what I could, but would interrupt the Sciences in the midst of their Dis∣course, with their idle Rimes, light Fancies, and odd Numbers, insomuch as the Sciences departed: Whereupon the Muses did rejoyce, and skip, and run about, as if they had been wilde: And in this jocund humour, in came the Arts, even a whole Common-wealth; for there were not only Politick Arts, Civil and Combining Arts, Profitable and necessary Arts, Military Arts, and Ceremonious Arts; but there were Superstitious Arts, Idola∣trous Arts, false, factious, and mischievous Arts, destructive and wicked Arts, base and mean Art, foolish, childish, vain, superfluous and unprofita∣ble Arts: Upon all these Arts the Muses made good sport; for at some they flung jests, scorns, and scoffs, and some they stripp'd naked, but to others they were cruel, for some they stayd their skins off, and others they made very Skeletons of, dissecting them to the very bones; and the truth is, they spa∣red not the best of them, but they had one saying or other to them: But when all the Arts departed, they took me, and carry'd to the Well of Heli∣con, and there they threw me in over head and cares, and said they would Souse me in the Liquor of Poetry; but when I was in the Well, I thought verily I should have been drown'd, for all my outward Senses were smo∣ther'd and choak'd, for the water did blind my eyes, stop'd my ears and no∣strils, and fill'd my mouth so full, as I had not so much space as to spout it sorth; besides all my body was so numb, as I had no feeling, insomuch, as when they took me out of this Well of Helicon, into which they had flung me, I seem'd as dead, being quite senseless: Whereupon they all agreed to take and carry me up on Parnassas Hill, and to lay me on the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thereof, that the Poetical Flame, or Heat therein, might dry and warm me; after which agreement they took me up, every one bea••ing a part o•• m••, or was industrious about me, for some carried my Head, others my Legs, some held my Hands, others imbraced my Waste, another oiled my Tongue, and o∣thers powr'd Spirits into my Mouth, but the worst-natur'd Muse pinch'd me, to try if I was sensible, or not, and the sweetest and tenderest natur'd Muse wept over me, and another was so kind as to kiss me; but when they had brought me up to the top of the Hill, and laid me thereupon, I felt such a heat, as if they had laid me on AEtna; but after I had layn some time, I felt it not so hot, and so less and less, until I felt it like as my natural heat; just like those that goe into a hot Bathe, at first crie out it is insufferable and scalding hot, yet with a little use will sinde it cool enough: But whilest I lay on Parnassus Hill, I began to make a Lyrick Verse, as thus.
Bright, Sparkling hot Poetick sire,
My duller Muse Inspire
Unto thy Sweeter Lyre:
My Fancies like as Notes all sit
To play a Tune of VVit
On well-strung Numbers fit.
But your unfortnnate Visit hath pull'd me so hastily down from the Hill, that the force of the speed hath crack'd my Imaginary Fiddle, broke the Strings of my Wit, blotted the Notes of Numbers, so spoil'd my Song.