Mystagogvs poeticvs, or, The muses interpreter explaining the historicall mysteries and mysticall histories of the ancient Greek and Latine poets : here Apollo's temple is opened, the muses treasures discovered and the gardens of parnassus disclosed whence many flowers of usefull delightfull and rare observations never touched by any other mythologist are collected / by Alexander Ross.

ATALANTA.

SHe was the daughter of King Ceneus, so swift in running, that no man could match her; only Hippomenes overcame her, by casting in her way three golden apples, at which whilst shee stooped to take them up, shee lost her race; shee was the first that shot the Chaledonian Boar; and with the sharpe point of her spear brought water out of a rock; but for lying in Cybeles temple with Hippomenes, shee was turned into a Lionesse, and he into a Lion, which drew Cybeles Chariot.

The INTERPRETER.

1. HEre we may see how odious ingratitude is to God, which is expressed in the person of Hippomanes, who neglected to return thanks to Venus, that had by the means of her golden apples got him the victory over Atalanta; therefore shee made him so mad and eager on her, that hee was not afraid or ashamed to deflowre her in Cybeles tem∣ple. God suffers men to fall into grievous sinnes, when they are not thankfull for received favours. 2. Here we see what danger there is in idlenesse; whilest Atalanta was imployed with Diana in hunting, shee kept her virginitie, and did help, yea, was the first that wounded the Chaledo∣nian Boar; but when shee gave her self to idlenesse, shee fell into lust and profanesse. 3. Here wee see how ir∣reverence to God is punishable, when such a fearfull pu∣nishment was laid upon this couple, as to be turned into beasts, and made ••aves to Cybele, for profaning her temple. 4. Here we have the picture of a whore, who runnes swiftly in the broad way that leadeth to destruction; if any thing stay her course, it is wise counsell and admonition; for wis∣dom is presented by gold. It is she that kils the Boars, that is, wanton and unruly youths, wounding both their bo∣dies, souls, and estates, and therefore hath a sharp spear, to

draw water out of rocks; because many who at first were senselesse like stones, being deepely wounded with remorse for their former folly and stupidity, fall to r••pentance, to weeping and lamenting, considering what they have lost: and as Atalanta defiled Cybeles temple, so doth a whore pollute her body, which is the Temple of the Holy Ghost; so doth the whoremaster make his body all one with the body of an harlot; and so both degenerate from humanity, and participate of the cruelty and lasciviousnesse of Lions, and by this meanes become miserable slaves and drudges to Cybele, mother earth, that is, to all earthly affecti∣ons and lusts. 5. As Atalantas course was interrupted by golden apples, so is the course of Justice oftentimes stop∣ped with golden bribes. 6. Here we see that one sinne draweth after it another, worse then the former; fornica∣tion begetteth profanesse, and profanesse cruelty, and mi∣serable servitude to earthly lusts. 7. Let us with Ata∣lanta run the race that is set before us, and wound the boare of our wanton lusts, and draw water from our rocky hearts, let us take heed that the golden apples of worldly pleasure and profit, which Hippomenes the Devill slings in our way, may not hinder our course; commit not spirituall fornica∣tion with him in the temple of Cybele, lest God in his just anger, make our condition worse then the condition of the brute and savage beasts.