The INTERPRETER.
SHe was at first called Amaen that is rejected, because her parents slighted and cast her off, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is to deny or reject; but afterward shee was called Penelope, from the gennies or turkie henns named Melia∣grides and Penelopes; for they fed her being an infant and exposed by her father into the sea in a vessell. Here we have a notable example of Gods providence, who when father and mother for sakes us takes us up, and chee∣risheth us; and especially is h•s goodnesse seene towards infants who cannot helpe themselves, as may be seen in Moyses when he was cast into the river; and many o∣thers mentioned in prophane stories.
1. The reason why Icarius rejected his daughter was because he misunderstood the Oracle, which told him that she should be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the modestie and glory of women, whereas he thought shee should be the disgrace and shame of women, thus we see how all mischeife in the world comes by false interpretations of Gods o∣racles in Scripture and misunderstandings in divinitie.
3. 〈◊〉, a man commended for his prudence, mar∣ried Page 210 with Penelope the rare patterne of chastity and con∣tinence; to shew how well these agree, for wisdome and lust will never accord; because lust or venerie is mad∣nesse or follie as the word shewes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
4. Though Icarius with prayers and teares intreated Penelope to stay with him in Lacedemon, rather then to goe to Ithaca with Vlysses, yet she preferred the dangers 〈◊〉 troubles of the Sea, and a strange barren country, to her owne home, and her husband to her father; by which we see how the woman must forsake Father and Mother, and cleave to her Husband; and much more must every soule married to Christ, who is the wisedome of the Father, forsake kindred, riches, honours, ease, and all to follow after him.
5. Icarius would not bestow his daughter but upon a man that did excell both in wisdome and vertue; I wish all Parents did a•me at this in matching their daugh∣ters, and not at wealth altogether; which too many doe by which meanes many good women are undone and d•∣vers unhappy effects succeed upon such marriages.
6. In Penelope we have an excellent example of conju∣gall faith and chastitie; let all women learne of her to be loyall, faithfull, and constant to their Husbands is their absence, and to keepe the conjugall oath and vowe.
7. Pen•lope put off her importunat suitors by undoing her cloath by night, which she made by day; for so she promised that when her worke was at an end, she would marrie; by this we see how needfull it is for women to be imployed, no meanes so fit to preserve modestie as la∣bour and imployments; whereas idlenesse is the divells pillow, and the cause of so many whoredomes otia si tel∣l•s periere Cupidinis arcus; as the Poet: shewet •in Argysus, asking the cause of his adulterie, answers, that he was idle, desidi•sus erat.
Page 2118. There is no vertue that becomes a woman so much as modestie, which Penelope expressed, when being sollicited by her Father to stay with him; and Vlysses leaving it to her choyce, whether she would stay at home with her Fa∣ther, or follow her Husband; answered nothing, but co∣vered her head with a vaile; by which her Father knew her meaning, that she desired to follow her Husband; in memorie of which fact, in the same place, the image of God modestie was erected; if once a woman cast off that vaile of modestie, she is lost; Cui perist pudor, illam ego pe∣riisse puto.
9. When Eurynome in Homer adviseth Penelope to wash her body, to anoint it, and to put on better garments, and to leave off her sad life; she refused it; as things not becomming her modestie, nor sitting that she should use any meanes whereby she might looke pleasing in the sight of her wooers; how much doe the women of this age dif∣fer from Penelope, who spend most of their time in wash∣ing, painting, and trimming of themselves; dum moli•c•∣tur, dum ornantur annus est, by this they shew not onely their pride and levitie, but by such baites they draw in∣considerat men to lust and vanitie.
10. Though Penelope had many importunat Suitors and her husband stayed away twenty yeares from her, yet she continued constant, and at last was delivered by her Hus∣bands comming home, who killed all these Suitors: even so, though wee have many Suitors, the divell, the world, the flesh, or lusts and desires; yet we must not hearken to them, but be constant to the end, and faithfull to our Husband Christ, who though he hath bin long from us, yet will returne at last, in an hower when they thinke not and will slay all our enemies, and give them their portion with hypocrits.
