they gâ—eedily leap and strain themselves and so are taken so do ambitious men that aim at honour too high for their reach and too great for their merit For a heart over-grown with this râ—nk poyson neither admits the beams of grace to mollifie the hardness nor the bounds of nature to restrain the swelling but is unnaturally carried on to wrong those of his own bloud 2 Unchast love doth justly turn to revenging hate Thee and thy best things in t ' a bone-fire send 310. Sardanapalus so his life did end Sardanapalus the last King of Assyria was so effeminate that he blushed not to spin with Harlots in a womans habit being conquered in battell he fled to his Palace where he made a fire and therein burnt himself and all that he had 1 Venery is the mother of Misery 2 When the head is weak the body cannot be strong Like King like People 3 Sardanapalus lived basely died nobly but Furor est ne moriare mori It is a desperate madness to avoid death by killing my self 4 Many as Balaam would gladly die the death of the righteous but live not the life of the righteous Qualis vita finis ita Those that live ill seldome die well A good life seldome meets a bad death Let whirle-wind sands thee suffocate as those That Hammons Temple to pluck down arose Cambyses King of the Medes sent an army to demolish the temple of Jupiter Hammon but all the souldiers were destroyed by stormes and sands 1 Jupiter Hammon may be the same with Ham Sandys Met. son of Noah who was the original of Idolatry he on his helmet wore the carved head of a Ram. Or Hamon may be the Sun from Hamah which in Hebrew signifieth heat and because the year begins in March when the Sun enters into Aries he is painted with Rams horns 2 If so fearful judgments fell upon those that sought to destroy the temple of a false God how will those be plagued that demolish the temples of the true God Nay what may they expect that pluck down the Living temples of the holy Ghost their own bodies and souls by riot Hot ashes thee consume as them who thus Died by the fraud of second Darius Ochus who was also called Darius secundus feasted all those that had assisted him in his faction in a room wherein was a trap-door under which were hot ashes the guests being drunk the trap was opened and they all fell into the ashes and were smothered 1 The treason is loved not the Traytor When complices have acted their part and the design is accomplished they smell like a close stool in the nostrils of the projector 2 Sweet meat hath sowre sauce Feast-makers do oftentimes invite their guests to trap them in their words sometimes to undermine their lively-hood perhaps their lives 315. As upon Olive-bearing Sycions King Let cold and hunger death upon thee bring Neocles King of Sycion a city in Laconia abounding with Olive trees for cruelty exaction and oppression was deposed and not long after died with cold and hunger 1 Golden was that Symbol of the prudent Emperour A good shepherd will rather fleece then fley his sheep By the first he will have wooll every year by the other but once Silly was the plot of that covetous woman that in hope of a great treasure killed her hen that laid her every day a golden egge 2 Milk-purse Lawyers so Erasmus termes them are far more tolerable then Cut-purse tyrants 3 Pharisaical oppressors seldome miss their just reward alive after death their souls are feigned to enter into Asses so to be crushed with such burdens as they laid on others As Acarnides that in Bulls-hide lay Be thou so brought unto thy Lord a prey Hermias son of Acarnus taken captive by Memnon was sewed in the hide of a new-slain Bullock and fed under his table till vermin killed him 1 A noble conquest may be too much blemished by ignoble deportment toward the conquered 2 The All-seeing Eye not blind Fortune giveth the victory the Lord of Hosts the All-able hand is stronger then Reason or Means Hodiè mihi cras tibi To day mine to morrow thine Do therefore to others as thou wouldst be done to Renowned Caesar wept on the dead body of Pompey It is inhumane sarcasmically to insult over a captive as a Cat over a Mouse Advancement shews the man the higher the Ape climbs the more she shews her naked parts Or as Pheraeus be thou stabb'd in bed 320. Whom with a sword his new wife murdered Alexander Pheraeus loved his wife Thebe very well yet before he would go in unto her he commanded some of his guard to search if any weapon were in the chamber fearing she would slay him Afterwards suspecting him of Adultery she killed him 1 Jealousie is the daughter of extreme love and mother of extreme hate 2 A wife is an earthly heaven or hell 3 Fear of death is worse then death it self 4 More danger is in an home-bred conspirator then a forreign enemy Injury from a bosome-friend strikes deeper then from any other That stab from Brutus cut Caesar to the heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what thou my son Let those thou thinkest faithful by a wound As to Alebas false to thee be found Alebas King of Larissa ruled with much cruelty and for his safety chose a guard of valiant men who at length slew the King 1 The strongest and safest guard for a Prince next to a good conscience is the free and faithful love of loyal subjects 2 Divine justice so abominates a cruel King that he maketh the best defence wherein he trusted to become most offensive to him and the spils of the staff on which he leaned to run into his hands 3 Man was made to be as a God to man but he becomes a Wolfe a Devil so was Judas to his Lord and Master Pernicies homini quae pessima solus homo alter As Milo that did Pisa long torment Alive into the sea be headlong sent Milo King of Pisa shewed himself most unmerciful in exactions wherefore the people rebelling tied a stone about his neck and drowned him 1 It is a more Princely thing to enrich then to be rich 2 Free subjects are like smooth streams running in their ancient channel if any dam or obstacle stop them from enjoying their wonted liberties and immunities they swell the higher at last they break down carry away and drown all the opposing matter 325. As Adimantus the Philesian King So Jove his thunder-bolts upon thee fling Adimantus King of Philesia scorning to offer sacrifice to Jupiter but braging that he was mightier then he was struck with a thunder-bolt 1 For a man to make comparison with another man is odious with God impious and damnable Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods Give him the honour due unto his name Omne sub regno graviore regnum The highest earthly
Profaneness 340. 615 Prosperity 274. 39. 493 Protection of God 332 Protector 545. See Guardian Providence 290. 385. 628 Provocation 605 Punishment 510 Punishments of God 403. 600 Q Quakers 452 R Rayling 497. 547 Reason 480 Recompence from God 432 Reformation 532 Religion 382. 432 Repentance 260. 262. 356 Reputation 524 Resurrection 432 Rest 543 Relatiation 264 Revenge 330. 378. 426. 508. 602.605.618 Reviling 468. 496 Revolters 175 Reward and punishment 174 Riches 419 Riddle of Sphinx 375 Riot 312 Robbers 403 Ruffians 282 Rulers 546 S Sabboth 504 Sacriledge 504. 615 Sanctuary 303 Satan 372. 375. 398. 444 Schisme 563 Scholars 178 358. 432 Secresie 406 Secrets 180. 360 Secrets of God 469. 478 Security 500. 592. 631 Sedition 274 Seducers 338 Sensuality 406 Serpents Servants 414 Serving-men 415 Siege 250. 252. 300 Shepherds 581 Silence 448 Sin 355. 358. 372. 462 Sin not single 265. 350 Single life 598 Sleep 505. 592 Souldier 288. 340. 358. 404. 460 496. 625. 630 Souldier of Christ 278 Sorrow 274. 580 Sodomy 293 Soul 175 406. 483 Southsayers 501 Spirits 268 Stars 470 Stepmothers 264 Strangers 283. 288. 430 Strength 608 Students 180 Subjects 322. 474 Sufferings 426 Sun 311. 392. 563. 450. 564 Superstition 532 Swallow 432. 535 Swysse 592 T Tale-tellers 175. 448 Taxes 296. 315. 405 Teachers 492 Temple 312. 340. 615 Temperance 483 Temptation 300. 352. 370. 501. 370. 462. 475. 534 Thales 501 Thieves 488. 583 Thoughts 340 Thunder-bolt 469. 472 Tythes 504 Time 272 Timists 435. 632 Tongue 448. 570 Treason 251. 314 Trechery 268. 368 Tribulation 174 Trust 402 Tumults 330 Typhon 450 Tyrants 175 382. 532 V Valour 280 Vain-glory 550 Venery 263. 288. 310 Vengeance 402 Vertue 383. 474. 488. 575 Vice 383. 474. 485 Unthankfulness 178. 270. 283. 370 Vow 252 Vulgar people 470 W War 268 War-like policy 388. 460 Watching 592 Wealth 175 Whores 370. 380. 384. 483. 587 Wife 178. 320. 349. 352. 395 Wine 344. 358. 610 Winter 563 Wisdome 264. 434. 485. 501. 550. 551 Wit abused 520 Witchcraft 600 Witness 557 Women 300. 352. 355. 358. 360. 394. 542. 587. 604 World 372. 385 Wrath 36 OVID'S INVECTIVE OR CURSE AGAINST IBIS Faithfully translated and the Histories therein contained briefly explained and variously applied NOw fifty of my years are past and gone And of my Muse be armed verses none Nor of so many thousands penn'd by me One bloody verse of Naso's could you see 5. Not one did my book hurt but me alone When th' Artist by his Art was overthrown One man and that one thing is mighty wrong Cannot endure my Title should live long Who e're he be his name I le spare my Muse 10. He hath compell'd strange weapons now to use He doth me grudge exil'd to Northern cold My banishment in quietness to hold My half-cur'd wounds he cruelly doth pierce And openly my small offence reherse 15. He stops her that 's my own by Nuptials From wailing her poor husbands Funerals He that should first the sudden flames allay From mid'st the fire this Robber seeks a prey Of my torn ship few pieces could I save 20. Yet he the plank whereon I stand would have He works my banish'd age may want supply Oh! he 's more worthy of this misery Gods were more kind of which he 's far the chief That lets me not though banish'd want relief 25. Therefore deserved thanks to him I le give For so great favour where and whil'st I live Pontus shall hear this and perhaps I may Vow by a neerer place to him one day But thou that kick'st me being down ' gainst thee 30. Unto my power a mortal foe I le be Between the fire and water shall be love The Sun and Moon shall both in one Sphere move One coast shall East and West-winds too send forth The Luke-warm South shall blow from freezing North New love shall to the brothers flame return Which old wrath sever'd while their corps did burn Eâ—eocles son of Oedipus king of Thebes by his own mother Jocasta contracted with his brother Polynices that each should yearly reign by course the first year ended Polynices being denied his turn made war wherein both were slain and the flame of their bodies being burned together parted Wrath once kindled among neighbours is hardly reconciled but among brothers scarcely extinguished by death it self chiefly when a kingdom lies at stake Tanta est discordia fratrum â— yet the brood of incestuous parents are more bloody then any other Spring shall be Autumn and the Summer shall Be Winter Rising of the Sun the Fall E're I le disarm me or renew old league 40. Which thou by thy offences do'st reneague E're this my wrath shall vanish or my hate While time and houres do last one jot abate Such peace between us while I breathe I le keep That is between the ravenous wolves and sheep 45. First I le by verse encounter though these feet For penning martial things are not so meet A Champion first on yellow sand makes bright His spear before he lists into the fight So sharpened weapons yet I will not use 50. Nor shall my spear thy hateful body bruise My book shall not thy name or deeds reveal And who thou art I will as yet conceal But cease else shall my keen Iambick dart Shafts dipp'd in blood of false Lycambes heart Lycambes not performing his promise to marry his daughter Niobole to Archilochus the Poet so bitterly inveyed against the father and daughter in Iambick verses that they both hanged themselves Criticks derive fides from fio because whatsoever is faithfully promised by word should be fully performed in deed B. Hall Med. Some promise what they cannot do as Satan to Christ Some what they could but mean not to do as the sons of Jacob to the Shechemites Some what they meant for the time but after retreat as Laban to Jacob and Lycambes to Archilochus so great distrust is there in man either by impotency or unfaithfulness But let wilful promise-breakers take heed lest they break their own necks Dabit Deus his quoque funem 55. Now as Callimachus did curse his foe Ibis so curse both thee and thine I doe In stories dark I le wrap my book as he Although that method's seldom us'd by me His form I le follow in his Ibis now 60. And my own wonted fashion disavow And of thy name ' cause I le no mention make Do thou the name of Ibis also take And as something of night my verses have So let thy life prove black unto thy grave 65. On New-years day and on thy birth-day let All with true lips this book to thee repeat Ye Gods of Sea and Earth and ye with Jove That better Kingdoms do enjoy above Gods of the Sea are Neptune Castor Pollux c. Gods of Heaven that drink of Nectar are Jupiter God of power to help Mars God of war to fight Apollo God of wisdom to counsel Liber God of wine to comfort To us
Christians there is but one God represented under those fictious names He is All in All our Help Wisdom Captain and Comfort To me to me with ears and hearts attend And let my prayers have their weight and end Hear me O Earth hear me O boysterous Main Hear me O skie let me your favours gain O Starres O Sun most glorious in thy rayes O Moon appearing not alike alwayes 75. O Night renown'd for shade O Triple Fate That spin our lives to the appointed rate The Gentiles made Night a Goddess but gave her no Temple nor sacrifice She is painted like a woman because that sex is more fearful and so are men by night more then day She bears a white child in the right hand that is Sleep and a black one in the left that is Death The three fatal Sisters are Clotho that holds the distaff Lachesis that spins the thred of mans life and Atropos that cuts it off 1 There is a three-fold estate of man Birth Life Death Hence the first Fate is called Nona because man is born in the ninth moneth the second Decima because man liveth ten times ten years the third Morta Death They are called Parcae because Death spares none They are the daughters of Jupiter and Themis God of Heaven and Goddess of Justice for Death is Gods just decree for sin Styx whom the Gods do swear by that dost glide With murmuring noise through valleys by Hell side Styx indeed is a Well in Arcadia whose water is strong poison so cold that nothing can contain it but a Mules hoof with this Alexander is thought to be made away by Antipater not without some aspersion upon Aristotle The Poets feign that this is a river in Hell that the Gods did swear by it which oath if any brake he was for certain years debarr'd from Nectar and Ambrosia the food of Deities 1. Styx signifies Hate because men dying begin to hate their former sins Heathens durst not take the name of Styx in vain but Christians take the name of God in vain what then may such sinners expect but to be debarr'd from Nectar and Ambrosia life and immortality Furies whose tresses winding snakes do tie 80. Who at the gates of that dark prison lie The three Furies Alecto Megaera and Tisiphone daughters of Pluto and Proserpina were called in heaven Dirae in earth Harpyae in hell Furiae 1 These are taken for the tortures of a guilty conscience where the torments of hell begin or for the commotions of the mind Covetousness Envy Discord or for Gods three judgments Megaera Plague sweeping all away Alecto Famine never satisfied Tisiphone Sword a murtherer and revenger of sin These are worshipped not because they can do good but lest they should do hurt Fawnes Satyres Lares Gods of low degree Rivers and Nymphes and you that half-Gods be 1. Faunus king of the Latins had a wife called Fauna or Fatua from prophecying she read fortunes Hence foretellers of things are called Fatuarii and inconsiderate speakers Fatui The Faunes are thought to have sent the disease called Ephialtes or Night-mare which Pliny terms Faunorum ludibria Faunus was worshipped as a God for teaching Tillage and Religion much more should we worship the true God that giveth all good things These Gods had hornes to fright men to religion whom reason would not draw Primus in orbe Deum fecit timor 2. Satyres were lascivious creatures their descent I find not they were like the Faunes with a mâ—ns head horned all hairy with Goates feet they were Deified because they should not hurt the catel 1 These are but rude rustick clownes given to drinking wenching and dancing â—acchus is said to be their companion because â—ine provokes lust This conception of Satyes may proceed from savage men discovereâ— in woods by the civil wearing beasts skins on â—heir tawny bodies with the tail hanging doâ—n behind and hornes on their heads either for ornament or terrour such are yet amoâ—g the West-Indians Mr Sandys to these ignorance and â—ar ascribed a celestial Deity 3. Lares â—ere begot of Mercury and Lara Some think the Lâ—rvae and Lemures to be the same they are as Penates Gods of houses and Lar is painted like a dog a good house-keeper which is kind to the houshold fieâ—e to strangers Men sacrificed to him in the châ—ney hence the house and so the fire is called La. 1 Thâ—se were Gods of low degree among the ancient Romans and what higher have the new 4. Nymphae quasi Lymphae were Deities of the Waters if sprung from Mountains they were called Oreades if from Woods and Trees Dryades and Hamadryades if from moisture of flowers Napeae if from the Sea Nereides if from Rivers Naiades 1 These Nymphs were daughters of Oceanus because Rivers return into the Sea froâ— whence they came So should we return thanks to God from whence comes all These Nymphs are painted spinning It is no shâ—me for a Lady to be a Spinster or a â—uswife 2 In Poets there be Gods of Haven Earth Hell Woods Waters c. Tâ— shew that Gods power and providence dâ— reach unto every place If I climbe to â—eaven thou art there if to Hell thou art tâ—ere also Enter presenter Deus hic ubiq potenter Gods old and new that do remain till now From the first Chaos listen to my vow 85. While ' gainst this hateful wretch with câ—â—rms I pray While grief and wrath their several parts diâ—play Gods of each rank let power my wish attâ—in And let no jot nor point of it prove vain As I do wish Gods do that all may be 90. Thought by Pasiphäes step-son said ot me Theseus son of Aegeus that took â— wife Ariadne daughter of Pasiphäe whom Bacchâ— after married being too credulous to the false acusation of his son Hippolitus made by Phoedra â—s Mother-law prayed Neptune to destroy him â—e caused a Sea-calf to startle his Coach-horses they threw him dragg'd him and kill'd him 1 If Theseus his curse prevailed against his own son why not Ovids against his foe 2. Note the malice of a Stepmother 3. Take heed of a parents curse Let him endure those pains which I omit And let his torments far exceed my wit I feign his name but let my vote no lesse Vex him or with the Gods find less success 95. He whom I curse goes now on Ibis score That knows he hath deserv'd these plagues and more I le not delay but speedily proceed To sacred Rites all people hear and heed Utter such dolefull words become a Herse 100. And let your faces overflow with tears Come to him with bad Omens and left feet Put on such robes as be for Mourners meet Ibis put on thy sacrificing weed Here stands the altar for thy death make speed 105. The pomp's prepared for thy Obsequies Hasten lay down thy throat curs'd sacrifice Earth thee no food no water streams allow A prosperous gale wind on thee never blow Let neither
counsel but at last being shipwrack'd he betook himself to a plank and so was saved 1 Ino was called Matuta Goddesse of the sea and the morning perhaps because the morning seems to rise out of the sea she is feignâ—d to appease the sea because winds that rage by night use to fall in the morning 2 The World is a sea the Church is a ship if we leave this ship we may be drowned eternally when the Church is torn in pieces by schismes and heresie we must not leave it so but hold fast to one plank where two or three are gathered together in the name of Christ keeping the ribband the bond of love and unity And left this kind of death but one should know At two horse tailes in pieces drawn be thou Metius Suffetius General of the Albans stood with his army expecting the event of the battel between the Romans with whom he was in league and the Fidenates on purpose to incline to the prevailing party Tulbus Hostilius having got the day condemned Metius to be drawn in pieces between two horses 1 True valour doth more respect and honour a professed constant foe then an unconstant ambodexter friend Pietas in hoste probatur 2 As Metius being alive was in mind between two so is he in body being dead Thus commonly Jack-on both-sides come to an untimely untoward end 3 Pretend not God and intend the Devil serve not God for Baalams wages of iniquity 4 Too many have fought not so much for the Cross of Christ as of the Coyn. Cruxillos maneat Die thou as he whom Carthage souldiers caught 280. That seorn'd a Roman should be chang'd or bought Marcus Attilius Regulus Consul of Rome was in battel taken captive by the Carthaginians and sent to Rome to return their captives in exchange for him he disswadeth the Romans and returneth to the enemy they cut off his eye-lids that he might not sleep and put him in an hollow tree full of sharp nails there he died 1 One pearle is of more value then Millions of barly cornes One Sun more glorious then a numerous company of Stars One wise and magnanimous Leader is of greater price then a numberless army of common-souldiers such an one will rather indure a torturing death then live that his Countrey may thereby suffer disgrace or damage 2 Heroick valour is more expressed by dying honourably in a good cause then saving his life by a base submission upon dishonourable termes 3 A mature final battel hath been accounted less disadvantagious then frivolous delay by exchange of captives 4 When our enemies take off our eye-lids our eyes are made the more open to behold the heavens 5 Persecutors are as pricks in our sides Lord prick their hearts to repentance Gods thee assist no more then th' Altar did Of Jove Hyrcaeus him that there was hid Priamus King of Troy fled to the Altar of Jupiter Hyrcaeus whence Pyrrhus dragged him by the hair of the head and slew him 1 Princes are subject to mutability and misfortunes as much if not more then subjects 2 Bloud-thirsty Ravilliacks fear neither God nor Man respect a Prince no more then a Peasant regard a Temple as little as a Tavern 3 Smite the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered Fight not against small or great but against the King 2 Chron. 18.30 An Helmet is safer then a Crown to defend the head As from mount Ossa Thessalus was thrown So headlong from a rock be thou cast down Thessalus King of Thessala most courteously entertained a stranger called Euryalus Walking together on the hill Ossa Euryalus thence cast him down and killed him and so possessed his kingdome 1 Some heretofore in the shape of strangers have entertained Angels but some since have in the form of Angels of light entertained worse then Euryalus 2 Cherish not a snake in thy bosome lest it sting thee to death 3 Ambition doth think Aceldama the nearest way to a throne 4 Ingratitude was the first of sins and is the worst Call a man unthankful and then tell him what you will Si ingratum dixeris omnia dixeris 285. As of Euryalus th' Usurper let The flesh of thee to greedy snakes be meat Euryalus that kill'd King Thessalus had his head eaten with Snakes 1 Divine justice will not suffer murder chiefly of a kind and noble Thessalus to be unrevenged 2 These snakes may be torments of the soul for sin What joy is it with Damocles to enjoy all things that may content all my senses when the point of a naked sword lies at my throat or which is far worse a sting in my conscience A good conscience is a continual feast and a bad one a perpetual hell From bloud-guiltiness good Lord deliver us Let scalding water poured on thy pate As Minos hasten thy appointed sate Minos King of Crete married Pasiphäe a Bull by means of a wooden Cow made by Daedalus had carnal commerce with the Queen Daedalus fearing the Kings revenge flies to Cocalus King of Cilicia Minos pursueth him and is kindly entertained by Cocalus The daughters of Cocalus pouring water upon his head in the Bath killed him 1 Though Minos for his equity and strict life on earth be feigned to be Judge in hell he had a loose Queen to his wife on earth And indeed the Proverb is as true as trivial The honester man the worse his luck 2 The history of Pasiphae runneth thus A captain named Bull incontinently used the Queen Mars affecteth Venus A souldier aimes at the fairest mark that is no Bull. 2 Many pats have been scalded with the daughters of Venus and live longer then Minos but it was hot service 3 Be not so unhospitable to entertain a stranger and kill him that is the part of a Crocodile Or as Prometheus fierce not free thy bloud 290. To lofty Eagles be continual food Prometheus son of Iapetus and Themis because he made a man of clay and stole fire from heaven to put life into him was by Jupiter bound to a pillar on the hill Caucasus where an Eagle eats his heart which daily reneweth and Pandora's basket of miseries do afflict him 1 Prometheus might be an Astronomer that upon the hil Caucasus continually looked on the Celestial fires that is the Stars and observed the motion of the Sun and so his heart was eaten with cares and studies 2 Man may be called Promethus for of all sublunary creatures Man is most prudent and provident yet none more subject to Pandora's box of miseries then Man none more eaten with the Eagle of cares then Man 3 Prometheus is said to have first found out the use of fire among men therefore after death is honoured with Festivals as Vulcan the God of Fire and Ceres the Goddesse of Corn. To this me thinks alludeth that simple I wish not sinful Ceremony in some parts of England upon St Clements night among Brewers Bakers Smiths and such hot artificers But Morally Prometheus as the word importeth
kiss his toe and while they were about it spurn'd them into the sea 1 Many Kings have kissed the Popes toe yet he hath kicked the Crowns off their heads 2 Too low submission unto a lofty Tyrant doth heighten his insolence and hastens the peoples down-fall Asperius nihil est humili cùm surgit in altum 3. Theseus put Polipemon and his son Damastres or Procrustes to the same death which they had inflicted on others who rackt out or cut short to the length of their bed such strangers as came to Harmonia 1 Thus Levellers by Apocope would pare off the superfluities of long Estates and by Paragoge add to the extremities of the short so make both even to their own ends Thus in some parts the Tax of strongest and longest means is shortned and the lowest and weakest lengthened But Deuce Ace non possunt and Sice Sink solvere nolunt Omnibus est notum Cater Tray solvere totum Deuce Ace cannot pay scot and lot and Sice Sink will not pay Be it known to all what payments fall must light on Cater Tray. 4. The Minotaure in the Labyrinth who was half Bull half man wat slain by Theseus Read of this before 1 The Romans bear a Minotaure in their Ensigns to declare that the Counsels and Stratagems of a General should be muffled in the unsearchable blackness of secrecy like a Labyrinth not to be traced by the enemy yea often to be concealed from dearest friends according to the saying of Metellus If I thought my shirt knew my purpose I would tear it off my back 2 Sensual and worldly people are like the Minotaure like Men in Soul like Beasts in Body If sin kills the first the other suffers alike 3 The greatest Bulls of Basan the stoutest Potentates were they as strong as Minotaures will be overtaken by death violent or natural No place so intricate or so strongly fenced a Labyrinth can secure the highest person Nullo fata loco possis excludere As he that men from boughs to th' air up threw And billows did of this and that sea view Pityocamptes dwelt between the IoÌ„nian and Aegean sea he is the same with Sinis of whom I spake before Or like to savage Cercyons corps whose slaughter 410. By Theseus hand mov'd Ceres unto laughter Cercyon as some report was a notable strong thâ—ef near Eleusis he bowed the stoutest trees and binding men unto them tote them in pieces But Plutarch relates that Theseus killed him as he others Plutarch in Theseus by murdering those whom he conquered he first devised the sleights of wrestling which was carried onely by strength before Ceres laughed to see him die because he spoyled her countrey Eleusis 1 His own iniquity shall take the wicked himself and he shall be held with the cords of his own sin Prov. 11.10 Adoni-besech was punished himself as he had punished others Judg. 2. 2 As there is joy in heaven for Gods mercy upon a repenting sinner so may in some sort be on earth for his judgment upon impenitent reprobates as they are enemies to the common-wealth of Israel 3 The surviving Horatius in Florus killed his own sister Florus l. 1. because she wept on the slain body of an enemy to the Romans All plagues implor'd by my just wrath on thee Befall let none thou sufferest lighter be As Achimenides in Sicily Was left the Trojan Navy being nigh Achimenedes son of Adamantus one of Ulysses souldiers was left in Polyphemus den till Aeneas three moneths after relieved him 1 When a jade is tir'd and overworn give one his skin to knock him in the head When a silk-worm hath done his work let him flie or die when the war is off and the Generals design and aim attained let the souldier after sink or swim the Amalekite howsoever was too blame that left his servant or souldier sick in the field 2 Sam. 30.23 much more is he that leaves him in a dungeon 415. Be thou as double-named Irus poor Of beggers on the bridge make thou one more Irus was first named Arnaeus afterwards Irus from Iris for as Iris the Rainbow is the messenger or servant to Juno that is the Air so was Irus to the Woers of Penelope he had a singular art in begging and hence came the Adage Iro pauperior Poorer then Irus Ulysses with his fist cuffed him and killed him Beggers commonly sit on a bridge where most passengers do resort 1 Poverty is to any ingenious spirit the extremest misery 2 A serving-man young a begger old chiefly if his master be luxurious or lascivious for when he hath consumed his revenue himself and his retinue must beg or steal When the prodigal feeds upon husks what reversion falls to his needy greedy servants share 3 Roman masters in their manumission by a cuff on the ear put their slaves free into the world but Ulysses freely cuffed Irus out of the world Pray still to Ceres son but still in vain Call still upon him yet no riches gain Plutus son of Ceres is feigned to be the God of riches and to lie in the subtreranean parts of Spain which coast abounds with Minerals but many Authors conclude that Plutus is the same with Pluto the God of hell son in law to Ceres 1 In the division of the world between the three sons of Saturne the heavens were allotted to Jupiter the seas to Neptune and hell to Pluto that is Jupiter reigned in the Orient called the superiour part whence light ascends Sandys as the occident the inferiour assigned to Pluto This tradition is derived from the partition of the earth between the three sons of Noah Sem Ham and Japhet And because the Western Climats where Pluto reigned abounded with gold and silver wrapped in the secret bowels of the earth he was called the infernal Deity or the God of riches as his name importeth Nor unaptly were riches feigned to proceed from hell which have carried such a number thither This God is painted lame and winged for wealth comes halting to the honest but gallops on Pluto's black horses unto others Because the waters ebb and flow the sand Is slippy on 't no foot can stedfast stand So let thy mean estate still melt away And slip between thy fingers day by day As he whose girle a thousands shapes did trie So be thou full and yet with famine die Erisichthon a Thessalian despising the Gods cut down a grove dedicated to Ceres and was therefore punished with unsatiable hunger so eating his own flesh notwithstanding Metra his daughter that could change her self into divers shapes was contented often to be sold to gain whereby to feed her father 1 Groves were consecrated to some Deity or other because such shady and delightful places affected the mind and reduc'd it to sequestred contemplations composing the thoughts and inspiring a secret propensity to devotion begetting an apprehension of some latent or hidden power But what being well applied might nourish devotion
tower of brass Therefore I say unto all Watch. At Phoebus altar sacrifice thy breath Conquer'd Theodotus suffer'd such a death Theodotus presuming to be called King of Bactrians was overcome by Arsaces King of Persia and after sacrificed by him to Apollo the God of Learning 1 Were all the enemies to Apollo and Learning sacrified upon altars revived Muses would again ascend their own Parnassus pluck down their harps from the mournfull willows and be re-adorned with their wonted joyfull bayes Knowledge hath no worse enemy then impudent ignorance Ahab was punished for sparing Benhadad the enemy of God Amici much more inimici vitia fi feras facis tua Connivance at sin is compliance with sin 465. Thee let Abdera one day vote to dye Let stones upon thy head like hailstones flye People of Abdera a town in Thracia the native place of Democritus the Philosopher and Protagoras at the beginning of each year were wont to vote one man for the Common-wealth to dye and he was stoned 1 The ancient Jewes at the Feast of Expiation used to offer two Goats Godwins Moses and Aaron whereof one was sacrificed on the head of the other called the Scape-Goat the Priest disburdened the sins of the whole congregation and let him scape into the wilderness By the scape Goat is shadowed the impassibility of Châ—ists divine nature by the other his sufferings in his manhood The modern Jews upon the same day the Men take a white Cock and the Women a Hen and thrice swinging it about the Priests head do thus speak This Cock shall be a propitiation for me And why a Cock because say they Gibher hath sinned therefore Gibher shall make satisfaction Now Gibher in Hebrew signifies a man in their Talmud a Cock Hence I conceive came that common saying oftner read then understood Albo Gallo ne manum admoliaris Lay not thy hand upon a white Cock that is Rob not God of his offering The Grecians at the yearly expiation of their Cities tumbled down condemned persons into the sea saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be thou a propitiation for us So in a great infection they sacrificed men and called them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Apostle useth both these words 1 Cor. 4.13 We are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Filth and off-scouring We are as odious and laden with cursing and reviling as those persons who were offered up by way of publick expiation Christ was made a sin for us sinners and freely offered himself for us the just for the unjust Or lâ—ke Hippomenes son Jove in his ire With bolts thee kill or like Dosithoes sire 1. Prester son of Hippomenes railed at Jupiter for that he had justly thrown his father out of his kingdome for his cruelty and was therefore killed with a thunder-bolt but Vegetius reports this of Capaneus son of Hipponous 1 To make and not execute laws is to make a private mans offence the sin of the publick For to omit the punishment of it Dal. Aph. is to commit it 2 To take offence at the just punishment of the offender is to disapprove justice and approve the offence Such a reviler should be whipt into good manners and obedience for example lest he breaks forth into like enormities and draw more after him Caesar when his Nobles could not come to his royal Feast for tempests commanded his Archers to shoot up arrows at Jupiter in heaven but they turned back on their own heads No sin of Israel was so grievous to to God as Murmuring Repine not when God doth punish the sins of thy friend lest he dip his arrows in thy bloud too 2. Atrax was slain by a thunder-bolt for destroying his own daughter Dofithoae because she â—ay with Jupiter 1 In the hands of a Parent is the power of correction not destruction of their children Parents should pray that God would give their sinful children grace and time to repent not ungraciously to cut off their time of repentance by untimely death The Magistrate beareth the sword in vain if a private person may execute publick justice 2 Divine vengeance will not leave cruelty unrevenged Therefore if thy brother offend forgive him seventy times seven times considering that if God should call thee to an account thou canst not answer one of a thousand Si quoties homines peccant sua fulmina mittat Jupiter c. When the child falls into a gross offence put thy hand into thy own bosome and ask What have I done Autonoes sister Maia's sisters son 470. Or that unskilful Coachman Phaeton 1. Semele sister of Autonoe daughter of Cadmus having too often injoyed the company of Jupiter at last denied him any further approch unless he came to her as to Juno with the ensigns of his deity he embracing her with lightning and thunder killed her 1 Those who too curiously and boldly search into Divine Majestie shall be oppressed with the brightness of his glory 2 Jupiter and Juno are said to couple with thunder and lightning because lightning and thunder proceed from the conjunction of the etherial heat and acrial cold Jupiter had a three-forked thunder-bolt so there be three sorts of lightning the drier dissipates the moister blasts the other melts money in bags and swords in scabbards instantly lifting up liquor in vessels without breach or impair to the thing contained slaying Infants in the womb without mortal prejudice to the mother By the variety of lightning learn that God doth not equally punish all offenders 3 Be not unequally yoked Semele is an unfit match for Jupiter Si qua velis aptè nubere Ovid. nube pari If the Earthen pot swims with the Brazen one touch will break it Pry not peep not into the Ark The Satyr kissing the lightning burned his lips The Flie busie with the Candle burns her wings The common people must not come nigh the Hill where was lightning and thunder lest they die Exod. 19. Be content with things revealed thinking thy self happy that God hath made thee of his court though not of his counsel B. Hall 2. Porphyrion son of Sisyphus by Ops following the wicked example of his father was slain by a thunder-bolt 1 Patris ad exemplum soboles componitur omnis Though original sin be derived by propagation yet actual sins are for the most part committed by imitation and example Patterns work upon us more thâ—n precepts A good father is like a sweet oyntment perfuming all the house but a wicked one is worse then the fiery serpent he stings the children to death of body and soul Follow not a multitude to sin much less a single person though he be thy father lest like sin draw on like judgment 3. Phaeton son of Sol and Clymene obtained of his father leave to rule his chariot one day but for want of strength and skill the Horses ran so near they had almost burn'd the earth had not Jupiter struck him down with a Thunder-bolt 1 God could not punish a
to death and was brought to hell whither her husband went to redeem her by his Musick by which he drew tears and consent from Pluto and Proserpina provided that he looked not behind him to behold her before they had past the confines of Styx but he could not forbear so lost her again 1 This Fable invites us to moderation in our desires lest we lose what we affect by too much affecting Hell may seem but meer perturbations of Orpheus mind for the death of his beloved which was pacified by the harmony of reason when looking back that is recalling her to his remembrance he falls into a desperate relapse and seems to lose her a second time 2 Justice that is Euridice and a Prince that is Orpheus should be married together If this be stung to death by the Serpent of war the prince by the melodious harmony of peace should revive it Orpheus in love ventur'd to hell to redeem his wife Some christians will rather wish their Wives in hell then strive to keep much less to fetch them thence 3 The soul of man like Euridice delighting her self among the flowers of pleasure was stung by that old Serpent the Devil and delivered from the nethermost hell by the true Orpheus Jesus Christ Or like Hypsiphiles boy or who by force And point of sword did pierce the wooden horse 1. Hypsiphile Queen of Lemnos being condemned for saving her father when all the men of the Isle were slain fled to Nemea where Lycurgus made her Nurse of his son Opheltes or Achimorus who being left by her in a Medow was kill'd by a Serpent for which she was sentenced to die but was preserved by the Argives 1 Note here the unconstancy of worldly honour To day a Queen to morrow a Nurse to day as rich as Croesus to morrow as poor as Irus Crowns and Scepters are slippery things 2 See how Providence protects and prolongs the life of those that like Hypsiphile do honour and preserve their parents 3 Lycurgus sons name was not onely Opheltes because he was killed by a Serpent but Archimorus from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beginning and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 death because he died an infant Death loves green fruit as well as ripe yea green hath lately tasted sweeter then any other for more Infants died this year by small pox then in any one of this last age 2. Laocoon son of Priamus King of Troy was Priest to Apollo he with the point of a spear or a sword pierced the Trojan horse for which the Gods were offended and sent Serpents to kill him as a despiser of the gift of Pallas 1 The Evangelical Prophet Esaias was son of Amos who as the best writers do conceive was brother to King Azariah In those times then it seemeth that Laocoon the son of a King and the best of men thought not themselves too good to be Priests but in Jeroboams time and later dayes the worst of men are made Priests and Priests are made the worst of men 2 As sacred things should not be touched with unwashed hands so State matters should admit no vulgar handling In business of War the Church-mans onely weapon should be prayer he must not lift up his hand to reforme or his voice to reprove much less take up a sword as Laocoon 3 Seditious Preachers against the Politick and scandalous inveighers against the state Ecclesiastical have brought distraction to the State and destruction to themselves Dal. Aph. A Minister should not intrude into the office or place of a Souldier or Mechanick nor they into his Ne sutor ultra crepidam No safer then Elpenor climb a ladder Let strength of wine make thee so mad or madder Elpenor one of Ulysses mates being drunk with wine in the house of the Enchantress Circe climb'd a ladder and broke his neck 1 Circe turned many of Ulysses followers into swine by making them drink of her charmed cup and moving her rod over them wherein perhaps the Devil Aped Moses rod with which he wrought such wonders Circe is so called from mixture because the mixture of the Elements is necessary to generation Sandys She turned men into several sorts of beasts because corruption of the one begets a form far different from it self Ulysses could not lose his shape who being fortified with immortal power of wisdome was not subject to mutation The body composed of the four Elements is like Ulysses mates obnoxious to change by diseases and corruption the Soul like Ulysses can by no assault of nature be converted into a beast so highly participating of Reason Drunkenness breaks the neck of a mans estate sometimes of his body as here of Elpenor But a man bewitched to a whore shall be brought to a morsel of bread and so go down to the chamber of death by famine if he comes not sooner to his ladder end 485. Do thou like each fool-hardy Dryops fall Whom rash Theodomas to war did call Theodomas denieth Hylas son of Hercules provision of victuals Hercules killeth some of his Oxen Theodomas raiseth an army against him Hercules conquers him and the people called the Dryopes that came to aid him 1 It is good sleeping they say in a whole skin A man being near drowning in a river sinks himself and the party that comes to help him if he once catch hold 2 The Pelican to save her young ones from the fire which the shepherds make to catch them seeks to blow it out with her wings and so burns her self I had rather bewail the fire of dissention afar off then stir in the coles lest I fire my own wings B. Hall before I quench that In Church-division I will not meddle more then by prayers to God and intreaties to men seeking my own safety and the peace of the Church in freedom of my thought and silence of my tongue 3 That foolish churlish Nabal 1 Sam. 25. like Theodomas denying David some provision endangered himself and his whole family Or in thy den some valiant man thee slay As Cacus whom stoll'n oxen did bewray Cacus a mighty Giant son of Vulcan depopulated part of Italy that lies about mount Aventine with his robberies he is said to vomit fire in that he burnt the corn on the ground and enviously destroyed what he could not reap He while Hercules slept took away the best of his oxen and drew them into his cave by the tailes that no impression might be seen of any feet going thither but they were discovered by their bellowing So Hercules with his club killed Cacus 1 The she Bear retires backward into her den that she might not be traced by the hunter A cunning thief to avoid suspâ—cion turns the shooes of his stollen horse backward Such is the Delphick language of ambiguous Turn-coats 2 Cacus by interpretation is Evil which lurkes in Caves because never secure when Hercules or virtue vindicates his own by the destruction of the other although with hypocrisie and
upon a Countrey rich in the plenties of a long peace and full with the surfeit of continual ease it never leaves purging those superfluities till all be wasted and consumed Thus the roaring Lion of hell falls upon a soul being full and secure As to Lycurgus son that climb'd a tree And Idmon bold a Bore thy ruine be 1 Butes whom some authors call Ancaus or Angaeus son of Lycurgus King of Thrasia being fiercely pursued by a Bore climbed a tree but before he was up the Bore pulled him down again and slew him 1 This when we are climbing the tree of knowledge and sublime understanding of divine truth that Bore of the wilderness the Heretick labours to pluck us back into errours Thus when we are ascending the tree of life towards heaven that Serpentine Satan indeavours to draw us back into deadly sin and damned Hell 2. Idmon a southsayer among the Argonauts was in Bythinia slain by a Bore 1 Southsayers and Astrologers can foreshew to others what evils they may shun but cannot prevent what hangeth over their own heads Thales gazing on the Stars fell into a ditch Nequicquam sapit qui sibi non sapit If thou be wise be wise unto thy self The Bell rolls in others to sermon but hears not a word it self Moses brought the Israelites to Canaan but entred not in himself Many I fear shew others the way to heaven and come short themselves Sic vos non vobis mellificatis Apes A Bore thy deaths wound give when he is dead As upon whom fell such a creatures head Thoas a famous hunter in Andragathia was wont to hang on a tree the head and feet of all he caught as a sacrifice to Diana at last having got a mighty Bore he kept the feet and hang'd up onely the head by a string which fell upon him being a sleep under the tree 1 Although the Priests were allowed part of the Jewish sacrifice the whole was offered unto God 2 If so fearful and sudden death befell Ananias and Saphira because they detained part of their own gift devoted to the Church Acts 5. what may sacrilegious latrons expect who never gave to the Church as much as one of the widows mites yet take from it to their own use the most part of that was given to others 3 Offer not to God the blind or the lame serve not God by halfes but give him the honour due unto his name being Holocausts whole presents to him theâ— ought to be feared God might justly require all yet he accepts the tenths of our means and the seventh of our time shall we grudge him that God forbid 505. Like them be thou whom fruit of Pine-tree kill'd As Phrygia's hunter and Berentius child Atys a Phrygian hunter and Nauclus son of Berentius sleeping under a Pine-tree were both slain by apples falling from the same tree 1 Mille modis morimur mortales nascimur uno By one way we are born by thousands we die As God can save by small means so he can destroy Death is a long sleep and sleep a short death some have fallen into such a deadly sleep they never waked Lie down therefore with the Prophet Davids petition in thy mouth or heart Lord lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death Psal 13. And if to Minos sands thou voyage make Let Cretians thee for a Sicilian take For the death of Minos King of Crete killed in Sicilia by King Cocalus or his daughter in the pursuit after Daedalus the Cretians ever since so hate that people that they put all to death that arrive in those coasts 1 The Aspick pursueth him which hath hurt or killed his mate and knows him among a multitude him he still hunteth and laieth for his life breaking through all difficulties and dangers to come unto him Dall Aph. So is revenge furiously out-ragious and out-ragiously furious Yea for the cause of one single person families cities kingdoms fall at variance and hardly or never be reconciled In revenge of one Dinah Simeon and Levi destroyed all the Sichemits Gen. 34. but cursed was their wrath Gen. 49.7 510. As to Alebas daughter it befell And to her husband let a house thee quell Alcidice daughter of Alebas a Larissean with her husband Lycoris by the fall of their house were slain 1 Whether these persons suffered this punishment for any offence to the Gods for the father Alebas was an oppressour or their house fell by chance I read not But holy Writ reports that while Jobs children were rioting the house fell down and killed them I will wind up this apâ—lication with our Saviours caveat unto the Jews and in them to all Thinke ye that those on whom the tower of Shilo fell were greater sinners more then you verily I say unto you except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Luke 13. As Tiberinus and Evenus nam'd The streams where they were drown'd be thou so fam'd Tiberinus or Tiberius King of the Albans was drowned in the river Albiola which since is called Tibris or Tiberis after his name So Evenus son of Mars and Marpesse was drowned in the river Lycormas and gave that river his name Evenus 1 The noblest honour the ancients could invent for the dead was a glorious Monument with their Names Titles and Deserts but Auson Mors etiam faxis nominibusque venit Death as well seizeth upon Monuments as Men. 2 Immortal fame was the utmost hope of the Heathen after death And what more doth that Christian expect who takes more care to have houses called of his name then his soul in an heavenly mansion The Lord be pleased to write my name in the book of life then let my fame on earth be as mortal as my body As Hyrtacus his son one fix thee dead Upon a stake let mans food be thy head Nisus son of Hyrtacus adventuring to redeem his friend Eurialus being caught by the army of the Kutilians willingly endured the same death with him their bodies were cast to be eaten by men and their heads put upon stakes 1 He that is a friend to all is a friend to none he that sincerely is a friend to one is truly a friend to himself for a friend is second self Let no man therefore like Janus bear two faces under one hood nor blow hot and cold out of one mouth Let friends like Harpocrates twins laugh and cry together partake and sympathize in every estate Learn of our voluntary friend and undeserved Saviour that freely died not with us but for us not for his friends but enemies 515. As Brotheus did when death was his desire Thy body cast into a flaming fire Brotheus son of Minerva by Vulcan because he was jeered for his deformed body cast himself into the fire and died 1 Vasius that deformed Roman to prevent others would first jeer himself 2 What nature fails in one is recompenced in another part Who more ugly shapen then Aesop who more ingenious
imaginary hope to be called immortal in the mouth of poor credulous mortals But these Impostors have some odd slip or other that bewrayes their jugling as Empedocles shooes discovered him The Egyptian Sorcerers Exod. 8. could imitate Moses in the hardest miracles but failed in the lowest they could not make Lice The Swan is comely white in body but his feet are ugly black Hypocritical professors appear like Angels of light yet the feet of their souls run not the narrow milky way of Gods Commandments but the broad black way of the prince of darkness for they are not soundly shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace Thinking thee Orpheus let the wives of Thrace With mad nails tear thy limbs place after place Orpheus having lost his wife Euridice determined to marry no other but lived a single life and disswaded others from marriage at last he fell to the devillish use of boyes and therefore the wives of Thrace by scratching killed him 1 A shipwrack'd mariner being once arrived home with his tattered vessell hangs up his tacklings in Neptunes Temple and fears to adventure to sea again I could not blame perplexed Socrates had he been so happy as to have buried his cursed wise Xantippe if he had vowed perpetual abstinence And were I a widdower should I marry a worse wife then the former I should grieve at her life if as good I should grieve at her death Yet better it is saith the Apostle to marry then to burn Nay in such an extreme the Devil with his fiery darts may kindle an obstinate Votary as he did Orpheus with those filthy men Rom. 1. to leave the natural use of women and burn in lust of one towards another 600. Althea 's son was burn'd by flames not nigh So by a fatal brand live thou and dye Meleager son of Oeneus King of Calidonia by Althea was to live as long as the stick which the Fates gave his mother should last Diana being angry that Oeneus offered not sacrifice unto her sent a Bore to devour the Countrey Meleager accompanied with his Uncles Plexippus and Toxus and fair Atalanta killed the Bore and presented the head unto the Lady which his Uncles took from her and were therefore both slain by Meleager In revenge of her brothers bloud his mother cast the fatal stick into the fire which being burnt out Meleager died 1 No evil happens to a man but it proceeds either from omission of divine worship or actual impiety Sandys and though it seems to proceed from natural causes as concealed from our understanding it is inflicted by supreme appointment 2 Dishonour to a mistress is an injury to the Lover implacable and immortal as Atalanta's to Meleager But wich the brand in the fire his life was extinguished This is thought to have been effected by witchcraft his image being carved upon the brand Plinie speaketh of waxâ—n Images made by Magicians And Bucanan relates that Duff the eigâ—teenth King of Scotland pâ—ned away with perpetual sweat but when a witch that was â—oâ—â—d rosting the Kings Image in wax at a â—oft fire was taken and executed and the Image broken the King recovered in a moment From the crafts and assaults of the Devil good Lord deliver us Or as the Phasian chaplet burnt the spouse With her her father and her fathers house Medea of Colchos by which place the river Phasis runneth drawn through the air by her Dragons arrived at Corinth where her husband Jason was married to Creusa daughter of King Câ—eon whence being condemned to banishment she obtain'd a dayes respite in the interim she sends a crown and robe to Creusa which being put on set her on fire with her father that came to rescue her and at last the whole house 1 All creatures and plants do increase to a period and then do incline and decay except the Crocodile Dal. Aph. which grows bigger and bigger to her death All perturbations of mind have their intentions and remissions except malicious revenge chiefly of alienated love the longer it lasteth the stronger it waxeth as we may see by Medea 2 That wherewith she anointed the garment sent to Creusa is by Plutarch called Naptha which is a slimie chalk engendred among the rocks in Parthia between this chalke and the fire is so great sympathy that it draws the fire unto it as the load-stone doth iron and is incensed with the natural heat of the body enraged rather then subdued by water Alexander for sport sake caused his boys garment to be anointed with it which being set on fire burned him to death though all means possible was used to quench it and preserve the youth As bloud like poyson Hercules limbs did fill So let ranke poyson all thy vitals kill Hercules swom over the river Evenus and trusted the half-horse Nessus to carry over his wife Dejanira but the perfidious Centaure attempting mean time on the bank to ravish her was prevented by a mortal wound from Hercules arrow Dying Nessus perswaded her to give Hercules a garment dipt in his bloud saying it would revive her husbands decaied affection Hercules wearing it broyls with extreme heat and miserably dies 1 Nessus was one of those that fled from the battel between the Centaures the Lapithits whom Hercules helped to subdue yet contrary to humane policy Hercules gives credit to a reconciled enemy But credulity proceeds from a mans own Integrity a vice more honest then safe Thus Dejanira like a woman that is either too affectionate or too jealous accâ—pts the gift not considering that it came from an enemy which ever tends to mischief More circumspect was the Trojan Timeo Danäos dona ferentes The Greeks though bringing gifts I fear Thus noble and worthy Heroes have been ruined by too much confidence in perfidious cowards 605. And as his heir revenged Pentheus son Lycurgus with like dart be thou undone Lycurgus son of Pentheus that was son of Dryas because he cut down the vines in Thracia was infuriated by Bacchus Priests and so cut his own shins Buthes or Bethes son of Lycurgus in his fathers revenge slew them 1 It is too much like Bacchus Priests to be drunk alone but to provoke others doth aggravate the offence Thus persons sick of the plague take delight to infect others And as it was lawful in former times to kill a pestilent person that presumed to go abroad upon that design so was it natural in Butes the son to destroy the pestiferous Priests that did intoxicate his father to his ruine As Milo stout to cleave an Oak assay But faile to pluck thy fastned hand away Milo of Crotonia a man of incomparable strength carried an Ox on his back over the Olympian stage in one breath then knockt him in the head with his fist and in one day eat him every bit being too confident of his strength he took upon him to pluck out the wedges that the clevers had stuck fast in an oak which he
Isis thus Jupiter loved Isis Certainly the Egyptians worshiped Osyris under the shape of an Ox and why not Isis in the form of a Cow for she taught them husbandry and many arts Nor do some of the learned doubt but that the Israelites long sojourning in Egypt brought thence their superstition of the golden calf made after two by Jeroboam Sandys that lived an exile in that countrey So much for History But Naturally Jupiter lay with Iö that is the aetheriall heat draws up vapours from the earth perpetually and is delivered to Argus that is the starry heaven Nat. Com. to be kept Morally thus Iö was turned to a Cow and delivered to Argus so many by Gods permission degenerate into beastly affections whereby they are made slaves to wealth and are subject to watching and continual cares like Argus his eyes Or as Melanthius son that guilty lay In dark by light his mother did bewray So let thy body he with weapons cut And of all friendly succour destitute Codrus son of Melanthius not the King nor the Poet having killed his father hid himself his mother alone knowing where he lay with a candle found him out and delivered him to the Athenians to suffer death 1 That famous Greek Law-giver being asked why among other Laws he made none against him that killed his father gave this worthy answer I thought no man could be so wicked Wickedness it is of a deep die to kill a natural father but it was a crime in grain for Ravilliack to kill his civil father That is but a private This a publick person and a common parent The bloud of a murdered stâ—anger will cry aloud to heaven for vengeance of a brother louder but of a father louder yet If Cain shall be avenged seven times Lamech shall be avenged seven times seven Gen. 4.24 Such as the desperate Trojan that did vow To steal Achilles horses rest have thou Dolon a nimble-footed souldier of Troy for a sum of money promised to fetch away two of Achilles horses but he was prevented by Ulysses and Diomedes by whom he was all night examined concerning the affairs of Troy and in the morning killed 1 Who can blame Dolon a poor Pedee for adventuring his life for Gold What else next to honour is the highest aim of the chiefest souldier The first was the happiest of all ages it was golden not from money but manners for then was no gold nor silver known no war nor souldier used This last and worst of Ages though it be called the Iron age because so much armes and weapons are made it may indeed more properly be called the golden age for never was gold in more esteem Aurea nunc verè sunt secula plurimus auro Venit honos auro conciliatur Amor. Now is the golden age indeed for gold Honour is bought and love it self is sold Such sleep as Rhesus and his company May'st thou enjoy the night before thou die Rhesus King of Thracia had horses of whom it was destined that if they drank of the river Xanthus and tasted of the pastures of Troy that Troy should not be taken such was the fond conceit of the besieged he approched very nigh unto his fatal steeds but was taken by night of Ulysses and both he and his company slain 1 Whatsoever Providence hath decreed concerning person or Nation cannot be avoided All humane policy plots and stratagems crossing this are but labour in vain sublunary and secundary causes are but subordinate instruments The divine power is the first mover and director of all 2 Man may purpose God must dispose But if God be for us who can be against us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If God thee aid no force can thee assail If God helps not no labour can prevail Or with Rutilian Rhamnes whom the son 630. Of Hyrtacus slew and his companion Rhamnes a King and Southsayer an auxiliary of Turnus being a sleep in his Tent with many souldiers was taken napping and slain by Nysus son of Hyrtacus and his companion Euryalus 1 Augustus Caesar would gladly have bought that mans pillow whereon he could sleep being in debt not fearing a Catch-poll at the door to apprehend him Desperate is the condition of that Mariner that falls asleep on the top of a mast-pole and who will pitty that souldiers death that sâ—orts in his tent not dreaming that the enemy is still watching to surprize him 2 Let us keep a continual guard over our souls Be sober and watch for your enemy the Devil walketh about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 As Clysias son hemm'd in with stifling fire Members half burn'd bring to the Stygian mire Alcibiades an Athenian could frame himself to all manners customes and fashions Plutarch in his life bestows upon him this character He could more easily transform himself to all manner of shapes then a Chamelion so that all people did wonder that in one man could be so divers natures At the last by the means of Lysander he was banished into Phrygia whither Pharnabazus sent executioners to kill him They set the house on fire which Alcibiades espying ran through the fire somewhat singâ—d the Murderers shot him with darts and killed him 1 The Chamelion is a small beast much like a Frog or a Toad it can change it self to all colours but white so can Hypocrites to any thing but honesty The Polypus in Lucian is a small kind of fish that can turn it self to the colour of any rock she swimâ— to So Timists Hypocrites change their opinion and swim with the tide like Alcibiades to day aâ— holy as a Monk to morrow as wicked as a Devil like Materia prima omaium formarum capax apt to entertain any form Omnium horarum homo turn'd up and down like and as oft as an hour-glass But such All-no-nothâ—ngs though they may not perhaps with Alcibiades suffer the fire and sword here must expect their portion among their brother-hypocrites in the lake hereafter As Rhemus that upon th'unfinish'd wall Presum'd to leap thy pate rude weapons mall When Rome was building Romulus the Founder and Namer of the City made an Edict that upon pain of death none should climb the walls before they were finished his brother Rhemus not regarding the Kings command ascended but was killed for his pains by the workmen 1 Fortune and Justice are both painted blind the one bestows without respect of persons so should the other punish not conniving at friends or a brother as dear as Rhemus Qui non vetat peccare cùm potest jubet Sen. Trag. An ill executioner of Laws is worse in a State then a great breaker of them Therefore Zaleucus when his own son for Adultery should according to Law have lost both his eyes he pluck'd out one of his own eyes first and then one of his sons thus shewing himself a tender father not onely to his child but countrey in preserving the Laws entire 635. Lastly among the Sauromatick frie And darting Getes here may'st thou live and die Sarmates are fierce and cruel people inhabiting near the Euxin Sea in the utmost part of Scythia they feed upon horse-flesh and mans flesh and are therefore called Anthropophagi by reason of the extreme cold of that Climat they lie in Caves under ground they fight with darts never knowing pâ—â—ce The Greeks call them Sauromates from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a Lâ—zard and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Eye Gâ—es are a people in Europe near Scythia sometimes called Daci or Dâ—vi therefore slaves among the Athenians were named Davi or Geâ—ae To this cold and comfortless nook of the world was most unseasonably transplanted the choicest flower of Poetry our most ingenious author Ovid. 1 This one Distick is the acutest and smartest in all this little learned Poem for it is not only most of all Satyrical but succinctly Rhetorical Ovid after many grievous miseries and mischiefs imprecated against Ibis summes up all particulars in this one Total and comprehends all curses that he hath or could repeat in this brief Corollary for worse he thought he could not invent To live and die in that accursed coasâ— where he was banished And Oratorically herein he doth closely intimate to Augustus that of all the punishments he could possibly inflict upon the most grievous offender none could be more grievous then his banishment into Scythia These lines in brief and in post-hast I wrot That thou might'st not complain I thee forgot 1 Surely he must have a memory brittler then Messala Corvinus that forgot his own name and a judgment shallower then a Baeotian that having throughly perused this Book will imagine that Ovid had forgotten Ibis My votes are few Gods add unto the score 640. And multiply thy tortures more and more More shalt thou read which thy right name shall hit And in such feet as bloudy wars be writ FINIS