St. Augustine, Of the citie of God vvith the learned comments of Io. Lod. Viues. Englished by I.H.

The Cohaerence and similitude between the fabulous diuinity and the ciuil. CHAP. 7.

THerefore this fabulous, scaenicall, filthy, and ridiculous diuinity hath al refe∣rence vnto the ciuill. And all that which all condemne, is but part of this

which al must be bound to reuerence: Nor is it a part incongruent, (as I mean to shew) or slightly depending vpon the body of the other, but as conformed & con∣sonant as a member is vnto the fabrike of the whole body. For what are al these Images, formes, ages, sexes and habits of the gods? The Poets haue Ioue with a beard, and Mercury with none, haue not the Priestes so? Haue the Mimikes made Pryapus with such huge priuities, and not the Priestes? Doth the Temples expose him to bee honoured in one forme, and the Stage to bee laught at in an other? Doe (a) not the statues in the Temples as well as the Players on the Stage present Saturne old, and Apollo youthfull? Why are Forculus and Limen∣tinus (goddes of dores and thresholds) of the masculine sexe, and Cardea god∣desse of hinges, of the feminine? Because those are found so in the booke of Priestes which the graue Poets held too base to haue places in their Poems. Why is the Stage-Diana (b) armed, and the citties a weaponlesse Virgin? VVhy is the Stage-Apollo a harper, and Apollo of Delphos none? But these are honest in respect of worse: what held they of Ioue, when they placed his Nurse in the Capitoll? Did they not confirme (c) Euemerus that wrote truly (not idely) that all these gods were mortall men? And those that placed asort of (d) glutton parasite goddes at Ioues table, what intended they but to make the sacrifices (e) ridiculous? If the Mimike had said that Ioue badde his Parasites to a feast, the people would haue laught at it. But Varro spoke it not in the goddes derision but their commendation, as his diuinity, not his humaine workes doe keepe the record: He spoke it not in explayning the Stage-lawes, but the Capitols: These and such like conuinceth him to this confession, that as they made the goddes of humaine shapes, so they beleeued them prone to hu∣maine pleasures: For the wicked spirits lost no time in instilling those illusions into their phantasies: And thence it came that Hercules his Sexten beeing idle fell to dice with him-selfe, making one of his handes stand for Hercules and another for him-selfe: and plaid for this: that if hee got the victory of Hercules, hee would prouide him-selfe a rich supper, and a (f) wench of the Temple stocke: and if Hercules ouer-came, hee would prouide such another supper for him of his owne purse: hauing there-vpon won of him-selfe by the hand of Her∣cules, hee prouided a ritch supper, and a delicate curtizan called (g) Larentina. * 1.1 Now she lying all night in the Temple, in a vision had the carnall company of Hercules, who told her that the first man shee mette in the morning after her departure should pay her for the sport that Hercules ought her for. She departing accordingly met with one Tarutius a ritch yong man, who falling acquainted with her and vsing her company long, at last dyed and left her his heire. Shee hauing gotte this great estate, not to bee vngratefull to the Deities whose reward shee held this to bee, made the people of Rome her heire: and then being gone (none knew how,) a writing was found that affirmed that for these deedes she was dei∣fied. If Poets or Players had giuen first life to this sable, it would quickly haue beene packt vppe among fabulous diuinity, and quite secluded from the poli∣tike society. But since the people not the Poets, the Ministers not the Mimikes, the Temples not the Theaters are by this author taxed of such turpitude, The Players doe not vainely present the goddes beastiality, it beeing so vile, but the Priestes doe in vayne to stand so earnestly for their honesty, which is none at all. There are the sacrifices of Iuno, kept in her beloued Iland (h) Samos, where Ioue marryed her. There are sacrifices to Ceres, where shee sought her daughter Proserpina when Pluto hadde rauished her: To Venus (i) where h•…•…:

sweete delicate Adònis was killed by a bore: To Cibele, where her sweete heart Atis, a •…•…aire and delicate youth being gelded by chast fury, was beway∣led by the rest of the wretched gelded Galli. These sacrifices beeing more beast∣ly then all Stage-absurdities (yet by them professed and practised) why doe they seeke to exclude the Poets figments from their politike Diuinity, as vn∣worthy to be ranked with such an honest kind? They are rather beholding to the Players that do not present all their secret sacriledges vnto the peoples view. What may wee thinke of their sacrifices done in couert, when the pub∣like ones are so detestably prophane? How they vse the Eunuchs, and their G•…•…ynimedes in holes and corners, looke they to that: yet can they not conceale the bestiall hurt done vnto such by forcing them. Let them perswade any man that they can vse such Ministers to any good end: Yet are such men part of their sacred persons. VVhat their acts are we know not, their instruments wee know; But what the Stage presents wee know, and what the whores present: Yet there is no vse of Eunuch nor Pathike: Yet of obscaene and filthy persons there is: For honest men ought not to act them. But what sacrifices are these (thinke you) that require such ministers for the more sanctity as are not admitted, no not euen in (k) Thymelian bawdery.

L. VIVES.

DO (a) not] Interrogatiuely, not to inquire, but to fixe the intention of the speech more firmely in the auditors eare. (Quintill. lib. 9.) The matter is, Saturne is figured with a beard in Temples, and Apollo without one: And there is Dionisius of Syracusa's iest of taking away Aesculapius his beard of gold, saying it is not fit the son haue a beard and the father none. A∣pollo's statue at Delos held in the right hand a bow, on the left the three graces, one with a harp, another with a pipe, the third with a flute. (b) Armed] With bow and quiuer. (c) Euemerus] * 1.2 Of Mess•…•…a in Sicilie: he wrote the true story of Ioue & the other gods out of old records, mis∣teries and Hieroglyphikes called by the Greeks the holy story. Ennius interpreted. it Cicero. He is mentioned by y^e Greek authors, by Cicero, Varro, Lactantius, Macrobius, Seruius, and many more. Sextus Empericus calleth him Atheist, for writing the truth of the gods. So doth Theo∣doricus of Cyrene; & numbers him with y^e Diagorae and the Theodori: tymon in Syllis calleth him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, an insolent old fellow, & an vniust writer. (d) Glutton.] To the Priests Colledge, three were added to look to the gods banquets, and called the Triumviri Epulones. Afterward they were made two more, fiue: Lastly ambition added two more to these, & this number stood of y^e Septenvirs Epulons, that looked to y^• prouiding of Ioues banquet, before whose Image they banquetted also them-selues. Cicero. (in aruspic. respons.) calleth thē Parasites, because such euer feed at other mens tables, as y^e greeke word intimateth: Varro calleth them so by the nature of the word, Parasites, quasi, Ioues guests 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to seek his meat abroad. (e) Ridicu∣lous] Mimical. (f) Awench] Flora some say, others Acca Laurentia, whose feastes are called Larentinalia. Therof read Macrob. Saturnall. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Lactantius glanceth at it. Hir sur-name (saith Verrius Flaccus) was Flaua: of this also read Plutarch. Probl. (g) Larentina] Laurentia Com∣monly Larentia: for Acca Laurentia they say was nurse to Romulus, and the Laurentalia are hi•…•… feasts: but his curtizans are the Floralia. (b) Samos] An Ile in the Aegean sea, so called for the height and cragginesse thereof. Varro writeth that it was first called Parthenia, Iuno being ther brought vp, & married to Ioue: wherfore she hath a most worthy and anciēt Temple there erected: a statue like a bride & yearly feasts kept in honor of hir marriage. This (Lactant. lib. 1.) Samos was deare to Iuno, for there she was borne. Virg. Aeneid. (i) Where her sweet] Cynara * 1.3 begotte Adonis vppon his daughter Myrrha, by the deceipt of her Nurse: Adonis reigned in Cyprus. Ual. Probus vppon Virgils Eglogue called Gallus following Hesiod, saith that hee was Phaenix his sonne, and that Ioue begot him of Philostephanus without vse of woman. Venus loued him dearely: but he beeing giuen all to hunting, was killed by a Boare. They fable that Mars beeing iealous, sent the Boare to doe it, and that Venus bewailed him long, and tur∣ned

him into a flower, called by his name. Macrobius: telles of Venus hir statue on mount L•…•…∣banus, * 1.4 with a sad shape of sorrow, hir head vailed, and hir face couered w^t her hand: yet so as o•…•…e would thinke the teares trickled down from her eies. The Phaenicians called Ado•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ (Pollux. lib. 4.) and so were the pipes called that were vsed at his yearly funerall fea•…•…, though Festus say they were named so because the goose is said to gingrire, when she creaketh. Bes•…•…es, * 1.5 because Adonis was slaine in his prime, therefore they dedicated such gardens to Uenus as made a faire shew of flowers and leaues without fruite: Whence the prouerb came of Ado•…•… gardens, which Erasmus with many other things explaineth in his Adagies, or as Budaeus cal∣leth the worke in his Mercuries seller, or Minerua's ware-house. (k) Thymelian.] A word the Greekes vse o•…•…ten: and of the Latines Vitruuius (Architect. lib. 5.) but obscurely in •…•…ine opi∣nion, which I will set downe that others may set down better, if such there be. The Stage stood in the Theater betweene the two points farthest extended, and there the Players acted comedy and tragedy: The Senators had their seat between that and the common galleries, wherin there was a place fiue foote high which the Greekes called Thymele and Logeus, wheron the tragedian Chorus danced; and the comedians too, when they had one, somtimes to the Players, sometimes to the people when the Players were within; there also stood the musique, and all such as be∣longed to the Play and yet were no actors and the place got the name of Orchestra, from the greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to dance: and the Greeks call Thymele 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, belonging to the pipes: and al the Musitians there playing were called Thymelic•…•…. They thinke it tooke the name Thymele, of the Altars therein erected to Bacchus and Apollo, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is taken for an Altar. Donate applieth Terence his words in Andria, take veruin from the Altar: vnto this Apuleius vseth Thymelicum Choragium for the Players apparrel. (In Apolog. 1.) Thymele was also the wife of Latinus a Mi∣mike, * 1.6 and fellow-actor with him in his momery. Domitian delighted much in them both as Martiall sheweth in his Epigram to him.

Qua Thymelem spes•…•…s 〈◊〉〈◊〉 latinum Illa 〈◊〉〈◊〉 precor carmina 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

A•…•… Thymele and Latinus •…•…ere in place, (Good) reade our ver•…•…es with the self-same face.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Laurentina Hercules who•…•…e dei∣fied.
• * 1.2

  Euemerus.
• * 1.3

  Adonis his death.
• * 1.4

  Venus her statue on mount Li∣banus.
• * 1.5

  Ging•…•…e what it i•…•….
• * 1.6

  Thi•…•…le wi•…•… to •…•…a∣tinus a Mi∣mike actor.