she is called also the sister of the Sun by the swiftness of her course her proper motions are declared To express her nature alwaies appearing to us greater or lesser is to signifie her strength and multiplicity of working therefore they allot her a garment of divers and sundry colors In attributing to her the double sexes of male and female as some have commented the reason is in that as she is woman she inâ—useth an humour necessary and profitable to the 〈◊〉 of all creatures in respect of her virile nature she allowes a moderate and sensible heat much available to increase for without this heat in vain were her operaâ—â—â—n which is easily proved in all creatures that are pâ—egnaâ—t and briâ—ging forth therefore she is called 〈◊〉 as the goddess that bâ—ings creatures to light She is likewise operative to 〈◊〉 which is the reason that siâ—k men and such as are troubled with any grievous mâ—lady are most in danger of death in the criticall daies of the Moon Nemesis SHE is the goddess of Revenâ—e and Wrath and 〈◊〉 of the proud and vain-glorious She had a Temple in Râ—mnus a Town in Arâ—â—ca 〈◊〉 which she took the name of Rhamnusia Aristotle by the passion of Indignation and affection of Commiseration saith Nemesis is figured and both of these took in the better part Indignation when good men are troubled and vexed to see bad men use good things ill Commiseration to see honest and just men crost with the disasters of the world Plutarch in his book de capienda ex hostibus utilitate speaking how ridiculous it is for any man to reprove another of that vice of which he is himselfe guilty or taint any man for the least deformity unto which he is subject himselfe bring in Leo Bizantius a croked back'd fellow gybing at him because he had a weaknesse and infirmity falne into his eies to him he thus answered Why dost thou mock me for this mischance by fortune when thou thy selfe carriest Nemesis upon thy back by nature O what power this Nemesis was and how honoured many authors as well amongst the Greeks as the Latines have laboured industriously to make manifest I will insist on few Ausonius from the Greek interpreted this Epigram Me lapidem quondam Persae advexore trophaeum Vt fierem bello nunc ego sum Nemesis Ac sicut Graecis victoriâ—us asto trophaeum Punio sic Persas vaniloquos Nemesis The Persians took me hence long since From Greece a stone and vow To make me a wars-Trophy stand But Nemesis I am now But as I to the victor Greeks A Trophy now appear The prating Persians Nemesis I punish with my feare The History from which both Epigrams are derived Pausanias recites much after this manner From Marathon saith he some threescore leagues distant is Rhamnus a City bordering upon the Sea just in the way to Oroxus by which stands the Temple of Nemesis a goddesse who is the inevitable revenger of such men as are haughty proud and contumelious It seems the barbarous Persians under the name of Nemesis do comprehend Indignatio for comming towards Marathon and despising the Athenians are not able to interpose their incursions They took a stone of white Marble as if they had already obtained the victory of which stone Phidias the excellent statuary made the portraicture of Nemesis A faire Crown upon her head with forrest Harts carved about it and smal Imageries pourtraying Victory in her right hand a golden cup in which the Aethiopians were figured Some think her the daughter of Oceanus some of Jupiter others of justice Ammâ—anus Marcellanus in his book of the deeds of the Emperour Gallus speaks to this effect These and such like things saith he 〈◊〉 under whose name by a double signification we understand Nemesis oft times works in 〈◊〉 being a certaine sublime law of some high and power effectuall in the 〈…〉 and plac'd or having residence about the 〈◊〉 circle who suppressâ—th the lofty necks of the proud and from the lowest of despaire erects the minds of the humble For when the wise and understanding men would illustrate to us nothing to be more acceptable to heaven of more commodious to the life of man than a moderation of the mind as well in prosperity as adversity they devised many fables to exhort mâ—n nobly to indure the miseries and afflictions of this life with constant sufferance and resolved patience And because many had by such examples yeelded their submissive shoulders to the burden of disasters but in prosperity and in the superabundance both of Wealth and Honour knew not how well to behave themselves they therefore introduc'd Nemesis the daughter of Justice a most grave and severe goodesse to see punishment inflicted upon such that in the excesse of their felicity and height of their authority prove over other men Tyrants and therefore intollerable Latona SHE was honoured in Delos as there being delivered of Apollo and Diana to illustrate whose history the better I will give you a taste out of Lucians dialogues the interlocutors are Juno and Laâ—onae You have brought to Jupiter two beautifull 〈◊〉 saith Iuno To whom she replied We cannot 〈◊〉 cannot all indeed be the mothers of such sweet babes as Vulcan Iuno replies Though he be Iame as falling from the upper region down to the earth by the negligence of his father yet is he profitable and usefull both to gods and men for Iupiter he provides thunders for men armour and weapons when on the contrary thy daughter Diana imploies her selfe onely in hunting and unnecessary pastime an extravagant huntresse never satiate with the blood of innocent beasts Thy beautifull son pretending to know all things to be an exquisite Archer a cunning Musitian a Poet a Physitian and a Prophet and not of these alone the professor but the Patron To this purpose hath he set up Temples and Oracles here in Delphos there in Câ—atos and Dydimus by his dilemmaes and oblique answers to questions demanded such as which way soever they be taken must necessarily fall out true deluding and mocking all such as come rather to be resolved of their doubts and fears or to know things future by these illusions raising an infinite gain and riches to himselfe to the losse and discommodity of others his foreknowledge meerly consisting of legerdemain and jugling Nor is it concealed from the wise how in his predictions he dictates false things as often as true For could he exactly and punctually presage all things to come why did he not foresee the death or his Minion and know before that he was to perish by his own hand why did he not predict that his love Daphne so fair hair'd and beautiful should flie and shun him as a monster hated and scorned these with infinite others considered I see no reason thou shouldst think thy selfe more happy in thy children than the most unfortunate Niobe To whom Latona replyed I well perceive great goddess wherein this many
Apollo who can Phaon know Take borns and 'bout thy temples wreaths of vine What 's he can say but th' art the god of Wine Phoebus lov'd Daphne Bacchus Gâ—osis bright Yet neither she nor she could Lyricks write The nine Muse-sisters of my verse dispose And what my numbers are the whole world knowes Nor can my Country-man Alcaeus more Then I though he in age stand ranck'd before Nor though his name sound louder can he raise Or from his Lyre or Country greater praise If niggard Nature have deni'd things fit Yet what I want in shape I have in wit My stature's low but know my name is high And bruited through all regions far and nigh I am not fair what therein do I lack Andromeda pleas'd Perseus yet she black The whitest Doves with mingled colors make And the black turtle the Green-bird take If none can be thought worthy of thy love But such as shall thy like in beauty prove Young man despair thou art for ever free None such ere was none such shall ever be When first thou readst my Verses thou didst say I only pleas'd and I was fair that way That I became my phrase and none so well Then did I sing we lovers all must tell And I remember thou 't is still my pride At every note didst on my lips divide Nay even those kâ—sses pleas'd thee wondrous well But most of all when I beneath thee fell My wantonnesse contented thee 'bove measure My nimble motion and words apt for pleasure Then when in confus'd rapture we both lay Fulness of joy depriv'd all use of play Now the Sicilian girls are thy new spoil I 'll be of them and leave the Lesbian soil You Nisean mothers and fair daughters bred In Sicilie let him be banished From forth your earth nor let the many lies The smoothnesse of his false tongue can devise Beguile your simple truth what to you he Speaks uow h' hath spoken a thousand times to me And goddesse Erecina thou that do'st The barbarons rude Sicania honor most Advise thy Poet by thy wit divine And give me counsel since thou know'st I am thine Can Fortune in this bitter course still run Vowes she to end those ills she hath begun Six yeers are past since my abortive grones Mourn'd and my tears wet my dead Parents bones My needy brother as a second crosse Dotes on a strumpet suffring shame with losse Turn'd Pirate and proves the seas with sail and oar And badly seeks wealth lost as ill before Because my faithfull counsell that course rated My guerdon is that I by him am hated And lest my endlesse torments should find ease My young irregular daughter adds to these The last and great'st cause why I thus miscarry Thou art my Baâ—k still sails with winds contrary Behold my erst well-ord'red Locks mis-plac'd And those that in times past my temples grac'd Neglected are as if they were not mine No precious gems upon my fingers shine My habit 's vile my hair no crisp in wears Nor smâ—ll my locks of sweet Arabian tears Whom should I seek to please since he 's absent That was sole author of mine ornament My soft heart is with easie shafts imprest There 's still new cause to lodge love in my breast Either because the Sisters three had force When I was born to spin my thread so course Or this my studies in the Arts constrain Since 〈◊〉 Thalia doth infuse my brain What wonder if a youth of the first chin Surprize me years which man to man might win â—was afraid lest fair Aurora thou For Cephalus wouldst steal him and I now Am still in fear for surely this had past But that thy first love holds thee still so fast If Phoebus that 〈◊〉 all things thee had seen Phaon in lasting slumbers cast had been Venus had rapt him into heaven by this But that she fear'd Mars would have made him his Thou that no child yet scarce man appears Best age the pride and glory of thy years Return unto my bosome since of thee I beg not love but that thou lov'd would'st be Lo as I write tears from mine eies amain Still drop behold how they my paper stain Thy parting had been gentler in words few Hadst thou but said Sweet Lesbian lasse adue Thou took'st with thee no parting kiss no tears I little dream'd I was so neer my fears Of thine save wrong I nothing have no more Thou let that move thee all my love dost store I gave thee no command nor had that day Vnlesse some such Do not forget me pray By Love that never can forsake that breast By our nine sacred sisters I protest He 's gone when some but who I know not said For a long space both words and tears were staid Mine eies had banisht tears and grief my tongue Through cold my heart unto my ribs was clung My grief retir'd I gan to beat my breast To tear my hair nor blush to walk undrest Like carefull mothers who with loud exclaims Bear their dead children to their funerall flames Charaxus walks by laughing to and fro And from my extasie his pleasures grow And which more shame unto my sorrowes gives Asks why this woman weeps her daughter lives But Shame and Love are two the people stare To see my garments torn and breasts unbare Thou Phaon art my care and my dreams stay Thee fled your dreams that have made night my day I find thee there though absent many a mile But O my dreams last but a little while Oft think I that thy arms my neck infold As likewise these two are with thine like hold I know thy kisses thy tongue-sport I know Which thou wast wont to take and to bestow More pleas'd sometimes words like to truth I spake And to thy form my sences are awake What 's more I shame to tell and blush to write Dreaming all done may perfect our delight No sooner Titan dons his golden beams And with them all things sees I curse my dreams Desarts and Dens I then seek as if they Could profit me â—â—nce guilty of our play Madly like her whom mad Erictho bears I thither â—un my hair 's faln 'bout mine ears I see the Caverâ—s with rough gravel strew'd To me they like Mygdonian Marble shew'd The shades I find that gave us oft our rest And friendly Herbage by our burthenâ— prest Thee master of those Groves and me no place Can shew me therefore they appear most base I knew the very flowers where we have line Our weights have made their upright heads decline Where thou hast falne I threw me in that place But first the gratefull flowers drink from my face The boughes despoil'd a sadnesse seem to bring And on their top most branches no birds sing Only the Daulian bird her discontents Chams out aloud and Itis still taments Iris the bird laments Sapho th' affright Of Love forsaken so we spend the night There is a perfect
stripping his body and joining it to the corse of his wife and adding more combustible matter to the fire burnt them both together Over the urn that covered their ashes the Tarentines erected a famous sepulcher which they called The two lovers By Plantius and Horestilla it may appeare that where the greatest and most honest love is setled betwixt man and wife it is oft times more happy to be joined in death then to be separated in life Artimesia Queen of Caria so much honoured the remembrance of her husband Mausolus being dead that after meditation and deliberate counsell which way she might best decorate his hearse and withall to expresse to perperuity her unmatchable love she caused to be erected over him a tombe so magnificent that for the cost and state it was not doubted to be worthily reckoned amongst the nine wonders But what do I speak of so rich a structure when she her selfe became the living sepulcher of her dead husband by their testimonies who have recorded that she preserved his bones and having beaten them to pouder mingled their dust with her wine in remembrance of him every morning and evening Cicer. Tusc lib. 3. and Plin. lib. 36. cap. 5. Of womans fortitude and magnanimity I will add one admirable president in two virgins of Syracusa equally resolute when by the intestine sedition and civill wars in Syracusa the stock and family of Gelo in these combustions was quite extirpt and rooted out even to his only daughter Harmonia and all the seditious weapons of the enemy now drawn and aim'd at her bosome her nurse piâ—ying her threatned ruin made choice of a young virgin like to her in favour and of equall stature and attiring her in the habit and ornaments of a Princesse offered her to the points of their yet bloody weapons this damsel was of that constancy and noble resolution that notwithstanding she saw eminent death before her was not affrighted with the terror thereof nor would reveal her name or tell of what condition she was Which Harmonia seeing and admiring at her loialty and faith she call'd out to the murdereâ—s and discovering her selfe to preserve her handmaid offered her own naked breast to the slaughter telling them she was present whom they sâ—ught for so that a covered â—allacy to the one and open troth the other in both an admirable and undanted constancy was the cause of their deaths This Hormisda was a great and mighty man amongst the Persians and of one of the most noblest families amongst them as Zozimus Mercellinus and others commemorate He being confin'd unto a certain 〈◊〉 and fettered was there kept with a strict guard of 〈◊〉 who against the lawes of the Kingdom had purpose 〈◊〉 invest his younger brother in the state imperiall 〈◊〉 that in the time of his 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 the remembrance of whose name it is pity time hath abolisht and not left it to posterity thus devised for his enlargement she sent to him a fish as a present of an extraordinary bignesse in whose belly she had hid an iron file and other like engines fit for his purpose committing it to the charge of one of her most faithfull Ennuchs desiring her husband by his mouth not to have the fish cut up in the presence of any only to make happy use of such things as he found enclosed therein To his keepers the better to hide her stratagem she sent Camels laden with sundry kind of meats and severall wines Hormisdâ— apprehending the plot gave it a bold and resolute performance for having first filed off his irons he changed his habit with that of his Eunuchs and taking the advantage of their feasting and healthing past safe through them all and by study and policy of his wife came after to the possession of his right which his younger brother had usurped Alexander the Great amongst his many other conquests having besieged the great City Halicarnassus and by reason of opposition made against him leveld it with the ground He entred Caâ—ia where Ada then reigned Queen who being before opprest by Orontobas imploied by Darius was almost quite beaten out of her Kingdome having at that time no more of all her large dominions left her saving Alynda the most defenced City into which she had retired her selfe for safety She hearing of Alexanders approach gave him a roiall meeting and submitted her selfe her subjects and her City into his power withall adopting him by the name of son The King neither despising her liberality nor the name gave her back the City entire as it was and made her keeper and governesse thereof who soon after recovering all those Cities Darius by invasion had usurped from her in gratitude of her former curtesie reduced her Country and people to their pristine estate and stablisht her in her former Empire This Zenocrita was born in Cuma whose father was at that time amongst many other oppressed Citizens in exile Her the bloody Tyrant Aristodemus was much enamoured of but not daining so much as to court her or to perswade her to his love he imagined in the pride of his heart that the damosell would think it grace and honour sufferent to her to be seen in his company and only for that cause to be held blest and fortunate of all such as should behold her But far other cogitations troubled her more noble mind being tormented in soule to lead such an unchast life though with a Prince who never had motioned contract or promised her marriage her apprehensions were rather how to purchase her Countries freedome and rid the earth of a Tyrant About the same time that she was busied in these and the like imaginations it hapned Aristodemus would needs compasse in a certaine spatious peece of ground with a broad and deep ditch not that it was any way necessary or profitable but only to vex and weary the Citizens with extraordinary pains and insufferable labours for to every man was so much ground limited as a daily task which whosoever in the least kind neglected he was fined in a great mulct either of purse or person It hapned she being abroad to take the aire neer to the place where the Citizens were hard at work that Aristodemus with his traine came thither also to over-look his laborers who after some faults found and other directions given left the place and in his return past by where Zenocrita was then standing she spying him come towards her made him a low obeisance and withall covered her face with her apron The Tyrant being gone the young men in the way of jesting and sport and seeming a little to touch her inchastity demanded the reason why to all other men her face was bare and free only to him vailed intimating that something had past betwixt them which might discover her blushes to whom she made this plain and serious answer I did it to him as an honour because amongst all the
rather a corrupter of their chastities then any way a curer of their infirmities blaming the matrons as counterfeiting weaknesse purposely to have the company and familiarity of a loose and intemperate young man They prest their accusations so far that the Judges were ready to proceed to sentence against her when she opening her brest before the Senate gave manifest testimony that she was no other then a woman at this the Physitians being the more incens'd made the fact the more heinous in regard that being a woman she durst enter into the search of that knowledge of which their Sex by the law was not capable The cause being ready again to go against her the noblest matrons of the City assembled themselves before the Senate and plainly told them they were rather enemies then husbands who went about to punish her that of all their Sex had bin the most studious for their generall health and safety Their importancy so far prevailed after the circumstances were truly considered that the first decree was quite abrogated and free liberty granted to women to employ themselves in those necessary offices without the presence of men So that Athens was the first City of Greece that freely admitted or Midwives by the means of this damosell Agnodice Of women that suffered martyrdome ANd of these in briefe Corona was a religious woman who suffered martyrdome under the Tyranny of Antonius the Emperor Her death was after this manner she was tied by the arms and legs betwixt two trees whose stiffe branches were forced and bowed down for the purpose the bowes being shackned and let loose her body was tossed into the aire and so cruelly dissevered limb from limb Anatholia a virgin by the severe command of Faustinianus the President was transpierc'd with a sword Felicula as Plutarch witnesseth when by no perswasion or threats promises or torments she could be forced to renounce the Christian Faith by the command of Flaccus Comes she was commanded to be shut up in a jakes and there stilled to death Murita had likewise the honour of a Martyr who being banished by Elphedorus a certaine Arrian opprest with cold and hunger most miserably died Hyrene the virgin because she would not abjure her faith and religion was by Sisimmius shot through with an arrow The like death suffered the martyr Christiana under Julian the Apostata Paulina a Roman Virgin and daughter to the Prefect Artemius was with her mother Candida stoned to death by the command of the Tyrant Dioclesian Agatho virgo Catanensis was strangled in Prison by the command of the Consul Quintianus Theodora a virgin of Antioch was beheaded by the tyranny of Dioclesian Julia Countesse of Eulalia suffered the same death under the President Diaconus Margarita a maid and a martyr had her head cut off by Olibrius Zoe the wife of Nicostratus was nailed unto a crosse and so ended her life partly with the torture of the gibbet and partly with the smoke that the executioner made at the foot of the gallowes suffocated Julia Carthagensis because she would not bow to idols and adore the falâ—e heathen gods but was a constant professor of the Christian Faith was martyred after the selfe same manner Emerita the sister of Lucius King of England who had the honour to be called the first Christian King of this Country she suffered for the Faith by fire Alexandria was the wife of Dacianus the President who being converted to the Faith by blessed Saint George was therefore by the bloody murderer her husbands own hands strangled Maximianus the son of Dioclesian with his own hands likewise slew his naturall sister Artemia because that forsaking all Idolatry she proved a convert to the true Christian Faith Flavia Domicilla a noble Lady of Rome was banished into the Isle Ponâ—ia in the fifteenth yeare of the raign 〈◊〉 Dâ—nâ—tian for no other reason but that she constantly professed her selfe to be a Christian These two following suffered persecution under Antonius Verus in France Blondina who is said to weary her tormentors patiently enduring more then they could malitiously inflict insomuch that before she fainted they confessed themselves overcome she ready still to suffer and beare when they had not blowes to give for as oft as she spake these words I am a Christian neither have I committed any evill she seemed to the spectators of her martyrdome to be so refreshed and comforted from above that she felt no paine or anguish in the middest of her torture and in that patience she continued without alternation even to the last gaâ—â— Biâ—â—is one that before through her womanish weaknesse had faiâ—â—ed for fear oâ— torments comming to see her with others exâ—â—uted was so strengthened to behold their constancy that as it were awakened out of her former dream and comparing those temporall punishments which lasted but a moment with the eternall pains of hell fire gave up her selfe freely for the Gospels sake Dionysius in an Epistle to Fabius Bishop of Antioch reckons up those that suffered martyrdome under Decius the Emperor Quinta a faithfull woman was by the Infidels brought into a Temple of their Idols unto which because she denied divine adoration they bound her hand and foot and most inhumanely dragged her along the streets upon the sharp stones but when that could not prevaile with her they beat her head and sides and bruised them against Milâ—stones that done she was pitiously scourged and lastly bloodily executed The same Lâ—ctors laid hands on Apollonia a Virgin but something grounded in years and because she spake boldly in the defence of her Faith first with barbarous cruelty they beat out her teeth then without the City they prepared a huge pile threatning to burn her instantly unlesse she would renounce her Christianity but she seeming to pause a little as if she meant better to consider of the matter when they least suspected leapt suddenly into the fire and was there consumed to ashes Ammomarion a holy Virgin after the suffering of many torments under the same Tyrant gave up her life an acceptable sacrifice for the Gospell Mercuria a vertuous woman and one Dionysia a fruitfull and child-bearing martyr after they were questioned about their faith and in all arguments boldly opposed the Judges were first rackt and tortured till they were past all sence of feeling that done they caused them to be executed Theodosia was a virgin of Tyrus about the age of eighteen years she comming to visit certaine prisoners at Cesarea who were called to the bar and because they stood stedfastly in the defence of the Gospell prepared themselves to hear the most welcome sentence of death pronounced against them which Theodosia seeing gently saluted them comforted them and perswaded them to continue in their constancy withall humbly desired them to remember her devoutly in their praiers which she knew would be acceptable to him for whose love they so freely offered up their lives The Officers this hearing dragged
this day Myrtis Authedonia in a Poem expressed the death of the Damosel Ochne who had been before the destruction of the Heroe Ennostus Praxilla Siconia flourished in the 32 Olympiad whom Antipater Thessatus give the first place unto amongst the nine Lyrick Poets She writ Dithycambi and a Work which was called by her Metrum Praxillium She called Adonis from Hell to demand of him what was most beautiful in Heaven who answered The Sun the Moon Figs Apples Cucumbers That and such like was the Subject of her Poem of which grew a proverb against Lunaticks and mad men every such was called Praxilla's Adonis Nossis the Poetresse was the composer of Greek Epigrams and is by Antipater numbred with Praxilla amongst the Lyricks Myro Bizantia she writ Elegies and such as the Greeks call Melae or Musical Poems she is said to be the mother of Homer and reckoned one of the seven Pleiades the daughters of Atlas she was the wife of Andromachus an illustrious Philosopher Pamphilus her Statue was erected which as Facianus witnesseth was made by Cephisiodotus Damophila was the wife of the Philosopher she was a friend to Sapho and lover whom in all her Poems she strived to imitate Her Hymns were sung at the sacrifices which were celebrated to Diana Pergaea after the manner of the Aetolians and Pamphilians She writ moreover certain books which she titled Libri Amatorii Of Minerva c. MInerva the daughter of Jupiter was for no other reason numbred amongst the gods but for her excellency and cunning in Poetry and other good arts of which she is said to be the first inventresse From her the ancient Athenians have borrowed the immortality of their name Next her we reckon the Corinnas There were three of that name The first called Corinna Thebana or Tanagraea she was the daughter of Archelodorus and Procratia and scholler to Myrtâ—s she in severall contentions five sundry times boâ—e away the Palm from Pindarus Prince of the Lyrick Pâ—ets she moreover published five books of Epigrams of her Propertius speaks The second was called Corinna Thespia she is much celebrated in the books of the ancient Poets especially by Statius The third lived in the time of Augustus and was to Ovid much endeared but of her wantonnesse than her Muse there is more memory extant I come to speak next of Erinna who was sirnamed Teia or as some wil have it Telia of the Island Telos not far distant from Gnidon she flourished in the time of Dion of Syracusa and published an excellent Poem in the Dorick Tongue comprized in three hundred Verses besides divers other Epigrams her stile was said to come neer the majesty of Homers she died when she was but nineteen yeers of age Damophila was a Greek Poetesse and the wife of Pamphilus she was Cousin-german and companion with Sapho Lyrica Poâ—tria she writ many Poems that were called Poemata Amatoria because their argument was meerly of love one Poem she writ in the praise of Diana for so much Theophrastus in the life of Apollonius remembers of her Hyppatia was a woman of Alexandria the daughter of Theon the Geometrician and wife to Isidorus the Philosopher she flourished in the time of the Emperor Arcadius she writ certain books of Astronomy and was froquent in divers kind of Poetry she purchased her selfe much fame for her learning insomuch that she engrossed a great confluence of Auditors in the City of Alexandria where she professed Suidas apud Volaterran Sapho ELianus affirms her to be the daughter of Scamandroniâ—â— Plato of Ariston Suidas and other Greek writers deliver to us that there were two of that name the one called â—rixia a much celebrated Poetesse who flourished in the time of the Poet Alcaeus of Pittachus and Tarquinius Priscus who first devised the use of the Lyre or Harp with a quil some give her the honor to be the inventor of the Lyrick verse the other was called Sapho Mitelaena long after her who was a singer and a strumpet she published â—ny rare and famous Poems amongst the Greeks and therefore had the honor to be called the tenth Muse the reason why she fell in love with Phaon Pliny attributes to the vertue of an herb but Baptista Egnatius a later writer and exquisite both in the Greek and Latin tongues in tranâ—ferring this fable from the originall into the Roman tongue as likewise others of his opinion conclude that Phaoâ— was of the profession of such as get their living by transporting passengers from one side of a river unto another a plain Ferry-man and that it hapned upon a time that Venus comming to the place where he kept his passage without demanding any hire he gave â—ot free transportage not knowing to whom it was he did that courtesie no way suspecting she had been a goddesse This Venus took so gratefully that she thought to requite his freenesse with a bounty far transcending the value of his painâ— She therefore gave him an alabaster box ful of a most pretious unguent teaching him how to apply it with which he no sooner annointed his face but he instantly became of all moâ—â—â—ll creatures the most beautifull of whom the Leâ—bian damosels grew enamoured but especially he was ardently and most affectionately beloved of Sapho Saphon having occasion to passe from Lesbos into Sicily she was tortured in soul for his absence intimating that it was done in despight or disgrace of her first purposed to cast her selfe from Leucate a high promontory in Epyre down into the Sea which she after did yet before she would attempt it she first in an Epistle thought by all the allurements of a womans wit to call him back again into his Country which Ovid in her behalfe most feelingly hath exprest And since it lies so fiâ—ly in my way for the opening of the History I thus give it English Ecquid ut aspecta est c. Is it possible as soon as thou shalt see My character thou know'st it comes from me 〈…〉 not reading of the authors name Couldst thou have known from whom this short work came Perhaps thou maist demand Why in this vain I court thee that profâ—sse the Lyrick strain My love 's to be bewept and that 's the reason No Barbit number suits this tragick season I burn as doth the corn-fields set on fire When the rough East winds still blow high and higher Now Phaon the Typhoean fields are thine But greater flames then Aetnas are now mine No true 〈◊〉 numbers flow from hence The empty work of a distracted sense The Pâ—rhian girle nor the Methimman lasse Now please me not the Lesbians who surpasse Vâ—le's Amithon vile Cidno too the fair So Atthis that did once appear most rare And hundreds more with whom my sins not small Wretch thou alone enjoy'st the loves of all Thou hast a face and youth fit for play Oh tempting face that didst mine eies betray Take Phoebus Faith upon thee and his bow And from
unto his wished harbour Moreover where Scylla is said to transhap't into this monster by Circe being so faire and beautifull a creature What is it but to demonstrate unto us that all such as digresse from reason and the true institution of good life and manners do withall put on a bestiall and brutish shape since Circe imports nothing else then a wanton â—iâ—illation inciting us to immoderate and unlawful lusts and pleasures and so much I guesse was intended by the Poets in these Fables of Scylla and Charybdis The Goddesses of the Hils Woods Groves and Trees IT is commemorated by Plato in certain of his verses that the Hydriades and Hamadriades much delighted in the musick of Pan who was the god of shepherds and that they used to dance about him the first beginning of the harmony which came from the pipe being invented by him and made from his love the nymph Syrinx by London changed into a reed the manner was thus as Ovid manifests Syrinx one of 〈◊〉 â—raine Chacing with her o'r the plain Aâ—â—'d alike with shaft and bow Each from other would you know Which is which cannot be told Save one was born the other gold Pan he sees himselfe makes fine In his cap he pricks a pine Now growes carelesse of his herd Sits by brooks to prune his beard Meets her and hath mind to woo Much he speaks but more would do Still his profers she denies He pursues and Syrinx flies Past her knees her coats up flew Pan would fain see something new By the leg and knee he guest 't seems the beauty of the rest Wings it adds unto his pace Now the goale he hath in chase She adds further to his speed Now it is no more then need Almost caught alas she cries Some chast god my shape disguise Lâ—don hears and girts her round Spies a reed to make sweet sound Such is Syrinx wondering Pan Puts it to his pipe anon Syrinx thou art mine he said So of her his first pipe made Isacius saith that the Nymph Eccho was beloved of him and that by her he had a daughter called Iringes she that to Medea brought the love potion which she presented to Iason but of Pan and Syrinx Ovid thus speaks Panaque cum preusaem sibi jam Syringa putaret Corpore pro Nymphae calamos tenuisse palustres Pan flying Syrinx when he thought To have catcht about the wast ' Stead of the Nymphs faire body he The fenny reeds imbrac't Which reeds being shaken by the wind making a kind of melody of these he made his first pipe which he called after her name Of the Satyrs Silaeni Fauni and Silvani memorable things have been recorded but all being masculine they belong not to this history in hand therefore I purposely omit them and proceed to our terrene goddesses and of them briefly Oreades THese because they were bred upon the Hils and Mountains were said to have a dominion and divine government over them Strabo cals them the daughters of Phoroneus and Hecataea but Horace in his Iliuds will have them the issue of Iupiter and Oristrade some hold them to be but five in number but Virgil numbers them to be many and companions with Diana in her hunting Quam mille secutae Hinc atque hinc glomerantur Oreades Viz. Such as attend Diana over the banks of Eurota and over the mountains of Cinthus a thousand of the Oreades in her company here and there shining Mnasaea Patarentis hath bequeathed to memory that these were the first that absteined from eating flesh contenting themselves with Chesnuts and Acorus and the fruits of trees One of them called Melissa first found and tasted honie in Peloponnesus with whose taste the Greeks were so pleased that they call all Bees Melissae after her name From hence it came that in the sacreds of Ceres and in all nations the Priests derived their names from her These Nymphs were supposed to have the charge of hils and mountains and sometimes of such wild beasts as they pursued in the company of Diana but the protection of private herds or domestick flocks was not conferr'd upon them so religious were the people of old that neither publick place nor private was destitute of some peculiar and divine power so likewise every element herb root and tree or whatsoever simple was usefull and medicinable or obnoxious and hurtfull to the life of man Those of the mountains were Oreades or Orestiades The Dryades and Hamadriades THe Dryades had predominance over the woods and groves as Pomona over the orchards and gardens The Hamadriades were the genii of every particular tree and as Callimachus in a Hymn to Delos witnesseth of them they begin with their first plantation grow with them and consume and perish as they rot and wither their number is not agreed upon Pausanias in Phocicis cals one of them Tythorera in Arcadicis a second Erato and a third Phigalia Claudianus in laudibus Stiliconis reckons them seven Charon Lampsacenus produceth one Rhaecus who in the countrie of Assyria having a goodly faire oake whose earth shrinking from the root and being ready to fall as he was propping and supporting the tree and supplying the decaied mould about it the nymph or genius of that tree which was to perish with it appeared to him and after thanks for so great a courtesie bid him demand of her whatsoever and it should be granted since by the repairing of that plant she was still to live He taken with her beauty demanded liberty freely to embrace her to his own fill and appetite to which she instantly yielded Apollonius in his Argonaut tels of the father of one Paraebius who going to cut down an ancient faire oake that had stood many years a Nymph in like manner appeared unto him humbly petitioning that he would spare the tree for her sake since the age of it and her and the lives of both were limited alike which he refusing so enraged the other of her fellowes that many afflictions befell both himselfe and his posterity Mnesimachus saith that they are called Dryades because in their oaks their lives are included and Hamadriades because they are born with them and Isacius the interpreter of Apollo because they perish with them I will conclude these with one tale recited by Charon Lampsacenus Archus saith he the son of Jupiter and Calisto being chacing in the forrests incountred one of the Hamadriades who told him how neer she was to ruine in regard that the river running by had eaten away the earth from the root of such a goodly oak to which she pointed and that by saving that he should preserve her at her intreaty he turned the stream another way and supplied the root with earth for which this Nymph whose name was Prospetia granted him her free imbraces of whom he begot Philatus and Aphidantes Whether these relations were true or false is not much to be disputed on if false they were for no other
a good and commendable life or otherwise illustrious for any noble or eminent action And therefore lest the matrons or virgins in Rome the one should divert from her staied gravity or the other from her virgins professed integrity the use of Wine was not known amongst them for that woman was taxed with modesty whose breath was known to smell of the grape Pliny in his naturall history saith That Cato was of opinion that the use of kissing first began betwixt kinsman and kinswoman howsoever neer allied or far off only by that to know whether their wives daughters or Neeces had tasted any wine to this Juvenal seems to allude in these verses Paucae adeo cereris vitas contingere dignae Quarum non timeat pater oscula As if the father were jealous of his daughters continence if by kissing her he perceived she had drunk wine But kissing and drinking both are now grown it seems to a greater custome amongst us then in those daies with the Romans nor am I so austere to forbid the use of either both which though the one in surfets the other in adulteries may be abused by the vicious yet contrarily at customary meetings and laudable banquets they by the nobly disposed and such whose hearts are fixt upon honour may be used with much modesty and continence But the purpose of my tractate is to exemplify not to instruct to shew you presidents of vertue from others not to fashion any new imaginary form from my selfe and that setting so many statues of honour before your eies of Beauty Noblenesse Magnanimity Bounty Curtesie Modesty Temperance and whatsoever else in goodnesse can be included each heroick and well disposed Lady or woman lower degreed and underqualified may out of all or some of these at least apprehend some one thing or other worthy imitation that as the best of Painters to draw one exquisite Venus had set before him a hundred choise and selected beauties all naked to take from one an eie another a lip a third a smile a fourth a hand and from each of them that speciall lineament in which she most excelled so having in these papers as many vertues exposed to your view as the Painter had beauties and all leâ—t as naked to your eies you may make like use of it draw from one a noble disposition bounty and curtesie the ornaments of great Ladies from others temperance sobriety and government things best beseeming matrons the married wives conjugall love and sincerity the virgins chast life and purity and every of you fashion her selfe as compleat a woman for vertue as Apelles made up the pourtraiture of his goddesse for beauty I need not speak much of the worth of your sex since no man I think that remembers he had a mother but honours it the renown of which some by their vertues have as much nobilitated as others by their vitious actions have studied to disgrace of both which though my promise bind me to speak in their course yet you Ladies in this treatise as you most worthily deserve have the precedence and priority of place What man was ever known to be eminent whom woman in some manner hath not equalled Come to Fortitude as there was an Hercules and a Theseus so there was a Menalippe and an Hippolite to encounter them who as they conquered not so they were not vanquished Come to limning or drawing of Pictures as there was a Zeusis a Timanthes an Androcides and a Parrhasius so the world yielded a Timarete the daughter of Micaon an Irene the daughter and scholler of Cratinus an Anistarite the issue and pupil of Nearchus a Lala Cizizena and a Martia M. Varronis to boot to them in that art no whit inferior In Poetry compare the Lyricks of Sapho with Anacreons and Corinnaes with Pindarus and it shall be easily made manifest that Sapho in all points parallel'd the first and Corinnae in five severall contentions for the palm preceded the last But the similitude or discrepance of men and womens vertues conferr'd together can be made no better apparant as Plutarch saith then by comparing Life with Life and Action with Action by which we shall see they have almost one and the same effigies For oppose the magnificence of Sesostriâ— against that of Semiramis the craft and subtilty of Servius Tullius against Tanaquils the magnanimity of Brutus against Porceas compare Pelopidas with Timoclea and which shall yield to the other preheminence especially if we exactly consider the end at which the vertue it self doth aime for divers vertues have divers colours laid upon them according to the temperature of body or the disposition of the mind Achilles was valiant one way and Ajax another yet both their endeavours intended to one Fortitude the Prudence of Nestor unlike that of Vlysses yet both wise men Cato and Agesilaus were both upright men yet executed justice two sundry waies Irene loved one way Alceste another yet both enderedly affected their husbands so likewise Cornelia and Olympias were differently magnanimous yet either of them attained to that height of honour to which their heroick minds aspired But to come to our former comparison from which I have somewhat digrest in what greater vertue can either sex expresse themselves than in true conjugall love Cicero de Divinatione and Pliny in lib. 1. cap. 16. report of Tiberius Gracchus That finding two snakes in his house male and female he consulted with a south-sayer concerning the prodigy who told him as a consequence infallible That if he slew the male swift Death should surprise himselfe but if he killed the female himself should escape death and his wife in like manner perish but to one of them that fate must necessarily happen He therefore preferring the safety of his wife before his owne health caused the male to be instantly cut in pieces and the female let goe beholding with his own eies his own instant destruction in the death of the serpent Therefore it was disputed whether Cornelia were more happy in enjoying such a husband or made more wretched in losing him An admirable and rare president in man and a husband which I can easily instance in woman and a wife for as there is nothing more divelish and deadly than a malitious and ill disposed woman so there is on the contrary nothing more wholsome and comfortable to man than one provident gentle and well addicted for as she that is good and honest will upon just necessity lay down her life for her husbands health and safety so the other will as wilingly prostitute hers for his destruction and ruin Therefore a wife by how much neerer she is to us in the strict bond both of divine and humane lawes by so much either the sweetnesse of her behaviour tasts the pleasanter or the harshnesse of her crabbed condition relishes more bitter for she is ever either a perpetuall refuge or a continuall torment she of whâ—m I intend to speak is none such as
a City of Cipria others amongst the Argives Aristarchus and Dyoâ—isius Thrax derive him from Athens c. But I may have occasion to speak of him in a larger work intituled The lives of all the Poets Modern and Forreign to which work if it come once againe into my hands I shall refer you concluding him with this short Epitaph An Epitaph upon Homer the Prince of Poets In Colophon some think thee Homer borne Some in faire Smyrna soâ—e in Ius isle Some with thy birth rich Chius would adorn Others say 〈◊〉 a first on thee did smile The Argives lay claim to thee and aver Thou art their Country man Aemus saies no. Strong Salamine saith thou tookest life from her But Athens thou to her thy Muse dost owe As there first breathing Speak how then shall I Determine of thy Country by my skill When Oracles would never I will try And Homer well thou give me leave I will The spatious Earth then for Country chuse No mortall for thy mother but a Muse 〈◊〉 the sister of Nereus the Sea-god was by him stupratedâ— of whom he begot the Nymphs called Nercides Ovid in his sixt book Metamorph telleth us of Philomela daughter to Pandion King of Athens who was forced by Tereus King of Thrace the son of Mars and the Nymph Bâ—stonides though he had before married her own dear and naturall sister Progne the lamentable effects of which incest is by the same Author elegantly and at large described as likewise Beblis the daughter of Miletus and Cyane who after she had sought the embraces of her brother Caumus slew her selfe Mirrha daughter to Cyniras King of the Cyprians lay with her father and by him had the beautifull child Adonis Europa the mother and Pelopeia the daughter were both corrupted by Thyestes Hypermestra injoied the company of her brother for whom she had long languished Menephron most barborously frequented the bed of his mother against whom Ovid in his Metamorph. and Quintianus in his Cleopol bitterly inveigh Domitius Calderinus puts us in mind of the Concubine of Amintor who was injoied by his son Phaenix Rhodope the daughter of Hemon was married to her father which the gods willing to punish they were as the Poets feign changed into the mountains which still bear their names Caeleus reports of one Policaste the mother of Perdix a hunts-man who was by him incestuously loved and after injoied Lucan in his eight book affirms that Cleopatra was polluted by her own brother with whom she communicated her selfe as to a husband Nictimine was comprest by her father Nictus King of Aethiopia Martial in his twelfe book writing to Fabulla accuseth one Themison of incest with his sister Plin. lib. 28. cap. 2. speaks of two of the Vestals Thusia and Copronda both convicted of incest the one buried alive the other strangled Publius Claudius was accused by M. Cicero of incest with his three sisters Sextus Aurelius writes that Agrippina the daughter of Germanicus had two children by her brother Claudius Caesar Cornalius Tacitus saith that she often communicated her body with her own son Nero in his cups and heat of wine he after commanded her womb to be ripped up that he might see the place where he had laien so long before his birth and most deservedly was it inflicted upon the brutish mother though unnaturally imposed by the inhumane son Ansilaena is worthily repoved by Catullus for yielding up her body to the wanton imbraces of her uncle by whom she had children Gidica the wife of Pomonius Laurentius doted on her son Cominus even to incest but by him refused she strangled her selfe The like did Pheora being despised by her son Hippolitus Dosithaeus apud Plutarch speaks of Nugeria the wife of Hebius who contemned by her son in Law Firmus prosecuted him with such violent and inveterate hate that she first sollicited her own sons to his murder but they abhorring the vilenesse of the fact she watcht him sleeping and so slew him John Maletesta deprehending his wife in the arms of his brother Paulus Maletesta transpierc'd them both with his sword in the incestuous action Clepatra daughter to Dardanus King of the Scythians and wife to Phinaeus was forced by her two sons in law for which fact their father caused their eies to be plucked out Plutarch reports of Atossa that she was doted on by Artaxerxes insomuch as that after he had long kept her as his strumpet against the Laws of Persia and of Greece to both which he violently opposed himself he made her his Queen Curtius writes of one Si simithres a Persian souldier that had two children by his mother Diogenian also speaking of Secundus the Philosopher saith that he unawares to them both committed incest with his mother which after being made known to them she astonied with the horror of the fact immediately slew her selfe and he what with the sorrow for her death and brutishnesse of the deâ—d vowed never after to speak word which he constantly performed to the last minute of his life Manlius in his common places reports from the mouth oâ— D Martin Luther that this accident hapned in Erphâ—rst in Germany There was saith he a maid of an honest family that was servant to a rich widdow who had a son that had many times importuned the girle to lewdnesse insomuch that she had no other way to avoid his continuall suggestions but by acquainting the mother with the dissolute courses of the son The widdow considering with her self which was the best course to childe his libidirous purpose and divert him from that lewd course plotted with the maid to give him a seeming consent and so appoint him a place and time in the night of meeting at which he should have the fruition of what he so long had sued for she her selfe intending to supply the place of her servant to school her son and so prevent any inconvenience that might futurely happen The maid did according to her appointment the son with great joy keeps his houre so did the mother who came thither on purpose to reform her son but he being hot and too forward in the action and she overcome either by the inticements of the devill the weaknesse of her Sex or both gave her selfe up to incestuous prostitution the young man knowing no otherwise but that he had enjoied the maid Of this wicked and abominable congression a woman child was begot of whom the mother to save her reputation was secretly delivered and put it out privately to nurse but at the age of seven years took it home When the child grew to years the most infortunate sonne fell in love with his sister and daughter and made her his unhappy wife what shall I think of this detestable sinne which even beasts themselves abhor of which I will give you present instance Aristotle in his history Animal who was a diligent searcher into all naturall things affirms that a Camel being bliâ—ded
done whilst the greatest part of the Nobility were absent and none since admitted into the Palace much lesse into the presence lest the Magician might be unvizarded and the deceit made palpable The greater fears and doubts still invironing the Princes because Praxaspes not daring to justifie the murder kept it still lockt in his own breast The Magician in this interim was not only possest of all the Kings Pallaces and treasures but he enjoied all his wives and concubines amongst which was a beautifull Lady called Phaedima the daughter of Otanes a man of great power amongst the Persians This Lady first of all the rest most indeared to Cambyses and now since to the counterfeit Smerdu Otanes apprehends to be the first instrument by which to discover the truth He therefore by a secret messenger sends to his daughter to know by whom she nightly lay whether with Smerdis the sonne of Cyrus or with some other to whom she answered that it was altogether unknown to her who was her bedfellow because she yet had neither seen Smerdis the son of Cyrus nor that man whatsoever he was into whose embraces she was commanded He then sent her word that if she her selfe could not come to the sight of him to demand of Atossa the daughter of Cyrus and brother to Smerdis who doubtlesse could decipher him in every true lineament To which the daughter returns him That she was separated both from the society and sight of Atossa for this man whosoever he is as soon as ever he had possest himselfe of the Empire commanded all the women into severall lodgings neither could they have any discourse or entercourse at all together This answer made Otanes the more and more suspitious and desirous with any danger to find out the truth he adventured a third message to Phaedima to this purpose It behooves you O daughter being descended from noble ancestors to undergo any hazard especially at the request of your father when it aims at the generall good of the Common-weal or Kingdome if that impostor be not Smerdu the brother of Cambyses as I much feare it becomes him neither to prostitute and defile your body nor to mock and abuse the whole estate of Persia unpunished therefore I charged you as you tender my love your owne honour and the Empires weale that the next night when you are called unto his bed you watch the time when he is soundliest asleep and then with your fingers gently feel both the sides of his head if thou perceivest him to have both his ears presume then thou lodgest by the side of Smerdis the son of Cyrus but if on the contrary thou findest his cors wanting then thou liest in the bosome of Smerdis that base Magician To this she replied by letter Though I truly apprehend the danger should I be taken seeking of such things as he perhaps knowes wanting which can be no less then death yet for your love and the common good I will undergo the perill and with this briefe answer gave satisfaction to her father But greater content he received from her when having discovered and laid open whatsoever her father suspected she sent him a faithfull relation of every circumstance These things discovered by Phaedima Olanes makes a conjuration amongst the Princes all vowing the supplantation of this usurper who in the interim the more to confirm the people in their errour he sent to Praxaspes promising him honours and treasures but to pronounce him once more before the people to be the true and legitimate heire This charge Praxaspes undertakes the multitude from all parts of the City were by the Magi assembled and he mounted unto the top of an high Turret the better to be heard silence being made and attention prepared Praxaspes begins his oration in which he remembers all the noble acts of Cyrus with the dignity of his blood and progeny and passing over Cambyses to come to speak of his brother Smerdis contrary to the expectation of the Magician with teares began to commemorate the death of the Prince murdered and made away by his infortunate hand Then told them whom in his stead they had voiced into the sacred Empire namely a groom and one of low and base descent one that for cozenages and forgeries had lost his ears a Magician a Conjurer one that had long deluded them with his devilish sorceries a slave not worthy at all to live much lesse to raign and govern so noble a people and as a further confirmation that dying men speak true these words were no sooner ended but he casts himselfe off from the top of the Turret and slew himselfe After this the Pallace was assaulted by the Princesse the imposter slaine and all his adherents put to massacre Of the sequel of the history the succession of Darius c. you may further read in Herodotus But concerning Phaedima only for whose sake I have introduced the rest I know not whether I have indirectly brought her into this catalogue because she was so a noble a means of so notable a discovery yet considering she was one of the wives of Cambyses and he being dead so suddenly changing her affection to another and after being injoied by him of what condition soever to betray him all these circumstances considered I give her free liberty to be ranked amongst the rest Begum Queen of Persia ABdilcherai a brave and valiant Prince of Tartaria taken prisoner by Emirhamze Mirize eldest son to the King of Persia in a battell betwixt the Persians and Tartarians was sent to the King into Casbia where his captivity in regard of his birth and valour was so easie that he rather seemed a deâ—ison then a forreiner a Prince of the blood then a Captive he not long so journed there but he insinuated himselfe into the love of the Queen Begum wife to the then King of Persia who spent their time together in such publicke dalliance not able to contain themselves within the bounds of any lawfull modesty that their familiarity grew almost into a by-word as far as his just taxation the Queens dishonour and the Kings scorn insomuch that both Court and City made them not only their argument of discourse but theam of table talk Yet in all this banding of their reputation and the Kings infamy nothing ever came within the compasse of his ear knowledge or suspition insomuch that seeing him to be so well a featured Gentleman knowing the Tartar to be so brave a souldier and approving him to be so compleat a Courtier and withall acknowledging from what high linage he was descended as boasting himselfe to be the brother of the great Tartar Chan The King of Persia therefore determined to marry him to his daughter hoping by that means to unite such a league and confirm such an amity betwixt the Tartarian Precopenses and himselfe that they might not only denie all aid and assistance to Amurath the third of that name and then
the sixt Emperour of the Turks but also if need were or should any future discontent arise oppose him in hostility But this politick purpose of the Kings arriving almost at the wished period seemed so distastfull to the Sultans of Casbia that they first attempted by arguments and reasons to divert the King from this intended match but finding themselves no waies likely to prevaile to make the King see with what errours he was maskt and with what sorceries deluded They diligently awaited when in the absence of the King the Tâ—â—taâ— and the Queen Begum kept their accustomed appointment of which the Sultans having notice they entered that part of the Palace brake ope the doors and rushed into the Queens bed-chamber where finding Abdilcherai in suspitious conference with the Queen they slew him with their Sables and after cutting off his privy parts most barbarously thrust them into his mouth and after as some report slew the Queen Though this history shew great remisness in the King most sure I am it was too presumptive an insolence in the subject To this Persian Queen I will join the wife of Otho the third Emperour of that name This lustfull Lady as Polycronicon makes mention was of somewhat a contrary disposition with the former For neglecting the pride and gallantry of the Court she cast her eies upon an homely hushand better supplied it seems with the lineaments of nature then the ornaments of art but with an honesty of mind exceeding both for when this libidinous Lady could by no tempting allurements abroad nor fitting opportunity sorted private insinuate with him eiâ—sieâ— to violate his allegeance to his Prince or corrupt his own vertue her former affection turned unto such rage and malice that she caused him to be accused of a capitall crime convicted and executed But the plain honest man knowing her spleen and his own innocency he called his wife to him at the instant when his head was to be cut off and besought her as she ever tendred his former love which towards her he had kept inviolate to meditate upon some course or other by which his guiltlesse and unmerited death might be made manifest to the world which she with much sorrow and many tears having promised he gently submitted to his faâ—e and his body was delivered to the charge of his widdow Within few daies after the Emperour kept a day solemn in which his custome was bring mounted upon his â—oiaâ—ll throne to examine the causes of the fatherlesse and widdowes and to 〈◊〉 whereâ—n they were oppressed and by whom and in person to do them justice Among the rest came this injured widdow and brings her husbands head in her hand humbly kneeling before the Emperors Throne demanding of him What that inhumane wretch deserved who had caused an innocent man to be put to death to whom the Emperour replied Produce that man before the judgement seat and as I am royall he shall assuredly lose his head To whom she answered Thou art that man O Emperor for by thy power and authority this murder was committed and for an infallible testimony that this poor husband of mine perisht in his innocence command red hot irons to be brought into this place over which if I pass bare footed and without any damage presume he was then as much injured in his death as I am now made miserable in his losse The irons being brought and her own innocence together with her husbands being made both apparant the Emperour before all his nobility submitted himselfe to her sentence But at the intercession of the Bishop the woman limited him certaine daies in which he might find out the murder he first demanded ten daies after eight then seven and last six in which time by inquiry and curious examinations he found his wife to be the sole delinquent for which she was brought to the bar sentenced and after burned This done Otho to recompence the woman for the loss of her husband gave her four Castles and Towns in the Bishoprick of Beynensis which still beare name according to the limit of those daies First the Tenth second the Eight third the Seventh fourth the Sixt. Olimpias OThas of Persia having defeated Nectenabus King of Aegypt and expelled him from his Kingdome he the better to secure himselfe from the Sophies tyranny shaved his head and disguising himselfe with all such jewels as he could conveniently carry about him conveied himselfe into Macedonia the authors of this history aâ—e Vincentius and Trevisa There as they say he lived as a Chaldeâ—n or Cabalist where by his Negromancie and Art Magicâ— he wrought himselfe so deeply into the brest of Olympias that taking the opportunity whilest Philip was abroad in his forrein expeditions he lay with her in the shape of Jupiter Hammon and begot Alexander the Great After the Queens conception many fowles used to flie about Philip when he was busied in his wars amongst others there was a Hen that as he sate in his Tent flew up into his lap and there laid an egg which done she cackling flew away The King rising up hastily cast it upon the ground and brake it when suddenly a young Dragon was seen to leap out of the shel and creeping round about it and making offer to enter therein againe died ere it had quite compassed it The King at this prodigie being staâ—â—led called all his Astrologers together demanding of one Antiphon the noblest Artist amongst them What the omen might be of that wonder who answered him That his wife Olympias was great with ason whose conquests should fill the world with a stonishment aiming to compass the whole universe but should die before he could reduce it into one entiâ—e Monarchy the Dragon being the 〈◊〉 of a â—oiall conquerour and the round ovâ—ll circumâ— erence the symbol of the world With this answer Philip was satisfied When the time came of Olympias her travell there were earthâ—quaâ—es lightnings and thunders as if the last dissolution had been then pâ—esent when were seen two Eagles pearched upon the top of the Pallace presaging the two great Empires of Europe and Asia Young Alexander being grown towards manhood it hapned that walking abroad with Nectenâ—bus in the presence of his father Philip the young Prince requested the Astrologian to instruct him in his art To whom Nectenabus answered that with all willingnesse he would and comming neer a deep pit Alexander thrust the Magician headlong into that descent by which sudden fall he was wounded to death yet Nectebanus calling to the Prince demanded for what cause he had done him such outrage Wâ—o answered I did it by reason of thy art for ignoble it were in a Prince to study those vain scienâ—es by which men will undertake to predict other mens fates when they have nor the skill to prevent their own To whom Nectenâ—bus answered Yes Alexander I calculated mine own destiny by which I knew I should be slain by mine own naturall son
To whom the Prince in derision thus spake Basâ— Negromancer how canst thou be my father seeing that to the mighty King Philip here present I owe all filiâ—ll duty and obedience to whom Nectenabus rehearsed all the circumstances before related from the beginning and as he concluded his speech so ended his life How the husband upon this information behaved himselfe towards his wife or the son to his mother I am not certain this I presume it was a kind of needfull policy in both the one to conceale his Câ—coldry the other his Bastardy so much of Olympias concerning the birth of her son Alâ—xander I will proceed a little further to speak of her remarkable death being as majestically glorious as the processe of her life was in many passages thereof worthily infamous Justine in his history relates thus Olympias the wife of Philip and mother of Alexander the Great coming from Epirus unto Macedonia was followed by Aeacâ—dâ—â— King of the Molossians but finding her selfe to be prohibited that Câ—untry whether annimated by the memory of her husband encouraged with the greatnesse of her son or moved with the nature of the affâ—ont and injury as she received it I am not certain but she assembled unto her all the forces of Macedoniâ— by whose power and her command they were both slaâ—â— About seven years after Alexander was possessed of the Kingdome neither did Olympias reign long after for when the murdeâ—â— of many Pâ—iâ—ces had been by her committed rather after an effâ—minate then â—egall manner it converted the favour of the multitude into an irreconcileable hatred which â—eaâ—ing and having withall intelligence of the approach of Cassander now altogether distrusting the fidelity of her own Countrymen she with her sons wife Roxana and her Nephew young Hercules retired into a City called 〈◊〉 or Pictuaâ— in this almost forsaken society were Deidamia daughter to King Aeacidus Thessalonice her own daughtâ—â— in law famous in her father King Philip's memory with diveâ—â— other Princely matrons a small train attending upon them â—ather for shew and state then either use or profit These things being in order related to Cassander he with all speed possible hastens towards the City Pictua and invests himselfe before it compassing the place with an invincible siege Olympias being now oppressed both with sword and tamine besides all the inconveniences depending upon a long and tedious war treated upon conditions in which her â—aâ—e conduct with her trains being comprehended she was willing to submit her selfe into the hands of the conquerour at whose mercy whilst her wavering fortunes yet stood Cassander convents the whole multitude and in a publick oration desires to be counselled by them how to dispose of the Queen having before suborned the parents of such whose children she had caused to be murdered who in sad and funerall habits should accuse the cruelty and inhumanity of Olympias Their tears made such a passionate impression in the breasts of the Macedonians that with loud acclamations they doomed her to present slaughter most unnaturally forgetting that both by Philip her husband and Alexander her son their lives and fortunes were not only safe amongst their neighbour nations but they were also possessed of a forrein Empire and 〈◊〉 from Provinces 〈◊〉 their times scarce heard of but altogether unknown Now the Queen perceiving armed men make towards her and approach her to the same purpose both with resolution and obstinacy she attâ—â—ed in a Princely and majestick habit and leaning in state upon the shoulders of two of her most beautifull handmaids gave them a willing and undanted meeting which the souldiers seeing and calling to mind her former state beholding her present majesty and not forgetting her roiall off-spring illustrated with the names of so many successive Kings they stood still amazed without offering her any 〈◊〉 violence til others sent thither by the command of Cassâ—nder throughly pierced her with their weapons which she 〈…〉 with such constancy that she neither offeâ—â—d 〈…〉 avoid their wounds or expresse 〈…〉 by any 〈◊〉 clamour but after the manâ—◠〈…〉 men submitted her selfe to 〈…〉 her 〈…〉 expressing the invincible spirit 〈…〉 Alexander in which she likewise shewed a singuâ—â—r 〈◊〉 for with her disheveled hair she shadowed her 〈◊〉 leâ—t in sâ—rugling between life and death it might 〈…〉 and with her garments covered her legs and 〈◊〉 lest any thing aboâ—â— her might be found uncomely 〈…〉 Cassander took to wife Thessalonice the the daughâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Aridaeus causing the son of Alexander with his 〈◊〉 Roxane to be keep prisoners in a â—ower called â—â—â—â—phipositana 〈◊〉 ABout the time 〈◊〉 the Huns came 〈◊〉 into Italy and expoiled the Longâ—hards 〈◊〉 laid 〈◊〉 to the City 〈◊〉 and in a hot assault having slain the Duke Oysulphus his wife 〈…〉 Râ—milda 〈◊〉 the Town defensible bravely and resolutely mainteined it against the enemy But as Cacana King of the Anes approached neer unto the wals encouraging his souldiers to hang up their scaling ladders and enter Romilda at the same time looking from a Cittadel cast her eie upon the King who as he seemed unto her with wondrous dexterity behaved himself and with an extraordinary grace became his arms This liking grew into an ardency in love for she that at first but allowed of his presence now was affected to his person insomuch that in the most fierce assaults though her self danger of their crosse-bows and slings she thought within the secure so she had the King her object This fire was already kindled in her breast which nothing could qualifie insomuch that impatient of all delay she sent unto her publike enemy private messengers That if it pleased the King being as she understood a batchelor to accept her as his bride she would without further opposition surrender up the Town peaceably into his hands these conditions are first debated next concluded and lastly confirmed by oath on both sides The Town is yeelded up and Cacana according to his promise takes Romilda to wife but first he makes spoile of the Town kils many and leads the rest captive The first night he bedded with his new reconciled bride but in the morning abandoned her utterly commanding twelve Huns and those of the basest of his souldiers one after another to prostitute her by turns that done he caused a sharp stake to be placed in the middle of the field and pitched her naked body upon the top thereof which entring through the same made a miserable end of her life at which sight the Tyrant laughing said Such a husband best becomes so mercilesse an harlot This was the miserable end as Polycronicon saith of Romilda But better it hapned to her two beautifull and chast daughters who fearing the outrage of the lustfull and intemperate souldiers took purrified flesh of chickens and colts and hid it raw betwixt their breasts the souldiers approaching them took them to be diseased as not able to come neer them by reâ—son of the
familiarities had past betwixt him and her mistresse who only bore him faire outwardly and in shew when another enjoied both her heart and body inwardly and in act and that upon her own knowledge and to confirm he accusation nominated the man who was his neerest and most familiar friend At this report the Gentleman was startled but better considering with himselfe told her he thankt her for her love but could by no means beleeve her relation fiâ—st by reason he knew her Ladies breeding and was confirmed in her known modesty and vertue as having himself made tryall of both to the uttermost having time place and opportunity all things that might beget temptation Lastly for his friend in all their continuall and daily conversation he never perceived either familiar discourse wanton behaviour or so much as the least glance of eie to passe suspitiously betwixt them To which she answered it was so much the more cunningly carried for her own part she had but done the office of a friend and so left him but in a thousand strange cogitations yet love perswading above jealousie he began to interate and call to mind with what an outward integrity she had still borne her selfe towards him and with a purity by no womans art to be distembled Next he bethought himselfe that perhaps the maid might be fallen in love with him and by this calumny might seek to divert him from the affection of her mistresse or else she had taken some displeasure against her and by this means thought to revenge her selfe In the midst of these apprehensions or rather distractions came another letter from the husband complaining of his absence wondring at the cause and urgently desiring his company though never so private where he would reconcile himselfe touching any unkindnesses that might be conceived and withall resolve him what he should trust to concerning some part of his lands The Gentleman still remembring his fathers charge yet thought a little to dispense with it and writ back word knowing every part of the house by reason of his long frequenting it That if he pleased to leave his garden door open at such a time of the night he would accept of such provision as he found and be merry with him for an houre or two and give good reason for his unwilling discontinuance but thus provided that neither wife friend nor servant saving that one whom he trusted with his message might be acquainted with his comming in or going out This was concluded the time of night appointed and every thing accordingly provided They met he old man gave him kind and freely entertainment seeming overjoied with his company and demanding the reason of his so great strangenesse He answered that notwithstanding his own innocence and his wives approved Temperance yet bad tongues had been busie to their reproach measuring them by their own corrupt inteâ—â—ts and therefore to avoid all imputation whatsoever his study was by taking away the cause to prevent the effect his reason was approved and the old man satisfied concerning both their integrities Time cals the old man to his bed and the young Gentleman is left to his rest purposing to be gone early in the morning before any of the houshold should be awake or stirring Being now alone and not able to sleep in regard of a thousand distracted fancies that were pondering in his mind and brain he arose from his bed and walking up and down the chamber after some meditation as of her beautie her vowes her protestation her oaths all pleading together in behalfe of her innocency so far prevailed with him That considering he was now in the same house and that by reason of the old mans age they very often lay asunder that he was acquainted with every staire-case and knew the ready way to her chamber Love conquering all suspicion he purposed once more to visit the place where he had but ever honestly 〈◊〉 with her at all houres and where their intended marriage was by interchange of oaths at first confirmed With this purpose stealing softly up the stairs and listning at the door before he would presume to knock he might heare a soft whispering which sometimes growing louder he might plainly distinguish two voices hers and that Gentleman 's his supposed friend whom the maid had had before nominated where he might evidently understand more then protestations passe betwixt them namely the mechall sinne it selfe At this being beyond thought extâ—si'd scarce knowing how to contein himselfe for the present he remembred him of his sword in his chamber whither he went instantly with intent to return and breaking open the door to transpierce them both in the adulterate act but better judgement guiding him considering what murder was and the baseness to become a personal executioner withall remembring her beauty their often meetings kisses and embraces his heart became too tender to destroy that goodly frame in which nature had shewed her best of art though the devill his worst of envy Therefore he instantly made himselfe ready left the place and without the knowledge of any man or discovering to any what had past returned to his fathers where pondering at full with himselfe the nature of his abuse being beyond example the strictnesse of his oath being not only debarred from marriage but as it were banished from the society of women that she only reserved him as a stale or shadow whilst another carried away the substance that she kept her selfe to be his wife and anothers whore and that from all these no safe evasion could be devised to come off towards her like a Gentleman or towards God like a Christian all these injuries jointly considered drove him into a suddain melancholy that melancholy into a doubtfull sicknesse and that sicknesse into a dangerous distraction insomuch that his life was much feared and he with great difficulty recovered but by the help of good Physitians being cured and the counsell of his best friends comforted he at length gathered strength and prepared himselfe for a second travell with purpose never more to revisite his Country where such an unnaturall monster was bred But before his departure the old man hearing what he intended sent for him to his house to take of him an unwilling leave at the importunity of his own father he was forced to accompany him thither where he must of necessity take another view of his betrothed mistresse and his treacherous friend Dinner being past with his much impatience it was generally imputed to his loath to depart when his sadnesse was meerly grounded upon her impudence Parting growing on she singles him for a farewell weeping in his bosome wringing him by the hand beseeching him to have a care of his safety but especially of his vow and promise all which proceeded from such a 〈◊〉 felt passion as he almost began to question what in his own notion he knew to be infallible But instead of a reply he delivered her a letter which he
Amor est aliuitque corinthus At nunc ipsa tenet inclita Thessalia Though Greece of unmatch'd strength and courage be It obei'd Lais to thy shape and thee Love was thy father thee Corinthus bred Who now in stately Thessaly liest dead This notwithstanding some will not allow her to have been educated in in the Cranaeum which is a place of exercise in the City of Corinth Phrine SHE for her beauty was emulated by Lais and was a prostitute in Thespis a City of Booetia who being for some Capitall crime convented before the Senate and notwithstanding she had a famous Advocate to plead in her behalfe fearing some harsh and severe censure she trusting to her beauty bethought her of this project before the sentence was pronounced she cast off her loose and upper garments and without any word speaking as far as womanish modesty would suffer her exposed her body naked to the Judges O Beauty thou canst more prevail then a thousand Orators With her rare form and extraordinary feature the old gray-beards were so taken that where before their purpose was to inflict upon her some severe punishment they changed their austerity into love and pity and dismissed her without mulct or fine Therefore the famous Orator and Grammarian Quintilian thus speaks The admirable beauty of so compleat a Fabrick more prevâ—iled with the Senate then all the Rhetoricall eloquence of her Advocate Hypparis Upon this occasion an Edict was published That from thence forward no Client whatsoever should be in presence whilst their Cause was in pleading lest either pity or affection to the person should sway the ballance of justice and equity It is further remembred of her That Praxitiles the most excellent Painter of his time for some courtesies she had done or some favours grac'd him with promised to give her the best and most curious Table in his work-house but she by no perswasion or cunning able to wrest from him which amongst so many had the priority she bethought her of this sleight watching a time when the Painter was abroad in the City she hired a messenger to run to him in all hast and counterfeiting a sudden passion to tell him his house was on fiâ—e and many or most of his elaborate pieces burnt to ashes At which Praxitiles amazed and strangely moved broke forth into this language But is the Picture of Cupid safe and reserved from combustion by which she found that to be his Master-piece and therefore due to her by promise This Phrine never used the hot Baths as other of her profession accustomed to doe only at the Feasts of Ceres and Neptune she would in the sight of all the Grecians in her loose garment and hair dishevelled about her shoulders walk down to the Sea side and there wash her selfe And from her as Athenaeus in his Dypnos lib. 13. cap. 22. affirms Apelles drew that admirable and unmatched piece called Venus Emergeus i. Venus swimming or rising ouâ— of the waters Of which Ausonius composed an Epigram with this inscription In venerem Andiomenen Emersam Pelagi nuper genitalibus undis Câ—pria Apellaei Cerne laboris opus Behold fair Cipria from her native Brine Plunging Apelles a brave work of thine Who shaking off her golden curls late drown'd Rains the salt sea-drops from her shoulders round Her hairs yet dank 'bout her white wrists she winds Which wreath'd she in her silken hair lace binds Pallas and Juno said this having seen Wee yield the Palm to thee fair beauties Queen Praxitiles the Statuary before spoken of drew from her the Picture of Venus Cnidia and under the Table of Love which was given to adorn the Theatre he caused these verses to be inscribed Praxitiles pinxit prius est quem passus amorem Deprompsit proprio pectore qui A chetipum Love which himselfe hath suffered and best knew From his own breast this piece the Painter drew This Picture of Love some say was placed in Thespia a free Town in Boetis nere Helicon and dedicated to the Muses which others take to be a City in Magnesia neer Thessaly but her golden Picture made by Praxitiles was hung in Delphos above the Marble Statue of Mercury and betwixt that of Archidamus King of the Lacedemonians and Philip of Amintas having this inscription Phrine Epicleis Thespia This when Crates Cinicus beheld he said This Table is dedicated to expresse the intemperance of the Grecians as Alcaetus witnesseth lib. 20. depositorum in Delphis Apollodorus in Lib. Amicarum speaks of two Phrines the one was called Sapâ—rduis the other Clausigâ—los of Kleo i. Lugeo to mourn and Gelos i. Risus Laughter Herodicus saith lib. 6. Objurgatorum That she was called by the Orators Sestus because she rifled and despoiled her Clients and the other Thespica This Phrine grew exceeding rich and made offer to begirt Tnebes with a new wall so that upon the chief gate they would make this inscription This Alexander the Great demolished which Phrine the Courtesan at her own charge erected for so writes Callistratus in his book Amicarum Timocles Comicus writ of her infinite riches in his Neaera as likewise Amphis in Novacula Aristogiton in an Oration against Phrine affirms That her proper name was Mâ—nesarete Of her Posidippus Comicus writ more at large in Ephesia There was one Timandra daughter to Tyndarus and Laedia the sister to Clitemnestra but Pliny speaks of a notorious strumpet of that name beloved of Alcibiades the Athenian for whom being dead she erected a famous Sepulchre she was with her friend Aâ—cis opprest in battell by Lysander Equall to her in beauty was Campaspe by some called Pancasta a wanton of an extraordinary feature and much affected by the excellent Painter Apelles she was prisoner to Alexander the great and at his earnest intercession bestowed on him by the Macedonian Conquerour Glicerin or Glicera and others THis Glicera was sirnamed Thespiensis of the City where she was born Praxitiles the Painter much doted on her beauty and gave her a Table in which Cupid was most curiously pourtraied which after her death she bequeathed as a legacy to the City Satyrus reports That Stilpo being at a banquet with her and reproving her as a great corrupter of the yong men of Thespis she answer'd we are O Stilpo of one and the same error guilty alike For it is said of thee That all such as converse with thee and participate of thy precepts thou corruptest with thy amatorious and unprofitable Sophisms smal difference then there is to be traduced by thee a Philosopher or by me a professed Prostitute She was a great favourite of the Poet Menander Hipperides in an oration against Manlithaeus as also Theopompus affirms That Harpalus after the death of Pythonice sent for Glicera to Athens who comming to Tarsus was received into the Kings Palace whither much confluence was assembled bowing their knees to her and saluting her by the name of Queen neither would they
Sirobyla by the name of Phano acknowledging her to be their own But lest with this multiplicity of Hâ—stories I shovld grow tedious here though abruptly I will pawse for the present Of Famous Wantons OF some of these something more at large It is a Maxim Amor ubique in natura Love is every where in Nature The Poets as Euripides and others called him The Great and most mighty of the gods and grave Aeschilus in Danais introduc'd his mother Venus thus saying Ferire purus Aether arva concupit Amorque terrae consequi vult Nuptias c. The pure air ever loves to stroke the fields And to the nuptials of the air th' earth yields The shours drop from the clear heavens and rain down To kisse the Earth and give her a fresh Gown Whose garments were late thred-bare even these prove In senslesse things congresse and marriage love Whose birth we look for where the Countrie Swain The Mid-wife plaâ—es and Apples Fruits and Grain Returns us in their time Then Ceres takes These infants to her charge nor them forsakes But whilst she can from all corruption saves Till being ripe for death we find them graves If you would know who first prescrib'd these lawes Of this free birth I Venus am the cause The like Euripides speaks in Hyppolitus If then this universality of Love be in senslesse creatures no marvel if it be so frequent in such as pretend to understand Herodotus lib. 1 saith it was a Law amongst the Babylonians That all women free-born and Denizens of the City were enjoined once in their life times to make repair to the Temple of Melitta for by that name the Assyrians called Venus and sitting in the Porch to subject themselves to the embraces of any stranger But some of the noblest and richest not willing to publish themselves to open prostitution were drawn thither in Chariots covered leaving their train and attendants behind them many sitting in the Temple in Pues or places allotted them with garlands upon their heads of which whilst some are called apart others still return for their passages to and fro are distinguished by small cords or strings which direct strangers unto such woman to whom they are most addicted But of these not any return to their houses after they have once took up their seats till some client hath cast some coin or other into her lap be it never so small or great and have had carnall company with her in a sequestred place of the Temple which done he is to say So much I did owe thee O goddesse Melitta Nor was any woman to refuse the monie that was offered her whatsoever it were because it was to be emploied in their supposed pious uses Neither was it lawful for a woman to refuse any man but she was compelled to follow him that cast the first coin into her apron This being done it was lawfull for her to mingle her selfe in prostitution with whom she pleased The fairest and most beautifull were for the most part soonest dispatcht but others that have been ugly and deformed have been forced to sit in the Temple some one some two some three years and upwards before they could meet with any by whose help they might give satisfaction to the Law return to their own houses and make use of their free liberty The like custome though not in every particular was in Cyprus Amongst the Caâ—nians a people in Coria there was a yearly convention of young men and women to the like purpose as the same Author in the same book affirms Aelianus de var. Histor lib. 4. saith That the Lydian women before their marriage presented themselves for gain till they had purchased to themselves a competent dowrie but having once selected a husband they from that time lived in all continence and chastity From this generality I come to particulars and first of Thau She was a strumpeâ— of Corinth whose beauty bewitched all the Attick youth Her the Greek Poet Menander in his works most celebrated of whom she was called Menandraea Clitarchus specifies unto us That she was much beloved of Alexander the Great at whose request after the conquest of Cyrus all the Imperial Pallaces of Persepolis with the greatest part of the City were â—et on fire and burned down to the earth This strumpet after the death of Alexander was married to the first Ptolomey of Aegypt by whom she had two sons Leontiscus and Legus with one daughter called Irene whom Solon King of Cyprus after took to wife Lamia was a Courtizan of Athens and entired to Demetrius a Lord of many Nations insomuch that in his Armour and Crown with his Imperial Diadem he was often seen publikely to enter her roof to converse with her and eat at her Table It had been lesse dishonour for so great a person to have given her meeting more privately In this one thing Diodorus the minstrel was preferred before Demetrius who being divers times sent for to this Courtizans house refused to come This Lamia was wont as Aelianus lib. 1. reports to compare the Greeks to Lions and the Ephesians to Wolves Gnathaena was of the same Countrie and born in Athens of whom it is thus remembered A noble fellow drawn as far as the Hellesport by the attractive fame of her beauty she gave him both meeting and entertainment of which he growing proud and somewhat insolent using much loquacity and superfluous language being in the heat of wine and lust she asked him Whether as he pretended became from the Hellespont To whom he answered He did She replied And do you know the name of the chiefe City there He told her Yes She then desired him to give it name He told her it was called Sygaeum By which she ingeniously reproved his verbositie since Sygae of which Greek word the City takes denomination signifieth silence and taciturnity Of her prompt and witty answers the Poet Machon sets down many for she was held to be wondrous facetious and scoâ—â—ing and exceedingly beloved of the Poet Diphilus Lynceus likewise remembers many things concerning her Pausonius Lacus being dancing in her presence in doing a lofty trick above ground and not able to recover himselfe he fell headlong into a vessel that stood by See saith she Lacus in cadum incidit i. The Pool hath powered himselfe into the Vessel Lacus not only signifies a Pool but a Vessel which receiveth the wine when it is pressed Another offering her a small quantity of wine in a great and large bowle and told her withall That it was at least seventeen years old Truly answered she it is wondrous little of the age Two young men in the heat of wine quarrelling about her and going to buffers to him that had the worst she thus said Despair nor youth Non enim Coronarium est certamen sed Argenteum i. This was a prize for monie only not for a Garland When one had given her fair daughter who was of the same
write them all at large they cannot exceed that piety of which I have read in women Suetonius and Cicero in an Oration pro Caelio speaking of Claudia one of the Vestall Virgins thus report of her She seeing her father in his triumphant Chariot riding through the streets of Rome and by the Tribunes of the people who envied his glory pluckt and haled from his seat she with a wondrous dexterity and a masculine audacity freed him from the hands of their Tribunes and their Lictors and maugre all their opposition lifted him up into his chariot nor sook him till she saw him in all magnificent pomp received into the Capitol insomuch that it was questioned amongst the Romans which of them merited the greater triumph he for his vertue and valour in the Forum or she for her zeal and piety in the Temple of Vesta nor can it yet be decided which may claim a just prioritie the Father for his victory or the Daughter for her goodnesse Plin. lib. 7. cap. 36. and Solinus speak of another Roman Lady of a noble Family who when her mother was condemned at the judgement-seat by the Praetor and delivered up to one of the Triumviri to be committed to strait prison and there for her offence to be privately executed But the keeper of the Goale commiserating the Matron so sentenced either because he pitied her gravity or suspected her innocence did not cause her to be instantly strangled according to the rigour of her sentence At the importunacy of the daughter he gave her leave to visit and comfort her mother but narrowly searcht before her entrance into the prison lust she should carry with her any food or sustenance to her relifefe rather desiring she should perish by famine and die that way then himselfe to have any violent hand in her execution The daughter having daily accesse to the mother who now had past over more daies then the keeper thought was possibly by nature and wondring in himself how she should draw her thred of life out to that length without any means to maintein it he casting a more curious eie upon the young woman and watching her might perceive how she first drew out one breast and after another with her own milk relieving her mothers famine At the novelty of so strange and rare a spectacle being amazed he carried newes to the Triumvir he to the Praetor the Praetor related it to the Consuls they brought it before the Senat who to recompence what was good in the daughter pardoned all that was before thought ill in the mother For what will not love devise or whither true zeal not penetrate What more unheard or unexpected thing could be apprehended then for a mother to be fed from the breast of her daughter Who would not imagine this to be against nature but that we see by proof true naturall piety transcends all bounds and limits The like of this we may read â—f in Pliry of another young married woman who when her father Cimon was afflicted with the same sentence and subject to the like durance prolonged his life from her breasts for which she deserves equally to be memorised Our parents in no danger or necessities are to be by us abandoned and that by example of Aeneas in whose person Virgil thus speaks as to his father Anchises Aeneid 2. Eia agâ— chare pater cervici imponere nostrae Ipse suâ—â—bo numeris nec me laboriste gravabit c Come my dear father and get up for see No burthen to my shoulders you can be No weight at all and hap what can betide One danger or one safety we 'll abide Sabellâ—â— lib. 3. cap. 6. remembers us of Rusticana a noble Matron of Rome and the daughter of Synnarchus who with his brother Boetius the famous Philosoher being put to death by Theodoricirs King of the Gotâ—s She after the Tirants miserable end was the cause that all his Statues in Rome were demolished and ruined purposing utterly if it were possible to extirp his memory that was the imhumane murderer of her father for which fact of hers being called in question before King Totila who succeeded him she was so far from excuse or deniall that she approved the deed with all constancy whose not le magnanimity and resolution proved more available to her safety then any timorous evasion could have done for he not only dismissed her unpunished but highly applauded and commended Fulgos Sabellicus and Egnâ—tius writing of Alboinuâ— King of the Longobards who at his first entrance into Italy having subdued and slain Tâ—rismundus whom some call Cunimundus son to Cunimundus King of the Gepidanes and after taken his daughter Rosamunda to wife the History faith he made a bole of her fathers scul in which one night having drunk somewhat lavishly he caused it to be filled with wine and sent to Rosamunda then in her chamber with this message Commend me to thy Queen aâ—d â—ay I command her to drink with her father 〈…〉 though she knew him to be slain by the 〈◊〉 gobards receiving his death by a common casualtie and chance of 〈◊〉 by this assuring her selfe that he â—ell by the â—and oâ— her husband betwixt 〈…〉 and conjugall love being for a time distracted the bond of her affectiâ—n towards her father prevailed above those nuptial setters in which she was tied to her Lord insomuch that to revenge the death of the one she resolved to take away the life of the other to bring which about she devised this project she had observed one Hemegâ—ldus a noble man amongst the Lambard to be surprized with the love of one of her waiting Gentlewomen with whom she dealt so far that when her maid had promised to give this Hemegildus meeting in a private and dark chamber she her selfe supplied the place of her servant after 〈◊〉 congression she caused lights to be brought in that he â—iâ—ht know with whom he had had carnall company and what certein prejudice he had the 〈◊〉 incurred protesting 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 he would join with her in the dear 〈…〉 she would accuse him of rape and outrage The Lambâ—â—d to prevent his own disaster undertook his soveraign â—eath which was accordingly betwixt them performed The murder done they sled together to Ravenna she preferring the revenge of a slaughtered father before the life of a husband the title of a Queen State Sovereignty oâ— any other worldly dignity whatsoever Something is not amisse to be spoken in this place concerning the love of mothers to their children which as Plutarch in his 〈…〉 saith was excellently observed in 〈…〉 Prince of the Athenians who was wont to say That he â—new no reason but that this young son whom his mother most datâ—ngly affected should have more power and command thâ—n any one man in Greece whatsoever and being demanded the reason he thus answered Athens saith he commands all Greece I Themistocles have predominance ever Athens my wife over swaies me and my
son over-rules his mother Olympias the mother of Alexander caused Iollas grave to be â—ipt up who was Butler to her son and his bones to be scattered abroad raging against him in death on whom in his life time she could not be revenged on for the death of her sonne to whom this Iollas was said to have minstred poison Agrippina the mother of Domitius Nero by all means and industry possible labouring to confirm the Empire unto her son enquired of the Chaldaeans and Astrologers Whether by their calculations they could find if he should live to be created Caesar who returned her this answer That they found indeed by their Art that he should be Empeâ—our but withall that he should be the death of his mother To whom she answered Inter ficiat modo Imperet i. I care not though he kill me so I may live to see him reign Sab. lib. cap. 4. The same Author tels us that in the second Punick war the Romans being overthrown with infinite slaughter in the battel 's fought at Thrasymenus and Cannas many that were reported to be assuredly dead escaping with liâ—e after their funerals had been lamented returning home unexpectedly to their mothers such infinite joy oppressed them at once that as if sinking beneath too great a burthen betwixt their kisses and embraces they suddenly 〈…〉 the Roman being proscribed by the Triumâ—irate his wife would needâ— have him take her dearly beloved son along with him to associate and comfort him in his travels who when they were gone a ship-boord intending for Sicilia and crost by an adverse tempest could neither proceed on in their voyage not return to any safe landing such was their faâ—e that they perished by â—amine which the mother understanding more â—or the gâ—iefe of her son whom she her selfe proscribed then for her husband â—xiled by the Triumvirate slâ—w her selfe The 〈◊〉 Carthage in the third Punick war when the 〈◊〉 of all the Noble young men of the City were selected to be sent as hostages into Sicilia with weeping and 〈◊〉 followed them to the water â—ide and kept them hugged in their strict embraces not suffering them to go aboord but when they were forcibly plucked from them and sent unto the ships they no sooner â—oiâ—â—d saiâ—e but many of these woful and lamenting mothers opprest with the extremity of sorrow cast themselves head long into the sea and there were drowned Sabel lib. 3. cap. 4. The wife of Proclus Nausâ—atiâ—es having a wild and misgoverned son addicted meerly to voluptuousnesse and pleasure and withall to Cocks Horses Dogs and such like pastimes his mother did not onely not 〈…〉 in this licentiousnesse but would be still present with him to feed his Cocks diet his Horses and châ—rish his Dogs for which being reproved by some of her friends as an incourager of his unstaid and irregular courses to whom she answered No such matter he will sooner see then into himselfe and correct his own vices by conversing with old folks then keeping company with his equals Niobes sorrow for her children Auctoliaos death at the false rumour of her son Vlysses his Tragedy Hecuba's revenge upon Polymnestor for the murder of her young sonne Polydore and Tomirâ—s Queen of the Massagers against Cyrus for the death of her son Sargapises are all rare presidents of maternall piety nay so superabundant is the love of mothers to their children that many times it execeds the bounds of common reason therefore Terence in Heuton thus saith Matres omnes filiis In peccato adjutrices auxilio in patres Solent esse â— All mothers are helpers in their childrens transgressions and aid them to commit injuries against their fathers Therefore Seneca in his Tragedy of Hippolitus breaks out into this extasie Oh nimium potens Quanto parentes sanguinis vâ—do tenes Natura quam te colimus inviâ—â— quoque Nature oh Too powerfull in what bond of blood thou stâ—ll Bind'st us that parents are commanding so We must obey thee though against our will So great was the love of Parisatis the mother of Cyrus the lesse to her son that he being slain her revenge upon the murtherers exceeded example for she caused one of them whose name was Chaâ—etes to be ten daies togetheâ— excruciated with sundry tortures after commanded his eies to be put out and then moulten lead to be pâ—nâ—ed down into the hollow or his ears the second Metroâ—ates for the same treason she commanded to be boâ—nd â—ast betwixt two boats and to be sed with figs and honie leaving him there to have his guts gnawn out by the worms which these sweet things bred in his enâ—rails of which lingring torment he after many daies perished the third Metasabates she caused to be slayed alive and his body to be stretched upon three sharp pikes or stakes and such was his miserable end a just reward for Traytors Fulgos lib. 5. cap. 5. tels us That Augustus Caesar having subdued Cappadocia and taken the King Adiatoriges prisoner and his wife and two sons after they had graced his triumphs in Rome he gave command That the father with the eldest son should be put to death now when the ministers designed for that execution came to demand which of the two brothers was the elder for they were both of a sâ—ature they exceedingly contended and either affirmed himselfe to be the eldest with his own death to repâ—â—eâ—e the others life this pious strife continuing long to the wonder and amazement of all the beholders At length 〈◊〉 at the humble intercession of his mother who it seems loved him some deal above the other gave way though most unwillingly for the younger to perish in his stead Which after being known and told to Augustus he did not only lament the innocent young Princes death but to die elder who was yet living with his mother he gave great comforts and did them after many graces and favours so great a reverence and good opinion doth this 〈…〉 love be get even amongst enemies Neither was this Queen to be taxed of severâ—y or rigour to the youngest since it was a necessity that one must die it was rather a Religion in her hoping to leave her first-born to his true and lawfull inheritance Now lest I should leave any thing unremembred that comes in my way that might â—end to the grace and honour oâ— the Sex there is not any vertue for which men have been famous in which some women or other have not been eminent namely for mutuall love amity and friendship Marul lib. 3. cap. 2. tels us of a chast Virgin called Bona who lived a retired 〈◊〉 in a house of religious 〈◊〉 She had a bedfellow unto whom above all others she was entired who lying upon her death-bed and no possible help to be devised for her recovery this Bonae being then in perfect health of body though sick in mind for the infirmity of her sister full upon 〈◊〉 and devoutly besought the
Coin and Plate the next before them throwes Chaplets set round with stones to deck their browes To her a hand-maids given at either breast A sucking babe the morall is exprest In fertile marriage as he would have sed Lo here the fair fruits of a Nuptiall bed Four young men and as many Virgins stand Obsequious all to hers and his command Their hairs alike as 't is the custome shorn And all their necks rich chains of gold adorn The Epithalamium or Nuptiall song The mothers then with more then common care Make businesse and bestir them who prepare To lead them to their rest whom as they bring Neer to the chamber door the Quirers thus sing O you most Fair most Chast and meriting Bride Of a like Husband now to sports untri'd Apply your selves and may your Nuptiall sheets Flow and abound with all delicious sweets O may Lucina when her childing growes Be present and release her painfull throwes Prove fruitfull as the Vine let Bacchus fill Her cup to th' brim with juices that distill From his choice grapes the husband in all places Scatter ripe Nuts with Ribbands and with Laces The Altars hang and deck since he hath got To lodge with him a Virgin without spot A Flower a Vertue Glory of man-kind And of her Sex the pride O may you find Long daies of joy nights shortned in your rest And as your parents are in you live blest In your fair Issue you are happy then Hark hark to this the Fates cry all Amen Ingressus in cubiculum i. Their entrance into their bed-chamber Being entred and the bed with all things fit Vpon ' the side thereof a while they 〈◊〉 When left alone they talk and toy and smile She whilst she can the time seeks to beguile Till suddenly her cheeks are all bewept To lose so soon what she so long hath kept And oft she casts her eie upon the place Where she 's to wrestle and she hides her face But thinkâ—ng 〈◊〉 nor dares to enter in Doubting what 's lawful still to be a sia He with such gentle force compels the lasse As would not break her were she made of glasse So loath he is to hurt â—er yet he throwes Her softly down and to her side then growes Venus begins to teach them a new trade The marriage Queen here plaies the chambermaid Juno her selfe who 's now effiâ—â—ous grown And there attends to teach them wars unknown Th' whilst he seeks for 〈…〉 Feels her white neck and ivory brests that rise Like two white snâ—wie Hils and stâ—ll doth praise All â—â—at he feels or touches then thus 〈◊〉 O 〈…〉 Virgin now my Bride And are you grown at length thus neer my side Of all my hopes the Store-house and the treasure My â—ong expected now my latest pleasure My sweet and deerest wife this could not be Nor happen thus but by the gods decree And 〈◊〉 you now the power of Love withstand 〈…〉 and staies his forward hand 〈◊〉 to think on that which was t' ensue Or prove the thing which yet she never knew 'Twixt Hope and Fear she thus replies O fair And lovely Youth list to a Virgins praier By 〈◊〉 I intreatby those which got thee such 〈…〉 loe I only big thus much Pity my tears put me to no affright 〈…〉 reprieve but for this night With that she seems intranc'd and prostrate lies Hath not one word to uâ—ter more nor eies To see her selfe unvirgiâ—'d winks lies still And since he needs must lets him act his will Betwixt them two they quench their amorous fires She what she feares he hath what he desires I dare proceed no further with the Author whose conceit I have borrow'd but his words not altogether imitated those that have read him I make no question wil say I have broke off and shook hands with him in good time and as far as I have gone hand in hand with him rather added to his invention then any way derogated from his stile or detracted from his conceit therefore I now pause and proceed to the Nuptiall Pomp used amongst forrein Nations according to my promise Pausonias hath leâ—t related That it was the custome amongst the Grecians for the Bride to be placed betwixt her betrothed husband and one of her next kindâ—ed and so in a Chariot which was called by them Parochus to be drawn 〈◊〉 the streets the Axel-tree thereof at her comming 〈◊〉 was taken off and burned before the gates of her house to signifie that she must ever after be an huswife and keep within as a faithful and industrious overseer of their domestick affaires and businesse It was the fashion in other 〈◊〉 of Greece that those of lower degree I mean the Brides when they were conducted home to their husbands a young boy went before them hung round with Oaken leaves and Acorns bearing on his arm a wickeâ— basketful of bread who all the way cried aloud Effugi malum juvent bonum i. I have shunned the bad and found one made choise of the good As the enters the doors there the Bridegroom stands ready to receive her the child em demand wall-nuts which are cast unto them in abundance Amongst the Rhodians the Bride is called from her fathers house by the common Câ—yer and by him conducted to the bed of her betrothed The Romans observed another custome Their Brides were not to touch the ground or pavement with their feet but were snatched up in their arms and born upon their shoulders and as if she were rapt and forcibly against her will burried to her bedchamber so Plutarch affirms others add that their hair was braided and combed with a piece of a souldiers spear intimating that they were now valiantly and resolutely to enter a new war and skirmish Amongst the Lusitanians she was not permitted either to talk her selfe or be led to her nuptiall chamber but the young men came and with pretended rudenesse and force snatched her from the arms of her mother as if according to the Roman custome she were ravished thence before them went a piper and one that sung an Hymenaean song all her alliance and kindred attended her of whom one bore a distaffe with Tow another a Spindle next her a young man and a maid that had their parents living one lighting them with a taper whose staffe was made of a Pine-tree and with these Ceremonies she was conducted to her Bride-bed Sacred Auguries and Nuptiall Expiations c. THE Auspices or Auguries were Southsayers and such as used to handfast or contract marriages and these were still consulted with as wel in undertaking wars as propounding Nuptials as also in most of their publick enterprizes or private imploiments these divined either from the voices or by the flying of birds The women supped with their husbands the first night in their beds as they lay together which seemed to be an invitation of the gods because Jupiters banquets are as some report after the same
Wisedome and Potency Therefore Johannes Sambucus Tyrnabiensis in his argument to Lucians twentieth Dialogue inscribed Deorum Judicium thus writes Matris Acidaliae javenis deceptus amore Non curat reliquas Caecus habere Deas Pallade quid melius Junone potentius ipsa Preferimus Cipridos munerâ— prava tamen The Phrigian youth with Venus love surpriz'd Took of the other goddesses no care Pallas and potent Juno he despis'd Leaving the good and great to chuse the fair The Beauty of a woman is especially seen in the face by which we may conjecture the excellency of the other hidden lineaments of the body and therein is many times the pulchritude of the mind illustrated as in the bashful eie modest look and shamefaced countenance therefore doth the face deservedly challenge the first seat of Beauty the Head being the noblest part of the body the Will the Mind the Memory the Understanding have their place and residence where they exercise their divers effects and qualities therefore though they be in the other parts of the body excellently featured though they be Wise Learned irreprovable in Life and conversation unblemished in their reputation and every way laudable yet the face is the first thing contemplated as noble above the rest and from which all other excellencies are approved for when all the rest are masked and hidden that only is continually visible and laid open and that may be the reason why most women that are not born fair attempt with artificiall beauty to seem fair Beauty therefore being a Dower of it selfe is a reward in it selfe Of Bounty Charity Piety and other Vertues in Women with their Rewards ONe Berta a Country maid of the Village of Montaguum in Patavia who having spun an excellent fine thread which was so curiously twisted that it was not to be matched by the hands of any and offering it in the City to publique sale when none would reach to the price at which she valued her pain and skil she thinking it a gift worthy an Empresse presented it to Berâ—ba the wife of Henry the fourth Emperor who at that time sojourned in Patavia She both admiring the excellency of the work and willing with her roiall bounty to encourage the plain Wench that wrought it commanded her steward to take the Yearn and go with the maid to Montaguum and out of the best soil there to measure so many acres of ground as that thread stretched out in length would compasse by which her roiall bounty poor Berta grew suddenly rich and from a Dowerlesse Virgin became a Match enquired after by the best men of the Countrie insomuch that from her flowed the illustrious Patritian Family in Padua which derive themselves from Montaguum This the Women of neighbor Villages seeing they all began to strive to equal if not exceed Berta at their Wheels and Spindles and hoping of the like reward troubled and oppressed the Empresse with multiplicity of presents who causing them all to appear before her at once she thus spake to them If not in Art yet Berta was befor you in time I thank you love and commend your skill but she hath prevented you of the blessing Which saying of hers is still remembred as a Proverb in all that Country for when any thing is done unseasonably or not in due time they say Non è pui quel tempo che Berta filava i. You come not in the time when Berta spun or as our English Proverb is You come a day after the Fair Bernard Scardeonus lib. 3. Histor Paiav In which the Empress expressed great wisedome who as she shewed a rare bounty in which men and women come neerest the gods who are the free givers of all good things so she knew how to dispose it namely to her that came to tender her love not such as a varitiously presented their Offerings meerly for lucre and benefit for such come but like fair weather after Harvest And how could the Empresses Vertue be better rewarded then to have her Bounty outlast her Death and her Wisedome survive her Dust Touching Charity Bruson lib. 2. cap. 21. relates That a poor begger desiring an alms of Lacon he thus answered him If I give thee any thing I make thee a greater begger and thou maiest curse him that first gave thee for it was he that made thee one Amongst the Lacedemonians nothing was more shamefull then to beg being an industrious Nation hating sloth and contenting themselves with little Notwithstanding Charity is commendable in all and reckoned amongst the best Theologicall Vertues neither is it any fault in such if their goodnesse and bounty be not a means to encourage idlenesse and sloth in bad people who make a pretence of want and penury therefore commendable it is in any man that is apt to give to know upon whom he doth bestow King Archelaus being at a banquet where such as he vouchsafed to set at his Table were wondrous pleasant about him amongst others one that had great familiarity with him demanded as a gift a great standing bowl which the King had then in his hand which he had no sooner spoken but the King called to one that waited at his elbow to whom he said Hold take this bowl and bear it to the Poet Euripides and tell him I bestow it on him as my free gift The other demanding the reason thereof Archelaus answered Thou indeed art only worthy to ask but not receive but Euripides is worthy to receive without asking In which he nothing abated of his Kingly bounty only he apprehended how most worthily to dispose it Plutarch in Regum Apophtheg But how this charity in Women is rewarded I will only instance Tabitha spoken of in the Acts who being dead was thought worthy for her former Charity in relieving Widowes and Orphans to have Peters knees and praiers to restore her again to life Now of the reward of religious Piety in which many Matrons and godly martyred Virgins amongst such as have suffered strange deaths may be included as some by the Sword some by by Fire others suffocated by Smoak stilled in Jakes shot with Arrowes tortured upon Wheels scourged with Whips scared with Irons boiled in Caldrons c. their Crowns are glory their Rewards neither to be expressed by pen tongue or apprehension of man Loosnesse of Life first converted and the conversion rewarded in a home bred History A Civill Gentleman within memory in the heat of Summer having been walking alone in the fields contemplating with himselfe and returning back not the same way he went out but through another part of the Suburbs to which he was a meer stranger and finding himselfe athirst he stepped into the first house that fairliest offered it selfe to him and called for a cup of Beer seating himself in the first room next to the street He had not well wiped the sweat from his face with his handkerchiefe but two or three young wenches came skittishly in
the women of the City with the Virgins houshold servants and intent 〈◊〉 meeting but the matrons and wives of the nobility 〈…〉 night-festivall in a conclave or parlor by themselves 〈◊〉 she 〈◊〉 her selfe with a sword and with her two daughters secretly conveied her selfe into the Temple 〈◊〉 the time when all the matrons were most busie about the ceremonies and mysteries in the conclave then having made fast the doors and shut up the passages and heaped together a great quantity of billets with other things combustible provided for the purpose but especially all that sweet wood that was ready for the sacrifice of that solemnity she set all on fire which the men hastning to quench in multitudes she before them all with a constancy undaunted first slew her daughters and after her selfe making the ruins of this Temple their last funerall fire The Lacedemonians having now nothing left of Alcippus against which to rage they caused the bodies of Democrita and her daughters to be cast out of the confines of Sparta For this ingratitude it is said by some that great earthquake hapned which had almost overturned the City of Lacedemon from Democrita I come to Phillus Demophron the son of Theseus and Phaedra the halfe brother to Hippolitus returning from the wars of Troy towards his Country by tempests and contrary winds being driven upon the coast of Thrace was gently received and affectionately enterteined by Phillis daughter to Lyâ—urgus and Crustumena then King and Queen of that Country and not only to the freedome of all generous hospitality but to the liberty and accesse unto her bed He had not long sojourned there but he had certain tidings of the death of Muesthaeus who after his father Thesâ—us was expulsed Athens had usurped the principility pleased therefore with the newes of innovation and surprized with the ambition of succession he pretending much domestick businesse with other negotiations pertaining to the publike government after his faith pawned to Phillis that his return should be within a month he got leave for his Countrie therefore having calked and moored his ship making them serviceable for the sea he set saile towards Athens where arrived he grew altogether unmindfull of his promised faith or indented return Four months being past and not hearing from him by word or writing she sent him an Epistle in which she complains of his absence then perswads him to cal to mind her more then common courtesies to keep his faith ingaged to her and their former contract to make good by marriage the least of which if he refused to accomplish her violated honour she would recompence with some cruel and violent death which she accordingly did for knowing her selfe to the despised and utterly cast off she in her fathers Palace hanged her selfe From Phillis I proceed to Deianeira Jupiter begat Hercules of Alâ—mena in the shape of her husband Amphitrio joining three nights in one whom Euristius King of Micena at the urgence of his stepmother Juno imploid in all hazardous and fearfull adventures not that thereby he might gaine the greater honour but by such means sooner perish but his spirit was so great and his strength so eminent that from forth all these swallowing dangers he still plunged a victor amongst these difficulties was that combat against Achelous a Flood in Aetolia who transhaped himself into sundry figures for the love of Deianeira daughter to Oeneus and Althaea King and Queen of Calidon and sister to Meleager he whom no monsters nor earthly powers could came by the conquest of Achilous won Deianeira for his bride But he whom all tyrants and terrours were subject to submitted himselfe to effeminacy and the too much dotage upon women for when Euritus King of Oechalia had denied him his daughter Iole before promised him the City taken and the King slaine he took her freely into his embraces with whose love he was so blinded that her imperious command he laid by his club and Lions skin the trophies of his former victories and which was most unseemly for so great a conquerour parâ—on a womanish habit and blusht not with a distasse in his hand to spin amongst her damosels In briefe what slavery and servitude soever he had before suffered under the tyranny of Omphale Queen of Lydia of whom he begot Lamus he endured from her which Deianeira hearing in a letter she â—aies open to him all his former noble act and victories that by comparing them with his present 〈◊〉 it the better might encourage him to 〈◊〉 the first and deter him from the last But having receved newes of Hercules calamity by reason of the poisoned shire sent him by her servant Lychas dipt in the blood of the Centaur Nessus in which she thought there had been the vertue to revoke him from all new loves and establish him in his first for so Nessus had perswaded her when in her transwafcage over the flood Evenus he was slain by the arrow of Hercules dipt in the poison of Lerna when the I say heard of the death of her husband and that though unwilling it hapned by her means she died by a voluntary wound given by her own hand Nor such as that which followes The Ionians through all their Province being punisht with a most fearfull and horrible pest insomuch that it almost swept the City and Country and had it longer continued would have left their places and habitations desolate they therefore demanded of the Oracle a remedy for so great a mischiefe which returned them this answer That the plague should never cease till the young man Menalippus and the faire Cometho were slain and offered in sacrifice to Diana Tryclaria and the reason was because he had strumpeted her in the Temple And notwithstanding their deaths unlesse every yeare at the same season a perfectly featured youth and a virgin of exquisite beauty to expiate their transgression were likewise offered upon the same Altar the plague should still continue which was accordingly done and Menalippus and the faire Cometho were the first dish that was served up to this bloody feast The same author speaks of the daughter of Aristodemus in this manner The Messenians and the Lacedemonians have continued a long and tedious war to the great depopulation of both their Nations those of Missenâ— sent to know of the event of the Oracle at Delphos and to which party the victory would at length incline Answered is returned That they shal be conquerors and the Lacedemonians have the worst but upon this condition To chuse out of the family of the Aepitidarians a virgin pure and unblemisht and this damosel to sacrifice to Jupiter This Aristodemus hearing a Prince and one of the noblest of the family of the Aepitidarians willing to gratifie his Countrie chused out his only daughter for immolation and sacrifice which a noble youth of that Nation hearing surprized both with love and pity love in hope to enjoy her and
pity as grieving she should be so dismembred he thought rather to make shipwrack of her honour then her life since the one might be by an after-truth restored but the other by no earthly mediation recovered And to this purpose presents himselfe before the Altar openly attesting that she was by him with child and therefore not only an unlawfull but abominable offering in eies of Iupiter No sooner was this charitable slander pronounced by the young man but the father more inraged at the losse of her honour now then before commiserating her death bâ—ing full of wrath he usurps the office of the Priest and wash his sword hewes the poor innocent Lady to peeces But not many nights after this bloody execution the Idaea of his daughter bleeding and with all her wounds about her presented it selfe to him in his troubled and distracted sleep with which being strangely moved he conveied himselfe to the tombe where his daughter lay buried and there with the same sword slew himselfe Herodotus in Euterpe speaks of one Pheretrina Queen of the Bâ—cchaeaus a woman of a most inhuman cruelty she was for her tyranny strook by the hand of heaven her living 〈…〉 up with worms and â—â—ce and in that languishing misery gave up the ghost Propert in his third book speakâ— of one Dyrce who much grieved that her husband Lycus was surprized with the love of one Antiopa caused her to be bound to the horns of a mad bull but her two sons Zâ—â—bus and Amphtoa comming instantly at the noise of her loud acclamation they released her from the present danger and in revenge of the injury offered to their mother fastned Dyrce to the same place who after much affright and many pitifull and deadly wounds expired Consinge was the Queen of Bithinia and wife to Nicomedes whose gesture and behaviour appearing too wanton and libidinous in the eies of her husband he caused to be worried by his own dogs Plin. lib. 7. Pyrene the daughter to Bâ—brâ—x was comprest by Hercules in the mountains that divide Italy from Spaine she was after torn in pieces by wild beasts they were called or her Montes Pyreneae i. The Pyrenean mountains Antipater Tarcenses apud Vollateran speaks of one Gatis a Queen of Syria who was cast alive into a moat amongst fishes and by them devouted she was likewise called Atergatis Sygambis was the mother of Darius King of Persia as Quintus Curtius in his fourth book relates she died upon a vowed abstinence for being taken prisoner by Alexander yet nobly used by him whether tired with the continuall labour of her journie or more afflicted with the disease of the mind it is not certain but falling betwixt the arms of her two daughters after five daies abstinence from meat drink and light she expired Semele the mother of 〈◊〉 a Thebâ—n Lady and of the roial race of Cadmus 〈…〉 thunder Pliny in his second book writes of one Martia great with child who was strook with thunder but the 〈◊〉 in her womb strook dead only she her selfe not suffering any hurt or dammage in which place he remembers one Marcus Herennius a Decurion who in a bright and cleare day when there appeared in the skie no sign of storm or tempest was slain by a thunderclap Pausanias apud Vollâ—teran saith that Helena after the death of her husband Mentlaus being banished into Rhodes by Megapenthus and Nicostratus the sons of Orestes came for rescue to Polyzo the wife of Pleopolemus who being jealous of too much familiarity betwixt her and her husband caused her to be strangled in a bath others write of her that growing old and seeing her hairs grown gray that face grown withered whose lustre had been the death of so many hundred thousands she caused her glasse to be broken and in despair strangled her selfe The like Caelius lib. 6. cap. 15. remembers us of one Acco a proud woman in her youth and grown decrepit through age finding her brow to be furrowed and the fresh colour in her cheeks to be quite decaied grew with the conceit thereof into a strange frenzy some write that she used to talk familiarly to her owne image in the myrrhor sometimes smile upon it then again menace it promise to it or flatter it as it came into her fancy in the end with meer apprehension that she was grown old and her beauty faded she fell into a languishing and so died Jocasta the incestuous mother to Aeteocles and Polynices beholding her two sons perish by mutuall wounds strook with the terror of a deed so facinorous instantly slew her selfe So Bisalâ—ia a maid despised by Calphurnius Crassus into whose hands she had betraied the life of her father and freedome of her Country fell upon a sword and so perished Zoe the Empresse with her husband Constantius Monachus both about one time died of the Pestilence Gregorius Turonensis writes of one Austrigilda a famous Queen who died of a disease called Disenteria which is a flâ—x or wringing of the bowels Of the same griefe died Sausones son to Chilperick Serena the wife of Dioclesian for very griefe that so much Martyrs blood was spilt by her husbands remorselesse tyranny fell into a feaver and so died Glausinda daughter to the King of the Goths and wife to Athanagildus was slain by Chilperick the son of Clotharius at the instigation of the strumpet Fredegunda so saith Volateranus Sextus Aurelius writes that the Emperor Constantius son to Constantius and Helena caused his wife Fausta by whose instigation he had slain his son Crispus to die in a hoâ—scalding bath Herodotus speaks of Lysides otherwise called Melissa the wife of Periander who at the suggestion of a strumpet caused her to be slaine which makes Sabellicus amongst others to wonder why for that deed only he should be numbred amongst the wise men of Greece 〈◊〉 Cecilius in his seven and twentieth book upon Pliny accuseth Calphurnius Bestia for poisoning his wives sleeping Pliny in his fourteenth book nominates one Egnatius Melentinus who slew his wife for no other cause but that she had drunk wine and was acquitted of the murder by Romulus Auctoclea the daughter of Sinon and wife of Laeâ—â—es King of Ithaca when by a false messenger she heard that her son Vlysses was slain at the siege of Troy suddenly fel down and died The mother of Antista seeing her daughter forsaken by Pompey the Great and Aemâ—lâ—a received in her stead overcoâ—e with griefe slew her selfe Perimela a damosell was vitiated by Achelous which her father Hippodamus took in such indignation that from an high promontory he cast her headlong down into the sea Hyppomanes a Prince of Achens deprehending his daughter Lymone in adultery shut her up in a place with a fierce and cruell horse but left no kind of food for one or the
clear and Glasse-like Well Sacred and where some thinks the gods do dwell O'r which the waâ—rie Lotos spreads her bowes The ground a soft and gentle turf allowes Here as I lay to rest me drown'd in tears One of the Nayades before m' appears And standing thus spake Thou that scorcht dost lie In flames unequall to Ambracia flie Hence Phoebus from on high survives the sea Some Actium cals the place some Leueate Deucalion from this rock his Pyrha craves First seen and she undanger'd proves the waves Here Pyrha prostitutes to his desires Deucalion here first quencht his amorous fires The place the same law keeps climb Leucats crown And from that high rock fear not to leap down This spoke she vanisht I affrighted rise Whilst my wet cheeks are moistned by mine eies Thither let 's run Nymphs till that Rock appear From Love distracted we should banish fear Prove how it can much better than you see It hath yet chanc'd it needs must fall to me And gentle Love to me thy feathers lend Still to support me as I shall descend Lest being dead by my untimely fall Leucadia for my sake be curst of all Then Phoebus I 'll bequeath into thine hand My Harp and by it shall this Distick stand Sapho thy grateful Poetesse doth assign This Lyre to thee being hers as well as thine Why dost thou send me to Actia hence When thou maist call thy exile fool from thence Safer to me than can those waters prove Thou mai'st so Phoebus did he Sapho love Canst thou O harder then the Rocks endure It should be said Thou didst my death procure Thy Sapho's ruine O how better far Were it these breasts that now disjoined are Should friendly meet and mutually please Than mine alone be swallow'd in the Seas These are the breasts thou Phaon once didst praise Which seen they fire did from thy coldnesse raise O would I were as eloquent as then But sorrow takes all fluence from my Pen So might my brain have every ill withstood But now my passion makes nothing seem good My Verse is of her first power destitute Silent's my Quill my Harp with sorrow mute You Lesbian Matrons and you Lesbian young Whose names have to my Lyre been oft times sung You for whose loves my fame hath suffred wrong No more in troops unto my Musick throng Phaon hath stole all that you nam'd Divine I was O wretch about to call him mine Make him return my Muse shall then retire He duls my wits or can my brain inspire Can praiers prevail or such a stubborn mind Be softned or made rougber Shall the wind Disperse my words as meerly spoke in vain Would the same winds could bring thee back again That mock my sighs and make thy sails to swell It were a work that would become thee well If so thou mean'st why dost thou keep away From all those vow'd gifts that thy comming stay Why dost thou with thy absence my breast teare Loose from the Haven 〈…〉 and do not stear She 's Sea-born Venus call'd and therefore still She makes the waves calm to a lovers will The gracious winds shall in thy course prevail And bring thee safe when thou art under sail Even Cupid at the helm shall sit and stear He shall diâ—rct which way thy course to beare If so thou please thy Sapho shunn'd must be Yet thou shalt find there 's no just cause in me At lest thy cruell answer she now craves To end her fate in the Leucadian waves From that Rock she cast her selfe headlong into the Sea and so perished For preposterous and forbidden luxuries which were imputed unto her Horace cals her Mascula Sapho yet many are of opinion this to be the same whom Plato tearms the Wise of her Antipater Sydonius thus writes Dulcia Mnemosine demirans carmina Saphus Quesierit decima Pyeris unde foret Mnemosine When Sapho's Verse she did admiring read Demanded whence the tenth Muse did proceed As likewise Ausonius Leshia Pyeriis Sapho soror addita Musis i. Lesbian Sapho a Sister added to the Pyerian Muses Her Papinius and Horace with many others celebrate Of Cleobule Lindia and other Poetesses SHe was the daughter of Cleobulus Lindius one of the seven wise men of Greece she was called also Eâ—mite and Cleobulina in her writing she imitated her fathe◠〈◊〉 was eminent for Aenigmaes and Riddles of which this one is redeemed from oblivion and remembred of her Est unus genitor 〈◊〉 sunt pignora 〈◊〉 sex His quoque trigima natae sed disparâ— forma Hae niviae aspectu nigâ—â—s sunt vultibuâ—s illae Sunt immortales omnes mortuntur omnes One father hath twelve children great and small They beget thirty daughters unlike all Halfe of them white halfe black immortall made And yet we see how every hour they fade Elpis was wife of the famous Philosopher and Poet Boethius Seâ—verinus a Roman Patrician she was by Nation a Sicilian of an eleganâ— wit and capacious invention Many of her Hymns to the Apostles are yet extant one began Aurea Luce another Foelix per omnes mundâ— cardines i. Thou Feast that are happy in being celebrated 〈◊〉 all the Countries of the world Ranulphus cals her the daughter to the King of Sicily and the best Writers constantly affirm these holy songs to be hers witnesse Gyraldus Dialogo 5. Histor Poeâ— She writ her Epitaph with her own hand which was after inscribed upon her Tomb which I thus give you in English something neer to Trevisa's as he translated it from Ranulphus An Epitaph Elpis my name me Sicily 〈◊〉 bred A husbands love drew me from hence to Rome Where I long liv'd in joy but now lye dead My soul submitting to the Almighties doom And I beleeve this flesh again shall rise And I behold my Saviâ—â— with these eies Eudexia or Eudâ—cia was the wife of the Emperor Theodosius Junior She was excellently qualified and her chief delight was to be conversant amongst the Muses for which she was stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She was the daughter of Leontius of no higher degree then a Sophist of Athens she was first called Athenais but after being married to the Emperor he caused her to be baptized by Atticus the great Bishop of Constantinople and for Athenais gave her the name of Eudocia which much pleased the Emperor her husband Some attribute a Centon unto her of Christ the Saviour of the world it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which others would confer upon Proba Cyrus Panopolita she advanced unto the Praetorship Gyrald ex 5. Dialog Philenis was a Strumpet of Leucadia her Verses were as impurely wanton as her life was immodest and unchast she imitated Elephantis if we may beleeve Suidas and they both Astianassa one of Hellens maids the wife to Menelaus She was the first that devised 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Venereal Trade and left certain books behind her of Venereall Copulation This you may read