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BVt we haue forgotten Atys & his meaning all this while, in memory of whose loue the (a) Galli are gelded. But the wise Greekes forget not this goodly mat∣ter. Because of the earths front in the spring, being fairer than, then euer. (b) Por∣•…•… a famous Philosopher saith Atys signifieth the flowers, & was therfore guel∣•…•…, because the flowre falleth off before the fruite. So then, not (c) Atys, man,
or manlike, but his priuy parts onely were compared to the flowers, for they fe•…•…l of in his spring: nay many fell not of, were cut of; nor followed any fruit vpon this, but rather lasting sterility, what then doth all that which remained of him af∣ter his gelding signifie? whether is that referred? the meaning of that now? or because they could finde no reference for this remainder, doe they thinke that he became that which the fable sheweth, & as is recorded? Nay Varro is ours against them in that iustly, and will not affirme it, for his learning told him it was false.
THe Galli (a) are] Cybele's priest: of these wee haue spoken. Festus saith they gelded them∣selues, * 1.1 because hauing violated their parents name they would neuer be parents. Bardesa∣nes the Syrian saith that King Abgarus made all their hands to be cut off that had vsed them∣selues so: and so this ceremonie ceased: Macrobius interpreteth the passages of Cybele and Atys, Ve•…•…s and Adonis, Isys and Osyris, all one way: calling the women the earth, and the men the sunne. (b) Porphiry] Of him else-where: this place is in his booke De rational. n•…•…. Deor. Atys and Adonis (saith he) are the fruites, but Atys especially the flowers that fall e•…•…e the fruite bee •…•…ipe, and so they say hee was gelded, because the fading flowers beare no fruite. (〈◊〉〈◊〉) Atys man or mans like] Alluding to Plato's riddle. De rep. 5. A man and no man, hauing sight and no sight, smote and smote not, a bird and no bird, with a stone and no stone, vpon a tree and no tree: that is, An eunuch, purblinde, threw and but touched a Batte with a pumyce stone, •…•…ittng * 1.2 in an Elderne tree.
Why the Gall•…•… geld themselues.
Plato hi•…•… •…•…iddle.