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

What fictions got footing in the nations, when the Iudges beganne first to rule Israel. CHAP. 13.

IOsuah being dead, Israell came to be ruled by Iudges: and in those times, they prospered, or suffered, according to the goodnes of Gods mercies or the deseart of their sins. And (a) now the fiction of Triptolemus was on foote, who by Ceres a∣poyntment flew all ouer the world with a yoake of Dragons, and taught the vse of corne: another fiction also (b) of the Minotaure, shut in (c) the labirynth, a place which none that entred, could euer get out of. Of the (d) Centaures also, halfe men and halfe horses: of (e) Cerberus, the three-headed dogge of hell. Of (f) Phrixus and Helle who flew away on the back of a Ramme. Of (g) the Gorgon whose haires were snakes, and who turned all that beheld her into stones. Of (h) Bellerophon, and his winged horse Pegasus: (i) of Amphion, and his stone-moouing musick on the harpe. Of (k) Oedipus, and his answere to the monster Sphinxes riddle, ma∣king her breake her owne necke from her stand. Of Antaeus, earthes-sonne killed by Hercules (in the ayre) for that he neuer smote him to the ground but he a∣rose vp as strong againe as he was when he fell: and others more that I perhaps haue omitted. Those fables, vnto the Troian warre, where Varro ende•…•…h his se∣cond booke De Gente Rom. were by mens inuentions so drawn (l) from the truth of history that their gods were no way by them disgraced. But as for those that fay∣ned that Iupiter (m) stole Ganymede, that goodly boy for his lustfull vse a villany done by Tantalus and ascribed vnto Ioue,) or that he came downe to lie with (n) Danae in a shower of gold (the woman being tempted by gold vnto dishonesty):

and all this being eyther done or deuised in those times, or done by others, and sayned to be Ioues: it canot be said how mischieuous the presumption of those fable-forgers was, vpon the hearts of all mankind, that they would beare with such vngodly slaunders of their gods: which they did notwithstanding and gaue them gratious acceptance, whereas had they truely honored Iupiter, they shou•…•…d seuerely haue pnnished his slanderers. But now they are so •…•…arre from checking them, that they feare their gods anger, if they doe not nourish them, and present their fictions vnto a populous audience. About this time Latona bore Apollo, not that oraculous God before-said: but he that kept the heards of King (o) Adme∣tus with Hercules: yet was hee afterwards held a God, and counted one and the same with the other. And then did (p) father Liber make warre in India, leading a crue of women about with him in his armie, called Bacchae, being more famous * 1.1 for their madnesse then their vertue. Some write that this Liber (q) was con∣quered and imprisoned: some, that Perseus slew him in the field, mentioning his place of buriall also: and yet were those damned sacriligious sacrifices called the Bacchanalls appointed by the vncleane deuills vnto him, as vnto a God. But the Senate of Rome at length (after long vse of them) saw the barbarous filthi∣nesse of these sacrifices, and expelled them the citty. And in this time (r) Perse∣us and his wife Andromeda being dead, were verily beleeued to bee assumed in∣to heauen, and there vpon the world was neither ashamed (s) nor affraide to giue their names vnto two goodly constellations, and to forme their Images therein.

L. VIVES.

THe fiction of (a) Triptolemus] His originall is vncertaine, ignoble, saith Ouid, his mother was * 1.2 a poore woman, and he a sickly childe: and Ceres lodging in his mothers house, bestowed his health of him. Lactantius making him sonne to Eleusius (King of Eleusis) and Hion•…•…, that Ceres bestowed immortality vpon him, for lodging a night in his fathers house: on the day she fedde him in heauen with her milke, and on the night she hidde him in fire. Celeus was his father, saith Seruius: But Eusebius maketh him a stranger to Celeus, and landeth him at Eleusis, Cele•…•… his citty out of a long ship. But the Athenians generally held him the sonne of Celeus, so did not the Argiues, but of Trochilus Hieropanta who falling out with Agenor, & flying from Argos, came to Eleusis, there married, and there had Triptolemus, and Euboles. Some hold him (and so Musaeus did, some say) the sonne of Oceanus and Terra: that Eubolis and Triptolemus were Dysaulis sonnes, saith Orpheus. Chaerilus of Athens deriues him from Rharus, and one of A•…•…hyctions daughters. Diodorus, from Hercules and Thesprote King Phileus his daughter. Now Ceres (they say) gaue him corne, and sent him with a chariot (with two wheeles onely for swiftnesse sake, saith Higin.) drawne by a teame of Dragons through the ayre, to goe and •…•…each the sowing of corne to the world: that he first sowed the field Rharius by Eleusis, and reaped an haruest of it: wherfore they gathered the Mushromes vsed in the sacred banquets, frō that field: Triptolemus had his altar also, and his threshing place there. The pretended truth of this history agreeth with Eusebius: for it saith that Triptolemus was sonne to Elusus King of E•…•…s, who in a great dearth sustained the peoples liues out of his owne granary, which Tr•…•…mus vpon the like occasion beeing not able to doe, fearing the peoples furie, hee tooke along ship called the Dragon, and sayling thence, within a while returned againe with aboun∣dance of corne, and expelling Celeus who had vsurped in his abscence, releeued the people with come, and taught them tillage. Hence was he termed Ceres his pupill. Some place Lyncus for C•…•…s. He (saith Ouid) was King of Scythia, & because he would haue slaine Triptolemus, Ceres •…•…ed him into the beast Lynx, which we call an Ounce. (b) The Minotaure] Minos of Crete * 1.3 •…•…ied Pasiphae the Suns daughter, & he being absent in a war against Attica about his claime to the •…•…ingdom, & the killing of his son Androgeus, she fell into a beastly desire of copulation

with a Bull: and Daedalus the Carpenter framed a Cow of wood, wherein she beeing enclosed, bad her lust satisfied, and brought forth the Minotaure, a monster that eate mans flesh. This Uenus was cause of. Seru. For the Sunne bewraying the adultery of Mars and Uenus, Uul∣can came and tooke them both in a Wyre nette, and so shamefully presented them vnto the view of all the gods. Here-vpon Uenus tooke a deadly malice against all the Sunnes proge∣nie: and thus came this Minotaure borne: but Seruius saith he was no monster, but that there was a man either Secretary to Minos, or some gouernour of the Souldiours vnder him called Taurus, and that in Daedalus his house, Pasiphae and he made Minos Cuckold, and shee bring∣ing forth two sonnes, one gotten by Minos, and the other by Taurus, was said to bring forth the Minotaure: as Uirgill calleth it;

Mistumque genus prolem{que} biformem. A mungrell breed, and double formed-birth.

Euripides held him halfe man and halfe bull: Plutarch saith he was Generall of Minos forces, and either in a sea-fight or single combate, slaine by Theseus, to Minos his good liking: for hee was a cruell fellow, and the world reported him too inward with Pasiphae: and therefore after that Minos restored all the tribute-children vnto Athens, and freed them from that im∣position for euer. Palephratus writeth that Taurus was a goodly youth, and fellow to Minos, that Pasiphaë fell in loue with him, and hee begot a child vpon her: which Minos afterwards vnderstood, yet would not kill it when it was borne, because it was brother to his sonnes. The boy grew vp, and the King hearing that hee iniured the Sheapheards, sent to apprehend him: but he digged him a place in the ground, and therein defended himselfe. Then the King sent certaine condemned Malefactors to fetch him out: but he hauing the aduantage of the place, slew them all, and so euer after that the King vsed to send condemned wr•…•…ches thether, and hee would qu•…•…ckly make them sure. So Minos sent Theseus thether vnarmed (hauing taken him in the warres): but Ariadne watched as he entred the caue, and gaue him a sword where∣with he slew this Minotaure. (c) The Labyrinth] A building so entangled in windings and cyrcles, that it deceiueth all that come in it. Foure such there were in the world: but in Egipt at Heracleopolis, neare to the Lake Maeris, Herodotus saith that he sawe it: no maruell for it * 1.4 was remaining in Plinyes and Diod. his time. These two, and Strabo and Mela do describe it, Mela saith Psameticus made it. Pliny reciteth many opinions of it, that it was the worke of Petesucus, or else of Tithois, or else the palace of Motherudes, or a dedication vnto the Sunne, and that is the common beleefe. Daedalus made one in Crete like this: Diod. Plin. but it was not like Egypts by an hundred parts: and yet most intricate. Ouid. 8. Metamorph. Philothorus in Plutarch, thinketh that it was but a prison, out of which the enclosed theeues might not escape, and so thinketh Palaephatus. The third was in Lemnos, made by Zmilus, Rholus, and Theodorus builders. The ruines of it stood after those of Crete and Italy were vtterly decayed and gone. Plyn. The fourth was in Italy, by Clusium: made for Porsenna King of Hetru•…•…a. Varro. (d) The Centaures] Ixion, sonne to Phlegias the sonne of Mars, louing Iuno, and shee telling Ioue of it, hee made a cloud like her, on which cloud Ixion begot the Centaures. Sure * 1.5 it is, he was King of Thessaly, where horses were first backt. Plin. lib. 7. Bridle and saddle did Peletronius inuent: and the Thessalians that dwelt by mount Pelion, were the first that fought on Horse-back: Virgil goeth not farre from this, saying. Georg. 3.

Frena Pelethronii Lapithae girosqué dedêre, Impositi dorso, atque equitem docuerè sub armis, Insultare solo, & gressus glomerare superbos.

First Pelethronian Lapiths gaue the bit, And hotted rings, and taught arm'd horsmen sit: And bound, and proudly coruet as was fit.

The same hath Lucan in his Pharsalia, lib. 6.

Primus ab aequorea percussis cuspide saxis, Thessalicus sonipes, hellis ferallibus omen Exiluit, primus Chalybem frenosque momordit, Spum auit que nouis Lapithae domitoris habenis.

Since Neptune with sea trident stroke the rockes, First the I hessalian horse with deadly shocks:

A dismall signe, came forth, he first bit bruzed, And fom'de, at Lapith riders reines vnused.

Seruius explaining this place of Uirgill: saith thus. The Oxen of a certaine King of Thessaly gadding madly about the fields, hee sent his men to fetch them in: but they being not swift enough for them, got vpon horses, and so riding swiftly after the Oxen, pricked and whipped them home to their stables. Now some seeing them in their swift course or when they let their horses drinke * 1.6 at the riuer Peneus, began this fable of the Centaures: giuing them that name, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of pricking the Oxen. Some say this fable was inuented to shew how swiftly mans life passeth on, (because of the swiftnesse of an horse.) Thus farre Seruius. Palaephatus hath it thus. When the wilde Buls troubled all Larissa and Thessaly, Ixion proclaimed a great rewarde to those that could driue them thence. So the youths of Nephele got vpon the horses they had broken, (for they had waggons in vse before) and so droue them away very easily: and hauing receiued their re∣ward, they grew proud, iniuring both Ixion him-selfe and the Larissaeans (then called Lapithes) for being inuited to Pirrhas his marriage, they fell to rauishing of the virgins. Thus began the fable of the Centaures, and their horse-like bodyes, and of their birth from a clowd: for Nephele (their cities name) is, a cloud. These Centaures also were Lapithes, for Nephele was in the Lapithes countrie, and they are distinct as the Romaines and the Latines were. (e) Cerberus] begotten * 1.7 by Typhon, he made an hideous noise when he barked, hauing fifty necks. Hesiod. in Theogon. Thus Seneca describeth him in his Hercules furens.

Post haec auari Dit is apparet domus, Saeuus hic vmbras territat Stygius canis, Qui terna vasto capita concutiens sono Regnum tuetur, sordidum tabo caput Lambunt colubri, viperis horrent iubae, Longus{que} torta sibilat cauda draco, Par ira formae, sensit vt motus pedum, Attollit hirtas angue vibrato comas, Missum{que} captat aure subiecta sonum, Sentire & vmbras solitus.—

The haule of greedy hell comes next to sight: Here the fierce Stygian Dog doth soules affright, Who shaking his three heads with hideous sound, Doth guarde the state; his mattring head around Snakes lick: his mane with vipers horrid is: At his wreathd taile a Dragon large doth hisse. Furie, and forme, like: when our feete he heard, Darting a snake, his bristled haires he reard, And listned at the noise with lolled eare, As he is wont eu'n shady soules to heare.

Boccace and others compare him to a couetous man: (and Boccace wrote nothing so vainely, as the rest of that age did.) Porphyry saith, that the badge of Serapis and Isis, (that is Dis and Proserpina) was a three-headed dogge: viz. that triple kinde of deuill that haunts the ayre, the earth, and the water. De interpr, diuin. He was called three-headed (saith he) because the sunne hath three noted postures, the point of his rising, height, and setting, This Cerberus, Hercules (they say) did traile from hell vp to earth: and that is now a prouerbe in all hard attempts. Some say he drew him out vnder mount Taenarus (Strab. Senec.) & this is the common beleefe. for there (say they) lieth the readiest and largest way downe vnto hell. It is thought that Her∣cules killed some venemous serpent there, & that thence the fable had originall. Of those parts we read this in Mela. The Mariandines dwell there in a city that by report, was giuen them by the Argiue Hercules, it is called Heraclea: the proofe of this is, because hard by it is the hole called Achereusia, whence Hercules is thought to haue haled Cerberus. Pliny followeth Mela. l. 27. The Herbe Aconitum grew (say they) from the froth that fell from Cerberus his lips when * 1.8 he was trailed along by Hercules: & therfore it groweth about Heraclea, whence the hole is at which he came vp. Ouid assigneth no set place for the growth, but only Pontus at large where C•…•… was first seene, to cast his froth vpon the cliffes: for it is called Aconitum of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,

a cragge or flint: and he is called Cerberus, quasi 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a deuourer of flesh. A•…•…deus the Mollosian King had a dogge of this name, for he being called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is Orcus, named his wife Ceres, his daughter Proserpina, and his dogge Cerberus. Some say he stole his wife and called her Proserpina: but on with Plutarchs tale. Theseus and Pirithous comming to steale his daughter, hee tooke the•…•…, and cast Pirithous vnto his dogge Cerberus, and kept Theseus in straight prison. Here-vpon came the fable of their going into Hell to bring away Proserpina. For the countrey of Molossus in Epyrus, lying West from Attica and Thessaly, was alwayes signified by the name of Hell. Homer. Palaephatus tells this tale in this manner. Hercules hauing conquered Gerion in Tricarenia, a city of Pontus, and driuing away all his heards, there was a very fierce Mastiffe that followed the Oxen: they called him Cerberus: so when they came into Peloponnesus, Molossus, a rich Nobleman of Mycene begged the dogge: but Euristheus denying him, hee agreed with the shepheard to shut him into the caue of mount Taenarus, with a sort of bit∣ches that hee had put in there. So Euristheus set Hercules to seeke the dogge, and hee found him in Taenarus, and brought him away, and this is the ground of the fable. (f) Phryxus and Helle] * 1.9 Brother and sister, the children of Athamas sonne to Aeolus, a man of Nephele: who becom∣ming mad, and running into the desers, Athamas maried Ino Cadmus his daughter: who hating Phryxus and Helle, made meanes by the matrons to spoile all the fruites of the citty: the cause where of they should go and inquire of the Oracle, and returne this false answer, that the chil∣dren of Nephele must be sacrificed. But Iuno pittying them, sent them a golden fleeced Ram, to ride ouer the sea vpon. Helle being a young virgin, and not able to guide her selfe, sell into the sea, that runs betweene Asia & Europe, therevpon named Hellespont (her did Neptune lie with, and she bare him Paeon.) Phryxus passed ouer Bosphorus, Propontis, &c. and at last landed at Colchos, where he sacrificed the Ram vnto Ioue, and the fleece vnto Mars, building him a tem∣ple. Apollonius saith hee built Mars no temple, but onely one vnto Iupiter fugius, the flight∣guider, (yet some Greeke authors say that Deucalion erected the statue of this deity, presently vpon the deluge.) The Ram was bred at Orchomenon in Boeotia, some say in Thessaly: he was taken to heauen, & made the first signe in the Zodiak. Now that is obscure (saith Eratosthenes) for when he was to ascend, he put off his golden fleece himselfe, & gaue it vnto Phryxus. There was an Oracle (saith Diod. li. 5.) told Aeetas King of Pontus, that the Ram should dye as soone as a strange ship came to take away this fleece of the Ram: wherevpon he cruelly massacred all strangers, to make them feare to come thither, and walled the temple about with a triple wall, keeping a continuall guard of Taurians about it, of whom the Greekes told an hundred lyes: that they were Buls that breathed fire, and that a great dragon watched the •…•…leece, &c. But they were called Bulls, of their countrie name Taurica, and because they were so cruell, were said to breath fir•…•…. And the keepers name of the temple being Draco, hence fetched the Poets all their fixions. So feigned they also of Phryxus, who indeed sailed away in a ship called the Golden Ram, and Helle being sea-sick, and leaning ouer the poo•…•…e, fell into the sea. Others say, that Gambrus the King of Scythia landed at Colchos the time that Phryxus and his maister was taken and that the King liking the youth well, Aeetas gaue him to him, & he brought him vp as the heire of his kingdome, and left him it at his death: but for his maister Aries, (for that was his name) he was sacrificed to the gods, and his skin hung vp in the temple, as the custome was. And then the oracle telling Aeetas that he should dye when strangers came to demand the Rams skin, he to make the keepers more carefull ouer it, guilded it ouer: thus far Siculus. Some referre this to the riuer of Colchos, in whose channels there is gold found, which they purge from the sand through siues, and receiue it into skins which they lay vnder their siues. Some refer it to the great aboundance of gold and siluer in that country, as Pliny doth in these words. Now had Salauces and Esubopes reigned in Colchos, who finding the land in the original purity, digged out much gold and syluer in the Sanian territories: This as Strabo saith, first made Phryxus, and then Iason, to vnder-take an expedition against it: both which, left some me∣mories of their being there: Iason, the Cittie Iasonia; and Phryxus, Phryxium; and both of them matched with Aeetas daughters, Iason with Medea, and Phryxus with Chalciope: by whome he had Cytissorus, Mela•…•…a, Phontis and Argus, of whome (saith Pherecides) their ship was called Argo. But Euseb. will haue Phryxus, Abas the Argiue, and Erichtheus of Athens, all of one time. Some writers affirme (saith hee) that Phryxus at this time fled with his sister Helle from his step-mothers treacheries, and was seene go ouer the sea vpon a golden Ram: the ship wherein hee sailed bearing a guilt Ram vpon her stemme. Palaephatus deliuers it thus.

Athamas, Aeolus his sonne raigning in Phrygia, had a steward called Aries whome he much trus∣ted. This Aries told Phryxus how his death was plotted: so Phryxus his sister Helle and this Aries, got a great masse of riches together, and away they went. Helle died at sea: and so they cast her body ouer-boord, which gaue the name of Hellespont vnto the sea; the rest got to Colchos. Phryxus ma∣ried * 1.10 King A•…•…tas daughter, and gaue him an Image of a Ramme, all of pure gold: which hee •…•…de of the riches that he brought with him. (g) The Gorgon.] There were said to bee three Gorgons, Steno, Euriale and Medusa, daughters to Phorcus, and sea monsters. Hesiod saith that * 1.11 of these three Medusa onely was mortall, In Theog. Ouid hath but two in all. Met. 4. and both these had but one eye betweene them, which they vsed by course. Ouer against the West of Ethiopia, are Ilands that Mela calleth Gorgones, making them the habitation of these monsters. And Lucan agreeth with him Phars. 9. Ouer against Hesperoceras a promontory of Egipt their are Ilands (saith Pliny) which the Gorgon whilom inhabited; some two daies saile * 1.12 from the maine: Hanno of Carthage came to them, & tooke two of the women, al rough & hai∣ry: the men were too swift for them, but these he got: & their skins hung vp for a monument in Iunos temple, a long time after, at Carthage. Some tooke these Gorgons for the Hesperides, but the Hesperides Iles, sayth Statius Sebosus ly forty daies sayle farther then the Gorgons. Diodorus saith that the Gorgons were a warlike nation of women in Lybia, whome Perseus ouerthrew, with their leader Medusa. lib. 4.

This Medusa the fables say that Neptune lay withall in Minerua's Temple, whereat Minerua * 1.13 being angry turned her hayres into snakes, and made them all that beheld her, become stones: Perseus being armed with Minerua's shield encountred her, and she beholding herselfe in the bright sheeld as in a glasse grew into an heauy sleepe, and became a stone, but Perseus pre∣sently cut of her head, and the droppes of blood that fell from it filled Lybia full of serpents 〈◊〉〈◊〉 since: and those that fell vpon the twigges of shrubs, turned them into corall: and from thence (saith Ouid and Hesiod) came Pegasus that winged horse: but others say, from the copulation of Neptune and Medusa. Higinus sayth that Perseus ouercame the Gorgons thus: Hauing but one eye betweene them, hee watched the time that the one tooke it out to giue the other, and then hee suddenly came and snatched it away, and threw it into the lake 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and so hauing blinded them he easily foyld them both. Iupiter being to fight against the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was told that he must weare the Gorgons head if he would be victor: whervpon he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it with a goats skine, and so bare it to the field: Pallas afterwards got it of him. Euhe∣•…•… •…•…th that Pallas slew the Gorgon. In sacr. Hist. Tis commonly held that this Medusa 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wonderfull faire, and amazed all that beheld her beauty, and thence was it said she made them stones. The Gorgons came to the field armed in the skins of mighty serpents. Diod, per∣haps they will put some of this fixion vpon the Catoblepae, for they liue ouer against the Iles Gorgones, in that part of the mayne. Mela. Pliny. They are no great beasts, but they are the diuill for dangerous; slow of body, with great heads hanging alwaies downe to the ground: and hurt not with any member but their eyes. No more doth the basiliske against which * 1.14 〈◊〉〈◊〉 go armed with glasses in their shields and brest-plates, that the serpent may see him-selfe. Palaphatus tells along tale of these things and this it is. Phorcys was an Ethiopian of Cyrene, which is an Iland without the strayght of Hercules, and the inhabitants till the ground of Lybia as farre as the riuer Amona neare to Carthage, and are very rich in gold. So Phorcis erected a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto Minerua, of three cubites height: but died ere he could dedicate it. (This goddesse now they call Gorgon.) So he left three daughters behind him Stheno, Euriale, and Medusa: who would none of them marry, but shared their fathers estate equally: each one had her Iland, but for that statue, they neither consecrated it nor diuided it but kept it in the treasury, and possessed it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by course. Now Phorcys had one faithfull friend about him whome hee vsed as if it had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his eye. Now Perseus being fled from Argos, and turned pyrat, hearing that those Ilands were full of gold and empty of men, lurked secretly betweene Sardinia and Corsica, and watching 〈◊〉〈◊〉 faithfull messenger whome the sisters vsed still to send from one to another, tooke him in a mes∣•…•…, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 learnt of him that there was nothing for him to take, but Mineruas statue. So the Vir∣•…•… •…•…dring what was become of their seruant, their eye, Perseus landed, and shewed them that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and would not restore him, nay further, would kill them, vnlesse they shewed him the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…tue, Medusa would not, and so was slaine, the other two did, and had their eyes again•…•…▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 set Medusas head vpon the prow of his Gally, naming her the Gorgon, and then rob∣•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉, spoyled all the Ilanders of their wealth, killing, and plaging those that would giue him no∣thing,

and d•…•…ding m•…•…ny of the Striphians, they forsooke the citty which he entring found nothing but a many stone statues in the Market place. See (quoth Persius) how my Gorgon turnes men in∣to st•…•…, I would she did not so with our selues. Thus farre Palaephatus: who is farre mistaken in the places. I thinke those Ilands the Syrtes, for they doe accord better with Cyrene, Sardinia and Corsica. But there may bee some error in his copies. (h) Bellerophon. Sonne to * 1.15 Glaucus: Sisiphus his sonne: king of Ephyra (afterwards Corinth) vntill Praetus the Argiue King depriued him and made him serue him. Now Antia, Praetus his wife, tempted him to lie with her, which refusing, shee slandered him vnto her husband of attepmting it. So he sent him to Ariobatus, Antias father with a letter aduising him to protect his daughters chastity by killing▪ Bellerophon. Ariobatus, sent him against the Chymera which hee with the helpe of the winged horse Pegasus ouer-came (i) Now this Chymaera (saith Hesiod) was a Lyon in his * 1.16 fore-parts▪ a Dragon in the midst, and a Goate behind; which hinder parts gaue name to the whole monster, Homer maketh it the midle part a goat. Typhon they said begot it vpon 〈◊〉〈◊〉, it brea•…•…d fire: Uirg. Aen. 6 vpon which place Seruius saith that indeed it was a mountaine in Ly•…•… whose top cast forth flames: and that about the height of it there were Lyons: that the middle parts were good pasture grounds, and that the foote of it swarmed with serpents: & this Bellerophon made habitable. Pegasus the horse, had as Ouid saith, Caelum pro terra pro pede * 1.17 penna heauen for earth, and wings for hoofes. Apul•…•…ius saith that it was his feare made him famous, leaping about the Chymaera for feare of hurt, as if he had flowne. Asini. lib. 8. From this horse, the two chiefe fountaines of the Muses in Greece had their names. Thus writeth Solinus of them. By Thebes is the wood Helicon, the groue Cytheron, the riuer Ismenius, and foun∣taynes, Arethusa, Oedipodia, Psammate, Derce, and chiefly Aganippe and Hippocreene, both which Cadmus, the first inuentor of letters, finding as he rode abroade gaue the Poets occasion to saigne that they both sprung from the dints of the winged horses heeles, and both being drunke of, inspired the wit with vigor and learning. Thus he▪ Now Bellerophen riding vp to∣wards heauen, and looking downe, grew brain-sicke, and downe he fell, but Pegasus, kept on his course, and was stabled amongst the starres. Palaephatus saith Bellerophon was a Phrygi∣an, of the bloud of Corynth, and was a couer in the straytes of Asia and Europe, hauing a long shippe called Pegasus. In Phrygia is Mount Telmisus, and Chymaera adioyning to it: neare that was a caue that vented fyre: and vpon Mount Chymaera, were dragons, Lyons▪ &c. that did the husbandmen much hurt. The whole mountaine did Bellerophon set on fire, and so the wild-beasts were all burnt. (k) Of Amphion.] Brother to Zetus and Calais, Ioues sonnes by * 1.18 A•…•…tiope: for which Lynceus her husband, King of Thebes, refused her. The children being come to age reuenged their mothers disgrace, slew Lynceus, and Dyrce his wife, and chasing out old Cadmus, possessed Thebes them-selues. Amphion they say drew the stones after his musike and so built the walls of Thebes, the stones dauncing themselues into order. Horac. de. Arie poet.

Dictus et Amphion Thebanae conditor arcis, S•…•…a mouere sono testudinis, et prece blanda, —Ducere quo uellet.

Amphion builder of the Theban city, With •…•…ound of harpe and sweet entising ditty, To moue the stones is sayd, and where he would them lead.

Pliny saith hee inuented Musicke. lib. 7. Some say the Harpe also: and some say that Mercury gaue him the Harpe. He was author of the Lydian tones. Ualerius probus vpon Uirgills 〈◊〉〈◊〉, saith that Euripides, and Pacuuius say that Zetus & Amphion could gather their flockes to∣gether with their pipes. Witnesse Thebes which they walled about as Apollonius writeth. I•…•… Arg•…•…. But Zetus b•…•…re the stones to their places, Amphion onely piped, or harped them together. Eusebi•…•…s maketh them both the inuentors of Musike. Euang. praep. Pa•…•…yasis, and Alex∣ander say that Mercury gaue Amphion the Harpe for freeing of Cynara. Thus farre Pro•…•…. Amphion built Thebes, (saith Solinus.) not that his Harpe fetched the stones thether, for that i•…•… not likely, but hee brought the mountayners, and hyland-men vnto ciuility, and to helpe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that worke. This is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which Horace sayth: Dictus •…•…t Amphion Thebanae conditor 〈◊〉〈◊〉

〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ &c. It may bee that his song or his eloquence obteined stones for the worke, of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ghbours. Palaephatus saith hee paide them for the stones with his Musicke, hauing no 〈◊〉〈◊〉. But Eusebius maketh him and Zetus to liue both together in two seuerall ages, vnlesse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…iber haue falsified him. For first they liued vnder Linceus his reigne, and then in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his time afterwards. Niobe (about whose children the writers hold that famous contro∣•…•…) was Amphions wife.

(〈◊〉〈◊〉) Daedalus] An Attike (saith Diod. lib. 5.) sonne to Eupalamus, who was grand-child to * 1.19 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ hee was a rare statuarie, and an excellent Architect, framing statues that seemed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…th, and to goe, his witte was so admirable. Hee taught it to Talus his nephew, who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ut young▪ inuented the Wimble and Sawe, which Daedalus greeuing at, that the glory 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Arte should bee shared by another, slew the youth, and being therefore condemned hee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Minos in Creete, who interteined him kindly: and there hee built the Labyrinth. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Now Seruius Aenead. 6. saith, that hee and his sonne Icarus being shutte in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, hee deceiued his keepers by perswading them hee would make an excellent worke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King, and so made him and his sonne wings, and flew away both. But Icarus flying 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the sunne melted his waxen ioyntes, and so hee fell into the sea that beareth his 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lighted at Sardinia, and from thence (as Salust saith) he flew to Cumae, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a temple to Apollo. Thus Seruius. Diod. and others say, hee neuer came in Sardi∣•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into Sicilia, whether Minos pursued him, Cocalus reigning then in Camarina, who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…our of a long discourse with him in his bathe, held him there vntill hee had choaked 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…le saith, that Crotalus his daughters killed him: but hee interpreteth a ship and * 1.20 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ee his wings, whose speed seemed as if hee flew away. Diodorus reckoneth many 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Sicilia, Cocalus intertaining him with all courtesie, because of his excellent 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and that it was a Prouerbe to call any delicate building, a Daedalean worke. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.Vnder his feete a foote-stoole was, which in Daedalean worke did passe.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 calleth the honey combes, Daedalean houses. Geo. 4. and Circe hee calleth Daeda∣•…•… (in Polit.) saith that the statues hee made would goe by them-selues. I and runne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Plato in Memnone) Vnlesse they were bound. Hee that had them loose had fu∣•…•… •…•…ts of them. Hee made a statue of Venus that mooued through quick-siluer that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Arist. 1. de Anima. Palaephatus referres all this to the distinction of the feete▪ all sta∣•…•… •…•…ore him making them alike, Hee learnt his skill in Egipt, but hee soone was his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…tter. For hee alone made more statues in Greece then were in all Egypt: At Mem∣•…•… Vulcans porche, so memorable a worke of his, that hee had a statue mounted on it, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 honors giuen him, for the Memphians long after that, had the temple of Daedalus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…nour: which stood in an Ile neere Memphis. But I wonder which Cumae the wri∣•…•…, when they say hee flew to Cumae: whether the Italian or the Ionian, whence the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 descended. Most holde of the Italian. For thence hee flew into Sicilia, and of this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…nd Iuuenall meane. Iuuenall where hee saith, how Vmbritius went to Cumae, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Aeneas conferreth with Sybilla of Cumae. But the doubt is, because the Icarian 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 drowned sonnes name) is not betweene Crete and Italy, but betweene Crete 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…re vnto Icarus, one of the Sporades Ilands, of which the sea (saith Varro) is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the Ile beareth Icarus his name, who was drowned there in a ship-wrack, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 name to the place. Ouid describeth how they flew in their course in these 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪

—Et iam Iunonia laua Parte Samos fuerat, Delosque parosque relictae: Dextra Lebynthos erat, faecunda{que} melle Calydna.

Now Paros, Delos, Samos, Iunoes land, On the left hand were left: on the right hand Lebynth, and hony-full Calydna stand.

•…•…ee •…•…ew an vnknowne way to the North. But the Ionian Cumae, and not the Ita∣•…•… •…•…th from Crete. But Seruius saith, that if you obserue the worde, hee flew to∣•…•… •…•…th: but if you marke the historie, hee flew by the North. So that the fable

hath added some-what besides the truth: vnlesse it were some other Icarus, or some other cause of this seas name, who can affirme certainly in a thing of such antiquity. (l) Oedipus.] * 1.21 Laius, Grand-child to Agenor and sonne to Labdacus, King of Thebes in Boetia, married Iocasta Creons daughter: who seeming barren, and Layus being very desirous of children, went to the oracle which told him hee neede not bee so forward for children, for his owne sonne should kill him. Soone after Iocasta conceiued, and had a sonne: the father made holes to bee bored through the feete and so cast it out in the woods: but they that had the charge, gaue it to a poore woman called Polybia, and she brought it vp in Tenea, a towne in the Co∣rinthian teritory. It grew vp to the state and strength of a man, and being hardy and high minded he went to the Oracle to know who was his father, for hee knew hee was an out-cast child. Layus by chance came then from the Oracle, and these two meeting neare Phoris, nei∣ther would giue the way: so they fell to words and thence to blowes, where Laius was slaine or as some say, it was in a tumulte in Phocis, Oedipus and hee taking seuerall parts. Iocast•…•… was now widdow, and vnto her came the Sphynx with a riddle for all her wooers to dissolue: hee that could, should haue Iocasta and the Kingdome; he that could not, must dye the death. Her riddle was: what creature is that goeth in the morning on foure feete, at noone on two and at night on three? This cost many a life, at last came Oedipus and declared it: so maried his * 1.22 mother, and became King of Thebes. The Sphynx brake her necke from a cliffe, Oedipus hauing children by his mother, at last knew whome hee had maried, and whome he had slaine: where-vpon hee pulled out his owne eyes: and his sonnes went to gether by the eares for the Kingdome. Thus much out of Diod. Strabo, Sophocles and Seneca: for it is written in trage∣dyes. Hee was called Oedipus quasi, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, swollen fete. The Sphynx (saith Hesiod) was begot betwne Typhon and the Chymaera. Ausonius (I•…•… Gryphiis.) makes her of a triple * 1.23 shape, woman-faced, griffin-winged, and Lyon-footed. His words be these.

Illa etiam thalamos per trina aenigmata querens, Qui bipes, •…•…t quadrupes foret, •…•…t tr•…•…pes omnia solus, Terruit Aoniam volucris, •…•…o, virgo triformis, Sphinx volucris pennis, pedibus fera, fronte pulla.

A mariage she seeking by ridles three, What one might two, three, and foure-footed be, Three-shaped bird, beast, made, she Greece distrest,, Sphinx maid-fac'd, fetherd-foule, foure-footed beast.

But indeed this Sphynx was a bloudy minded woman. All this now fell out (saith Eusebius) In Pandions time, the Argiues, and in the Argonautes time. Palaephatus saith that Cad•…•…s hauing put away his wife Harmonia, shee tooke the mountaine Sphynx in Boeotia, and from that roust did the Boeotians much mischiefe. (Now the Boeotians called treacheries Aenig∣•…•…, riddles.) Oedipus of Corynth ouer-came her, and slew her, (l) From the truth of.] For of nothing is nothing inuented, saith Lactant and Palaephatus. (m) Ganymed.] Tantalus stole * 1.24 him and gaue him to Ioue, he was a goodly youth: and sonne to Tros King of Troy. Io•…•… made him his cup-bearer, and turned him into the signe Aquary. Tros warred vpon Tantalus for this, as Ph•…•…cles the Poet writeth. Euseb. and Oros. say that hee was stollen from 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which tooke the name from that fact: it was a place neare the citty Parium in Phrygia. Ste∣phan. (n) Danae.] Of her elsewhere. She was Acrisius his daughter: who shut her and his * 1.25 sonne Preseus in a chest, and cast them into the sea, they droue to Apulia, where Danae was married vnto Pilumnus, and bare him Da•…•…nus, of whome Apulia was called Daunia, (o) Admetus.] The Hell-gods complayning to Ioue that Asculapius diminished their kingdome in reuiuing dead men, hee killed him with a thunder-bolt, at which his father Apollo being mad, shot all the Cyclops (Ioues thunder-makers (to death, which Ioue greatly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 would haue thrust Apollo out of Heauen: but at Latonas intreaty, hee onely bound hi•…•… yeare prenti•…•… vnto a mortall. So hee came into Thessaly and there was heardsman vnto King Admetus, and therefore was he called Nonius, or Pastorall. Orph. Flacc. in Argonaut. D•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Higi•…•…s saith he killed no•…•…▪ all the Cyclops but onely Steropes. Admetus sayled with the Ar∣•…•…tes: Apollo loued him wel, and kept his heards because he lay with his daughter. Lact•…•….

〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ee that Apollo that gaue the Arcadians their lawes, who called him Nomius. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…weth the contrarie? (p) Father Liber] As Diodorus, Strabo, Pliny, Philostratus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…oets almost doe recorde▪ Diodor. and Philost. giue this reason of that fable of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…e in Ioues thigh. His armie was sore infected with maladies in India, and he lead 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to an higher and more wholesome ayre, where hee recouered them all, and this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…dians called Femur (a thigh:) and so grew the fable. (q) Was conquered] Some (〈◊〉〈◊〉) in these times (to witte when Pandion remooued the seate of the Argiue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…o My•…•…s) recorde the deedes of Liber Pater, the Indians, Actaeon and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and that Persus ouer-came Liber, and slew him as Dinarc•…•…s▪ the Poet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that will not beleeue him, let him view the tombe of Liber at Delphos, neere 〈◊〉〈◊〉 statue of Apollo. Hee is painted in an •…•…ffiminate shape, for hee lead women to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as well as men, as Philocerus saith, liber. 2. Thus farre Eusebius. Clemens (Contra •…•…th that the Tytans pulled him in peeces, and began to roaste and boyle his 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ but Pallas gotte them away, and Apollo by Ioues command buryed them on 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪

•…•…as and] Sonne to Ioue and Danaë: of him had Persia the name, for hee warred 〈◊〉〈◊〉 admirable good fortune. Oros. so holde the Greekes as Xenophon Atticus for * 1.26 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was daughter to Caephus, Phaenix his sonne, and Cassiopeia. Shee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bound * 1.27 •…•…ke, by the command of Apollo's Oracle, for a Sea-monster to deuoure, and her pa∣•…•… •…•…ding and weeping ouer her: Perseus comming from the Gorgons warres, hearing •…•…gs stood▪ bargained with them that hee should marry the Virgin, and so slew 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by presenting the Gorgons head vnto it. All of them were afterwards placed in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…eus hath nineteene starres at the backe of Vrsa Minor, and the circle Arctike 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the brest, no part of his constellation euer setteth, but his shoulders: Cassio∣•…•… in a chaire, and hath thirteene starres, and the milken circle diuides her in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…he heauens motions turnes her heeles vpwards (saith Higinus) because shee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was fairer then the Nereides. Andromeda was deified by Minerua, for prefer∣•…•… •…•…and before her countrey and friend: shee is next Cassiopeia, and hath twentie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 constellation: her head is vnder Pegasus his belly, and the Tropike of Cancer 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her brest and her left arme. Perseus hath seauenteene starres: his right hand 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…e circle Arctike, and his foote stands vpon Arcturus his head. Of these, read Iulius 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Aratus Solensis. Ioppa in Syria (saith Mela. lib. 1.) was built before the deluge, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 inhabitants say Cepheus reigned, where they doe keepe diuerse old altars of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…her P•…•…ineus with great reuerence, as also the huge bones of the sea monster 〈◊〉〈◊〉 slew. Hierom. Marcus Scaurus (saith Pliny lib. 9. in his Edileship amongst 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sights, shewed the bones of the monster that should haue deuoured Andro∣•…•… •…•…ing fortie foote more in length, then the longest Elephants ribbe of India, and * 1.28 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thicker in the back bone. This hee brought from Ioppe, a towne in Iudaea. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 writers say that Ioppe is in Iudaea, and therefore I wonder that Lawrence Ualla 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of this opinion: for hee taxeth Ierome of Ignorance for placing of it in India: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had Pliny and Mela on his side, of better credite in Geographie then Ouid. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ose verses are not much to the purpose: for the first of the swartie browne, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Aethiopia or Egypt: and in the later, Ualla himselfe mistaketh the sto∣•…•… came out of Mauritania to Iudaea and Aegypt, along the coast of Africa. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hee Andromeda, and from thence hee went to Euphrates, and to that coun∣•…•… Greekes call Persia after him, from thence into India, and then home to Argos 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (s) Nor affraide] Fearing not to blast heauen with such impious and fabu∣•…•….

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Bac∣chae.
• * 1.2

  Triptole∣mus.
• * 1.3

  The Mino∣taure.
• * 1.4

  The Labi∣rinth.
• * 1.5

  Ixion.
• * 1.6

  The Cen∣taures.
• * 1.7

  Cerberus.
• * 1.8

  Aconitum.
• * 1.9

  Phryxus & Helle.
• * 1.10

  Hellespont.
• * 1.11

  Gorgons.
• * 1.12

  Lib. 6.
• * 1.13

  Medusa.
• * 1.14

  Basiliske.
• * 1.15

  Bellerephō
• * 1.16

  Chymaera.
• * 1.17

  Pegasus.
• * 1.18

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.19

  Daedalus.
• * 1.20

  In Poli•…•….
• * 1.21

  Oedipus.
• * 1.22

  A ridle.
• * 1.23

  •…•…ynx.
• * 1.24

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.25

  〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.26

  Perseaus.
• * 1.27

  Androme∣da.
• * 1.28

  La•…•…rence Valla in an errour.