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Rectus Oculi Primus Elevator.
THe Curtains of the Eye being drawn,* 1.1 we next arrive at the Body of the Eye its self with its Muscles, by which it performeth all its variety of Motions; the truth is, so much hath already been said of these Muscles, as well as of the Coats and Humours which belongeth to the Eye, that its lost time to trouble you with Repetition thereof; this only I shall offer, that this fine Globulous Body ought to have so many Muscles as it enjoys, to make it hang so perpendicularly in the Orbite of its Bone, and be so well ballanc'd, as that it may perform every of its Motions with dexterity, and thereby with ease and advantage execute those Offices for which it was at first designed.
This Muscle ariseth from the upper part of the Orbite of the Eye, near where the Optick Nerve comes forth, and is inserted into that Coat of the Eye called Cornea, where it is clear, and near the Iris by a thin and Membranous Tendon.
This Muscle amongst Anatomists is generally accounted the first of the Eye,* 1.2 and is either called Attollens or Superbus, be∣ing held the Master of Pride and Disdain; the expressing of which Action occasions the Eye to open. Dr. Willis Fol. 149. de Anima Brutorum, doth attribute this Motion to the Eyelid ra∣ther, and by him is called Musculus Humilis, because in a de∣vout and intense Prayer it is much lifted up, and hence is it that we commonly see the Hypocritical Tribe, who do affect a form of Sanctity to lift their Eyes so much up, that scarce any part but the White thereof is seen, the Pupil in these Creatures being so obscured that scarce any part therof is to be seen.
This you have very well delineated at Tab. 6. Fig. 3. at O. O. and at Fig. 5. in the same Table at A.