Don Zara del Fogo a mock-romance / written originally in the Brittish tongue, and made English by a person of much honor, Basilius Musophilus ; with a marginall comment, expounding the hard things of the history.

CHAP. III.

Lamia and the Champion are tran∣sported through the Ayre in a Charriot drawn by two flying Dragons, to the Vale of Vassalage. The manner how Witches wed themselves to the Devil. They visit Charons house, where they find his Wife Fatua at her Huswifery. Charons Can∣ticle. They pass over the River Styx, comming to the very gates of Barathrum, where they hear Pluto's Proclamation.

Lamia lay naked in her Bed, and Zara's self lay by, Upon his flesh she fiercely fed, more sweet then Pork or Pye, &c.

OUr Champion and his beauteous Mistris were no sooner secluded in the silken walls of a rich bed, but he performed those rites due to those twin-Goddesses, Concupiscentia and Cytherea, while Soto (like a faithfull

Squire) accommodated Founder-foot with Fodder, and other conveniences, hanging up his Master Armour, his Sword, Mace, and other Martiall pro∣perties (as he hoped) in the Acaenall of Janus; for though Soto could wil∣lingly * 1.1 brook the brunt of a Bicker∣ing, the fatallity of a Fight, and the consternation of a Combat, yet he was no foe to a tranquillious subsist∣ence, no peace-hater, or profest ene∣my to * 1.2 Comus: Having disposed of all things most methodically, he de∣parted to his bed with much griefe (Heaven knows) that what his Master presided, could not be his example.

Return we now to our thrice-Re∣nowned Knight, and his Spel-charm∣ing Associate, the courteous Lamia, who having reciprocally recreated themselvs almost to a surfeit, suffered Somnus to make prize of their senses, Doing causes Drowziness: But they had not slept six hundred minutes ere La∣mia call'd to mind, what till then was slipt from her memory, viz. the hour of meeting her Sisterhood in the Vale of Vassalage (so called, for that

in this swarthy Grot the Inchantress and her co-partnrrs did Homage to the King of Flames) she threw her self out of the bed with such violence, that the Champion awaked, and de∣siring his Dear to give him the cause of her so impetuous arrisall; she an∣swered, My dear Servant, it is no time now to use prolix Narrations, please to desert the bed, you shal soon know the cause why I left you. Zara (who was now as true a Lover as ever offe∣red Incense to Aphrodite) soon obeyed his Mistris commands, and was pre∣sently (as already she had served her self) Anointed from head to foot with an Unguent, whose savor might aptly be compar'd to that * 1.3 Chymical Dew extracted from the dung of an Infant; this done, they adorned their bodies with the same weeds worn the day before, and then Lamia (having girded her Magicall Cincture about her waste) approached the Hearth, where (by the wondrous operation of her Art) the fire was never extinct, the immortall Flame deriving its pe∣digree from that Caelestiall un-extin∣guishable Brand which was born, be∣fore

the mighty Darius, when he mar∣ched against little great Alexander, to make proof which of them two meri∣ted the Worlds moytie; Into this fire she flung a great many poysonous Weeds, which (with a rusty knife) she had lately cropped on Mount Cauca∣sus, and other Cambrian Promonto∣ries before the break of day; to this she added * 1.4 the entrails of those omi∣nous Birds, the Owl and hoars Night-Raven, blended with red Storax, and the blood of a Lapwing, the shavings of a Shooing-horn, the feathers of a Salamander, the cry of a Mandrake, and the tongue of a Jews-Harp; this done, she entred her Orbicular Goale (taking the Champion with her, who stood trembling all the time, and let none marvell if the most Magnani∣mous man living be appalled at the approach of Devils, there being no greater Antipathy to be imagined, then between a terrestriall substance, and an Inhabitant of Orcus) making the very basis of this vast Ball to tot∣ter with her first Accents, repeating this ••oercive Charm:

* 1.5 Great Heccate, Rectresse of shades, Plashey Grots, and gloomy Glades.

Neptunes never-failing Friend, Whom Night-Goblins do attend:

Flitting from their Ponds and Lakes, From myrie Boggs, and thorny Brakes.

By whose beams (when Sol's away) Span-long Infants sport and play.

By the Lapland Haggs hoars hum, And great Demogorgons Drum.

By the Mandrakes killing cry, And the Owls harsh melody.

By Alecto's Snaky Twine, And the Tyre of Proserpine.

By fiery Phlegeton and Styx, And Puck-Hayries Genetrix.

Lest I ding thee down to Hell (By the vigour of my Spell)

Ayde, O ayde my great desires, By those ever-wandring Fires,

That lead Travailers astray All the night, till break of day.

This potent, and never-equall'd Incantation (dangerous to be ittera∣ted by the Reader in an audible tone) was no sooner uttered by the Inchan∣tress, but it tonitruated horribly, fulminating promiscuously from all parts of the troubled Hemisphere, the Earth was shaken with an Ague fit, huge Oaks were torn up by the roots, and steong Structures levell'd with the ground, when behold a Chariot (seeming all of fire) drawn by a cou∣ple of Comets in the shapes of Dra∣gons, received Lamia and the Cham∣pion, who travail'd through the ayr till they came ro the Vale of Vassa∣lage, where allighting, they found the mighty Monarch of Gehenna (* 1.6 his bulk like some huge Mountain hor∣ned like a Goat, his feet resembling Serpents, two rowes of Teeth, each longer then the Mast of a Ship,) sitting beneath a Cypresse Tree, to whose Trunk (as his manner al∣wayes was) he turned his prodigi∣ous, face, allowing all, or most part of

his back parts only to be kissed, which all there (with most humble obey∣sance) saluted, and then with a joynt Acclamation (crying * 1.7 Har, Har,) they joyned in an Antick Dance; which finished, each Sorceress had the fruition of her Incubus, Lamia not excepted, which exceedingly stirred the Champions choller; After this, they sat down to feast, the Earth, Ayr, and Seas being plundred of its Inha∣bitants, to satiate these Sorcerous wretches; the Champion (who ne∣ver gave his Teeth cause to curse his Tardity) fed with the formost, but the spight was, the eating time being o∣ver, he could not mix with the rest in the Coranto; for the truth was, our Champions Parents were no Courti∣ers, nor himself ever acquainted with the nice Puntilloes of Kings Pallaces; All being vanished on a sudden, our Knight and Lamia were left alone, who preparing to take Coach in or∣der to their Journey homeward, the couragious Don grasping his Mistris snowy hand, thus divul'd himself:

So many and so great (most melli∣fluous

Madam) have those favours bin extended to me your worthless Ser∣vitor, that were my head stuffed with the wit of Hermes, my fore-head deck∣ed with the branches of Pan, my eyes irradiated with the fulgency of Sol, my cheeks adorned with the Roses of Ganymede, my nose still running with divine Nepenthe, my lipps qualified with a Carnation tincture, my teeth of that very Ivory which pieced up the shoulder of Pelops, my beard the Beesome of heaven, my neck a Phari∣an Tower, my shoulders bearing up the world with Atlas, my arms sphea∣ring the Earth, my hands grasping both Poles, my belly more big then the Tun at Heildebergh, my thighes strutting like a Rhodian Coluss, my legs supporters of the Globe, and my feet like those of Erichtonius, yet I could never be Master of such a Gra∣titude as might refun'd the fixtieth part of your incomparable indulgen∣cy; adde but one more to all your past favours, and make me eternally yours. I have heard that Ulysses and Aeneas, * 1.8 I will not name Hercules, (the true Types of me) had the happiness

to visit that dark Dungeon where the damned dwell, and to have commerce with those Aetherial souls that dance together in the Elisian Shades, and yet returned (safe and sound) to their terrestial abodes; I would fain know what is done in the other World, though I have no ambition to injure any there, or (with Hercules) to cap∣tivate Cerberus.

That you may know (said Lamia) what an immense power you have o∣ver me (though the Adventure be dreadfull and dangerous) you shall have the fruition of your desires, be sure you enjoyn your tongue the strictest silence; this said, she and the Champion re-entered their Charriot, being transported over Woods, Ci∣ties, Seas, Villages, and tops of tall Steeples, and in a trice arrived at that very place where (after solemn Sacri∣fice to his Mothers soul) Ulysses began his Progress to Pluto's Monarchy; here they disburthened their Caroach, and the Inchantress taking Zara by the hand, departed down a pair of wind∣ing stayres, having no light savè a

kind of duskish glimmering, such as some call Twi-light; the bellowing of black Rivers and schrieking of Furies made a dreadfull diapason, to which was added a pestilential smel as of Brimstone, Naptha, &c. They travel∣led so long down these stayres, that Zara (who now repented his rash opti∣on) imagined himself con-centred in the Earth, and now they beheld an exceeding high Wood, whose top seemed to touch the Clouds, every Tree had its branches laden with a kind of swarthy Fruit resembling Cucumbers, each of them including a damned soul, who were incessantly tormented in the bowels of these Cu∣cumbers, without hope of Infran∣chisement: Having past this Wood, they arrived at the very brink of the River Styx, whose dark waves evapo∣rated a thick smoak; here they found Charons Boat (with onely one Oar in it) fastned to part of that Cottage where the grisly F••rriman resided, but no Boat-man to be met with; the oc∣casion of Charons absence was this, Pluto had newly married his eldest daughter Tenebrosa to the great Duke

Marathron, whose Territories exten∣ded from Phlegeton to the Lake Aver∣nus, having under his command sixty Legions; and this wither'd Water∣man had imployment as Pilot in Plu∣to's chief Galeon, to convey the Princely pair and their Retinew over Acheron to their own Dominions; the Inchantress was extreamly vexed to find Charon a non-resident, insomuch that she was once resolved to punish Hell and Heaven, as culpable of a con∣tumacy, when behold Charons Con∣sort (Fatua) a Matron of much gra∣vity, and daughter to Chaos and Nox, fell at the Inchantress feet, beseeching her not to be offended at her husbands absence, relating that his Prince had summoned his service, withall intrea∣ting her to approach her homely Mansion; Lamia and the Champion were not shie to enter this homely Pa∣villion, where they found a candid Reception from the aged Fatua, who upon their entrance threw a kind of Gum into the fire (made of a kind of Pumice, much resembling the Brittish Turf) by vertue whereof, the Room where they were seemed more lumi∣nous

then the House of Sol, they re∣ceived celestiall Visions, and fancied themselves equal with the Gods, they had not long injoyed this beatificall Vision, but they heard the aged Fer∣rimans voyce, who sang the follow∣ing Canticle, walking upon the Surges.

SONG.

1.

FOolish Mortalls (fed with Pap) (Sporting in cold Tellus lap) Alwayes scraping, alwayes scoring, Alwayes drinking, alwayes whoring, you spend your lives, with wag-tayl'd Wives, While the subtill Syrens rock ye, Till your proud flesh make ye pockey. Driving Acres down your Gullets, Till you dine with butter'd Bullets, Drink and drab, study and stare on, You must all conclude with Charon.

2.

Wash your throats with Wine and W••r••, The Gods made man to make them sport; Nor can ye ere be called men, Though ye write threescore and ten;

Y'are leaden Daddies, To light Ladies,

Ships floating on a Sea of Glass, The Stagerite was but an Ass.

Drink and drab, study and stare on, You must all conclude with Charon.

By this time the grey-bearded Oar∣man had gained his Hive, and with a chearfull hum saluted Lamia and the Champion after his rustick manner, who returned him more Comple∣mentall Retribution: The Inchan∣tress had no need to inform him of her design, * 1.9 None ever toucht the Strond of Styx, but they ballasted Cha∣rons Boat: wherefore taking leave of Fatua, they immediately Imbarqued themselves, the tough old Siegnior (having been well feasted in the Court of Pluto) tugg'd at the Oare like any Terrestriall Barge-man a∣gainst Wind and Tide; but by that time they were half way over Styx, they espyed an aged * 1.10 person all na∣ked,

of a venerable Aspect (very neer them) crying out for help, for that he was in danger of drowning: The Champion (moulded of a noble mind) was proffering him his hand, had not Lamia hindered him, who related unto him briefly what this old man was, and how inevitable a ruine had ensued, in case he had affor∣ded him aide; ere her Caution found period, they were within sight of shoar, where they landed, giving Cha∣ron his usuall Sallary, who (won∣dring what Mister Wights these were, since he had not above thrice be∣fore had experience of the like) took his leave with more Ceremo∣ny then usuall, and returned to his Wherry.

The place where the Sorceress and our Champion now were, seemed a Marish ground, or rather a perfect Quagmire over-grown with blasted Reeds, and withered Sedge, yet of so solid a surface, that they tramp∣led as upon Scythian Ice; being past this ••og, they presently came to the

very Gates of Barathrum, fashion'd of burnisht Brass, which (contrary to Ancient and Modern belief) were fast locked, for that the God of Ghosts had lately made Proclamation.

FOr asmuch as our Brother Jupi∣ter, King of Heaven (minding * 2.1 méerly his peculiar interest and self∣glory) daily Delegates numberless multitudes of the more leprous, tur∣bulent, and Factious sort of souls for our Territories, to the disturbance of our Weal, and apparant Assasination of our Monarchy, while we are in dai∣ly danger of dethronizing by the ma∣levolent combinations of cursed spi∣rits; These are therefore to wil and command you Cerberus, our chiefe Porter in ordinary, with the assist∣ance of Our trusty and well-beloved Minos, Lord chief Justice of Tarta∣rus, that none of what condition or quality soever, be permitted to passe as Pilgrims, or otherwise) into our Dominions, that shall not be able to ••ender an account of their good be∣haviour

in the upper World, and wil∣lingly take the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy: This you are not to fail at your utmost perill;

Witness our Self, at Aetna.

The horrid clamours that were heard within, made the Champion wish himself in that very Cave again, where the Bear baited him; But there is no receding now; * 2.2 He who sets his foot upon Hells Threshold, shall be en∣forced to enter the house.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Soto's E∣log c.
• * 1.2

  A famous fat Cook, canonized by Pope Sylvester the 22 after he had bin worshipped many Ages by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Greeks with divine Ho∣nours. See Cooks In∣stit. Tome 30. p. 100••.
• * 1.3

  Ol〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉didum Infantium. See Culpep∣pers Dispen∣〈…〉〈…〉, p. 100
• * 1.4

  See Doctor Lambs A∣phorisms, lib 2. tract. 17. Apho••, 1000000.
• * 1.5

  The Rea∣der must take heed that he read not this Charm ei∣ther in pri∣vate with his face East by North when the winds are high, or af∣ter Sun set.
• * 1.6

  The de∣scription of the Devill, according to the fre∣quent con∣fessions of Witches & So••ce••ers
• * 1.7

  The same with that of Pasquil, de legibus, lib. 30 claw a Churle (i. e. the Devil) by the Arsé he'l sh••••e in your hand.
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 bring his af∣front, chap. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.9

  Sentence.
• * 1.10

  He is ve∣ry oblivious that knows not this old mans name See Apulei∣us his Gol∣den Calf, li. 6. p 12.
• * 2.1

  Pluto's Pro∣clamation.
• * 2.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉