchus, and wine of the (b) Nymphes. Who would not giue this man thankes now, if his doctrine were true, and did shew the worshippe of the true GOD, of whom a∣lone we are to aske all things?
L. VIVES.
THe (a) Mimikes] To make sport. (b) The Nymphes] Or Lymphes. Lympha is all moisture, and ouer all moysture doe the Nymphes rule: The Nereides in the sea, The Nayades in * 1.1 fountaines, the Napeae in the moisture of flowres and herbes: The Druides and Hamadryades ouer the sappe of trees: The Oreades ouer the humid hilles. The Nymphes are in number 3000. all daughters of Oceanus and Tethis. Hesiod. Theog.