and circumference turneth about with a suddaine and quicke dispatch of time Seruius sayth That the auncients so shaped Pan with hornes as entending thereby the beames of the sunne or those hornes of the Moone which shee seemeth in her imperfection and lights decreasing to carrie Boccace vnderstandeth by such his hornes newly sprung forth and reuersed towards the heauens the celestiall bodies which receaue knowledge and conceiuances by two manners the one by art through which by Astrologicall skill and iudgement the course and extrauancie of the starres is proportioned and knowne with their habitations natures and distances the other is that continuall proofe and efficient power which is emploied here in things below The rednesse and high colour of his face signifieth that pure and liuely fire which aboue the rest of the elements is adioined next to the heauenly spheres his long beard hanging downe ouer his breast meaneth the two superior elements Aire and Fire which are of nature force and operation masculine and they infuse their workings and impressions in the two below which are feminine The spotted vesture which hee weareth ouer his shoulders signifies the eight sphere spotted and bespangled with so many glistering stars which couer all things belonging vnto naturall encreases The Sheepeheards hooke which hee alwaies carrieth in one of his hands discouereth according to Boccace the rule and gouernment which Nature beareth ouer all terrene things And in that it is at one end somewhat crooked and retorted it vnshadoweth as Seruius sayth the course of the yeare which in it selfe is circumfered and bended And in the other hand some place a whistle or pipe made of seuen reeds demonstrating thereby the celestiall harmonie aboue which hath in it selfe seuen seuerall sounds and seuen differing voices according to the reuolution working of the seuen spheres from which they receaue such their musicall motion And this Macrobius vnderstandeth many times for Eccho whom the auncients report to be most entirely beloued and endeared of Pan of whome besides that which Ouid speaketh of her in the transmutation of Narcissus it is read that she was a goddesse and the daughter of Speech and of the Aire and therefore inuisible Whereupon Ausonius Gallus reporteth That shee hath oftentimes disuaded and reprehended him whosoeuer will vndertake to depicture her and Ausonius repeats it there in an Epigram whose sence is thus reduced to a Sonnet Surcease thou medling Artist thy endcuour Who for thy skill hast reapt such long-liu'd fame Striue not to paint my bodies shape for neuer Did any humane eies behold the same In concaue Cauernes of the earth I dwell Daughter of th' aire and of ech tailing voice In woods and hollow dales I build my cell Ioying to re-report the least-heard noice To greefe-opprest and men disconsolate That tell ech groue their soules vexation Their dying agonies Iaggrauate By their plaints accentsiteration And he that will describe my forme aright Must shape a formelesse sound or airiespright But returning to Pan I will proceed in his description whose lower parts of him are defigured as it were ouer growne with maruellous rough and stubborne haire with the feet of a Goat signifying hereby the nature of the earth which in some places is hard craggie bushie and vneuen being beset with plants trees and briars and in some places champaine in others full of deepe-discented vallies and other where very mountainous Some also will haue Pans hornes signifie the effigies and aspect of the new-changed Moone his rubicund and fierie face the blushing countenance of the morning against the approch of Phebus and likewise of the euening vpon his tramontation and discent to the antipodes whose beames then seeming to reach downe vnto the earth are vnderstood by his long and sharp-pointed beard The spotted skin ouer his shoulders explicates as hath before been spoken of the innumerable companies of starres which presently shew forth aduance themselues vpon the sunnes departure towards the kingdome of Oceanus The rod or sheepehooke in his hand meaneth the rule and gouernment which he carrieth ouer all things By the pipe of seuen reeds may be intended the musical melodie of the heauens caused as some hold by the motion of the sunne And so diuerse men varie and differ in their descriptions similes applications Plato vnderstandeth through Pan Reason Knowledge and that it is of two sorts the one of a man the other of a beast And for that sayth hee it is many times argued and reasoned both truly and falsely betweene two parties hee entendeth by the vpper part of Pan the truth accompanied with reason which being of it selfe diuine erecteth and lifteth vp it selfe alwaies towards the heauens and that part below signifies the falsenesse of things which being harsh beastly and rude liueth here in the world and is onely delighted with the pleasures and foolish vanities thereof But howsoeuer this description of Pan may be drawne into seuerall meanings it pleased the auncients so to defigure him from the middle vpward as I haue said they framed him to the proportion and similitude of a man with his face ruddie and sanguine being very hairie his shoulders and breast couered with the skin of a spotted Doe Panther or Leopard In the one hand he held a sheepehooke and in the other a whistle much vsed of sheepeheards when in their pleasant humors they carroll forth their rurall notes of mirth and iouisance from the middle downewards hee carried the perfect shape of a Goat both thighes legs and feet After the same forme and portraiture also were the Faunes Siluans and Satyres depictured and set forth hauing little short hornes growing on their heads with small eares and short tailes And it is read that among some people they are held in very great regard and obseruance and that they are crowned by them with lillies and other delicate flowers They are of a most wonderfull speed in running and inhabite among the steepest and highest hils of India according to Plinie being of that incredible footmanship that they are neuer taken vnlesse by extremitie of old age or other impedimentall disease or sickenesse Plutarch writeth That there was one of these brought and presented for a rare gift vnto Sylla returning from the warres against Mithridates But regressing to Pan Herodotus writeth That he was one of those eight cheefe and principall gods which were so worshipped and adored among the Aegyptians and among the Mendesians held in greatest regard and reputation And vnto him there they dedicated and consecrated the Pine of whose leaues they composed many curious garlands and encompassed his hornes therwith the reason hereof as some say was for the loue of a virgine called Pitis afterwards metamorphised into that tree as it is read also of Syrinx turned into a reed whereof Panso frameth his pipes and rurall instruments And now to the finishing of the Statues of Iupiter beginning with that which is read
window in which were insculped three figures whereof one of them which stood and was placed on the right hand being in the forme of a well-yeard man full of modestie and grauitie had these letters engrauen vpon it Honor The other on the left hand formed into the portraiture of a woman in Matrone-like habite carried these letters Veritas These two pictures seemed to hold one another hand in hand before whom there was placed the third figure of the proportion of a young man of beauteous yet sober aspect on whose head were infixed these words Deus Fidius And thus much touching that note taken from the writings of Pausanias There haue beene few Statues composed of Iupiter to which hath not been annexed the shape of an Eagle which bird of all others the Auncients haue most often appropriated vnto him by which as it is poetised his glorious charriot is swiftly drawne and conueied through the airie passages Some hold that Iupiter when hee warred was conuersant here below in many fights skirmishes was by many signes and tokens giuen by an Eagle assured of prosperous and fortunate successe which afterwards fell out true he himselfe victoriously triumphing in those wars Or that as he is feared and adored among men so the Eagle carrieth a superioritie and raigneth as Empresse ouer all other birds Among the Eleans a people in Greece the Statue of Iupiter was compacted of gold and yuorie and himselfe sitting vpon a regall and stately seat was impalled with a coronet made with the leaues of an Oliue In his right hand hee held the Image of Victoria crowned in the same manner and in his left hand a scepter tempered of diuerse and sundrie mettals on the top whereof was mounted the true portraiture of an Eagle his shoes were all of gold whereon was set forth and depainted the formes of diuerse strange beasts and of rarest flowers The seat it selfe was cleane gold in which was inchased with most excellent embellishments and curious politure the liuely representation of many vnknowne birds and fishes And this Statue was vpheld and supported by foure Images of Victoria hewen out and proportioned with inimitable skill of the art Topiaria And it is read that in Caria a region in the lesser Asia was erected a Statue of Iupiter holding onely in one of his hands a Poleaxe and Plutarch alledgeth this reason for it saying That Hercules after that hee had ouerthrowne and slaine Hippolita Queene of the Amazones tooke them from her and carried away among other her armes this poleaxe which afterwards he gaue to Omphale his wife which by birth was of Lydia and in this respect the kings of Lydia alwaies afterwards vsed to carrie with them in the warres such weapon and held and regarded it as a thing sacred and of a wondrous respect This weapon through the succession of maniekings in the end came to Candaules who not vouching to carrie it himselfe alwaies gaue it in charge to one that accompanied next vnto him who afterwards with Candaules himselfe was slaine by Giges then triumphant victor ouer those warres so vndertaken who among other spoiles and reliques carried and brought the same away into Caria which first the Amazonian commandresse so lost to Hercules And this was now infixed in the one hand of this Statue which was dedicated vnto Iupiter And thus much touching the Images Statues and Pictures consecrated vnto him Iuno THose that haue written that the Auncients vnder the names of diuerse gods haue worshipped the foure elements haue vnderstood by Iuno the Aire calling her the sister of Ioue by whom is meant also that element of Fire And as they then adored and worshipped him as supreame gouernour of the heauens so likewise they entearmed and entituled her the Queene and Ladie thereof being both indeed the superiour elements which in themselues haue greater strength vertue and operation in the creation and encrease of things here below than the other two and oftentimes also they take I uno for the earth and in that respect acknowledged as the wife of Iupiter in that say they there falleth from aboue a certaine powerfull and engendring seed on the earth by whose strength and vertue it receiueth means and abilitie to bring forth maintaine and nourish what we see here produced There are manie also who haue worshipped and taken this goddesse the same as Luna cognominating her by the name of Luna as it were signifying thereby that she giueth light guidance to the deliuerance of the new-borne infant From whence it grew that the auncients parting as it were and diuiding the parts of men seuerally and asunder giuing vnto euery god some one part some another whereof they should take charge and care haue dedicated the eye-lids vnto Iuno in that they are placed and next adioined to our eies by which we receaue our light and steps direction and that they seeme to defend and protect the puritie of their vertues from any hurtfull and offensiue thing that might otherwise fall downe and get in vpon them The Statue of Iuno hath been framed by the auncients into the proportion of a woman of middle age yet habited like a graue Matron holding in the one hād a siluer vessell and in the other a sharpe-pointed speare and although it may seeme strange to place in the hand of Iuno this warlike weapon shee being of her selfe naturally mild peacefull and gentle yet the auncients haue so defigured her in that she is many times also fierce wrathfull and furious as shee shewed her selfe when shee conioined with the Grecians to ouerturne the prosperous estates of the Phrygians aduenturing her selfe in person accompanied with Minerua amidst the most perrillous and desperate skirmishes of those warres as Homer among those his notes more copiously remembreth it where also hee sayth That her chariot for in those times the greatest Captaines and especiall commaunders alwaies fought in chariots glistered as it had been beset with purest carbuncles the axletree was of solide gold the wheeles of Ebonie whose circulous plates with the nailes thereof were cleane siluer the chaines whereunto the horses were tied were gold and the seat wherein she her selfe sat mounted was of the most refined siluer beautified adorned and bespotted round about with starres of gold And although at all other times almost shee is depainted to bee drawne in her chariot by two gentle birds yet at this approch shee is reported to bee carried by two furious horses And Virgil likewise describes her in such a chariot when he saith that shee affected and fauoured Carthage very much as to leaue there her chariot horses furniture therof Homer by the many and sundry colours which appeare to bee depainted in that her chariot vnderstandeth and meaneth the seuerall aspects of the aire And Boccace taketh it otherwaies saying that she is so gloriously set forth and adorned with colours to signifie that she is goddesse of riches and such her weapons so belonging
caue where Nature sits the soules of men seeme to flutter and houer ouer her head which importeth the infinite numbers of men that are euerie day created bringing then with them their soules and for that they appeare to flie directly ouer the bosome of Eternitie it meaneth that whosoeuer attaines vnto that excellencie of perfection must first enter his aspiring steps by the means of Nature and for that cause she is placed at the dore or portall The aged man which there sits deuiding and parting the starres may be called God not that hee is old for time ouer him loseth her vertue and worketh no effect who of himselfe is perpetuall and euer-liuing but that the auncients heretofore haue pleased so defigure him and because he effecteth all things by infinite wisdome ruling and commanding all creatures whatsoeuer by his vnspeakeable power they therefore attribute vnto him old age wherein is commonly found more wisdome grauitie and experience than in youth Thus farre Boccace reporteth not touching any thing at all the explication of the ages and worlds which followed in that his description in that indeed they were not so enigmaticall but euery one might easily admit the conceiuing knowledge of so familiar intendements Therefore now wee will proceed beginning with the Image or Statue of Saturnus according as it hath beene by the Auncients heretofore composed Saturne SAturne being expulsed heauen by Iupiter as histories record and throwne downe from thence into this middle region after many daies sailing vpon the sea at the length hee ariued in Italie where hee liued manie yeares with Ianus then king of that part of the Countrey where Rome afterwards was built but poorely and meanely he liued as indeed all the people in those times did as hauing vnfound out the vse of tilling and planting whereby corne and other fruits of the earth might suppeditate their wants of necessarie food and victuall The vse of which things they now learned from Saturne who painfully instructed them in the perfect knowledge of the nature of each soile and how and by what industrious meanes of art any ground fruitlesse of it self by nature might become fertile and rich This learned and powerfull skill of Saturne Ianus infinitely admired insomuch as manifesting his gratefulnesse for so be hoofefull and commodious a good turne receaued he communicated part of his kingdome for him to liue vpon affording him many other princely and respectiue regards And further commanded his people that when he died they should with all reuerence honour him as a god a thing easily embraced by the ignorant Heathen in those daies who in that they had receiued so vnexpected a benefite from his meanes willinglie condiscended to ascribe and attribute vnto him all godlike reuerence and deuout adoration as men indeed vnto whome the sole and eternall God had not ministred the Key of vnderstanding that their close-shut hearts liuing in the darke caue of ignorance might therewith bee opened and vnlocked for the admittance of the true acknowledgment of his sacred deitie but they onely worshipped him for their god who by his humane knowledge had found out some new means either for the earths better increase or other like profit that were most auaileable for their labour-lesse and sluggish liuing And therefore they willingly adored Saturne as a mightie and puissant god dedicating vnto him manie sumptuous Statues and temples And him in his Statue they framed with a hooke or syth in his hand demonstrating thereby as they meant it the inuention of tilling of the ground because with that the corne once recouering his maturitie is cut downe Other writers there are that would haue him signifie Tyme as that with his sythe he should measure and proportionise the length of Time and therewith to decurtate and cut away all things contained therein Those also would haue him to be in the shape of a very aged man as one who began from beginning of the world holding in his hand a child which by peecemeales hee seemes greedily to deuour importing the reuenge hee tooke being banished heauen by his owne children those which escapt the furious gulfe of his maw were onely foure Iupiter Iuno Pluto and Neptune which intend the foure elements Fire Aire earth and Water which are not perishable by the all-cutting sickle of deuouring time Martianus Capella depictures him holding in his right hand a Serpent with the end of her taile in her mouth still turning round with a heauie and dead slow pace and he hath his temples redemyted with a greene wreath which seemeth still to flourish his haire of his head and his beard all milke white looking like one of many yeares withering and declining and yet manifesting that it is in his power to rebecome youthfull fresh and blooming The wreath on his head imports the beginning or spring of the yeare his haire and beard the snowie approch of churlish Winter the slownesse of the serpents paces the sluggish reuolution of that planet which as it is of all the greatest so it asketh longest time for his circular circumference and in that from this plannet proceed dolorous and dismall effects they shape him to be old louring sorrowing hardfauonred and sluggish his nature being cold drie and melancholie The same Martianus sayth That the nuptials of Mercurie and Philologia when she had searched and perviewed each corner of the higher and lower heauens shee found Saturne sitting with great solitude in an extream cold mansion all frozen couered with yse and snow wearing on his head a helmet on which was liuely depictured three heads the one of a Serpent the other of a Lyon and the third of a Boare which three by many constructions may signifie the effect of Time but in that it is by the Authors themselues but sleightly approued we will wade no further in it And yet Macrobius toucheth it very neerely when hee describes him with a Lyons head a Dogs head and a Wolfes head intending by the Lyons head the time present which duly placed betweene that past and that to come preuaileth most and is of greatest force or discouering thereby the stormie troubles of mans life by the rough vnpleasing and grim aspect of the Lyon by that of the Dog is meant the present time who alwaies fawnes on vs and by whose alluring delights we are drawne vnto vaine and vncertain hopes The Wolues head signifies the time past by his greedie deuouring what ere he finds leauing no memorie behind of what hee catcheth within his clawes Astarte the daughter of Celum and wife and sister of Saturne made for her husband a princely helmet which had foure eies two before and two behind which continually shut themselues slept by turns so that two alwaies were open and vpon his shoulders were likewise made foure wings two of them volant and two couchant which signified that although he slept he alwaies waked and flying continued fixe and permanent vnclouding hereby the nature of
that she hath no light of her selfe Some thinke that the Cymball which Apuleius describes so to bee in one of her hands discouered those old vsances of the auncients who in those times credibly supposed to haue infinitely pleased the Moone by making certain strange musicall noices which they caused by certaine instruments then in request among them others say that it intended that pleasant sound which the Moone in her reuolution through the vpper heauens is heard to make which is also the opiniō of the Platonicks who affirme that the stirring of the celestiall orbes yeeldeth forth a most harmonious and delightful musick Herodotus sayth That in those sacrifices which the Aegyptians vsed so to offer vp to Isis the women accustomed to play on Cymbals and the men on tabers honouring such their feastiuals with infinite sorts of rites ceremonies of solēnization The vessell which hung downe from her left hand signifies the liuely motion and stirring of the waters caused by the operatiue humiditie of the Moone wherevpon it is supposed that according to her fulnesse or decreasing of her light the sea receaueth that prowd and loftie carriage of her billowes in her flowing and that lowly and deiected demeanure in her ebbing and for that the often changes and alterations of the Moone may in some sort touch the vnstedfast and vncertaine remaine of all things in mans life it is not amisse to remember the sayings of Ambrosius who many times alludeth the goods possessions and pleasures which here men doe enioy to the inconstant and mutable changes of the Moones aspects noting thereby that there is nothing on the earth firme permanent or euer during but that all the beauties and ornaments of the world are wasted and spoiled by the seuere tyrannie of all-deuouring time wherupon according to the opinion of manie the Romanes afterwards such especially as were nobly descended and of auncient family wore alwaies on the tops of their shoes certaine little Moons curiously depainted insomuch as that they being of mightie reuenues and of powerfull commands might so bee remembred and put in mind of the casualtie and doubtfull enioying of such their world-bred felicities and terrene pleasures and that continually meditating on such the instabillitie of fortunes gifts and fauours they should not grow insolent prowd forgetfull of their being or ouer-highly thoughted And thus much concerning the Statues of Diana Iupiter THat euer-memorable and famoused preuailement which Iupiter so victoriously carried ouer his father Saturne in expelling him from the imperiall gouernement of the heauens with manie other valerous and haughtie performances by him atchieued purchased and won vnto him such wondrous reputation and credite among the auntients that they not onely dignified him with all titles and graces of warlike honour but also deified him with such reuerence and adoration as they euer afterwards held him as a most mightie and powerfull God exuperating any of the rest in the heigth of glorie state and magnificence and so accordingly erected vnto him most sumptuous temples and costly altars reputing him indeed to be the only and especiall god that had the power and authoritie to befriend or prosper the estates of men here below or to plague scourge them with crosses miseries and mortalities where vpon the Latines called him Iupiter a iuuando for those many benefits and good turnes wherewith hee possessed the people then liuing on the earth The Platonickes vnderstand by Iupiter the soule of the world and that diuine spirit through whose mightinesse all things whatsoeuer first receiued their being and still ioiously increase and flourish in their instant continuance and such powerfull spirit and commander they entearmed by the name of god Orpheus that farre-famed Theologian among the Greekes ascribed thus much vnto Ioue that he was the first before any thing in the world receiued forme and shall continue the last after the consumation and dissolution therof and that he sitteth on the highest part of it whose feet reach downe to the lowest and basest corner thereof within whom is contained earth water aire fire day and night whose Image he thus setteth forth his head sayth hee with those his golden-hued lockes is the beauteous firmament gloriously adorned with such infinite armies of tralucent stars and from ech side of his temples peepe forth two yong golden hornes signifying by the one the East by the other the West his eies are the Sunne and the Moone his shoulders and breast the spacious compasse of the aire and the wings thereon infixed intend the furious swiftnesse of the winds his bellie downe to the knee is the wide earth circūcinct with the waters of the sea his feet discend down throgh the bowels of the lower center This description of Iupiter made by Orpheus is not much vnlike that of Pan by whom the auncients also signifie the vniuerse and tooke him and Iupiter to be al one as his Image or Statue in some sort manifested which was erected as Iustine writeth in a temple in Rome hard by the hill Palatine which appeared to the view almost all naked saue that it was slightly enshadowed and couered with the skin of a goat It is read therfore that this Pan was reputed in those daies among the auncients to be one of those gods that remained kept his habitation among the hils woods and groues for that all of such their gods as they then so worshipped could not possibly haue roome and seuerall commands in the heauens but that of necessitie some must be enforced to descend downe and liue below vpō the earth among the which as I haue said was Pan who was indeed most of any adored and worshipped of the sheepeheards as hee that had the peculiar care and gouernement of their flockes and of the encreases thereof whose shape Siluius Italicus thus setteth forth Vpon the sheepeheards cheesest feastiuall When downe the floure-imbroder'd lawnes they trace Playing on Oten pipes most musicall To whose due steps they frame a true-kept pace In front of all the troope you there may see Goat-eared Pan in this solemnitie From out his head two small-tipt new-growne hornes Aduance themselues about whose ether side A flourie garland twines and there adornes His curled temples with a wondrous pride His face is of a reddish blush and fierie From which doth hang a stiffe-rough beard and hairie And for his bodies vesture he doth weare The finest skin of the most spotted Doe That euer any in those woods did beare Which from his shoulders loose hangs to his toe And when he walkes he carrieth in his hand A sheepeheards hooke made of a knotlesse wand After such his description hee progresseth further and saith That he is of that maruellous firme footing that hee easily climeth vp and ascendeth the most craggie and steepe mountaines that bee and is of a most wonderfull speed and swiftnesse in his running alluded therein to the nature of the world which in his reuolution
narrow search of the birds as Lyons according as Solynus reporteth are accustomed when they are chased and hunted by woodmen to sweepe disperse the dust with their tailes that so the print and impression of their footing might not detect their course of escape or else to shew that there is no ground so barren stubborne and fruitlesse but may in time by often cultiuation industrious manuring be made a plenteous fertile soile as the Lyons themselues in the end become gentle tame and tractable The emptie and void seats which are placed round about the picture doe import that there is no countrey so populous and abounding in people but are by pestilences infections dissentions and warres wasted spoiled and depopulated or to shew that in many places of the earth are diuerse countries vnpeopled and desolate And thus farre Varro in his description of Ops. It is read with Isiodorus that the Image of this goddesse called Lagran Madre is framed holding in one of her hands a key signifying thereby that the earth in the time of Winter and cold season is locked vp as it were and incloseth within it the seed which is dispersed and throwne downe into it which at the approch of the Spring and Summer doth peepe forth and shew it selfe againe at which time it is said that the earth is again vnlocked and openeth her bosome Cornelius Tacitus reporteth That certaine people of Germanie worshipped and adored this goddesse as she that of all other was the most friendly helping to mankind supplying their wants and necessities with her manifold fruits and encreases And in that they erected not vnto her as I haue in some places alreadie written any Statues Images or Pictures they performed such their adoration in cōsecrated groues wherein they placed a chariot or coach couered all ouer with sacred vestures vnto which no man might be suffered to approch and touch but only a certaine Priest appointed to speake to her as hee onely that knew the goddesse to be there was further acquainted with all her vnreuealed matters of secrecie and in this respect they all gaue him preheminence place and dignitie And this chariot was drawne very solemnely and with all obseruancie of reuerence done vnto it by the people by two white Cowes It is to be pre-intended that the world in those daies was not afflicted with warres stratagemes contentions intestine broiles and fatall massacres neither knew it the vse of yron or steele the daies and yeeres were then circumfered in ioy tranquilitie and hearts content all places were free peacefull secure and quiet vnto this sight and solemnitie the people came flocking in with great humility deuoting vnto her their poore seruices with many gifts presents and oblation And after that this goddesse afterward intended to end such her progresse and to abide no longer below in the world the chariot with the cloths thereof was suddainely by some sleightfull art throwne violently into a Lake or Riuer with the picture of the goddesse in it and the seruants so appointed for this deuise all ouerwhelmed and drowned in the water And it is thought that this fond ceremonie encreased mightily their opinion and beleefe of such their religion and caused that she was alwaies among them adored and worshipped as a mightie goddesse And this goddesse was also called as I haue alreadie written Cibele which name according to the opinions of manie came of a certaine mount so entearmed But Festus Pompeius giues her the same nature and vertues and the same Statues Images and Pictures as she hath being Ops with her chariot likewise drawne by two furious Lyons which Aristotle likewise affirmeth when writing of many wonders and miraculous things in the world he remembreth in such his description a certaine stone which groweth on the hill Sipilus in Phrygia the which who so had found and caried away any part of it into the Temple of Cibele he should become instantly most dutifull obedidient and regardant vnto his parents although he had before infinitely hated despised and by violent and impious hands beaten them and vnder her picture there in that temple were placed with great curiosity of art two stately and maiestical Lyons But Diodorus and manie others are of opinion that the Lyons so dedicated vnto her signified that she was once fed and nourished by them on that Mountaine Sipilus as it is read also of many others that haue beene kept aliue and preserued by Wolues Harts Beares and Serpents The Naturalists and such as haue laboured for the vertue and nature of things produced say that the elements admit in themselues such a coherence communencie and coniunction that the one is easily changed into the nature of another according as the aire becommeth indensate and grosse or pure and rarified And in that regard there ought to follow lesse admiration among vs of such intricate names effects and properties of the gods of the auncients as the one sometimes vnderstood for one thing and sometimes for another and yet all signifying vnder seuerall names and titles one and the same thing as Iupiter oftentimes is taken for the element of Fire sometimes for the aire and so likewise the Sunne and the Moone in many places taken for the same and yet exposed vnder diuerse names The waters also had diuerse gods shewing forth their sundry qualities and effects in the same manner as the earth from whose bosome ascend vp mistie and vapourous exhalations and are setled and remaine in the lower part of the aire composing there thicke and conglomerated clouds from whose moistnesse afterward issue downe on the earth great vents and abundance of raine And for this cause according to Fornutus the earth is called Rhea as it were guiltie and being the cause and occasion of such showers and rainie moistures And the Image of this goddesse was set forth with many Cymbals and vessels of water as also torches lampes and firebrands meaning thereby the many lightenings and suddain flashes which immediately precede the approches of violent and tempestuous showers The Statue of the earth as she is Vesta is proportioned in the shape of a young virgine with her apparrell beautified and bedecked with many curious ornaments and attires of sundrie and diuerse colours as wee see the earth vpon the comming of the Summer to bee so gloriously bespotted with seuerall-sorted flowers But it is to bee obserued that among the auncients was also another Vesta which as the first as I haue said signified the earth this intended the fire that is that liuely nourishing heat from which being dispersed into the bowels of the earth euerie thing therein contained receiueth his being and encrease and of this the auncients shaped not any Image or Statue in that it could not be discerned by any outward eies but with diuine and contemplatiue thoughts being of it selfe wholly celestiall And besides these names of the earth it was called also when of