vulgar sort tearmeâ— the night-mare or the riding of the witch which is nothing else but a disease proceeding of grosse phleume in the orifice of the stomach by long surfet which sends vp could vapors to the hinder cels of the moistened braine and there by his grosenesse hinders the passage of the spirits descending which also causes him that is affected to imagin hee sees something oppresse him and lie heauily vpon him when indeed the fault is in his braine in the hinder part only for if it were had possession of the middle part the fansie shoulde bee hindred froÌ„ imagining which also seemes to bee tainted with darkesome fumes because it formes and â—aignes to it selfe diuers visions of things which haue no existence in verity yet it is not altogether obscured and it may bee proued specially to lodge in that part I meane in the head because of the want of motion in that part cheifly This disease neuer takes any but while they lie vpon their backe There is an other diet for Venus we must not spend our selues vpon common curtizans wee must not be like Sparrowes which as the Philosopher saies goe to it eight times in an hower nor like Pigeons which twain are fained of the Poets to drawe the chariot of Cythâ—raea for their salacitie but rather like the stockdoue who is called palumbes quoniam pâ—rcit lumbis as contrariwise columba quippe colit lumbos because she is a venerous bird it were good to tread in Carnâ—ades his steps for chastity follow Xâ—â—crates example who as Frid. Millemanâ— reports was caused to lie with a curtezan all a night for the triall of his chastity whom the curtezan affirmed in the morning non vt hominem sed vt stipitem proptâ—r dormisse not to haue laide by her as a man but as a stocke For our exercise wherein a diet also is to be respected it must neither be too vehement nor too remisse adruboreÌ„ non adsudorem to he at not sweat There be two other the one of nutriment the other of attire which are in physick to be had in account which for breuity I passe ouer malleÌ„ eniÌ„ as he saith in minimâ— peccare quam non peccare in maxiâ— But note here that the first diet is not only in auoiding superfluity of meates and surfet of drincks but also in eschewing such as are not obnoxious and least agreable with our happy teÌ„perate state as for a cholericke man to abstaine from all salte scorched drye meates from mustard and such like things as will aggrauate his malignant humour al hot drincks enflaming wines for a sanguine to refraine from all wines because they engender superfluous blood which without euacuation will breed eyther the frenzie the hemoroihds sputam sanguiâ—s dulnes of the braine or any such disease for Phlegmaticke men to auoide all thinne rhumaticke liquors cold meat and slimy as fish and the like which may beget crudities in the ventricle the Lethargie Dropsies Cathars rhumes and such like for a melancholicke man in like maner to abandon from himselfe all dry and heauy meates which may bring an accrument vnto his sad humour so a man may in time change and alter his bad complection into a better Wee will therefore conclude that it is excellent for euery complection to obserue a diet that thereby the soule this heauenly created forme seing it hath a sympathie with the body may execute her functions freely being not molested by this terrestriall masâ—e which otherwise will bee a burthen ready to surpresse the soule Cap. 5. How man derogates from his excellency by surfet and of his vntimely death AS natures workemanship is not little in the greatest soe it may bee great in the least thinges there is not the abiectest nor smallest creature vnder the firmament but would astonish and amaze the beholder if he duly consider in it the diuine finger of the vniuersall nature admirable are the works of art euen in leâ—er things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little workes shewâ— forth great Artificers The image of Alexander mounted vpon his courser was so wonderfully portrayed out that being no bigger theÌ„ mote wel be couered with the naile of a finger hee seemed both to iercke the steede and to strike a terrour and an amazemeÌ„t into the beholder The whole 〈◊〉 ades of Homer were comprized into a compendious nutshell as the OratormeÌ„tions and Martiall in the second of his distichs The Rhodes did câ—rue out a ship in euery point absolute and yet so little that the wings of a flie might easily hide the whole ship Phydias merited great praise for his Scarabee his Grashop his Bee of which saith Iulian euery one though it were framed of brasse by nature yet his art did add a life and soule vnto it None of all these workes though admirable in the eye of cunning it selfe may enter into the lists of compare with the least liuing thing much lesse with that heauenly worke of works natures surquedry and pride that little world the true pattern of the diuine image man who if hee could hold himselfe in that perfection of soule and temprature of body in which he was framed and should by right preserue himselfe excels all creatures of the inferiour orbs from the highest vnto the lowest yet by distempering his soule and misdietting his body inordinatly by surfet luxury he far comes behind many of the greatest which are more abstinent and some of the lesse creatures that are lesse continent Who doth more excell in wisedom then he who 's more beau tified with the ornaments of nature more adorn'd with the adiuments of art indowed with a greater summe of wit who can better presage of things to come by naturall causes whoe hath a more filed iudgement a soule more actiue so furnisht with all the gifts of contemplation whoe hath a deper infight of knowledg both for the creator and creature whoe hath a body more sound and perfect who can vse soe speciall meanes to prolong his daies in this our earthly Paradise and yet we see that for all this excellency and supereminence through a distemperate life want of good aduice and circumspection by imbracing such things as proue his bane yea sometimes in a brauery hee abridges his owne daies pulling downe vntimely death vpon his owne head he neuer bends his study and endeauor to keepe his bodie in the same model and temper that it shold be in Mans life saith Aristotle is vpheld by two staffs the one is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 natiue heate the other is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 radicall moisture now if a man do not with all care seke to obserue an equall portion mixture of them both so to manage them that the one orecome not the other the body is like an instrument of musicke that wheÌ„ it hath a discordancy in the strings is wont to iarre and yeelds no melodious sweete harmony to go vnto the
will endamage and impaire their healths infect the conduit pipes of their limpid spirits what will dull and stupefie their quicker intelligence nay disable all the faculties both of soule and body as instance mought be giuen of many to them that haue had but a meere glympse into the histories and ancient records of many dish moungers who running into excesse of riot haue like fatall Parcas cut in two the lines of their owne liues as Philoxenus the Dythirambiok poet of whome Athenaeus speaks Deipnos 8 who deuoured at Syracusa a whole Polypus of two cubits long saue onely the head of the fish at one meale whome being deadly sicke of the crudity the PhisicioÌ„ told that he could not possibly liue aboue seuen hours whose wouluish appetite not with standing would not stint it selfe euen in that extremety but he vttered these wordes the more to intimate his vultur-like insaciate paunch Since that Charon and Atropos are comd to call me away from my delicies I thinke it best to leaue nothing behind me wherefore let me eat the residue of the Polypus who hauing eaten it expir'd who had the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Chrysâ—ppus as Athenaeus records and of others he was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Aristotle And what of others who although they did not so speedilie by ignorance of their estate curtaile their owne dayes by vntimely death yet notwithstanding they haue liu'd as deade vnto the world and their soules dead vnto them selues Dyonisyus Heracleota that rauenous gourmandyzing Harpy and insatiable draine of all pleasant liquors was growne so pursie that his farnes would not suffer him to set his breath beeing in continuall feare to bee stifeled although others affirme that hee easily could with the strong blast of his breath haue turned about the sayles of a winde-mill Whose soule by his selfe ignorance not knowing what repast was most conuenient for hiâ— body was pent vp and as it were fettred iâ— these his corps as in her dungeon So Alexander King of Aegypt was so grose and fat that hee was faine to be vpheld by two men And a many moe by their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by excessiue eating drinking more vpon meere ignorance theâ— rebellion against nature physicall diet and discretion did make their soules like the fatned sheepe whereof Iohannes Leo relates which he see in Egypt some of whose tailes weighed 80. pound and some 150 pound by which waight their bodies were immoueable vnlesse their tailes like traines were caried vp in wheel-barrowes Or like the fatned hogs Scalliger mentions that could not moue for fat and were so senselesse that mise made nests in their buttocks they not once feeling them But those which I whilome named and millions besides neuer come to the full period of their daies dying soone because as Seneca saith they knowe not that they liue by deaths and are ignorant what receit of foode into the body whose constitution they are as ignorant of also will bring endammagement both to it and to the heauenly infused soule For the body this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is requisit that as the meager one is to be fed with spare diet so the massier and more gyantly body must be maintained with more large and lauish diet For it is not consonant to reason that Alexander Macedo Augustus Cesar who were but littlemen as Petrarch saith and so low-staur'd Vlâ—sses should haue equall diet in quantity with Milo Hercules Aiax and such as Atheneus makes mention of as Astâ—damas Herodorus the first of them being so capacious stomacht that hee eat as much alone as was prepared forix men and the latter Herodorus a strong-sided Trum peter who was 3. els and a halfe long and could blow in two trumpets at once of whome Atheneus speakes These might well farce and cram their mawes with far more alimente because their ventricles cels veines and other organons of their bodies were far more ample and spatious And aâ— aine it is soueraigne in this regard because in the ful streame of appetite or brauery many wil take vpon ignorance rather the sumtuous dish prepared for vitellius by his brother which one dish amounted to aboue seuen thousand eight hundred and xii pounds perchance a ranke poyson to their natures then Estur and 〈◊〉 2. sauoury and holsome hearbs which poorâ— Hecale set on the table as a sallet before hun gry Theseus the best dish of meat she could present vnto him a great deale peraduenture more conducible vnto their healtheâ— But they are as ignorant what they take as Cambles was who being giuen to Gastrimargisme as Athenaeus relates in the forementioned booke in the night did eat vp his owne wise and in the morning finding her hand in his deuouring iawes slew him selfe the fact being so hainous and not worthy as also they are pilgrims and strangers in the knowledge of their bodily estate which euer or often is an occasion of ouer-cloying their ventricles with such meates as are an vtter ruin and downefall to their healthes as ill or worse then Toxicum for although they do not efâ—soones inforce the fatall end yet in a short progresse of time they are as sure pullies to draw on their inexpected destenies Without this knowledge of our bodily nature we are like to crasie barkes yet ballist with prizelesse marchandise which are tossed too and froo vpon the maine of ignorance so long till at length we bee shattered against the huge rocke of Intemperance and soe loose our richest fraught which is our soule This ought euer to controule and curbbe in our vnrulie appetites it ought to be like the Poets Automedon to raine our fond desires in which raigne in 〈◊〉 for as Seneca saith sunt quaedam noâ—itura impotranâ—ibus c. so wee may say sunt quaeâ— appetentibus as there be many thinges which are obnoxious to the asker if it chance he obtaine them so are there many nutriments as dangerous to man that babishly couets theÌ„ for if he square not his diet according to the temper of his body in choise of such fare as may banish and expell contagion and violency from nature or be a speciall preseruatiue in her spotlesse and vntainted perfection meats are soe far from holding on the race of his life as that will rather hasten it downe far sooner vnto the hemispheare of death theÌ„ he expected A cholericke man therefore by this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 knowing himselfe to be ouerpoizd with it predominancy na but euen foreseeing his corporall nature to haue a propension or inclination to this humour hee must wisely defeate and waine his appetite of all such dainty morsels though the more delicious and toothsome and delude his longing thirst of al such honey flowing meates and hote wines as are foison to his distemperature and which in tract of time will
body the blood in the blood the spirits in the spirits soule Thirdly because it is a nutriment for all and singular parts of what qualities soeuer It is tearmed in Hebrue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sanguis for his nutrition and sure it is as it were the dam or nurse from whose teats the whole body doth suck out and draw life Fourthly in that this humor being speÌ„t our life also must needs vanish away therfore some philosophers as it is wel known to the learned did not onely surmise but constantly auer that the soule was blood because it being effused the soule also doth flit from the body but that was a madde dreame no doubts if the sound of iudge ment had awoke them they woulde haue confessed themselues to haue been enwrap ped in a clowdy errour They also that affirme men of this constitution to be dullards and fooles to haue a pound of folly to an ounce of pollicy they themselues do seeme not to haue so much as a dram of discretion and do erre the whole heauens I confesse a sanguine complection may be so as any other in their discrasie yet not as it is a pure sanguine complection but as there is mixed with the blood either the grosse sediments of melancholy or the lenta materies pituitae tough phleume when the blood is also ouerheated by reason of hot choler or any other accidentary cause that generates a surplussage of blood or endues the spirits with a grosenes and too hot a qualitie more then their nature can well sustaine with keeping their perfection and puritie From whence the blood hath his originall it is apparently knowne especially to them which are skild in the autopsie of Anatomie the seat or fountaine head of it is vena caua a great hollow veine which strikes through the liuer from whence it is conueighed by many cesterns passages and conduit pipes throughout the whole body like spraies and branches from the stemme of a tree It hath his esseÌ„ce from the chymus or juice of our aliment concocted his rednesse is caused by the vertue of the liuer assimilating it vnto his owne colour To speake more of the externall habit and demeanour of man that hath this complection he euer hath an amiable looke a flourishing fresh visage a beautiful color which as the poet saith doth greatly commend one if all other thinges be wanting Nâ—e minor his aderat subliâ—is gratia formae Quae vel si desint coetera cuncta placet With vertues grac'd full debonaire was I Which all defac'd more highly dignifie They that are of this complection arâ— very affable in speach and haue a gracious faculty in their deliuery much addicted to witty conceits to a scholerlike 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being facâ—tosi not acâ—tosi quipping without bitter taunting hardly taking any thing in dogeon except they be greatly moued with disgrace especially wisely seeming eyther to take a thing some times more offensiuely or lesse greiuously then they do â—loaking their true passion they bee liberally minded they carry a constant louing affection to them chiefly vnto whom they be endeared and with whom they are intimate and chained in the links of true amitie neuer giuing ouer till death such a conuerst freind except on a capitall discontent they are very hairy their head is commonly a 〈◊〉 or amber-coloured so their â—eards they are much delighted with a musicall consent and harmony hauing so swâ—e a sâ—pathy themselues of soule and body And but for one fault they are â—ainted with they more well be tearmed Heroeâ— hominum and that is 〈◊〉 reason of that liuely abounding humour they are somewhat too prone to Venery which greatly alters their blessed state of coÌ„stitutioÌ„ drinks vp their huâ—dum radâ—le enfeebleth the diuinest powers consumes their pith and spends the substance of the braine for sperma is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as many philosohhers not without great reason affeuere not ter â—ncoctus sanguis therefore as Macrobius saith Hippocrates cals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that coitus est paruus morbus comitialis and but for this they were superemineÌ„t aboue all men but their rare qualities and admirable vertues do more then couÌ„terpoize this naturall fault For his resolutioÌ„ he is like the center immoueable neuer caried away with the heady streame of any base affection but lies at the anchor of confidence and boldnes he is neuer lightly variable but beeing proudly harnest with a steely hart he wil run vpoÌ„ the push of great danger yea hazard his life against all the affronts of death it selfe if it stand ether with the honour of his soueraigne the welfare and quiet of his own country the after fame and renowne of himselfe els is he chary and wary to lay himselfe open to any daunger if the finall end of his endeauour and â—oile bee not plausible in his demur ring judgement Cap. 11. Of the Phlegmaticke humour THis humour is called of the Graecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of the Latines vsually Pituita which as Aetius noteth is so tearmed quasi petens vitam by reason of the extreame cold moi sture it hath being correspondent to the watry element whereby it doth extinguish the naturall heate in man and being caried with the blood by his grosse substance doth thicken it and stop the currents passages of the blood at least doth taint it with a coÌ„trary passiue destructiue qualitie Yet of al the humors the phisicions say and it is not improbable this commeth nearest vnto the best for it is a dulcet humour which being concocted is changed into the essence of blood and serues especially for the nutriment of the Phlegmaticke parts as the braine the Nuchâ— or soft pappe and marrow of the chein bone but this is naturall which of al these humors doth sonest digres into another grosse cold nature which will in processe of time proue that pernicious humor wherof AEtius speaks their is theÌ„ to be noted phlegma naturale wherof we spok eueÌ„ now non naturale of which these proceed Phlegmâ— 1. Crassum 2 Gypseum 3 Falsum 4 Acetosum 5 Tenue some others For the first that which is thicke is a crude substanee by multiplication in the ventricle the bowels or the braine or the blood whereof Hippocrates aduiseth men to euacuate themselues by vomit euery moneth in his booke de victus ratione priuaâ—rum But for the bowels it needes not so much as for the braine and ventricle for nature hath so ordained that the yellow choler that flowes from the gall into the duodâ—num should purge the entralls and wash away these Phlegmaticke superfluities and this in time will turne to the nature of Gypseum phlegma which is of a slimier and in time of a more obdurate nature insomuch it will grow as hard as plaister with long remaining in one place like fen water that turns into the nature of mudde and this is it that staies in the ioints and causeth
orient pearle within a ring of gold His coâ—ely body is a beautious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fairely to the owners princely minde Where wandring vertues lodge oft lâ—dg'd with sinne Such pilgrims kindest entertainment finde An Iâ—ne said â— O no that name 's vnfiâ— Sith there stay not a night but dwell in it Man is the centers rarest wonderment Who waxeth proud with this her carriage And decks her selfe with arras ornament For him to tread as on a lofty stage For him once yeerely she her selfe does dight With greenest smarald to refresh hiâ— sight The heauens are full of sadder anguishment That they iniâ—y not such a worthy wight The earth is full of dreary langâ—ishment That heanens eâ—y her that is hers by right The Sunâ—t that strâ—ues all day with him for grace At night for shame is faine to shroud his face Faire Cinthia's often in the pining waine When she inioyes not his society And eâ—t her glory it at â—ull againe VVhen he but daineâ— to view her diety VVhilom invelloped in misty cares She now displayes her bright discheâ—ild hairs True image of that 〈◊〉 celestiall power Equall to angels in thy happy state VVhose happy soule should be a pleasant bowre â—or Sanctity her selfe to recreate By right Pandora hath enriched theâ— VVith golden gifts of immortalitie Thus man is made though he himselfe doth marre By that alluring sinne of luxury And from his excellency wendâ—th farre By letting loose thâ— raigneâ— to venerie His soule in lust till death away it 〈◊〉 Like AEsopes pearle is in a dunghillpenâ— Looke as the sable night with ietty hâ—w In darkenes â—uffles â—p the gladsome day And Cynthia in her clowdy cell doth â—ew Lest she the nights sowle visage should beâ—ray So noisome riot rising as a dampe Doth quite extinguish reasons burning lampe Cheefe foâ—-man vnto man is lauish Riot VVhich makes him be inferiour vnto man For whan the appetite 〈◊〉 his diet The soules enseebled powers full little can Of glorious creatures greater iâ— the fall Corruption of the best is worst of all Reasons fair'st turret hiely seated iâ— Seat of the soules power which doth most excell VVithin like â—urnings of Meander tis Or Labyrinth where Rosamond did dwell Atriple wallth ' Anatomists espie Before you come where Rosamond doth lie The first is made of Elephantine tooth Strongly compact his figure circular The wall rough 〈◊〉 and yet the worke is smooth The fairest things not euer obiect are So clowdy curtaines drawne oreth ' azurdskiâ— As eyâ—ds coner Phoebuâ— slumbring eye The other twaine are not so strongly â—ight They rather serue for comely decencie And teach vs that a prince within doth sit Enthron'd in pomâ— in highest maiesty That things more highly prizde are more pent in Lest they mote be entic't with flattring sinne So th'horne mad Bull must keepe the golden fleeco In bower of brasse faire Danac must be pent The Dragon watch your fruite Hesperides The Allâ—eyd Argus must faire â—o tent The labyrinth close peerelesse Rosamond The fragranst rose must thornes enuiron round The wall which framed is of iuory Aglorious double casâ—ment doth coâ—taine Each answering both in vnisormity And both the fairest obiects entertaineâ— The opticke nerues be gallertes wherein The soule doth walke and these free obiects win Within this pallace wall a Goddesse pure Whom Ratio all the learned schoolemen call Closely herselfe within doth heare in mure A goddesse sober wise celestiall Who sitting though within her regall chairâ— Oft head-strong appetites her oâ—erbeare Riot the metropolitane of sinnes Laies dayly seidge against this goodly towre And first by pleasing baites Riot begins Then by constraint this virgine to deflowre The towre at length is raiz'd by battery Which could not be orecome by flattery Ay melso faire a Fort to be throwne downe That it so faire no lenger time may last That lust should be impald with reasons crownâ— That â—au nous Riot should this pallace waste That she the mistresse of our lawlesse will With vnclâ—ane excesse thus her selfe should spill Ay â—onster sinne of pleasing luxurie The very hecticke feauer of the soule The harbinger of wofull misery Sweet poison quaft out of a golden bowle Phreâ—sy of appetite blinde Cupids giâ—e To catch our brain-sicke Amâ—retto's iâ— The Lethe of a stable memory The wild fire of the wit the mint of woeâ— A falling sicknes to our treasury A mate that ere with irreligion goes An Epicure that huggeth fading ioy Before eternity with least annoy Riot's a barke int h minde vnconstant mainâ— Tost toâ— and fro with wafts of appetite Where reason holdes the helme with carefull paine But cannot steare this laden keele aright Here wisdome at a gallâ—slaue is pent Scourg'd with disgrace and fed with discontent Now eath it is to take the golden fleece The alâ—eyd rguâ— now a sleepe is â—ast The quick eid Dragons slaine by Hercules Faire Danaâ— is deflowrd though nere so chaste By clues of winding pleasures now is found Atract to kill the leefest Rosamâ—nd Abandon and shake handes with riot then Once let him not in thy faire pallace rest Happy 's that soule that doth not riot ken That keepes not open house for such a guest Who loues to haue his lims with fatnesse lin'd Their liu's within his liâ—s a meager minde Defeat these dainty liâ—t of wonted fare Weane thou thy appitite while it is young Lest that it surfeting thy state impaire VVith that two-sold port-cullis of thy tongue Stop thou the way leâ—t â—o much enter in The enemies of vertue but the friend of sinne VVho hunts nought else in th' Aprile of his daies But persiâ—n faire too wanton meriment A winter storme in May his life shall craze His fatall end iâ— pyning drearyment The onely meed that comes by luxury Is serâ—le neede fowle end and obloquie Till fond desire be bannisht from within Against his leige a rebell he will rise Draw not the curtaine ore this slumbring sin That light of reason may him eft surprize For if in darknesse thou dost let him lie Hee le dreame on nought but hellish vâ—llanie VVhen Morpheus doth a sleepe thy senses lull Vse sleepe with sober moderation Too little weakens wit too much doth dull And greatly hinders contemplation VVho keepes a golden meane is sure to finde A healthfull body and a chearefull minde Catastrophe lectori Daigne Graâ—taes nymphes our vth to entertaine Vntillour wit can reach an Ela straine Among Cames siluer swanâ— that sweetely sing VVe Baucis and Philemons praesent bring Great Theseus though Hecale were not able Vouchsav'd acceptance of her meaner table Renowned Artaxerxes humbly tooke The praesent of Synatas from the brooke Our power is as a drop and little can Let this suffice our minde 's an Ocean Ere long our Muse if now you daign to spare Shee le feede your eares with more delicious fare Qui non est hodie cras magis aptus erit FINIS Piâ—rius AElianus lib. 3. cap. 31. Pausanias in Eliria Sextus Aureliuâ— Victor
of our earthly bodies Plato in whose mouth the Bees as in their hiues did make their hunny combs as foreintimating his sweete flowing eloquence he weighing with himselfe that thraldome the soul was in being in the body and how it was affected and as it were infected with the contagion therof in his Phaedrus as I remember disputing of the Idaeaes of the mind said that our bodies were the prisons and bridewels of our soules wherein they lay as manicled and fettered in Giues Yea further hee could auouch in his Cratylus and also in his Georgias Socrates hauing brought forth a speach to Callides out of Euripides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to liue is to die and to dye is to liue he saith there that our body is the very graue of the soule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith hee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And sure it is that whiles this mind of ours hath his abode in this darkesome dungeoÌ„ this vile mansion of our body it can neuer act his part well till it step vpon the heauenly stage it will be like â—o in Ouid whoe being turned into a heeâ—er when shee could not expresse her minde to Inacus her father in words Littera-pro verbis quampes in puluere duxit Corporis indicium mutati triste peregit Her foot did speake as on the sand she ranged How she poore soule was froÌ„ her selfe estraÌ„ged Our soule in the bodie though it be not so blind as a Batt yet is it like an Owle or Batt before the rayes of Phaebus al dimmed and dazeled it sees as through a lattissewindow Being freed from this prison once hauing flitted from this ruinous â—ennament this mud-wald cottage it is a Linceus within a Molewarpe without it is an allâ—eyde Argus within an one-â—y de Cyclops without a beautifull Nireus within an Aethiopian Thersites without a hie soaring Egle within a heauy Struthio Camelus an Aestridge who hath winges as hee in the Hieroglyphicks witnesseth non propter volatuÌ„ sed cursum not for flying but to helpe her running yea as sparkles hid in embers do not cast forth their radiant light and the sunne invelloped in a thicke mistie cloud doth not illuminate the center with his goulden Tresses so this coelestiall fire our soule whiles it remaines in the lap of our earthly Prometheus this masse of ours it must needs be curtained and ouer-shadowed with a palpable darkenesse which doth ouer-cast a sable night ouer our vnderstanding especially when in the bodie there is a current of infectious humours which doe flow ouer the veines and ingrosse the limpid spirites in their arteries the minde must needes bee as it were ore-flowne with a Deucalions floode and bee quirkened as a sillie toyling Leander in the Hellespout What made the minde of Orestes so out of temper that he kild his owne mother but the bodily Crasis what made Heracleitus die of a dropsie hauing rowlde himselfe in beastes ordure what made Socrates hauing drunke the Cicuta at Athens to giue his vltimum vale to the world but that what caus'd that redoubted famous captaine Themistocles hauing drunke Bulls blood to take as we say his long iourney to the Elysian feilds and many others to haue com'd vnto their long home as may be seene in the ancient registers of time and many to haue beene distraught and frantick the distemperature no doubt the euill habit of the bodie where-with the soule hath copulatioÌ„ Plotin the great platonist he blushed often that his soule did harbour in so base an â—nne as his body was so Porphyry affirmes in his life because as he said in an other place his soule must needes bee affected with the contagious qualities incident vnto his bodiâ— The cunningst swimmer that euer was Delius himselfe could not shew his art nor his equal stroke in the mud a caÌ„dle in the lanterne can yeld but a glimmering light through an impure and darksome horne the warelike Steed cannot fet his friskes take his carreers and shew his curuets being pent vp in a narrow room so it is with the princely soule while the bodie is her mansion said he but this belongs to an other Thesis and some thing before concerning the souls excellency hauing taken her flight from this darksome cage more neare vnto the scope at which wee must aime Heare what the Poet sayth in his xv of the Metamorphos Quolque magis 〈◊〉 sunt qui non corpora tantum Verum anâ—mos etiam valeant mutare liquoâ—es u◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est 〈◊〉 Salmacis vndâ— A Ethiâ—pesque 〈◊〉 quos 〈◊〉 faâ—cibus hausit 〈◊〉 furis aut patitur mirum grauitate soporem It is a wonderment that waters 〈◊〉 Transsorme the members and the mind of man Who kenneth not th'vncleane Salmacian well The 〈◊〉 where sun-burnt Mauritanians dwell Which cause a frensie being gulped downe Or strike the senses with a sleeping swoone Wee must not imagine the mind to bee passible beeing altogether immateriall that it selfe is affected with any of these corporall thinges but onely in respect of the instruments which are the haÌ„d-maids of the soule as if the spirits bee inflamed the passages of the humours daÌ„med vp the braine stuffed with smoakie fumes or any phlegmaticke matter the blood too hote and too thicke as is vsuall in the Seythians and those in the septeÌ„trionall parts who are of all men endowed with the least portion of witt and pollicy and because these kind of people doe as it were crosse the hie way of my invention I will treat a little of them neither beeside that which we haue in hand because it will confirme the fore-writen words of Xenophon concerning wine Whom doe wee euer reade of more to quaffe and carouse more to vse strong drinkes then the Scythians and who more blockish and deuoide of witt and reason nay there was neuer any learned man but onely Anacharsis was an inbred there which want no doubt is caused by their great intemperance For all writers well nie agree in this that they will as the Poet saith ad diurnam stellam or strenué pro 〈◊〉 potare drinke till their eyes stare like two blazing starres as we say in our prouerbe Athenaeâ—s that singular scholler of so manifold reading after hee had rehearsed Herod his history of Cleomeâ—ns saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. the Lacâ—demoniaÌ„s when they wold drink in lauish cups extraordinarily they did vse this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to imitate the Scythians which also he notes out of Chaemeleon Heracleotes in his booke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when also they should haue said to the Pincerna 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 powre in they vsed this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Howsoeuer we read of some particulars it is manifest if we peruse the histories that the most of them are the greatest bouzers and bussards in the world they had rather drinke out their eyes then that the wormes shoulde eate them out after their death as Sir Thomas More iâ—asts
vpon Fuscus in his Epigrames of all men they haue most leadeÌ„ conceits and drossy wits caused especially by their excessiue intemperance which thickneth their blood corrupteth their spirites and other organons wherein the soule shoulde cheefely shew her operation Giue mee leaue to speake a little of the ayre how it receaued into the body doth either greately aduantage or little availe the mind It is certaine that the excellency of the soule followes the purity of the heauens the temperature of the ayre therefore because Boeotâ—a had aâ—ery * rennish soyle a grosse and vnrefined ayre the ancient writers to decypher and shaddow out a dull witt in any one were wont to say Boeoticum hic habit ingeâ—ium this man is as wise as a woodcock his wits in a consumption his conceit is as lancke as a shotten Herrin I doe not coÌ„cord with the Poet in that triuial verse but I doe carry the comma a little further and say Câ—lum non 〈◊〉 mutant qui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At least if I must needes take coelum for aire I will say The aire to vary is not onely found But wit 's a forreiner in fâ—rreine ground The ayre hath his etymologie from the greeke worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to breath it consistes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because the learned say that it is the beeginning and ending of mans life for when wee begin to liue wee are sayd to inspire when we die to expire as the priuation of the aire deprives vs of our being and the aire being purged and clensed from his pestilent qualities causeth our well-beeing so the infection of the aire as in the extinguishing of some blazing comet the eructation of noysome vapours from the bosome of the earth the disastrous constellation or bad aspect of some maleuolent planet the vamping fumes that the Sun eleuates from boggs and fennish grounds the inflammation of the ayre by the intense heate of the sunne as when in Homers Iliad Phaebus is fained to send forth his direfull arrowes among the Grecians and â—o bring in the pestilence vppon them this infection causeth our bodyes first to bee badly qualified and tainted with a spice of corruption and so by consequent our very soules to be ill affected AEneas Syluius in his Cosmography writing of the lesser Asia records a strange thing concerning the ayre beeing putrified hee sayes that hard by the cittie Hierapolis there is a place tearmed Os PLVTONIVM in the vally of a certaine mountaine where Strabo witnesseth that he sent sparrowes in which forth with as soone as they drew in the venemous noysome ayre they fel downe dead no doubt but the corrupted ayre would haue had his operation vppon other more excellent creatures theÌ„ were those little birds if they durst haue attempted the entrance in But to a question what reason can be alleag'd that those who won vnder the pole neare the frozen zone and in the septentrionall climate should haue such gyantly bodies and yet dwarfish wits as many authors doe report os them and wee fee by experience in trauaile the rudenes and simplicitie of the people that are seated far north which no doubt is intimated by a vulgar speach when wee say such a man hath a borrell wit as if wee said boreale ingenium Whereof that old-english prophet of famous memory whome one fondly â—earm'd Albionâ— ballade maker the cunnicatcher of time and the second dish for fooles to feede their splenes vpon G. Chaucer tooke notice when in his prolog to the Frankleines taile he saies But Sirâ— because I am a â—orrell man At my beginning first I yow beseach Haue me excusd of my rude speach The Philosophers to this question haue excogitated this reason to wit the exceeding chilnes of the aire which doth possesse the animall spirits the chiefe attendants of the soule to exequute the function of the agent vnderstanding with contrary qualities the first being cold and drie the last hote and moiste though this reason most auaile for our purpose speaking how the minde can bee affected with the ayre yet I must needs say I thinke they are beside the cushian others affirme and with more reason that they are dul-witted especially by the vehement heat which is included in their bodies which doth inflame their spirits thickâ—n their blood and therby is a cause of a new grosse more then ayry substance conioynd with the spirits for extreame heat doth generate a grosse adust choler which comes to be mixed with the blood in the veines and that brings a condensation and a coagulation to the blood for their extraordinary heat it is apparant by their speedy concoction and by the externall frigidity of the ayre that dams vp the pores of their bodies so greatly that hardly any heat can euaporate this also by deep wels which in winter time be lukâ— warme and in summer season exceeding cold now to proue that where the blood is thickned and the spirits inflamed there vsually is a want of wit the great peripateâ— him selfe affirmeth it to bee a truth where he saith that buls such creatures as haue this humor thick are commonly deuoid of wit yet haue great strength and such liuing thinges as haue an attenuated blood and very fluid doe excell in wit and pollicy as instance is giuen in Aristotle of bees We must note here that this is spoke of the remoter parts neare vnto the pole lest we derogate any thing from the praise of this our happy Ileland another blisfull Eden for pleasure all which by a true diuision of the climes is situated in the septentrional part of the world wherein there are and euer haue beene as praegnant wits as surpassing politicians as iudicious vnderstandings as any clime euer yet afforded vnder the cope of heauen But I doe here passe the limits of laconisme where as I should in wisdome imitate the Aegyptian dogs in this whole tractate who doe drinke at the riuer Nilus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in haste and by stealth lest the Crocodile should pray on them and who doth fitly cary the name and conditions of the Crocodile no writer is ignorant of I will therefore end with the iteration of the Thesis that the soule followes the temper of the body and that whiles it is inherent in the body it can nâ—uer partake so pure a light of vnderstaÌ„ding as when it is segregated and made a free denizen in the heauenly citty and free holde of the saintes Corporis in gremiâ— dâ—m spiritus c. when our imprisoned soule once more being free Gins scale the turret of eternitie From whence it once was raught captiue 〈◊〉 By this vsurping tyrant corps heâ— bane Which subiugates her vnto sâ—ttish will And schooles her vnder passions want of skill Then shall our soulâ— now chock't with fenny care With Angelâ— frollicke in apâ—rer aire This low NADIR of darknes must it sheâ—de Till is aloft toth'radiant ZENITH wende Cap. 3.