THE Third part of the Countesse of Pembrokes Yuychurch Entituled Amintas Dale Wherein are the most conceited tales of the Pagan Gods in English Hexameters together with their auncient descriptions and Philosophicall explications By ABRAHAM FRAVNCE 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At LVNDON Printed for Thomas Woodcocke dwelling in Paules Church-yeard at the signe of the blacke Beare 1592. Illustrissimae atque ornatissimae Heroinae piae formosae eruditae Dominae Mariae Comitissae Pembrokiensi NYmpha Charis Charitωn morientis imago Philippi Accipe spirantem post funerarursus Amintam Accipe nobilium dulcissima dogmata vatum Delicias Musas mysteria denique quicquid Graecia docta dedit vel regia Roma reliquit Quod fructum flori quod miscuit vtile dulci. Deuotiss Ab. Fr. ¶ The Third part of the Countesse of Pembrokes Yuychurche Entituled Amintas Dale NOw that solempne feast of murdred Amyntas aproached And by the late edict by Pembrokiana pronounced Yuychurches nymphs and pastors duely prepared With fatall Garlands of newfound flowre Amaranthus Downe in Amyntas dale on Amyntas day be asembled Pastymes ouerpast and death's celebration ended Matchles Lady regent for a further grace to Amyntas Late transformd to a flowre wills euery man to remember Some one God transformd or that transformed an other And enioynes each nymph to recount some tale of a Goddesse That was changd herself or wrought some change in an other And that as euery tale and history drew to an ending Soe sage Elpinus with due attention harckning Shuld his mynd disclose and learned opinion vtter Thirsis turne was first whoe after his humble obeissance Made to the Lady regent thus fram'de himself to be singing When noe fyre noe ayre noe earth noe water apeared Confusd fyre rude ayre vast earth dull water abyded Water th' earth and ayre and fyre extreamely defaced And fyre th' earth and ayre and water fowly deformed For where water or earth where ayre or fyre was abyding Fyre ayre earth water were also ioyntly remaynyng Fyre and ayre and earth with a shapeles water abounded And earth ayre and fyre that shapeles water aforded Eueryone was in all and all was in euery one thing Soe each one made all made this rude All to be nothing Nothing els but a heape but a masse but a lump but a cluster Cluster lump masse heape where seedes of things disagreeing Fyre ayre earth water lay all confusd in a corner Hoate things fled fro the colde dry could not abide to be moystned Hard contemned soft and light fro the heauy retyred Noe peace noe concord noe good conformable order Nought but warrs and iarrs all strife and all on an vproare Noe aire transparent noe Sunne was cause of a daylight Noe nights-light Phoebe was a chearfull guide to the darcknes Earth was not yet firme fire could not yeeld any sparkles Water would not flow til sou'raigne God Demogorgon Ends these broyles brings peace setts euery thing in an order Heau'n fro the earth he dyuides and earth fro the water he parteth And pure Christall skye from grosse thick ayre he remoueth These things thus distinct in seu'rall places he setleth Light fyre mounteth aloft and lyfts it-self to the heauen Ayre next in lightnes next him was placed in highnes Grosse earth drew downeward and stayd herselfe by the centre Water cleaues to the earth and there as a border abydeth Fyre ayre earth water were euery howre in an vproare Whilst they lay on a heape and all dwelt ioyntly togeather Fyre ayre earth water were brought to a peacable order When they lodged apart each one in seueral harbor Thus by a disioyning Elements were mightily ioyned And by disunyting vnyted fyrmely for euer Each part thus placed round earth was cast in a compas Lyke to a globe or a ball that noe syde might be vnequall Then were swelling Seas powrd foorth in places apoynted Here and there by the earth whose braunches duly dyuyded Kyngdomes from kyngdomes then first came springs fro the mountayns Pooles were pitcht in moores and lakes lay downe by the valleys Ryuers flowd by the fyelds with a thowsand slippery wyndings Some suckt vp by the earth some ran to the sea with a restles race his shoare for a banck with billowes mightyly beating Then fyelds stretcht themselues then meddowes gan to be flowring Greene leaues cou'red trees and trees gaue shade to the forrests Mountayns mounted aloft and dales drew speedyly downewarde Ouer sea and earth the relenting ayre he reposed And there foggs and mystes and clustred clowds he apoynted Thence come thunder-clapps thence lightnings there be the blustring Wyndes whose roaring blasts would teare this world in a thousand Peeces might they rage at randon but the prefixed Coastes are known for these fowre brawling brethren apoynted Eurus flew to the East where Memnons mother ariseth Sweete Zephyrus to the Weast where Sunnes reuolution endeth Cold Boreas to the North whence frosts are dayly proceeding Moyst Auster to the South where showres are euer abounding Next to the ayre bright sky as a royall throane he reposed And eache parte thereof with starrelight all to beesprinckled Thus was an ougly Chaos transformd at last to a braue worlde Soe braue that t' was a world soe woorthy a world to be seeing Euery quarter of it with such lyue things was adorned As were conuenyent and seemely for euery quarter Gods dwelt in bright skyes and Christall-mantled Olympus Fowles did fly by the ayre and Fishes swam by the waters Mylde beastes fed by the fyelds and wylde beasts rangde by the Forrests But man was wanting who might be the absolut owner And haue perfect rule and iurisdiction ouer Mylde beasts and wylde beasts and Foules and slippery fishes At length Man was made of mould by the crafty Prometheus Crafty Prometheus whoe by degrees contriued a picture And gaue life to the same with fyre that he stole fro the heauens And where other beasts lay poaring downe to the grownd-wards Man with a greater state had a looke lyft vp to Olympus Whence his better part was then but lately deryued Thiswas an age of gold then was Saturnus an Emprour Sythe-bearing Saturne rul'de iustly without any iudges Noe lawes noe lawyers were then yet noebody lawlesse Noe theeues and robbers were hangd yet noebody robbed Noe bloody manqueller was kyld yet noebody murdred Vndissembled loue and playne symplycyty ruled Vncorrupted fayth and pure synceryty raigned Hart conceaud noe harme tong harts interpreter only Playnly without any glose or dissimulation op'ned Harts harmeles conceipts hands true and trusty to practyse Did what his hart contryu'd or tong had truly delyu'red Pinetrees pitcht vpon hills gaue wonted grace to the hill-topp Not with gaping gulfs of Auernus dayly bedashed But with trickling showres of Olympus sweetly bedeawed Euery man kept home and where he receau'd a beginning There did he make his graue and drew his dayes to an ending Noebodie was soe mad by the ragged rocks to be ranging And with clowds windes seaes nay heau'n and hell to be stryuyng Only
repugning the other His face was ougly deformed for discord and diuision causeth defect want imperfection as vnion concord are the authors of blessednes beauty and perfection Strife striuing to get vp to heauen was thrown down to the earth for in the celestiall bodies there is noe discord noe repugnancy and therfore consequently noe destruction or mortalyty effects thereof but only in these earthly and inferior matters contynually subiect to infynite decayes and dissolutions caused by oppositions and contrarieties The burdens sweatings groanings and agonies of Chaos are the euer-strugling and contending natures of the fowre elements heauy earth moyst water breathing ayre and consumyng fyre for pacification whereof â—an was borne which in Greeke sâ—gnifieth All and betokeneth that generall and vniuersall power of nature ruling and gouernyng whatsoever proceeded from Chaos and quyeting those disagreeing qualities of the repugnant elements Whereupon it is here sayd that after Stryfe came Pan syth after discord comes concord and succeedeth in place therof Togeather with Pan the three fatall Ladies of Desteny Clotho Lachesis and Atropos were borne attending on Pan the God of vniuersaâ—l nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 soe called of turnyng noteth the continuall motion and reuolutioÌ„ of things present and turneth and spinneth the present threede of lyfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the production and drawing foorth of that which is to come preparing and keeping diligently the threede of lyfe which yet remaineth to be turned and spunne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if a man would say irremeable irreuocable and immutable representeth what is past which neuer returneth and this last Lady hath dâ—spatched finished and cut of the threede committed to her charge to be spunne In Latine they are called Parcae à parceÌ„do of sparing by the contrary as some thinke because they spare not as lytle Iohn was called soe in iest being a man of a wonderfull great stature Scaliger lyketh not this coÌ„ceipt sith they spare indeed rather the otherwise one of theÌ„ only cutting of lyfe whereas the other two maynteyn and preserue it Varro thought they were in Latine called Parcae à pariendo of bringing foorth whereupon their particular names were framed accordingly of the tymes of byrth the one being of the auncient Romayns called Nona the other Decima of the nynth and tenth moneth in the which vsually by course of nature the childe is borne yet because whosoeuer is borne is borne to dye the third was named Morta of the Latyne Mors which signifyeth Death represented by the third fatall Lady Claudian in his Poeme de raptu Proserpinae maketh them all attend on Pluto soe doth Fulgentius because their dominion is most ouer these terrestriall and inferior bodies figured by Pluto and his infernall kingdome Agayne thâ—se Ladyes drawe foorth the threede of mans lyfe and mans lyfe is long or short according as the body is framed of a strong or weake matter which earthly matter is subiect to Pluto The first hath care of mans byrth the second of his lyfe the third of death The first is yong the second of myddle age the third very owlde the yong Lady holdeth the distaffe and draweth the flaxe the myddle hath a spyndle and windeth vp the threede the owld sister with her Sheares snappeth the threede in two Homer in his hymne to Mercury maketh them winged for tyme flyeth and death draweth on They are here sayd to be borne of Chaos sith in that first distinction and separation of things out of that confused heape and Masse euery particular matter had his peculier desteny allotted vnto it others would haue them to be borne of Erebus the most hidden and remote part of the earth and of Darcknes that by the obscurity of the father and mother wee may imagine how difficult nay how impossible a thing it is to search out the hidden causes of Desteny There bee also some that make them the daughters of Iupiter and Themis the rulers and directers of fatall iustice and vniuersall prouidence * â—he first â—â—cture of 〈◊〉 Desti 〈◊〉 Plato in the tenth booke of his common wealth maketh them the daughters of ineuitable Necessity placing between their knees the great Spindle of adamant reaching from the arctike to the antarctike Pole they sit on a throne aequally distant one from an other couered with white roabes crowned with diademes singing proportionably to the heauens harmony things that are past present and to come they all ioyntly togeather with their mother Necessity turne this spindle Clotho with the right hand Lachesis with the left Atropos with both as appeareth there in Plato more plentifully in imitation wherof as should seeme Ouid in the last book of his transformations bringeth in Iupiter talking with Venus concerning the immutable decrees of these inexorable Ladies written in Iron brasse and Adamant Talibus hanc genitor sola insuperabile fatum Nata mouere paras intres licet ipsa sororum Tecta trium cernes illic molimine vasto Ex aere solido rerum tabularia ferro Quae neque concussum caeli neque fulminis iram Nec metuunt vllas tuta atque aeterâ—a ruinas Inuenies illic incisa Adamante perenni Fata tui generis Hereupon doth Capella call them Ioues scribes for that they register his decrees in these euerlasting tables Catullus in his wedding song of Peleus and Thetis which noteth the generation of things for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is slyme and Thetis water where of all things are made yet by an efficient and therfore all the gods were at that wedding except Discord the only cause of dissolution maketh their heads to be bound with a white fillet or lawne some others giue theÌ„ garlands of Daffadil * â—he second â—â—â—ture of 〈…〉 The sixt childe that Chaos brought foorth to Demogorgon was named Erebus a certaine naturall power incident to euery inferiour thing and as it were cleauing and adhaerent thereunto and this in the terrestriall globe is the very matter it selfe wherof things are made the only cause of generation corruption all other alterations in these inferior bodies but in Man the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or little world it signifieth that naturall appetite and continuall desire which man hath to obteyne new matters whereupon the Poets haue also fayned that this Erebus had many children as Labour Enuy Feare Deceipt Fraud Obstinacy Pouerty Mysery Famyne Lamentation Sicknes Death and such like whose mother they made Darknes or Night who bare to Erebus her husband this loathsome broode according to those verses of Claudian in his first inuectiue against Rufinus Glomerantur in vnum Innumerae pestes Erebo quascunque sinistro Nox genuit foetu nutrix discordia belli Imperiosa fames laetho vicina senectus Impatiensque sui morbus liuorque secundis Anxius scisso moerens velamine luctus Et timor et caeco praeceps audacia vultu Et luxus populator opum cui semper adhaerens Infaelix humili gressu
comitatur egestas Faedaque auaritiae complexae pectora matris Insomnes longo veniunt examine curae The two last children of Demogorgon were Aether and Dies the superirior region of the ayre and the brightnes of the day who of brother and sister became man and wife and begat Caelius or Caelus the heauen which name was first attributed to Vranius Father of Saturnus king of Creete This Vranius for his excellency was deemed rather caelestiall as his name importeth then any earthly creature representing that aethereall purity by his diuine wisedome and the caelestiall light and brightnes by his vertuous conuersation this is the historicall sence now for the Allegoricall conceipt it is most manifest for Caelus the heauen including and concluding euery thing is therefore called the sonne of Aether and Dies for that his nature is aethereall by reason of his most subtile and spirit all perspicuity and also bright and lightsome by the plentifull and abundant light of those so many radiant starres wherewith it is sweetly garnished And as Vranius himself for his vertue was called Caelus heauen soe Vesta his wife because she was a fruitefull and happy mother was called Terra the Earth Of these two Saturnus was born wholy addicted to husbandry and tilling of the earth and of nature slowe and heauy like the earth Allegorically thus Saturnus is Sonne to Caelus because he is the first Planete and nearest to the highest heauen He is also sonne to the earth as in most of his naturall proprieties resembling the earth First his color is pale and leaden like the earth Secondly as the earth of all other Elements is most grosse and beauy soe Saturne among other Planets is most slowe in finishing his reuolution as requiring full thirty yeares for the accomplishing of the same whereas Iupiter endeth his in twelue yeares Mars in two Sol Venus and Mercury in one and Luna the Moone in one moneth only Thirdly Saturne by his influence worketh such a constitution and temperature in mens bodies as is altogeather agreeable with the qualities of the earth to wette cold and dry making them in whom he is predominant sad melancholicall graue heauy pale giuen to husbandry building and such like exercises Whereupon he is figured as an olde man sad euil-fauoured musing badly cloathed with a sithe in his hand a fit instrument for his earthly practise He afordeth a reaching wit profound cogitations perfect knowledge sage and graue aduice constancy of minde and perseuerance by reason that the earthly nature of his mother is qualified and tempered with that of his caelestiall Father Lastly as of his Father he causeth perfection and excellency of minde so by his mother he is the author of deformity and destruction of the body His wife was called Ops his owne sister borne of the same Father and Mother Allegorically Opis signifieth help or assistance noting the ayde and furtherance of the earth herself towards the tilling of fyldes building of howses and founding of Cities Soe is she worthily both sister to Saturne as borne of Caelus whose influence is the best mainteyner both of husbandry and earthly habitations and also wife to Saturne for that as he is the agent soe herself is the patient in husbandry and fortification Saturne bereft his father Caelus of those instruments which are fit for generation Cronos that is Saturne is time time is the measurer of the worlds motion therfore as one world soe one time one Saturne and Caelus can get no more like him sith all is now spenâ— and consumed vpon him Saturne fearing the prediction of Oracles that his owne sonne should expell him out of his kingdome consulting with his brother Titan resolued to deuoure all the sonnes that his wife Opis should beare vnto him and for that intent commaunded her to shew him euery childe immediatly afâ—er the birth thereof She first brought foorth Iupiter and Iuno Iuno being a girle and therefore not to be deuoured was presented to her Father but Iupiter was preserued from his rage and fury by the noyse of Cymballs Taburs which soe possessed Saturne his eares that he heard not the yong infant Iupiter cry Saturne angrily and earnestly demaunding where he was his wife gaue him a Stone wrapped in a cloth insteede of the boy which stone for haste and rage he swallowed and afterwards vomited it vp againe euen as he did all such of his other sonnes whom he had deuoured The like policy she vsed in preseruing of Neptune making his father beleeue that it was noe childe but a yong colte whereof she was then deliuered which Saturne thinking to be true glutted the colt accordingly Next to these were Pluto and his sister Glauca borne but Glauca being only shewed to Saturne Pluto escaped aliue all the rest of his sonnes he first deuoured and presently vomyted as before is mencioned Allegorically Titan the Sunne and Saturne Tyme conspire together and resolue that all things in tyme borne shall also dye in time For as the deuouring continuance of outwearing time consumeth all things so the life-giuing influence of the quickning sonne is the chiefe cause of procreation whereupon it is vsually said that Sol homo generant hominem The sunne and man beget man His daughters he deuoured not for time consumeth indiuidua this thing and that thing but not the roote and ground of things figured by the femall sex Iuno the ayre with Iupiter the fire and Neptune and Pluto the water and earth are not deuoured for the foure elements continue still but the rest are still subiect to continuall corruption corruption I meane in part which is alwais a generation of some other particularitie not a totall or generall destruction which is the cause that time cannot digest and vtterly consume but is enforced to vomite and restore euen those very bodies which hee first deuoured according to that ould ground which giueth vs to learne that as nothing can be made of nothing so nothing can be made to be nothing Gigni è nihilo nihil in nihilum nil posse reuerti Homer calleth Iupiter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that be sucked Goates milke the reason is this a Goate is euer climing and getting vpward as Iupiter is noting the fierie and highest part of the ayre This ethereall and superior part of the ayre was thought of the Pythagoreans by reason of the wonderfull celeritie and quick dispatch of his motion and reuolution to cause a most sweete and melodious harmonie whereupon Iupiter was reported to be preserued by the tinkeling of Cymballs and sounding of taburs Iupiter is placed immediatly after Saturne in heauen as Iupiter King of Creete succeeded his father Saturne in his kingdome This Crâ—etish King Iupiter for his bountifull and liberall nature was called by the name of that most good and beneficiall planet Iupiter euen as his father for the causes rehearsed was named Saturnus Hee that hath in his natiuitie Saturne predominant ouer Iupiter is like to bee endued with no
beginning Vseth her ould custome by redoubling words in an ending Therefore when she see 's Narcissus goe to the forrest Step for step thither by a secret path she repayreth Burning still for loue and as she nearer aproacheth Vnto the loued boy soe she more mightily burneth How-many thousand times poore soule she desirde a desiring And intreating speech to the wandring boy to be vttring But fatall nature would noe-way grant a beginning And yet what nature permits she greedily listneth For some sound which may make her to be quickly resounding At last Narcissus from his hunting company straying Wisht and sayd O God that I could see some-body comming Eccho repeated agayne these last words Some-bodie comming Some-bodie comming Where qd wandring hunter amased Come then apace And Come then apace poore Eccho replied Narcissus wonders lookes back see 's noe-body comming Why qd he callst-thou me and yet stil runst fro my calling Cryest and fliest And Cryest and flyest were dolefuly doobled Then qd Narcissus let 's meete and both be together Eccho these last words with most affection hearing Answered him fiue times Let 's meete and both be together And soe runs to the boy in a fond conceipt fro the bushes Clips him fast by the neck and offers friendly to kisse him But prowd boy as prowd as fayre disdainfuly frowning Flies from her embracements and sayes Let greedie deuouring Boares and beares be my graue if I euer yeeld to thy pleasure Eccho sayd nothing but I euer yeeld to thy pleasure And for griefe and shame to be too too proudly repulsed Hides her-selfe in woods and caues and dwels by the deserts And yet loues him still still pines with vnhappily louing Careful loue and sleeples cares brought Eccho to nothing Nothing but bare bones with an hollow heauie resounding For flesh was cleane gone and quite consum'd to a powder And life-giuing blood went all to an ayre from a vapor Yea very bones at last were made to be stones the resounding Voyce and onely the voyce of forelorne Eccho remaineth Eccho remaineth a voyce in deserts Eccho remaineth Eccho noc-where seene heard euery where by the deserts Iuno laught no lesse then when shee saw in Auernus Prowd Ixions wheele turne with reuolution endles But th'ouer-weening princox was iustly rewarded Who for not louing others soe loued his owne-self That selfe-will selfe-loue as he saw himselfe in a fountaine Made him loose himselfe for a fading shade of his owne-self THis tale being thus tolde by Fuluia Elpinus tooke occasion thereby to discourse of Iuno much after this manner Iuno Ioues wife and sister as I sayd before is the Lady of mariage and gouernesse of child-birth called therefore Lucina à Luce sith she as a coelestiall midwife helpeth to bring forward the children in lucem into light These proprieties are assigned vnto her for that she resembleth the vertue and efficacy of the ayre and al this inferior composition as I haue already tolde Oceanus and Thetis brought her vp the ayre is made of water rarified and subtiled She brought foorth Vulcan vnto Iupiter the ayre incensed and made hoate breedeth fire Homer maketh Iupiter binde Iuno with a golden chayne hanging two great masses of Iron at her heeles and that she thus tied could be loosed by none but by himself Iuno is the ayre the two weights of Iron be the earth and water betweene which two the superior bodies she hangeth chayned this golden chayne is the cohoerent concatenation and depending of things vnited so in order as none but only the almighty Iupiter can dissolue the same The Peacock is Iunoes bird and draweth her chariot Iuno is the goddesse of riches and honour which are as glorious in shew and as transitorie in truth as the Peacoks spotted trayne and make men as prowd and insolent as a Peacocke which in a vaunting and bragging conceipt displayeth to the beholders her feathers bespprinckled with Argus his eyes Her Nymphs and handmayds expresse the variable change alteration of the ayre portending either fayre or fowle weather windes stormes rayne hayle and such like of whom Virgil maketh mention 1. Aeneid where Iuno offreth Aeolus the fayrest lasse of all her fourteene damsels Sunt mihi bis septem praestanti corpore Nymphae Quarum quae forma pulcherrima Deïopeiam Connubio iungam stabili propriamque dicabo Omnes vt tecum meritis pro talibus annos Exigat pulchra faciat te prole parentem Iuno might well command Aeolus the king of windes sith winde is nothing els but the ayre stirred or an exhalation blustring in the ayre therefore in that place Virgil maketh him thus answere Iuno Tuus ô regina quid optes Explorare labor mihi iussa capessere fas est Tu mihi quodcunque est regni tu sceptra Iouemque Concilias tu das epulis accumbere diuûm Nymborumque facis tempestatumque potentem Historically Aeolus dwelling in a very hilly and windy countrie perceaued and foretolde the mariners by the flowing and reflowing of the seas and such other Physical obseruations what weather they should expect noting and declaring vnto them before hand the sure and vnfallible tokens of the rising windes and tempests whereupon he was called the king of windes and his kingdome Aeolia of his name where he with his regall mace in his hand pinneth vp those blustring brethren in his dungeons barred with huge hils and mountaynes as there Virgil also beareth witnes Talia flammato secum dea corde volutans Nymborum in patriam loca foeta furentibus auftris Aeoliam venit hic vasto rex Aeolus antro Luctantes ventos tempestatesque sonoras Imperio premit ac vinclis carcere frenat Illi indignantes magno cum murmure montis Circum claustra fremunt celsa sedet Aeolus arce Sceptra tenens mollitque animos ac temperat iras Ni faciat maria ac terras coelumque profundum Quippe ferant rapidi secum verrantque per auras The windes are painted winged with swelling and puffing mouthes and cheekes among the rest Boreas hath this peculiar that his feete be serpentine according to his pinching and byting nature * The pictures of the windes As Mercury is Iupiters messenger so is Iris Iunoes Iris hath her name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of speaking for she speaketh and telleth when rayne is towards Iris is the Rayn-bow and Iuno is the ayre wherein those raynie clowdes are cluttered together Iris is the daughter of Thaumas and Electra Thaumas is the sonne of Pontus the sea or water and Electra is the daughter of heauen or the sunne Thaumas signifieth wondring and admiration of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and this bow in truth is euery way wonderful by reason of those so many strange colours appearing therein Electra is perspicuitie or serenitie of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sunne and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bright and serene so this bow proceedeth from water and serenitie to weete from the reflexion of the sunnes beames in a watery clowde Iuno
to the sea that he euermore had abhorred And by the yrksome noyce and neighing of the detested And poysned palfrayes of Pluto laesy Bootes Tooke himselfe to his heeles and lingring wayne did abandon Baleful breath of night-borne coursers darkned Olympus Chereful light and loathed foame distild fro the bleeding Bits infected th' ayre and th' earth all torne by the trampling Shakte and quakte for dread and yeelded a heauy resounding Ladies al ran away Proserpina lastly remayned Whom Stygian coachman both sought caught in a moment Pluto droue on apace Proserpina woefuly wayling Cald and cryed alas to the Nymphs to the maids to the Ladies But Nymphs Mayds Ladies were all affrayd to be present And her mothers chance ill chance was then to be absent Now Stygian raptor those prayers lightly regarding In respect of a pray and prise so worthy the taking Chears and calls his dreadful steedes and shaketh his out-worne Bridle raynes orecast with rust and entreth Auernus All vnlike himselfe and much more milde then a Pluto Ghosts and sprvtes came clustred on heaps to behold the triumphant Tartarean Capten with soe great glorie returned Euâ—ry one was prest some bent their care to the coursers Some to the coach some strawd sweete flowr's some lookt to the bride-bed Elysian Ladies with a spotles company wayted On their new-come Queene and carefuly sought to recomfort Those her virgin feares and teares Ghosts wont to be silent Sâ—ng sweete wedding songs and euery nooke in Auernus With banquets meryments and louelayes freely resounded And whole hell for ioy was speedily turnd to a heauen Aeacus intermits his iudgements stearne Rhadamanthus And ausâ—ere Minos waxe milde all plagues be remitted Tantalus eats and drinks Ixion's loost from his endles And still-turning wheele Tityus set free fro the Aegle Sisyphus extreame toyle by the rolling stone is omitted And Danaus daughters from running tubbes be released Pâ—le Sacâ—te Tisiphone with snake-hayrd ougly Megaera And euer-grudging Alecto fell to carousing And their burning brands embru'd with blood did abandon Birds might easily passe by the poysned mouth of Auernus Men might safely beholde and looke on stonie Medusa No consuming flames were breathd by fyrie Chymera Howling Cocytus with wine mirth-maker abounded Lamenting Acheron hart-chearing honny aforded And boyling Phlegeton with new milke chearefuly streamed Cerberus held his peace Lachesis left off to be spinning And gray-beard feriman forebare his boate to be rowing All tooke all pleasure and all for ioy of a wedding Lady Ceres all this meane time possest with a thousand Careful mothers thoughts thought euery houre to be twenty Till she returnd homeward and home at last she returned At last but too late to her house but not to her houshold Court was a wildernes forelorne walkes no-body walking Gates turnd vpside downe hall desolat euery corner Euery way left waste But alas when lastly she entred Persephone's chamber seeing her curius hand-work And embroydred clothes all ouer-growne by the copwebs But no Persephone such inward anguish amased Her distressed sprites that neither a word fro the speechles Mothers mouth could once come forth nor a teare fro the sightles Eyes eyes mouth sence soule were nothing els but a horror Only she clipt embrac't and kist and only reserued Her sweete daughters work poore soule insteed of a daughter After long wandring by chance shee found in a corner Her deare daughters nurse Electra wofuly wayling With rent roabes scratcht face and beaten brest for her only Harts-ioy Persephone whom shee as charily tendred As dearest mother could euer tender a dearest Daughter shee when griefe and inward horror aforded Time to reueale it selfe this woful storie recounted All at large How Persephone was forc't to be walking Greatly against her mind and mothers wil to the meddowes How foure black coursers conuey'd her away on a sudden No-body knew whither nor what man might be the autor How her companions were all gone only the louing And loued Cyane for grief was lately resolued Into a siluer streame and all those sweetly resounding Syrens made to be birds in part in part to be maydens And she alone was left left all forelorne in a corner Mourning Persephone and her so heauy departure Silly Ceres hearing these dead newes all in a furie Rayled on heau'n and earth and ran to the sulphurus Aetna Lighted two Pine-trees and day and night by the deserts Hils dales woods waters lands seas Proserpina searched Searcht from th' East to the Weast at last al weary with endles Toyling and moyling halfe dead for drink she repayred Vnto a poore thatcht coat and knockt and meekly desired That to a schorched mouth some water might be aforded Th' ould Beldam coat-wife brought forth a domesticalHotchpot Her chiefe food both meat and drink and gaue to the Goddes Faintly Ceres feeding by the coat was spy'd of a sawcie Crackrope boy who mockt and cald her a greedy deuouring Out-come witch in scorne Whereat this Lady agreeued And not forgetting Latonaes worthy reuengement On Lician Lobcocks who sith they rudely denied Water were made frogs alwayes condemn'd to the water Threw in this boyes face all that was left of her Hotchpot Mocking gallowes thus by the Goddes strangely besprinckled Was transformd to a Swyft whose back grew al to be speckled And his spiteful breast with wonted poyson abounded Through what lands and seas this Goddes wofuly wandred T were too long to report each part of th' earth she perused Vainly perused alas and home at last she returned Back to Sicil cursing banning and daylie reuiling Euery soyle but chiefly Sicil Which now the detested More then afore the desir'd brake plowes kild wearied oxen Blasted corne bred weedes and tares sent forth the deuouring Foules and too much drought too much raine from Olympus Fields for corne and graine of late so greatly renowned Are to a barren waste and wilde heath speedily changed Whilst childeles mother thus rageth faire Arethusa Who by the secret caues of th' earth from Pisa to Aetna Fetcheth a restles race vp-lifted her head to the heauens And these first tidings to the forelorne Lady reported How herselfe of late taking her way by thefearfull Imperiured Styx saw her lost childe in Auernus Somwhat sad yet a Prince and supreame Queene in Auernus Queene to the mighty Monarch sou'raigne king of Auernus Mournfull mother amas'd for a while stoode like to a senceles Stocke or stone at length when fury remoued amasement Vp to the heau'ns she flies makes her moane to the thundrer Lord and loue qd shee vouchsafe at last to remember Take some care in time of poore Proserpina think her If not mine yet thine and if thine not to be stollen But let passe what 's past let rape and rage be remitted So that thy daughter from his hellish dens be deliu'red T' were no disparaging qd Ioue if prince of a mighty Empire Ioues brother might haue Proserpina ioyned By both our consents in wedlock darksom Auernus Should haue no cause then
to spy and ly and feede fooles eares with a wonder How fro Geneua to Gaunt from Gaunt he repair'd to Vienna How fro the Turk to the Pope fro the Pope to the Souldan of Aegipt And at last came back fro the newfound world as an old foole With fowre Dutch-french woords with a strange-cutt beard or a Cassock Noe townes were walled noe walls were loftyly towred Noe towres were planted with diu'ls inuention ord'nance Euery bush was a bowre and euery rustical harbor Was sort sufficient where noe force was to be feared Deaths-forerunner Drum did sownd no dreadful Alarum Noe man-murdring man with a teare-flesh pyke or a pollax Or blood-sucking sweard was known by the name of a Sowldyer Peace made euery man secure securyty careles Carelesnes causd myrth myrth neuer dreeds any danger Fruytefull ground vntorne vntutcht was free fro the plough snare And self-sufficient of her owne selfe yeelded aboundance Noe new-found dishes were sought noe costly deuises Farr-fetcht and deare bought men simple lyued a simple Lyfe vsd symple foode sloe nutt plum strawbery apple Ackorne falln fro the oake and blackbery pluckt fro the bramble Tygers were then tame sharpe-tusked boare was obeissant Stoordy Lyons lowted noe woolf was knowne to be mankinde Beares did bow at a beck no serpent breathd any poyson Spring was still-springing whole yeare was wholly a spring-tyme Eue-shyning sunne with clowds was neuer eclipsed Euer-flowring flowrs with frosts were neuer anoyed Lyfe-breathing Zephyrus with sweete blast charyly fostred Euery fruite which th' earth of her owne free bounty aforded Yea good-natur'd ground at last gaue plentiful haruest Neuer sowd still mowd not tyld yet syld with aboundance Then floods flowde with mylke each wel-spring then was a wyne-spring Euery greene-hewde tree bare sweete and sugered honny Hâ—ppy the age and happy the men that lyu'd in a happy Age age all of gold where noe bad thing was abydâ—ng All of gold indeede where each good thing was abounding But when good Saturne by force was dryu'n to Auernus And vsurping Ioue did rule and raigne in Olympus Golden dayes were gone and siluer time was aproaching New Lords made new lawes th'owld spring tyme Iupiter altred And chang'd it to a yeare and new-made yeare he dyuyded In fowre parts each part with a seu'rall season apoynted Warme Spring hoate Sommer cold wynter changeable Autumne Then swelting doggstarre then scalding breath of Apollo Then northern Boreas causd better bowres to be builded Then groâ—â—d gan to rebell from a mother changd to astepdame Naught but thorns and weeds of her owne accord she aforded But by force constraind and by compulsion vrged Now plow's chaynd to the yoake and yoake bound fast to the oxen Now are furrowes drawn and seede cast into the furrowes Iupiter of purpose made fruitefull ground to be fruyteles And sowld nought for naught and sweetenes mixt with a sowrenes Least that too much ease might make men stil to be careles Whereas want breedes care and care coynes dayly deuises Next came brazen tyme whose hoate and furius of-spring With bould brazen face was greedily geu'n to reuenging Yet not past all grace Lastage was named of Iron And her cursed brood in like sort framed of Iron Merciles hard vniust vnkinde vntractable hatefull Ireful of Ironful yea too ful of ire ful of Iron Faith and truth and shame for shame lay downe in a dungeon And in-came whooredome pride robbery treacherie treason Grownd with ditch and hedg was now exactly dyuyded Shippe with waues and sayles with wyndes were all to be tossed Sea scowrd with rouers land scowrged dayly by robbers Myne not thyne came in Myne and thyne quite was abandond Corne is now contemnd and fruitefull tree's but a tryfle Their minde 's all on mynes of brasse lead copper or Iron Or gold gold farre worse then brasse lead copper or Iron Earth's very bowells now are torne eu'n downe to Auernus All for gold gold worse then a thousand feends of Auernus First was an age of gold then golden goodnes abounded Last was an age for gold for then gold only triumphed Weake are thrust to the wall and strong men striue to be mighty Mighty men hope to be Kings and Kings still looke to be emprours Might rule 's right lust law rage reason worlde 's at a world's ende World runs all on wheeles guest fear 's to be robd as he sleepeth Hoast can skarce trust guest wife longs for death of her husband Husband loath's his wâ—fe and brethren skarcely be brethren Infamous stepdames keepe cups with poyson abounding For theyr sons in law and sons ô viperus of-spring Dayly before they re dayes wish fathers dayes to be ending All 's turnd vpside downe At last Astraea departed And from damnable earth to the spotles skie she remoued Then came gryesly Gyants and needes would clymbe to Olympus With mounts on mountaines till thundring Ioue in a fury Brake their scorched bones and bullwarkes all to be battred Whose congealed bloud transformd to a most bloody ofspring By th' earth theire mother that causd that desperat vproare Stil contemned Gods and heauens dayly maligned Wherewith Ioue incenst and moou'd of late by Lycaons Owtrage ouer-whelmd whole earth with a mightyly flowing All ouer-flowing water soe that not a man now But good Deucalion was lyuing and not a woeman But good Pyrrha remaynd which mankynde newly repayred And by casting stones brought foorth soe stoany an ofspring THirsis hauing made an end of this tale to the content of the hearers generally Elpinus began thus to worke vpon it Poets and Painters men say may well goe together sith pen and pencill be both alike free and doo equally challeng the selfe same prerogatiue Cicero reporteth that Fabius a famous Romaine thought it an especiall commendation to be surnamed Pictor And Antiquissimum è doctis fuit poetarum genus saith the same Cicero When I talke of Painters I meane not the ridiculous fraternitie of silly Wall-washers neither doe I euer once thinke of our loftie rimers when I make mention of Poets Yet a wall may bee colored by an elegant Painter but the conceite and elegancie is more then the colour and poets seeking as well to please as to profit haue well made choyce of verse yet the making of a verse is no part of Poetrie otherwise the sweete and inimitable poeme of Heliodorus should be no Poeme and euery vnreasonable rimer should weare a Lawrell garland Both poetry a speaking picture and paynting a dumbe poetry were like in this that the one and the other did vnder an amyable figure and delightsome veyle as it were couer the most sacred mysteries of auncient philosophie Nay Pythagoras himselfe by his symbolicall kinde of teaching as also Plato by his conceited parables and allegoricall discourses in his bookes called Phoedrus Timoeus and Symposium may make any man beleeue that as the learned Indians Aethiopians and Aegyptians kept their doctrine religiously secret for feare of prophanation so the Grecians by their example haue wrapped vp in
tales such sweete inuentions as of the learned vnfolder may well be deemed vonderfull though to a vulgar conceit they seeme but friuolus imaginations Yea that song of the most wise Salomon called for the excellencie thereof the song of songs is altogether mysticall and allegoricall least any man thinke my speech but a tale in attributing so much to poeticall tales which mee thinkes may well bee compared to sweete grapes couered with leaues and braÌ„ches or to the old Sileni which being but ridiculous in shew did yet inwardly conteine the sacred image of some God He that cannot conceaue any sufficient cause which might induce antiquitie to deale thus warilie in matters of such importance let him knowe that rerum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the picturing fashioning figuring or as it were personall representing of things in verse after this manner is most effectuall and auayleable to moue mens mindes to stirre vp delight to confirme memorie and to allure and entice our cogitations by such familiar and sensible discourses to matters of more diuine and higher contemplation Poeticall songs are Galeries set forth with varietie of pictures to hold euery mans eyes Gardens stored with flowers of sundry sauours to delite euery mans sence orchyards furnished with all kindes of fruite to please euery mans mouth He that is but of a meane conceit hath a pleasant and plausible narration concerning the famous exploites of renowmed Heroes set forth in most sweete and delightsome verse to feede his rurall humor They whose capacitie is such as that they can reach somewhat further then the external discourse and history shall finde a morall sence included therein extolling vertue condemning vice euery way profitable for the institution of a practicall and common wealth man The rest that are better borne and of a more noble spirit shall meete with hidden mysteries of naturall astrologicall or diuine and metaphysicall philosophie to entertaine their heauenly speculation That this is true let vs make triall and first in Saturnus and Chaos offered vnto vs by Thirsis whereof before we speake it shall not be amisse to note this generally for the better conceauing of ensuing particularities Iupiter Iuno Neptune Ceres with the rest are therfore called Gods and goddesses for that in the superior and fierie region of the ayre noted by Iupiter in the inferior represented by Iuno in the bowells of the earth figured by Ceres in the deapth of the Seaes shadowed by Neptune and so in others there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a certaine celestiall and diuine power so called by Hippocrates and by the ancient Poets more particularly expressed by the sundry titles of seuerall Deities proportionable thereunto And if the copulation or coniunction of these deified elements obserue the natural order of generation it is called of the Poets a mariage of such a god and goddesse if it swarue and degenerate from the wonted course of nature they tearme it adulterie and libidinous loue the parties louers not man and wife as in the former kinde of copulation so that no maÌ„ hath cause to think it a ridiculous repugnancy impossibilitie wheÌ„ as Poets in their songs make mention of the loue mariage procreation affinity ofspring pedegrees and discents of their superior inferior gods Now for the transformation of Thirsis his Chaos true it is that Ouid much after this manner discourseth of the creation of the world of the reducing of the confused Chaos into distinct formes of Prometheus his framing of man of the very earth it selfe which things no doubt as also the distinction of times into foure seuerall ages of gold siluer brasse and yron were taken although in part mistaken out of the sacred monuments of Moyses Leo Hebraeus â—â—t of some ancieÌ„t Poet whom he calleth Pronapides reporteth another history of the same matter albeit not after the same manner Demogorgon sâ—ith he the great and terrible God of heauen and earth accompanied only with Aeternitie Chaos perceaued on a time an outragious vprore and tumult stirred vp in the bely and bowels of the forenamed Chaos therefore to ease her he stretched forth his oâ—ne hand and opened her wombe whence presently came forth a filthie and deformed ofspring called LitigiuÌ„ Strife which no sooner apeared but immediately it bred brabbles made a foule stirre stird vp contentions and stroue to mount vp toward heauen but that by Demogorgon he was ouerruled and throwne downe to the lower partes elementall regions Chaos as yet had not ended her chile-bearing labor trauaile but was troubled with heauie burdens fainty sweats languishing groanes fierie tormeÌ„ting agonies so that Demogorgon could not for pitie withdraw his helping hand till by his assistance she had brought forth Pan with his three fatall sicters and also Erebus Aether and Dies Pan found such fauour that Demogorgon committed vnto him the whole charge of his familie commaunding his three sisters continually to waite and attend vpon him as his handmaydes And thus was Chaos at last deliuered and easâ—d of her childe-birth By Demogorgon or peraduenture Demiurgon is here vnderstood that one only creator of al to whom Aeternitie is inseparably conioyned sith himselfe is was and will be eternall and euerlasting Chaos in his eternall societie obteineth the third place because she is that common confused and vndistinct matter which the ancient Philosophers made Coeternall with the Creator calling the one the Father the other the mother of al things formed yet so as they alwaies esteemed Demogorgon the chiefe and efficient Chaos only the subsequent and secondary cause in this procreation The reason why they ioyned Chaos with the Creator as a companion from all eternitie was this they thought it proceeded from him by a certaine eternall generation so proceeding as eternall because alwaies proceeding yet so eternall as proceeding because not of her selfe proceeding but from the procreator And as they made Chaos procâ—ede from Demogorgon eternally without limitation of time so they affirmed that he afâ—erwards framed all things of this vnformed Chaos not eternally but in time The tumult and vprore styrd vp in the bowels of Chaos is her naturall inclination and desire of bringing forth things variable and disagreeing The hand of Demogorgon which opened her bely is that celestiall power reducing the vniuersall and confused possibilities of Chaos to distinct formes and actuall particularities and giueth vs also to vnderstand that this first production of things was not vsuall and accustomed as naturall generation is which afterwards succeeded this supernaturall creation but strang and wonderful did therefore require the vse of Demogorgons hand that is the most mighty and effectuall instrument of all others Strife came first forth for from prima materia that â—irst and generall matter of all that was made the diuision and distinction of things which before were confused and vndistinct proceeded this diuision is called strife sith it conuerseth among foure striuing contrary elemeÌ„ts the one alwaies maligning
Elpinus Neptune was the second of the three brethren and sons of Saturne which had the whole frame of the world parted among them Ioue had the heauens Neptune the seaes all the rest was Plutoes Historically as some thinke Ioue had the East Pluto the West Neptune the seacosts howsoeuer Neptune is soueraigne of the seas who also many times shaketh with his imperiall mace the very foundations of the earth according to that of Ouid Ipse tridente suo terram percussit at illa Intremuit motuque vias patefecit aquarum For in coast adioyning to the sea earthquakes and inundations of waters are most vsuall Homer for this cause calleth Neptune 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Earth-shaker And as Pallas was president of Towres and Iuno a gouernesse of Gates so Neptune had care of the groundworkes and foundations of buildings which are neuer said to be firme vnles they be laide as deepe as the water Therefore as Neptune was hired by Laomedon to builde those stately walls of Troy so in the subuersion of the same himself is as busie afterwards as apeareth by that of Virgil 2. Aeneid Neptunus muros magnoque emota tridente Fundamenta quatit totamque è sedibus vrbem Eruit c. For towres Virgil 2. Aeglo Pallas quas condiditarces Ipsa colat And 2. Aeneid Iam summas arces Tritonia respice Pallas Obsedit nymbo effulgens gorgone saeua For gates Virgil 2. Aeneid hic Iuno Scaeas saeuissima portas Prima tenet sociumque furens à nauibus ignem Ferro accincta vocat Cymothoe is Neptunes seruant signifying the swifâ—nes of the waues and billowes for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a waue and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to run as if a man would say a running waue Triton is his trumpeter Plyny reporteth that the Vlyssiponenseâ— sent ambassadors to Tiberius Caesar giuing him to vnderstand that in then countrey there was one of these Tritons seene and heard singing being a sea-monster resembling a man by his vpper partes and a fish by those belowe this colour was like the sea-water his skinne hard with shels and is called Neptunes trumpeter to sound the retreite when his master would haue the sea to be calme because when he is heard thus singing or seene apearing in the water it is a signe of calme and fayre weather Neptunes mace is also Tridens three-forked for that there is a triple and threefold vertue in waters the first in wells which are sweete the second in seaes and they are salte the third in lakes being vnpleasant and vnsauory or rather because euery one of the three brethren hath somewhat to doe in euery part of the tripertite kingdome which may also be a cause why Iupiters lightning is also Trisulcum and Plutoes Scepter Tridens For albeit Iupiter is especially predominant in heauen Neptune in the seaes and Pluto in the lower regions yet that almighty and all-ouerruling power is indifferently aparant in euery of these three kingdomes and in heauen is called Iupiter in seaes Neptune below Pluto whome therefore Virgil calleth stigium Iouem the stigian Iupiter Neptunes wife is Amphitrite the water it selfe gouerned by Neptune noting the eâ—ficacie of nature ruling in seaes deeps She is called Amphitrite of compassing enuyroning or turning about as the sea embraceth and incloseth the earth Neptune had an infinite number of sons and daughters moysture is fit for generation which was the cause that Thales the Philosopher made water to be the ground and beginning of euery thing and Virgil calleth the sea the father of things Oceanumque patrem rerum Oceanus of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 swift for so is the flowing of the sea When Neptune was kept from Saturnes deuouring mouth his mother shewed a colt insteede of him and when Pallas and Neptune contended who as most beneficiall should giue name to Athens he with his mace stroke the earth whence issued a horse either for that a horse is swift and the sea is violent or because Neptune first taught how to ride a horse or by reason that a horse loueth plaines and large places where free scope is to run as is the sea for that cause called aequor Therefore the Romaine sports called Ludi circenses wherein the race of horses was vsual were celebrated in honor of Neptune and Horace maketh Vlysses his sonne speake thus to Menelaus Non est aptus equis Ithacae locus vt neque planis Porrectus spatijs neque multae prodigus herbae Neptune with his Queene Amphitrite standeth in a great shell as in a chariot drawne with two horses whose hinder parts ende in fishes a Tridens in his hand a white and froathy crowne on his head with hayre beard and roabe of color like the sea-water * â—eptunes â—icture His Nymphs are called Nereides of which kinde Theodorus Gaza saith that himself sawe one cast on a shore fashioned like a woman in her vpper parts but ended like a fish Galathea is so called of whitenes and noteth the very froath of the Sea Humor and moysture be the chiefe causes of augmentation Neptune therefore as hee hath many children so hath hee some of them great and monstrous among others Polyphemus who though vast and rude yet loued such is the force of loue but loued like a lowte such is the home-borne education of rurall clownes Polyphemus as the rest of that rout was called Cyclops of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as hauing but one round eye in his forehead in truth meaning a buckler framed round like an eye although Seruius doe otherwise expound it Hee is reported to bee a bloudy and theeuish manqueller robbing and spoyling all along the Sicilian shore from whome Vlisses wiselie escâ—ped and was therefore said to haue bored out his great eye with a firebrand This tyran Polypheme loued a noble Lady named Galathea but could not obteine her at last vsing force for law kept her violently and perceauing that she affected one Acis more then himselfe murdered the youth Acis and threw his bodie into a riuer which thereof bare that name Allegorically as some will haue it Polyphemus is a miserable and worldly keeper of sheepe and kine he loueth Galathea the Lady of milke and knowing that moyst places be best for milke cannot abide that Galathea should come nere Acis a riuer in Sicilia whose naturall proprietie was saide to be such as that it would drie vp and consume milke Glaucus loued Scylla but being reiected of her he intreated Circe to make her affectionate by charming Circe at first sight falleth in loue with Glaucus who in like sort refuseth her whereupon she infecting the waters where Scylla vsually bathed herselfe transformed her into a monster which afterwardes became a rock This Glaucus perceauing the fish which he had caught by tasting a certaine herbe presently to leap againe into the water himselfe for triall did pluck and eate and by vertue thereof transformed threw
to repine at lightsom Olympus Yet notwithstanding if thou stand fully resolued And that my brother Pluto must needs be refused Then let Persephone both mine and thine be reduced If she be fasting yet for so hath Atropos ordred And fatall orders are neuermore to be altred Mother was ful bent to reduce her childe from Auernus Destinie did forbid for that Proserpina walking In Plutoes Orchard by chance worst chance of a thousand Suckt seu'n Pomegranate kernels and no-body knew it Sauing Ascalaphus who made it knowne to Auernus And stayd Persephone who then for a worthy requitall Foule-tungd Ascalaphus forthwith traÌ„sformd to a Scricheowle Foule and loathsome foule whose neuer-luckily-sounding Voyce brings baleful newes and certaine signes of a vengeance Ioue tooke paines made peace first iustly the yeare he deuided Then to the husband halfe and halfe to the mother apointed and by thease good meanes causd euery part to be pleased Persephone six moonths with her husband dwels in Auernus And six other months doth shew her selfe to Olympus Lady Ceres all griefe and all contention ended Sent forth Triptolemus with coach and corne to the people Scattred in euery coast whose foode was kernel of ackorne Triptolemus traueling through strange lands lastly ariued On Scythian borders where Lyncus falsly pretending Life intended death and making shew of a friendly Host his sleeping guest vnawares had shamefuly murdred Had not Lady Ceres his barbarus enuy preuenting Lyncus turnd to a Lynx and his vayn-glory repressed Who of an others fact first autor would be reputed WEll sayd Elpinus sith Amarillis is safely returned from hell I hope Elpinus may haue the like successe otherwise so many fearefull monsters and hellish apparitions might well haue daunted a stouter heart then mine Pluto then you see the third brother rauished Proserpina the naturall eâ—ficacie and vertue of the earth sayth Cicero 2. de natura deorum draweth vnto it the rootes of corne growing increasing in the bowels of the earth Ceres her mother seeketh Proserpina and mourneth for her absence the corne pursueth and foloweth the seâ—de or The earth seemeth to greeue when the corne springeth not vp in due time Proserpina was rauished in Cicil the dearest soyle to Ceres that was a most fruitful and fertile Island Arethusa signifying the natural power and vertue of the seede and roote is the first that tolde Ceres tydings of Proserpina In continuance and conueniencie of time by that naturall efficacie and operation of the roote and seede the grayne and corne itselfe appeareth springeth vp Six moneths soe lies with her husbaÌ„dial the winter time whilest the sunne doth soiourne in the southerne signes six aboue with her mother when the sunne returneth to the northerne signes bringing corne to ripenes and maturitie She had this name Proserpina of the latine word Proserpo which is to creepe forwards because the rootes creepe along in the body of the earth She was gathering flowers when Pluto tooke her away and kept her below for then is that naturall vertue of the seede working to produce afterwards the fruit and flowre accordingly Pluto was accompted the Lord of riches and treasure Pluto is the earth whence al mettals are digged 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke signifieth riches and in latine they called him Ditem to note Diuitias that is Rich alluding to riches Some make him blinde because he dealeth partially in distributing riches not according to desert And they giue him a key in his hand sith his hellish gates are so surely locked that the Ghostes once entring can neuer possibly returne He is called the God of Ghosts as some thinke because he first instituted the funerall obsequies and solemnities vsed at mens burials He sitteth as a prince on a throne with a crowne on his head a scepter in his hand and Cerberus his dogge at his feete Cupressus is sacred vnto him for it is vsed in funerals and being once cutte neuer buddeth or brancheth afterward * â—lutoes â—icture Proserpina being in hell did eate and as some others report the tale did eate poppie seedes whose nature is to cause drowsines sleepe staying and resting So Proserpina must stay below till she haue gotten roote and bee well and sufficiently grounded Her mother Ceres refused Mars and Apollo for wars and ouer much heate of the sunne are both bad for corne and plenty Ceres by reporte first found and taught the vse of corne and grayne and thereby brought men from that wilde and sauage wandering in woods and eating of Ackornes to a ciuil conuersing and more orderly dyet and caused them to inhabite townes to liue sociably to obserue certain laâ—es and institutions and for these causes was her self made a goddesse figured like a matron with a garland all of the eares of corne hauing in one hand a little bundle of Poppie as signes of fertilitie and in the other hand a fire brand wherewith she sought her daughter For in summer when the beames of the sunne are hoate and burning the countreymen seeke and gather the corne then full ripe and ready for the sickle Her chariot was drawne by two serpents or flying dragons serpents are so called a serpendo of creeping and crawling in and out as the rootes of corne doe or for that the turning and winding bodies of dragons resemble the crooked furrowes of the earth Ceres the earth great by Ioue the temperat heate of the ayre brought forth Proserpina corne and graine A sow was sacrificed to Ceres for she rooteth spoyleth the corne so was the goate to Bacchus for gnawing the vines or the sow is fruitefull so is the earth the sow euer walloweth in the myre and earth and Ceres herselfe noteth the earth * The picture of Ceres Besides Ceres there were other goddesses that had care of the fruite of the earth as Pales that lookt to the Pastures and was the Pastors goddes Pomona the Lady of Apples hauing her name of the latine Pomum which signifieth an apple Flora the goddes of flowres and wife to Zephyrus Bona dea the good goddes otherwise called Fauna à fauendo of cherishing and fauouring noting that quickning efficacy of the earth which norisheth and fostreth the seede cast into the same Flora they say in truth was a Romaine strumpet called Laurentia who dying left her wealth which was excessiue to the people of Rome who for her honor made her a goddes of flowres and called her Flora of the word Flos signifying a flowre Iupiter by report of Plato perceauing that the auncient edict commaunding euery man to be rewarded according to his desert was not obserued because men being aliue were iudged by liuing iudges did enact that none from thenceforth should receaue triall but after death when all externall shewes of birth bewty strength riches nobilitie and such like were altogether remoued And that only his three sonnes Aeacus Minos and Rhadamanthus whereof the two last were borne in Asia the first in Europe should after their death
laborem Hoc est aduerso nixantem trudere monte Saxum quod tamen à summo iam vertice rursum Voluitur plani raptim petit ae quora campi Others expound it so as meaning by the stone the studies and endeuours of mortall men by the hill the whole course of mans life by the hill top the ioy and tranquillitie of the minde by Hell the earth and men on earth by Sisiphus the soule and minde of man which included in this prison of the body striueth and contendeth by all meanes possible to attaine to eternall rest and perfect felicitie which some repose in wealth some in honor some in pleasure all which hauing once gotten what they sought begin againe as fast to couet new matters and neuer make an end of desiring so that he who first was wholly giuen to catch and snatch being now growne to wealth seeketh honor and is as infinitely addicted to that vaine humor as euer he was to the other miserable affection this is the world omnium rerum est vicissitudo neither is it possible for any man whilst he is a man to enioy any setled felicitie in this life Tityus had his liuer or as some say his heart all day long deuoured by an Aegle or as others report it by a vultur and as much as was consumed in the day somuch was restored in the night so that his torment was perpetuall The liuer is the seate of lust and concupiscence which in the night time suborneth vnchaste and wanton cogitations Or physically thus Tityus is the stalke or blade of corne of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one letter being taken away hee was horne of Iupiter and Elara the daughter of Orchomenus a riuer of Thessalia This Elara noteth the naturall humor and milke-white moisture in the seede of corne and without Iupiter that is heate and Elara moysture the corne can neuer prosper Iupiter therefore accompanying with Elara when she had conceaued and was great hid her in the ground for feare of Iuno she in the ground was deliuered of Tityus who being borne by his mothers death was brought vp and nursed of the earth The sence hereof i◠this the seede is caste into the ground for feare of the iniury of the ayre noted by Iuno the mother dyeth for the seede putrifieth Tityus springs forth being nursed by the earth and aspyreth vp towards heauen as though he were about to offer violence to Latona and is therefore throwne downe and slaine by the darts of Diana and Apollo that is to say hee is ripened and brought to maturity by the heate of the sunne and moysture of the moone that at length hee may be cut downe by reapers Vulturs consume his liuer for the chaffe and huske is left to birds as being not conuenient for bread to be made thereof He is stretched forth in length so as with his body he couereth nine acres of land meaning that the corne thus sowed and springing vp possesseth and ouerspreadeth a great quantitie of grounde Tantalus so named as if a man would say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most vnfortunate and vnhappie is the patterne of a miserable and couetous wretch who aswell wanteth that which he hath as that which he hath not so Horace expoundeth it But Ouid saith he was thus tormented in Hell to haue apples and waters alwaies before him yet alwaies running from him when he was about to reach them because of his blabbing tongue Quaerit aquas in aquis poma fugacia captat Tantalus hoc illi garrula lingua dedit Tantalus was Iupiters son a man fully instructed with naturall and celestiall Philosophie and is therefore saide to haue eaten with the Gods and to haue feasted and enterteigned them with a banquet sith his whole delite was meditation and heauenly contemplation In this banquet to try whether the Gods knew all secrets he killed and cut in peeces his sonne Pelops and set him before them among other dishes Ceres then present among the rest did taste and eate the showlder of Pelops Philosophers and learned men whilst they wholly addict themselues to contemplation neglecting their worldly and domesticall affaires loose sometimes their goods sometimes their children or wife or otherwise Ouid telleth the tale in 6. Meta. adding further that the Gods then pitying Pelops vnited his torne members and insteede of the shoulder deuoured by Ceres made one vp of Iuory plaguing his father in Hell for his offence Some others make a stone hang ouer his head still like to fall and breake him to powder to note out the continual labor and vexation of spirit incident to euery man that is seriously bent to earnest meditation He is saide to haue imparted vnto men Nectar and Ambrosia the drinke and meate of the gods because he did communicate among them those hidden treasures of heauenly philosophie for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is immortall and Nectar hath in effect the same signification noting that the gods are immortall and cannot dye according to the verse Iupiter Ambrosia satur est nectare viuit Belides or Danaides were the fiftie daughters of Danaus who killed their husbands all in one night sauing only one and are therefore enioyned to fill broken tubs with water still running out Lucretius hereby vnderstandeth our vnthankfull mindes and vnsatiable desires who still hauing desire still to haue so that nature powreth her infinite blessings into vs as into broken vessels which are euer empty and ready for more It may signifie the whole estate of mans life neuer setled neuer satisfied euer dooing and vndooing and dooing almost all to no purpose at al. It may also note the exchecquer or treasury of a prince which like the sea still receaueth and is neuer full or lastly the nature of a blab that is like a broken tub plenus rimarum full of slifies flowing out here and there keeping nothing secret that is imparted vnto him With these and such like monsters and monstrous torments the poets haue furnished their hell Virgil 6. aeneid setteth downe all most plentifully placing at the very entrance and gate of hell a rable of hellish haggs as woe reuenge wrath sicknes old age feare famine penurie death labor sleepe warre discord and such others The torments aboue rehearsed are apointed for the wicked and damned ghosts the good and blessed spirits enioy euerlasting happines in the Elysian fields a place seuered from the comfortles lodge of the damned The Sirenes which I had almost forgotten sought for and folowed after Proserpina strumpets and wanton huswiues folow riches aboundance figured by Proserpina the Lady of fruite and corne according to that olde saying Sine Cerere Baccho friget Venus The mocking boy made a Swift Ascalaphus borne of Orphne and Acheron turnd to an Owle the loutes of Lycia transformed to Frogs and Lyncus changed to a Lynx are all tokens of iust plagues inflicted on such offendors Triptolemus historically in a ship bearing the name of the Dragon brought store
skinne renueth her selfe so the sick and crased body restored to his former health seemeth to be young agayne * Aesculapius his picture The morning is the fore-runner to the sunne yet caused of the sunne She is called the daughter of Thia and Hyperion she is ruddie like roses she hath yellow hayre golden roabes and sitteth on a golden throne Aurora loued Tithonus Laomedons sonne because he fett his wyfe from the East hee being extreamly olde was turned to a Grashopper olde men neuer cease tatling and chirping The distinctions of times called howres Horae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to keepe doe guide conserue and keepe in order all proceedings whatsoeuer and are the daughters of Ioue and Themis to weete Eunomie Dice Eirene for no way better shall a man perceaue the good or bad dealing of men and the merciful or reuenging power of the Gods then by the change of times howrs therefore they keepe heauen gates and attend on the Sun causing fayre or fowle weather when they lust for the profite or plague of mortall men * The picture â—f Aurora Now to Alphesiboeus his tale Phoebus kild Pytho the heat of the Sun consumed those pestilent vapors left after the deluge causing putrefaction signified by this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereupon some think he was called Apollo of the verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to kill Pontanus Tum tellus grauis imbre adhuc stagnantibus vndis Humida anhela vagos tollebat ad aethera tortus Inuoluens caelum nube caligine opaca Hinc ille immanis Python c. This made Phoebus vaunt yet was he daunted by Cupid and forced affectionately to loue Daphne daughter to the riuer Penaeus whereby is vnderstood that naturall and radicall humor of the earth proceeding from the waters and riuers that moysten her and make her fruitefull The sunne coueteth this moysture sends downe his attractiue beames to draw it vp resolues it into vapors and makes it fit for himselfe On the other side this moysture flieth and withdraweth herselfe from the heate of the sunne as from her deadly foe Againe the violent and piercing beames of the sunne compell this moysture to forsake the vppermost and superficiall parts of the earth retyring backward into the deepest and remotest parts thereof Which being thither come and yet euen thither and there persecuted by the scalding and searching rayes of Phoebus is at last by the meanes of the celestiall powers and help of the watery floods and riuers defended from the violence of Apollo and conuerted into fruitefull trees and plants Daphne is transformed into a laurell tree rather then any other for that by reason of her excellencie continuance florishing greenenesse odoriferous sent and naturall heate shee aboue all other doth shew her constitution to be tempered with due and proportionable commixtion of terrene moysture and celestiall heatâ— Daphne is Penaeus his daughter for by the bankes and meddowes adioyning thereunto an infinite number of lawrell trees were growing Apollo garnished his Lute and Quiuer with Lawrell leaues so should only famous poets worthy of Apollos Lute and renowmed conquerors figured by his Quiuer be crowned with Laurel in token of their neuer-dying glory Laurell is long kept so is the fame of learned and valyant men Laurell is alwaies greene so is their praise eternall and euer-florishing Laurell is hoate and odoriferous so dooth the heauenly-inspired spirit of poets and all-contemning courage of Heroicall mindes breath foorth the sweete sauour of vertues excellency Lastly Laurell is neuer tutcht with lightning and their names are neuer defaced by Obliuion The other tale of youthfull Phaeton and his father Phoebus may first giue vs warning neither to wish vnaduisedly nor sodainely to yeeld to rash demaunds nor vnconsiderately to performe a promise foolishly made Phaeton Semele Theseus and others by their owne wishes procured their owne confusion Phaeton was the sonne of Phoebus and Clymene toweet the heat and inflammation proceeâ—ing from the sunne For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to burne and Clymene is the water 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to ouerflowe and when these ouerflowing vapors eleuated by the sunne are once inflamed then doth this outragious heate breake out Phaeton fell downe into the riuer Eridanus after extraordinary drought folow commonly inundations of waters Phaeton is beaten downe with thunder for these vapors raised vp by the sunne and by the enuironing coldnes of the middle region of the ayre thrust into a narrow straite by strugling for passage cause thunder and lightning til the outrage of that heate bee so consumed Phaetons sisters Phaetusa and Lampetie noting heate and brightnes did so sorowfully lament their brothers death that for pity they were turned into poplar trees that is of this humor and exceeding heate of the sunne many kindes of trees and plants doe plentifully proceede Lucian expoundeth it historically thus Phaeton began seriously to obserue the course and reuolution of the sunne but preuented by death could not finish his attempted enterprise The ethicall moralization which Ouid himselfe tutcheth in his bookes de Tristibus may be this Phaeton a youth and therefore vnable to gouerne will needes be a magistrate but alas it is too great a burden for his weake shoulders Magna petis Phaeton quae non viribus istis Munera conueniunt nec tam iuuenilibus annis The gouernement and administration of a common wealth or kingdome is a heauenly charge Sors tua mortalis non est mortale quod optas It is also as heauy as heauenly The beginning and climing vp is hard and difficult the top thereof subiect to a thousand perills and dangers which make euen the most experienced much to feare and the discent or comming downe is headlong Ardua prima via est quà vix manè recentes Enituntur equi medio est altissima caelo Vnde mare terras ipsi mihi saepe videre Sit timor pauida trepidet formidine pectus Vltima prona via est eget moderamine certo Besides this in a common wealth there be Bulls Centaurs Lyons Scorpions and such like that is sauage and rude people vngentle cruel crafty and enuious to whose open violence and secreate supplanting the gouerner is euer subiect Forsitan lucos illic vrbesque deorum Concipias animo delubraque diti a donis Esse per insidias iter est formasque ferarum Vtque viam teneas nulloque errore traharis Per tainen aduersi gradieris cornua tauri Haemoniosque arcus violentique ora Leonis Saeuaque circuitu curuantem brachia longo Scorpion atque aliter curuantem brachia cancrum Againe the rude rablement of the vulgar sort will hardly be maistred or brought to any conformitie Nec tibi quadrupedes animosos ignibusillis Quos in pectore habent quos ore naribus efflant In promptu regere est vix me patiuntur vbi acres Incaluêre animi ceruixque repugnat habenis These and such other imminent
naked they cannot conceale their passions winged loue soone flieth into our eyes and soules and louers are light as feathers His bowe and arrowes note that he hitteth a farre off his burning lampe the quickning light and yet consuming heate of loue Dulcis amaror amor Venus hauing brought forth Cupid and seeing that he did not thriue and growe was told by Themis that if Eros had Anteros if Cupid had another Cupid for his brother who might contend in loue with him he would doe well Venus hereupon brought forth Anteros and presently Eros reuiued loue was lusty and as the one increased or decreased so did the other neuer deliting but either in others loue and liking Eros was figured with a branche of palme in his hand Anteros contended to wrest it from him but could not Hee that will be loued must loue vt amêris amabilis esto We must contend to ouercome and get the palme and victory by louing more then we be loued so shall we still be loued more Fomes amoris amor * The picture of E and Antros Many yong waggs wayte on great Cupido they are borne of Nymphs yong naked and haue curled hayre and changeable colored winges sometimes with a lampe or a bowe sometimes without either bowe or Lampe Moschus in his wandring and fugitiue Cupid maketh him not blinde but hauing bright and cleare eyes Tasso hath the like in Italian to that of Moschus in greeke The particuler histories briefely tutcht in this tale as by the way may as briefely be thus expounded Leander and Heroes loue is in euery mans mouth the light of the lanterne or lampe extinct that is naturall heate fayling lust decayeth and Leander tossed with the cold storme of old age is at last drowned Ouid in his epistles passionately setteth it downe and Boscan hath made a whole volume of it in spanish entituled Historia de Leandro y Hero beginning thus Canta con voz suaue y dolorosa O musa los amores lastimeros Que en suaue dolorfueron criados Canta tambien la trisâ—e mar in medio Y à Sesto de vna parte y d'otra Abido c. Hercules was also called Alcides of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 force and might he was the sun of Iupiter and Alemena 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is strength and prowes So then Hercules is the type of a valiant constant and resolute Heros borne of Iupiter that is endued with all heauenly qualities effected by Ioues influence and so borne as to purchase himselfe eternall fame and glorious renowne through the world by his admirable aduentures which for that they were attempted and atcheeued by the malitious instigation and prouocation of Iuno himselfe was thereof in Greeke named accordingly for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Iuno and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 glory or renowne as I haue already mentioned others had rather deriue the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which noteth vertue valor In his infancie he strangled two snakes the meaning is that he began euen then to represse wantonnes Afterwards hee slew a Lyon noting wrath pride and crueltie ouercame Hydra the almost inuincible still breeding beast Enuy. Hydra lurked in moores fennes Enuy creepeth on the ground in base and abiect brests Troy could not be taken without his arrowes his arrowes are a figure of heroical fortitude He wrestled with Antaeus who euer throwne downe to the earth receaued new strength from the earth till at last hee lifted him vp and strangled him in the ayre so the spirit still striueth with the body but neuer can ouercome it till he lift it vp so high from the ground that with his feete to weete his affections he receaue no new assistance from his mother the earth Diomedes who fed his mares with mans flesh was by Hercules enforced to feede them with his owne body By Diomedes mares some vnderstand his whoorish daughters who robbed and consumed all that came vnto them He killed the mighty Hart he freed mens hearts from feare He was euer couered with the Lyons spoyle a valiant man vseth open and Lionlike prowesse and not treacherous and foxelike wiles He brake one of the hornes of the huge riuer Achelous he reduced one part of the saide riuer into his woonted course which was the cause of great fertilitie to all the countrey and therefore it is saide that the horne was dekt with flowres and called Cornucopiae the Horne of aboundance He fetcht away the golden apples of the Hesperides kept by the watching Dragon Hesperides the daughters of Hesperus are the starres their garden is in the weast wherein grow golden apples for such is the nature of the starres to glister like gold and seeme round in shew like apples They grow in the weast because the stars neuer appeare but when the sunne setteth and that is in the weast for all the day long they are obscured by the surpassing light of the sunne The neuer-sleeping Dragon that watcheth these apples keepeth the garden is the cyrcle called Signifer Hercules brought these intâ— Grece that is he brought Astrologie into his countrey So was he for the same cause fayned to beare the heauens on his shoulders whilst Atlas rested himself because he learned Astrologie of Atlas who is therefore sayd to holde vp the heauens because he continually obserued the motions of the heauens and was thereof called Atlas of â— which here is a note of augmentation and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to beare and sustaine The Pleïades and Hyades be called his daughters because he first noted their course and obserued their operation Ouid in the fourth of his transformations maketh this Atlas to be a king of Mauritania turned to a mountaine of his owne name when Perseus had shewed him Gorgons head for denying him entertainment In trueth Atlas is a most huge and high hill in Mauritania so threatning the heauens that it gaue beginning to this fiction Sometimes Hercules is paynted olde and balde with his club bow and shafts smal chaynes or wyres drawen from his toung to othermens eares signifiyng that his sweete toung wrought more then his strong body and that the aged eloquence is most piercing and auayleable as Homer maketh manifest vnder the person of olde Duke Nestor * The pictuâ—â— of Herculeâ— Gallicus Thus did Hercules his searching and heroicall heart leaue nothing vnattempted but by his reaching capacitie and inquisitiue speculation pierced through heauen and hel yet alas he that ouercame all was at last ouercome himselfe He that mastred men was whipped by a woman and enforced by her to spinne and handle a distuffe in stead of an Iron clubbe so doth wantonnes effeminate the most warlike hearts and so much harder it is to resist pleasure then not to be ouercome by payne At length hauing passed through so many perils and being infected with a shirt sent him from Deïanira and polluted with the venymous blood of the Centaure Nessus he burnt himselfe on