Women Metamorphosed.

Daphne, the Daughter of the River Peneus, which Apollo dearly loved; but because he could not obtain his desire of her, turned her into a Laurel Tree, from whence Daphne is termed a Laurel.

Io, or Isis, was the Daughter of Inachus, whom Iu∣piter loved; and that Iuno might not suspect it, he turn∣ed Io into a Cow, which Iuno begged of Iupiter, and delivered her to be kept by Argus. See numb. 51.

Syrinx, a Nymph of the Water, whom Pan the god of Shepherds fell in Love with; who running from him, was turned into a Cane or Reed, of which he made a Pipe.

Aedon, Wife of King Zethus, who envying the Wife of Am•hion, because she had six Sons, she thought in the Night to slay one of them, and by chance slew her own Son, who finding the Mis-chance, died for greif, and Page  407 was turned into a Linnet, or Thistle Finch.

Alcyone, the Daughter of Neptune, who going to the Oracle was drowned by Shipwrack, and was by the Gods turned into a Bird, called the Kings-fisher.

Antigone, the Daughter of King Lacedemon, who con∣tending for beauty with Iuno, was turned into a Stork.

Arachite, the Daughter of Idmon, was a skillful spin∣ner, who contending with Pallas, for the excellency of her Art: who having her work broken, hanged her self, and was by Pallas turned into a Spider.

Arethusa, a Nymph of Diana, who was loved of Al∣pheus; whose violence when she could not escape: Diana turned her into a Fountain.

Asteria, the Daughter of Cous; on her Iupiter begat Hercules, with whom Iupiter afterwards being angry, the Gods turned her into a Quaile.

Atalanta, she was so swift, that she made an offer, that whosoever could over run her in a race, should mar∣ry her: Hippomenes ventured to run with her, having received from Venus three golden Apples, which he threw in the way, which while she was staying to take up, he wan the race; but because he lay with her in the Temple of Cybele, they were afterwards turned into Lyons.

Calisto, Daughter of Lycaon King of Arcadia, and the companion of Diana: being fallen asleep was gotten with Child by Iupiter, at which Diana being offended, turned her into a Bear.

Eumenides, these are the three furies, the Daughters of Pluto, and Proserpina; or of Hell, Darkness, Night and Earth: In Heaven they were called Dirae, Fairies; in Earth Harpiae, Ravenous-birds; in Hell Furiae, Fiends. They had Snakes instead of hair, brazen Feet, Torches in one hand, and Whips in the other, and Wings to fly with.

Hecuba, Wife of Priamus King of Troy; dreamed she had a Firebrand in her Belly, being with Child of Paris; which caused Paris after he was born, to be ex∣posed to wild Beasts, and Hecuba cast her self off a rock into the Sea, and was turned into a Dog.

Leucothoe, she was the Daughter of Orcham•s King of Babylon, with whom Apollo was in love, and at length obtained his desire of her, which when her Father knew, he buried her alive: which Apollo took heavily, and be∣cause he could not restore her to life, transformed her in∣to a Frankincense Tree.

Lotis, was a fair Nymph the Daughter of Neptune, who being like to be surprized by Priapus; called upon the Gods for their assistance, who taking pitty on her, turned her into a Tree of her own name, Lotis.

Dirce, the Wife of Lycus, and step-mother of Am∣phion and Zethus; who for her cruelty to Antiopa, their Mother, whom Lycus had put away, they killed him, and tied Dirce to the Tail of a wild Horse, which being dash∣ed, dragled, and torn on the Ground, was by the Gods turned into a Fountain of her name.

Myrrah, the Daughter of Cynaras King of Cyprus, who being in love with her Father; when he was drunk did lie with him, and was got with Child: when her Father knew what a wicked Act she had made him commit, ran at her with his naked Sword, she running away, was by the Gods pittied, and turned into the Myrreh-tree.

Niobe the Daughter of Tantalus, and Wife to Am∣phion King of Thebes, who because of the multitude, and beauty of her Children preferred her self to Latina: therefore Apollo and Diana, being angry at her insolency, with their Arrows killed all her Children, and she with grief was turned into a Stone.

Nyctimene, the Daughter of Nycteus, by the help of her Nurse lay with her Father; which wicked incest be∣ing made known, she went and hid herself in the Woods, and was by Minerva who took pitty on her, turned into an Owle.

Hecate, was the Daughter of Night and, Hell; she was of a huge stature, and deformed face: having Snakes instead of Hairs, and Serpents for Feet, she had three Heads, to wit of a Horse, of a Dog, and of a Man: some think she had the Head of a Wild Boar.

Syca, and Staphilis, two Nymphs on whom Bac∣chus was enamoured, were by the Gods turned into Uines.

Philemon an old Man, and his Wife Baucis, were for entertaining Iupiter and Mercury, made Priests: and after instead of Death, were turned into Trees.

Caeis, a Thessalian Virgin, being defloured by Nep∣tune, obtained of him to be turned into a Man, and that no weapons might have power to hurt her.

Castalia, a virgin who flying from the Lecherous God Apollo, fell down headlong, and was turned into a Fountain.

Clytia, a Nymph of the Ocean, whom Apollo lusted after; who telling it to her Father, caused Apollo in an∣ger to make her burn in love with the Sun, still looking after it, till she died, and was turned into a Marygold, or Heliotropium.

Galanthis, the waiting Maid of Alemen, for telling of Iuno a lye, that her Mistris was brought to bed, when Iuno for hatred would not suffer her to be delivered, was turned into a Ferret, or Weessel.

Halcyon hearing of the Death of C•ix her Husband, cast her self into the Sea, and was turned into a Sea-bird, which layeth Eggs in the middle of Winter, in fourteen days when the Sea is calm, from whence came the Pro∣verb: Dies Halcyonij, Halcion days, days of quietness.

Heliades, the sisters of Phaeton, bewailing the Death of their Brother, were turned into Poplar Trees, of whose tears gum issued out, which made Amber.

Hermione, the Daughter of Mars, and Venus; and Wife of Cadmus, who with him was turned into a Ser∣pent.

Hippe the Daughter Chiron, being got with Child, did so displease her Father, that he turned her into a Mare.

Erigo the Daughter of Icarius; she died for grief of her Father, and was made a signe in the Zodiak, called Uirgo.

Iphis the Daughter of Ligdus, and his Wife Telethu∣sa; who commanded his Wife, if she brought forth a Daughter to kill it, she pittying to destroy the Child, told him it was a Boy, and so brought it up in Boys ha∣bit, till she was marriagable, upon her prayers to the Gods on her wedding day, she was turned into a Man.

Meleagrides, the Sisters of Meleager; who are fained all to be turned into Ginnie, or Turkie Hens.

Page  408Mera Daughter of Luceo Praetus, Iove fell in love with her, and got her with Child: Diana turned her into a Dog, or Bitch.

Meta the Daughter of Erisichthon, Neptune deflowr'd her & gave her a reward that she should turn her self into any shape; and so when her Father would have Money, he would sell her for an Horse or an Ox, or the like; and she would come home in another shape.

Nectymene, the Daughter of Nycteus, who would have slain her, because she did continually come to his bed: whereupon Minerva turned her into an Owle; (which Bird as conscious of such a wicked fact) cannot in∣dure the light.

Phaethusa with her Sisters Lampetia, and Lampe∣tusa; the Daughters of Sol, and Neara: they for over much weeping and bewailing the Death of their Brother Phaeton, were all turned into Trees: see numb. 82

Phillis, Lycurgus Daughter, who was contracted to Demophoon, as he came from Troy War. He went home to set things in order, staying long, and she being impati∣ent of delays, hanged her self, and was turned into an Almond tree; but bear no leaves: Demophoon return∣ing, and seeing the mishape Imbraced the Body of the tree, and it presently shot forth leaves.

Pigmalion a cunning Painter, thinking all Wo∣men were nought, making a resolution to live solitary: but chanceing to draw a beautiful picture of a Woman, fell in love with it, and praying to Venus, she made it a Woman, so that he had Children by it.

Praetides the Daughter of Praetus King of Greece, who compared their beauty to Iu•'s were thereupon driven to such a franzie, that they thought themselves to be Kine.

Propontides the Daughters of Amathunta; they at first dispised venery: but after a while they became im∣pudent strumput, that the goddess Venus turned them into hard Stones.

LXXXIII. He beareth Sable, a Woman erected, laped in her Shroud, or Winding sheet; tied with a Knot, or bunch at the Head, and Feet Argent. Born by the name of Deadman. A fit emblem to shew that if the Woman be dead, the Mans succeeding is not only half, but wholy dead; except recruted.

LXXXIV. He beareth Argent, the Image of Death leaning upon the Head of a Spade: or else blazon it, the Scaleton, or Anatomy of a Man, Gules: resting upon the top of a Spade with the left Arm, the Right pendant, Or, Shooed Sable. This is born by the name of Skelliton.

LXXXV. He beareth Or. Death, or the Scaleton of a Man Sable, Winged displaid, Argent; in the right hand holding a Dart, & in the left an hour glass, Or. This is the emblem of Mortality, and may fitly be the Coat of Mort, who as his name is, so it may ever warn and teach him, and us, to be in expectation of this King of Terrours, who no sooner sees our glass run out, but presently strikes his deadly Dart; against which stroak, no flesh can Arm himself.

In a Field Sable such a Scaleton Or, Winged Argent. Is the Coat of Mortmain.

LXXXVI. He beareth Vert, Time moving with his Sythe, proper. Some term it the Image or Emblem of Time moving for Eternity: for when Time hath cut down all things, then Tyme will be no more. Others not taking notice of the Emblem, blazon it a Naked Man proper, Winged displaid Argent: with a Sythe in a moving posture Sable, being bald behind, and a long forelock of hair on his Foreheap (or a lock of hair before) Sable. Thus is Time generally painted. In like manner hath our Fore-fathers depicted several other things, being part of Time, or dependents upon Time: as

• Moment, movement the only Time, Now.
• Minutes, whose Emblem, or Image was depicted by a Woman holding of a Sun Dial, with a minute ballance fixed in the middle of it.
• Houres, is emblem by a Woman holding of a Clock between her hands, on which is drawn the 12 houres of the day,
  • Day, is emblemed, by a Woman holding the Sun between her hands, shews that the Sun courses the World about in a day.
  • Night, is emblemed with the Moon in her hands with black Garments spotted with Silver or Gold Stars: or a Woman in dark clothes holding her hand before a burning Candle.
• Mounths, emblemed, as Ianuary is depicted in the shape either of a Man or Woman, all in white Robes, Vests and Mantle; like snow or hore-frost blowing his fingers, and the sign Aquarius or the Water-man stand∣ing by his side.

February mounth, is drawn in a dark sky colour cloathes, with the sign Pisces, or Fishes in his right hand.

March mounth, is drawn tawny, with a firce look, a Helmet upon his head, leaning upon a Spade; in his Right hand the sign Aries, or the Ram (standing by him some have it) in his left hand Almond blossoms, and Scions, and upon his Arm, a Basket of Garden seeds.

April mounth, is drawn like a young Man, or Wo∣man in green, with a Garland of Mirtle, or Haw-thom∣buds; in one hand Primroses, and Violets; in the other hand or standing or lying down by him, the sign Taurus or a Bull in his proper colours.

May mounth, is drawn with a sweet and lovly aspect, in a Robe of white and green, Embrauthered with Daffa∣dils, Haw-thorn, and blew Bottle flowers; on his Head a Garland of white, red, and Damask Roses; in one hand a Lute, and upon the Fore-finger of the other a Nightin∣gal, with the sign Gemini, or two naked Boyes playing, or sitting embracing one the other at his Feet.

Iune mounth, is drawn in a Mantle of dark grass green, upon his Head a Coronet of Bents, King-cobs, and Mai∣den hair, (which are the seeds, or tops of several sorts of grass) in his left hand an Angle, in his right hand the sign Cancer, or a Crab or a Cravice fish: and upon his Arm a Basket of Summer Fruit.

Page  409Iuly mounth, is depicted in a Jacked, or short Coat of a light yellow, eating Cherries, with his Face and Bo¦som Sun burnt; on his head a Garland of Century and Tyme, on his shoulder a Sythe; with a bottle at his gir∣dle, and the sign Leo, or a Lyon carried by him, or els• lying down at his Feet.

August mounth, is drawn like a young Man, of a •••rce look, in a flame coloured Robe; upon his Head a Garland of Wheat; upon his Arm a Basket of Summer Fruits, at his belt a Sickle, bearing the sign Virgo, or a Virgin at his side.

September mounth, is drawn in a purple Robe, with a chearful look, and on his Head a Coronet of white and purple Grapes; in his left hand a handful of Oates, with a Cornucopia of Pomegranates, and other Sum∣mer Fruits; and his right hand a Ballance, which is the sign Libra.

October mouth, is emblemed by a Man, or Woman in a Garment of the colour of decaying Flowers, and Leaves viz. brownish red, reddish yellow, dark green, &c. With a Garland of Oak leaves acorned, in his right hand a Scorpion, (which is the sign Scorpio) and in his left, a Basket of Services, Medlars, and Chestnuts.

November mounth, is painted in a Robe of chang∣able green and black; upon his Head a Garland of Olive leaves, with the Fruit; in his right hand, or by his side the sign Sagitarius, or the Centaur Archer couched by him: and in his left bunches of Parsneps and Turneps.

December mounth, is drawn like an old Creature, with a grim, or horrid aspect; clad in an Irish rug, or course Freeze girt about him: upon his Head three or four night Caps, and over them a Turkish Turbant: his Nose red, the beard hung with Iceikles, or dew frosts; at his back a bundle of Holly and Ivy; holding in Mittens, the sign of Capricornus, or standing by him a Goat.