XXXI.

'TIs as strange as true what we are told of the Taran∣tula an Insect not unfrequent in Italy, that if it happen to bite any, usually with a won∣derful fit of mirth and laugh∣ter by degrees they dye away: And nothing but Musick can cure them. A Viti saltus doth the like in those who are feiz'd by it, their humours and spi∣rits being so distempered, that they are continually dancing till death take's hold of them, and conclud's their comick mirth in a Tragical Catastro∣phe. Methinkes the case of Page  93 those is much the same who are bitten by that Infernal Serpent; All whose years are spent in mirth, and their days in laughter, but in a moment they goe down unto the grave. Let us see a little how the hu∣mour worke's, and look on the image of this spiritual Phrensy, and listen to this crackling of thorns. Let out hearts chear us, say they, and let all care be extinguished in laughter; let a solemne aspect ne're be enter∣tain'd in our countenance, and let a sad looke be perpetually banish'd: Let a serious speech be interpreted the raising a Mutiny against the reigne of Mirth, a sigh be punish'd with manacles, and the dropping of a tear as the venting of a Pas∣quil: Page  94 Let him that break's not out every way in jollity (like the wheele of a well-couch'd firework, that flye's out on all sides) be baulked as a male content; as one that would blend and dash our wine with water, or that would corrupt the charmes of our Musick with discord. Let us own no care but how we shall multiply and vary our methods of delight; how to make the ensuing day glide away with more softness and jollity then his forerunner; how to sublime and exalt plea∣sure, & extract an Elixir from all the flowers in the Paradise of Delight; let us eat our bread with joy, and drink our wine with a merry heart, for there is nothing better then this: Let disports Page  95 and Revels, feastings and dal∣liance be our daily and nightly entertainments.

Rejoyce o young men in your youth,* and let your heart chear you in the day of your youth, and walke in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes. But listen, and you shall hear a clappe of thun∣der; Know that for all these things God will bringe you to judgement. Your Joy is but a flash, your mirth vanisheth in the noyse, your disports do but impe the wings of Time, your feasts are but Running banquets, short delights, your Ordinary's are pleasant, but the Recko∣ning is Ruine, your Dalliances do not embrace content, your Musick is as empty as sound. Page  96 What is the summe of your misery, the frolicksome exces∣ses and extravagancy of your mirth are the Harbingers of anguish and sorrow; these symptomes are the Progno∣sticks of destruction, the end of these things is death: Eternal wrath is entail'd upon your momentany delights, and no∣thing can cut off the entaile but an act of soveraign mercy: The Kisses of Pleasure (like Joabs to Amasa) are but a glo∣sing to maske the conveyance of the Sword into your bowels. Surely that laughter well de∣serve's experienced Solomon's definition of Madness, which is thus the forerunner and symptome of destruction:* Which (as he speake's Page  97 elswhere cast's arrows and fire∣beands, and death, and all in sport.