The INTERPRETER.

1. BEcause the Nymphes were the Deities of Waters, or of moisture, therefore they had divers names from the diversities of waters and moisture; their general name is Nymphae, quasi Lymphae, that is waters; but from the waters that spring out of mountains, they are called Oreades; from the moisture of woods and trees, they are named Dryades, and Hama••yades; from the moisture that is in Flowers and pa∣sture grounds or meadows, they are called N•paeae, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is a pasture field; from the Sea waters they are called Nerei∣des, whose father was Nereus the sea-god; from the waters of rivers they are termed Naides, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifieth to stow, and so from fountaines and springs they are called Naides; hence all springs are called son•es sacri, as being consecrated to, and in the special tuition of the Nymphes; and because rivers and fountains in their motion make a kind of musical sound, the Nymphes are called Muses sometimes; the Nymphs of standing waters are called Lymiades, from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a pool; the Nymphes are also styled Ephydilades, because they are hid under the waters. 2. The Nymphes are cal∣led the daughters of Tethys and Oc•anus, because all rivers and springs proceed originally from the Sea, and are increa∣sed and maintained by rain, which also by the Sun is exhaled out of the sea. 3. The Nymphes by Virgil are called Junos hand-m•ids, •unt mihi bis septem praestan•i corpore Nymphae. because the clouds, mists, rain, and other waterish meteors, by which springs and rivers are maintained, be engendred in the Aire, which is called Juno. 4. The Nymphes are cal∣led Page  187 the Nurses of Bacchus and Ceres, to shew that wine and •orne are cherished and increas•d by moisture; and so be all ••getables; neither is Ceres us•ful to us, nor Bacchus whole∣some without their nurse; for by water the m•al is kneaded, and by w•ter the wine is tempered. 5. In Homer and Vir∣•il I find the Nymphes at work, busie in spinning and wea∣•ing: to shew how much women should avoid idlenes, see∣ing goddesses were not idle; neither is it any disp•ragement for the greatest women to put their hand to the distaste, and •ccording to the old English name, be indeed, as they are called, spinsters, seeing the Nymphes themselves are not a∣shamed to spin: in their hollow rocks called by Virgil Nym∣pharum domus, in whose caves Homer describes the Bees ma∣king honey, that even by that example women may be in∣du•ed to be diligent and provident; for if they give them∣selves to idlenes, wh•t will follow but lu•t and wantonnesse, which I thinke the Poets expressed in that fiction of the Nymphes that fell in love with H•l•, that fair boy, and ra∣vished him. 6. The Nymphes that nursed Bacchus, were by Jupiter translated into st•rs, and called Hyades, to shew perhaps that wine tempered with water, makes the mind sit for heavenly raptures, and sublime thoughts, whereas strong wine of it self intoxicates the brain, and makes it sitter for sleep then contemplation. 7. If the Nymphes and Muses be the same, it is not without cause that the hill Nymphes called Or•ade• found out the use of honey, as some say▪ there∣fore the Nymph M•liss• gave her owne name to the Bees, to signifie that learning is the food of the soul, and it is that which sweetneth the life of man: there is more honey and sweetnesse in the life of a Scholar on a hill, then of a Prinoce in his pallace.