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

Of earths surnames and significations, which though they arose of diuerse originals, yet should they not be accompted diuerse Gods. CHAP. 24.

THerefore earth for her foure qualities ought to haue foure names, yet not to make foure gods. One Ioue serues to many surnames, and so doth one Iuno: in all which the multitude of their powers constitute but one God and one god∣desse, not producing multitude of gods. But as the vilest women are some-times ashamed of the company that their lust calleth them into, so the polluted soule, prostitute vnto all hell, though it loued multitude of false gods, yet it som-times lothed them. For Varro, as shaming at this crew, would haue Tellus to be but one goddesse. They (a) call her (saith hee) the Great mother, and her Tymbrell is a signe of the earths roundnesse: the turrets on her head, of the townes: the seates about her, of her eternall stability when all things else are mooued: her 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Priests signifie that such as want seede must follow the earth that conteineth all: their violent motions about her doe aduise the tille•…•…s of earth not to sitte idle, for there is still worke for them. The Cymballs signifie the noyses with plough irons, &c. in husbandry, they are of brasse, for so were these instruments (b) be∣fore Iron was found out. The tame Lion signified that the roughest land might by tillage be made fertile. And then he addeth, that shee was called Mother earth,

and many other names, which made them thinke her seuerall gods. They held earth to be Ops (saith he) because helpe, (Opis) maketh her more fruitfull: Mother, for hi•…•… generall production. Great for giuing meate. Proserpina, because the fruit doe creepe (Proserpunt) out of her. Vesta, for that the hearbes are her vesture: * 1.1 and so saith he are other deities fitly reduced vnto her by seuerall respects. But if she be one goddesse, (as in truth she is not) why runne yee to so many? Let one haue all these names, and not bee many goddesses. But errors power preuailed to draw Varro fearefully after it: for he saith; neither doth this controule their opi∣nions that take these for many gods. There may be one thing (saith he) and many things therein. Well suppose that many things are in a man: therefore many men? many things are in a goddesse, therefore many goddesses? But let them diuide, combine, multiply, reply and imply what they will. These are the myste∣ries of great Mother-earth, all referred to seede and husbandry. But doth your tymbrell, turrets, eunuches, rauings, cymballs and Lions in all this reference, promise eternall life? doe your gelded Galli serue her to shew that seed-wanters must follow the earth, and not rather that the following of her brought them to this want? for whether doth the seruice of this goddesse supply their want or bring them to want? is this to explaine, or to explode rather? Nor is the deuills power herein euer a iotte obserued, that could exact such cruelties, and yet pro∣mise nought worth the wishing. If earth were held no goddesse, men would lay their hands vpon her and strengthen them-selues by her, & not vpon themselues, to eneruate them-selues for her: If she were no goddesse, she would bee made so fertaile by others hands, that shee should neuer make men barren by their owne hands. And whereas in Libers sacrifices an honest Matron must crowne that * 1.2 beastly member, her husband perhaps standing by blushing and sweating (if hee haue any shame) and whereas in mariages the bride must ride vpon (c) Priapus his •…•…llstaffe, these are farre more (d) lighter and contemptible then that cruell obscaenity, and obscaene cruelty: for here the deuils illude both sexes, but maketh neither of them their owne murtherers. There they feare the bewitching of their corne, here they feare not the vn-manning of them-selues. There the bride (e) is not so shamed that she either looseth chastitie or virginity, here the massacre of man-hood is such the gelded person is left neither man nor woman.

L. VIVES.

THey (a) call her] Ouid Fast. 4. giues another reason of the Great mothers worship. The * 1.3 Cymballs and Tymbrils were imitations of the Corybantes, that kept Ioue with the noyse of their shields and helmes: the tymbrels stand for the bucklers being lether, and the Cymbals for the helmes being brasse. The turrets are for that she built first towers in Citties, the Eunu∣•…•…s she liketh for Atys his sake: she is borne by Lions because shee tameth them. (b) Before I•…•…,] This is left out by some. (c) Priapus his Colestaffe] A Metaphor, Scapus is the stalke of any hearbe, but vsed in Uarro and Pliny for a mans priuy member, that is erected like a stake or stalke: Scapus is also a beame or iuncture in building. Vitr. (d) Lighter] so is the old ma∣•…•…scripts, * 1.4 (e) Is not so] Priapus was vsed to helpe the husband in taking away the maiden∣•…•…ad of the wife, and the wife in fruitfulnesse of off-spring.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Earths sur∣names.
• * 1.2

  Libers sa∣cri•…•…ces.
• * 1.3

  Cybeles sa∣crifyces.
• * 1.4

  Scapus.