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
him then myself his secreates all he reuealeth Vnto me and in mee his surest trust he reposeth And take this for a truth Vertumnus goes not a gadding Is not an out-come guest but dwells hereby as a neighbour Neither tak's he delite his fancies dayly to alter Or seeke for new loues or choyce once made to be changing Faithful Vertumnus loues with deuotion endles First loue and last loue Pomona the Lady of apples And can so conâ—orme and frame himself to be pleasing That what forme or face or shape Pomona desireth Into the same himself Vertumnus speedily changeth And if like conceits are alwaies cause of a liking You two loue and like with like affection one thing For Pomona desires and loues faire plentiful orchyards And Vertumnus takes first fruites of plentiful orchyards And though Vertumnus doe receaue these duetiful ofâ—rings And take in good part Pomonae's bewtiful apples Plummes and grapes and hearbs and flowres yet he chiefly desireth Not those faire apples but this faire Lady of apples Not Pomonae's goods but sweete Pomona the goddes Not thine but the alone Therefore with mercy remember Vertumnus torments and thinke that he mercy desireth With my mouth thinke that with these mine eyes he afordeth Teares feaâ—e louely Venus who wills each Nimph to be louely Feare Nemesis that plagues such girles as loue to be loueles Then she begins to recount many old wiues tales to the Lady How that Anaxarete for scorning bewtiful Iphis Was transformd to a stone with a thousand more of a purpose For to procure her loue and bade her looke to the fatall Fall of Anaxarete and learne thereby to be louely So might budding fruite from nipping frosts be defended And halfe-ripe apples from blustring windes be protected But sith th' old trott's shifts and tales were lightly regarded Turnecoate Vertumnus to a youth was speedily turned Braue youth gallant youth as bright and sheene as Apollo Seemes when burning beames which clouds had lately eclipsed Haue their streaming light and blazing bewty recou'red Youthful Vertumnus to the chereful Lady aproached And now offred force but no force needes to be offred Sweete face and faire lookes causd castles keyes to be yeelded VErtumnus qd Elpinus to end all in one word noteth the diuers seasons oâ— the yeare and is thus called of the Latine word verto which is to turne and Annus signifying the yeare as if a man would say vertannus the turning of the yeare He is largely described and discoursed vpon by Propertius in the second Elegie of his fourth booke Vertumnus at last by turning himselfe to a youth obteineth Pomona that is the spring comming on the earth afordeth varietie of fruites and flowres The like is that mariage of Zephyrus and Flora celebrated by Ouid in the fifth booke of his Fasti. Vertumnus transformde to an old woman goeth about to deceaue Pomona it is good to abandon olde bawdes which corrupt the mindes of tender girles The picture of Vertumnus Dieromena hearing Syluia make mention of Iphis and Anaxarete tooke occasion offered and by discouering her pride and plague did thereby inâ—inuate the reuenging might of the seuere Lady Rhamnusia IPhis a gentle youth if a gentle minde be a gentry Poore yet rich but rich in pure affection only Loued a lasse of state but alas vnluckily loued Loued a noble dame if a noble birth be a noblesse Loued Anaxarete whome pride stil causd to be loueles Oftentimes he retir'de yet loue stil forced him onward Oft did he striue with loue and yet loue stil was a victor And a triumpher stil. Then poore disconsolat Iphis Yeelds peâ—force and seekes his wounded soule to recomfort Sometimes vnto the nurse his secreate smart he reuealeth And by the milk by the pap by the blessed breast he beseecheth Sometimes vnto the friends of noble Dame he repaireth And their helping hand with streaming teares he desireth Sometimes wooing words in louing letter he writeth And ten thousand times his lordlike Lady saluteth Sometimes greene garlands with deaw of teares he bemoystneth And on posts and gates his garlands watery fixeth Sometimes tender side on threshold hard he reposeth And there locks and barres with curses vainly reuileth Scorneful Anaxarete with a frowning face with a hard hart Hart of flint of steele contemns him dayly for all this And to a disdaineful disgrace to a surly behauiour Adds a reproachfull speech and mocks him least any smallest Harts ease smallest hope might stay contemptible Iphis. Iphis vnable now t' endure these plagues any longer Coms all impatient and all inragd to the damned Dore of proud Mistres there this last passion vttring Lady Anaxarete ô now sing io triumphe Sing a triumphing song thou shalt no more be molested With vile woorme Iphis poore pasthope desperat Iphis. Vaunt thy self and laugh and let thy head be adorned With fresh laurel leaues in ioyfull signe of a conquest Iphis yeelds yeelds breath last breath sing io triumphe Feede that murdring sight with sight of murdered Iphis So shal Anaxarete eu'n in despite of her hard hart Hardest hart confesse that I once yet wrought her a pleasure Blood-thirsting pleasure wheâ— as Iphis murdered Iphis. Yet let no man thinke that I therefore leaue to be louing Fayre-prowd louely-cruell til I also leaue to be liuing With double darknes mine eyes shal at once be eclipsed Of suns burning beames and light vntimely bereaued And of Anaxarete's sweete sight vnkindly depriued Neither needes any man these tidings for to be telling Iphis wil be the newes and Iphis wil be the bringer Of that selfsame newes Iphis wil surely be present And in presence dy so Iphis shal be reporter So this Anaxarete in like sort shal be beholder And feede murdring sight with sight of murdered Iphis. Yet you gods if mens affaires of gods be regarded Vouchsafe forlorne wretch with some smalle grace to remember Let poore Iphis death and cause of death be recorded And by how much now his liuing dayes be abridged Let by somuch more his name and fame be prolonged This said brawne-falln armes and eyes all watred he lifted Vp to the posts which earst with flowres he had often adorned And there fastned a cord These these be the crowns be the garlands These be the flowres which yeeld such pleasant sent to the scorneful Lady Anaxarete so thrust in his head yet he turned Head and face and eyes eu'n at last gaspe to the scorneful Lady Anaxarete and there hangd woefuly tottring With corde-strangled throate his sprawling feete by the downefall Knockt her dore by chaunce knockt dore did yeeld a resounding Yeelded a mourneful sound and made herself to be open Wide open to behold so strange and woeful an obiect Dead dore senceles dore ten thousand times to be praised More then Anaxarete who by no paines of a louer By no intreating by no perswasion opn'ed Those dead eares to receaue last words of desperat Iphis Those curst eyes to behold last teares of desolat Iphis That prowd hart to bewaile
too youthful Adonis For no sooner was sweete sea-borne Nymph Aphrodite Conueyd in chariot by siluer swans to Olympus But to the wilde wood went too wilde and wilful Adonis Where when his hounds on a time by chaunce had rowzed a wilde-boare Himselfe sets on first and boare in a brauery woundeth Boare enrag'de runs forth with foaming tusk to Adonis And teares those very parts those tendrest parts of Adonis Which were stil most deare to Adonis deare Aphrodite Teares and wounds and kills Aphrodites loued Adonis And now eu'n iust now when wilde Boare murdred Adonis Ioues great guests were gone and all solemnities ended And sweete louely Venus from Olympus newly departed Thinking euery howre to be two and two to be twenty Til she beheld her boy but alas too soone she beheld him Downe fro the skies she beheld her long-lookt loued Adonis Dismembred wounded with his owne blood all to besprinckled Then to the dolefull dale where murdred Adonis abideth Her milke-white coursers with might and maine she directeth Leaps downe rents her roabes and poore breast all to bebeateth Teares hayre scratcheth face and deathswound deadly bewaileth Hellish Fates qd shee though world be depriu'd of Adonis Corps and loued lymmes by you yet world to the worlds end In despite of you shall yearely remember Adonis Yearely remember mee by remembring yearely Adonis Yea this purpled blood wil I speedily turne to a purple Flowre which shal be a grace to the ground insteede of Adonis If that Apollo could transforme his boy Hyacinthus Into a flowre for a fame to the mourning flowre Hyacinthus Which stil beares ay ay in leaues in signe of a wailing If that Apollo could his dolefull boy Cyparissus Turne to a dolefull tree to the ioyles deadly Cupressus Shall not Lady Venus doe the like for loued Adonis Then with life-giuing Nectar sweete blood she besprinkleth And the besprinkled blood with a round top swells as a buble Purpled round by degrees is speedily changd to a purpled Flowre that beares faire leaues and fraile leaues euery winde-puffe Blowes them away So good things goe so dyed Adonis Flowre fades eye dazeleth face wrinkleth bewty decayeth CAssiopaea said Elpinus hath so passionately discoursed of Venus and Adonis that I feare me vnder these names she mourneth her owne loue and vttreth her owne affection Howsoeuer it be Saturnus that is Tyme with his sithe as I said elsewhere cut off his fathers manlike parts of which cast into the sea Venus was borne So Saturne destroyeth Venus bringeth foorth and both are necessary for the continuall propagation of these inferior bodies sith the corruption of one is the generation of another Venus is faire bewty enticeth to lust She is naked loue cannot be concealed She is borne of the sea louers are inconstant like the troubled waues of the sea Hereof was shee also called Aphrodite of the froath of the sea being like to Sperma Shee is called Venus qd ad omnia veniat or else à venustate Swans and Doues drawe her chariot Doues are wanton and Swans are white and musicall both being meanes to procure loue and lust Myrrha is sacred vnto her so is the rose also that because it is thought to cause loue this because it is fayre and fraile pleasant and pricking hauing a thorne aswell as a flowre as loue hath In Saxony she was figured naked in a chariot drawne with two Swannes and two doues her head bound with myrtle leaues a burning starre on her breast a globe representing the earth in her right hand and three golden apples in her left Behinde her were the three graces back to back hand in hand and apples in their hand The first picture of Venus Now for Venus her loue to Adonis and lamentation for his death by Adonis is meant the sunne by Venus the vpper hemisphere of the earth as by Proserpina the lower by the boare winter by the death of Adonis the absence of the sunne for the sixe wintrie moneths all which time the earth lamenteth Adonis is wounded in those parts which are the instruments of propagation for in winter the son seemeth impotent and the earth barren neither that being able to get nor this to beare either fruite or flowres and therefore Venus sits lamentably hanging downe her head leaning on her left hand her garments all ouer her face * â—he second â—icture of â—enus Pontanus expresseth it thus Terra etenim solem queritur deserta cadentem Inuidit quem tristis hyems cui saeuior apri Horret cana gelu facies cui plurimus imber Crine madet geminos cùm malè contudit armos Ac veluti virgo absenti cum sola marito Suspirat sterilem lecto traducere vitam Illius expectans amplexus anxia charos Cum grauidos aperitque sinus terra relaxat Spiramenta nouas veniat quà succus in herbas Diglomeratque niues grandine verberat auras Nam cùm sol rebus praesit pater ipse creandis Vt sese ad manes brumae sub frigore transfert Tum tellus vidua sulcos oblimat in alno Et tandem complexa suum laetatur Adonim Adonis was turnd to a fading flowre bewty decayeth and lust leaueth the Iust full if they leaue not it Equicola expoundeth it thus Adonis was borne of Myrrha Myrrhe prouoketh lust Adonis was kilde by a boare that is he was spent and weakened by old age Venus lamenteth lust decayeth The companions of Venus were the three Graces virgins free mery amiable all ioyning together So good turns must bee willingly aforded without grudging Some make Mercury their leader because good turns ill bestowed be bad turns benefacta malè collocata malèfacta arbitror therefore wisdome and discretion figured by Mercury is here requisite The first of them is Euphrosyne of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to make mery to cheare and comfort the second Aglaia of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bewtifie The third Pithus of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to perswade or Thalia florishing as others name her Some make them winged because a good turne is little worth vnles it come quickly Gratia quae tarda est ingrata est gratia namque Cùm properat fieri gratia grata magis Two of them looke towards vs and one fromwards vs we must yeeld double thanks and double requitall for good turnes They be in greeke called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of mirth and ioy Natalis Comes referreth it to the tilling and fertiltie of the earth * The pictures of thâ— Graces The one hath in her hand a rose the second a Dye the third a braunch of mirtle The rose noteth ioy the Dye is a token that they ought to come in course The myrtle that they should neuer be forgotten but alwaies florish and continue fresh and greene Before wee leaue Venus wee must remember her sonne Cupido who to omit the philosophicall discourses of the Platonists concerning diuers loues was pictured a boy louers are childish blinde they see no reason
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
excellent qualities especially those that vsually proceede from Iupiters influence as Iustice liberalitie magnificence pietie fauour beauty riches promotion loue and such like all which by the maligning nature of this damnifying planet Saturne are altogether corrupted and depraued as the Creetish Iupiter when he was but a tender iâ—fant was faine to be secretly conueyed away from his sterne and cruell father Saturne who sought his destruction Saturne being imprisoned and chayned by the Titanes was released by his dutifull and mercifull sonne Iupiter who came with a mightie army to the succor of his father Allegorically when the good and beneficiall Iupiter in any mans natiuitie ouer-ruleth preiudiciall Saturne beholding the other planets with an amyable and fortunat aspect which confoundeth the dead lookes and frowning face of Saturne then is that man freed from thâ—se â—aturnian chaynes of calamitie and miserie which otherwise he were subiect vnto These Titanes were the sonnes of heauen and earth signifying the foure elements which include in themselues a certaine terrene and earthly nature and are therefore continually depressed and beaten downe by the power of the superior bodies for vapors by the heate of the sunne the sunne is called Titan are drawne vp which when they approach neere the celestiall region are repelled and driuen downe againe or els resolued into pure and subtile ayre and this mounting vp and throwing downe is perpetuall Iupiter when he had thus enlarged his father vsurped his crowne and royall dignitie bannishing Saturne into hell or the infernall regions Historically Iupiter hauing freed his father from thaldome tooke vpon himselfe the dignitie and regiment of Creete enforcing Saturnus to flie into Italie where he was honored liuing and dying as a God for such was the custome of that age to attribute diuine honors and titles vnto them as Gods of whom they receaued any goodnesse as they did indeede of this Saturnus who taught them how to till and manure the ground to coyne money of mettale which before was of leather to leaue bushes and caues and liue more ciuily and orderly and to obserue certaine lawes and constitutions by him inuented as appeareth by Virgil. S. Aeneid who therefore calleth that time the Golden age Now in truth Italy was then far inferior to Greece in Wealth and Dignitie and might therefore be called the infernall region or base and lowe countrey in respect of â—aturns florishing kingdome as also for that Italie is lower then Greece as inclining more to the west and it is an vsuall thing for men to call the East the superior or higher region and the West he lower downecast and inferior or lastly as Varro wil haue it qd latet Italia inter praecipitia Alpium Apennini because Italie doth as it were lurke and lie hidden betweene the abrupt and high toppes of the Alpes the Mountaine Apenninus That this is true which I report of his being in Italie besides the testimonie of Virgil in the place aboue alleaged where he saith that Italie was named Latium a Latendo because Saturne did lurke and lie there to hide himselfe from his sonne Iupiter Ouid also will beare me witnes who in the first of his Fasti concluding this matter saith that for an eternall memoriall of his arriuall and good institutions the Italian posteritie in their money of mettale figured the ship wherein he came vnto them At bona posteritas puppim formauit in aere Hospitis aduentum testificata dei Allegorically as before when in any mans action or natiuitie Iupiter is predominant then doth he controle Saturne depriuing him of his power and dominion and driuing him out as his inferior Sabinus thinketh that Saturne was therefore saide to be driuen into the infernal dungeons for that he is of all other Planets the most remote and furthest from the earth making that infinite and vnmeasurable height of Heauen to be this Tartarus this infernall or strange and far remoued region But the most conceipted allegory for this purpose is that folowing for although that in Saturns time and raigne that is by the inâ—luence and vertue of this Planet Saturne the seede is preserued in the bowels of the earth and congcaled or thickned in the bodies of sensible cretures at the first generation and conception yet when these things are brought forth and receaue increase and augmentation then doth Iupiter shew himselfe to be King and dealeth all in all driuing out olde Saturne into corners and blinde and obscure places where the first seedes of things lie hidden which only are subiect to Saturnus iurisdiction Time is swift and euerpassing without stay which may bee the cause why Saturne is changed to a swift courser when his wife tooke him dallying with Philyra of whom he begat Chiron the Centaure as hereafter will appeare Thus haue wee the good olde Saturne in his raggs with his foure children before him his consuming syth in his right hand and a stone couered with cloth put to his mouth with the left hand Out of Eusebius he may be thus also figured himselfe couered with a long roabe two eyes before as many behinde of which foure two did euer watch whilest other two slept foure wings were fastned to his shoulders two spread foorth as though he were ready to flie two pluckt in as though he meant to stand still he had also two wings at his head The foure eyes and wings note that Time though it seeme to sleepe yet alwaies watcheth and yet so watcheth as it seemeth still to sleepe and as it standeth it flyeth away and yet in flying after a manner standeth still The two wings at his head are said to represent the intellectuall facultie and reasonable power of mans minde the old Philosophers being of opinion that the soule receaued from Saturnes spheare the gift of reason and intelligence * Saturnes two pictures Saturne his wife had diuerse names Rhea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à fluendo either because euery thing floweth from the earth as from a fountaine or that the flowing raigne is made of vapors and exhalations from the earth Vesta she is also called because she is Vestita that is couered with corne and grasse as with a vesture or quia vistat because she standeth by her owne force quasi vista according to that of Ouid in his Fasti. Stat vi terra sua vistando vesta vocatur Causaque par graij nominis esse potest Vt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dâ—catur The other Vesta Caelius his wife differeth not much from this but that she seemeth to figure the very essence of the earth and this the fruitefull efficacy operation and assistance thereof whereupon she was called Opis as I saide before of helpe or assistance Cybele of a Phâ—igian Mountaine so called or rather as Festus Pompeius thinketh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying a Cube sith in olde time they did consecrate a Cube vnto here the reason was for that a Cube which way so euer it be throwne staÌ„deth