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
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
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
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
King is under a higher and to him he oweth service and homage His service is perfect freedome he that denieth this will be a reprobate slave to sin and Satan Better submit to his golden Scepter then be bruised by his iron rod. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God As Dionysius from Amastrix gone Thou in Achilles course be left alone Dionysius or Lerneus King of Heraclia being banished by Mithridates from Amastrix a city built by his wife Amastrix fled to a place called Achilles course whither Achilles had pursued Iphigenia and there forsaken by his friends was slain 1 Princes exiled may expect more danger and less comfort then a private person Pliny reports that the river Novanus in Lumbardy runs over the banks at Midsummer and is dry in Winter Prosperity finds too many friends Adversity few or none Whosoever revolts was never a friend Thrice with Eurydamas 'bout Thrafill's urne 330. Let Larissean wheels thy carcas turne Eurydamas that slew Thrasillus King of Larissa in a tumult was afterwards killed by Simo the Kings brother and three times dragged about Thrasillus grave 1 In a rabble of the giddy multitude a sovereign Prince is sooner destroyed then a sturdy peasant 2 One viol set in tune and hanged in a room with others being touched the rest do smpathize with a grumbling sound Thus the sensitive tree if ye touch one leaf the whole tree will quake Injury offered to a brother will move compassion and revenge We may-seek retaliation of bloud for bloud that in a right way is warrantable But insultation upon a dead foe is most ignoble Instant morientibus ursi The magnanimous Lion scorns to touch a liveless creature Like him whose corps we dragg'd about Troy's wall Which he long kept which after him did fall Hector son of Priamus and Hecuba the most valiant Captain of all the Trojans slew Patroclus and the best of the Grecian Captaines at last he was slain by Achilles and dragged about the walls of Troy shortly after his death Troy was taken 1 Cut off the head how can the body move Smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered A thousand of souldiers amount not to the value of one wise valiant Chief a trusty Trojan The losse of an heroick Hector is the fall of a kingdome Except the Lord keep the city the watch-men watch in vain When the Lord of hosts leaveth Jericho rams horns may blow it down Strange death Hippomedes daughter suffered Horses through Athens hale th' adulterer dead 335. When tired life thy limbs forsake a nag Along the ground thy loathsom carcass drag Hippomenes King of Athens having found his daughter Limone guilty of adultery shut her up with an hungry horse which at last devoured her and the adulterer was dragged at the horse taile along the streets for which horrid fact the King was banished 1 Adultery is a beastly sin and capital among Jews and Heathen but among some Christians it is more often threatned then punished because perhaps the executioner of justice cannot without fear of a recoil cast the first stone 2 Children have covered the nakedness of their father witness Noah Gen. 19. why may not a father do so to his child though in conscience he cannot cover the sin he may for his credit cover the shame and upon hopeful signs of conversion endeavour a pardon from God and Man 3 The love of parents is extreme too indulgent or too impatient A passionate father is no competent judge upon an offending child Parents provoke not your children to wrath Eph. 6.4 much less in your proeoved wrath destroy a child lest your father which is in heaven destroy you for it Be split upon a rock as many a Greek Upon Caphareus in the Eubaean Creek Nauplias in revenge of his son Palamedes who by the false accusation of Ulysses was put to death made great lights on the promontory Caphareus in Euboea whither the Grecians returning from Troy struck saile taking it for a haven and there perished 1 A spring naturally descends not ascends so is love between the ancestors and posterity No child or grand-child can so dearly love their progenitors as they do them It appears by Nauplias 2 The new ignis fatuus of false lights have shipwracked the tender consciences of too many silly women and men laden with sin upon the offensive rocks of Schisme and Heresie more then Caphareus As Ajax dy'd by thunder-bolt and Sea 340. Let fire assist the water to drown thee Ajax Oileus after the siege of Troy returning home lustfully and profanely forced Cassandra in the Temple of Pallas and was therefore justly shot to death by a thunder-bolt and drowned in the Sea 1 When a souldier is unbraced of the armes of Mars he is quickly imbraced in the armes of Venus Of idleness comes no goodness A Bird sitting not flying is shot by the fowler Water standing not running gathers filth By doing nought we learn to do naught 2 Gods presence is every where but more perpendicularly in his Temple Holiness becometh his house for ever 3 Spiritual fornication consenting to Satan in a wandering or a wicked thought is sinful any where but in that holy place it is all one as if the woman should act the filthy sin before her husbands face But corporal fornication under that sacred roof is not onely heathenish but devillish For it doth at once defile both the Material and spiritual temple of that jealous God And double sin double punishment Let Furies wrack thy mind be thou as mad As he that one wound in his body had Marcyas son of Hyagnis the Musician was so proud of his skill that he presumed to challenge Apollo and scorning to yield had his skin plucked over his ears 1 The Frog in the fable stretching to be as great as the Ox burst to pieces Thrasonian prodigals that wear whole Lordships on their backs at once straining to be Lords leap out of their skins like puddings and at last become scarce worth a pudding If thou hast learning and art proud I suspect thy learning what hast thou that thou hast not received and if thou hast received it why boastest thou As Dryas son that Rhodopes kingdome held Who cut his legs when harmless vines he fell'd Lycurgus King of Thrasia son of Dryas perceiving that some of his subjects were too much given to wine commanded all vines in Thracia to be cut down Hence the Poet feign that Lycurgus because he envied Bacchus Wine for his sacrifice fell mad and cut his own shins 1 Harme watch harme catch Vinum immodicè haustum est venenum modicè divinum especially to a Poet. 2 God saw all things which he made to be very good Gen. 1. and gave wine to make glad the heart of man Psal 104. why then should an abuse by one or few extirpate the use of a creature shall wine be a sin because Noah was drunk One of the first and
us kill out inordinate affections our bosome-sins though so near and dear as a brother to follow Christ the Physician of our souls If thine eye offend thee pluck it out 435. Let that of old Perillus be thy fate Bulls voice in brasen bull to imitate Perillus in hope of a reward taught Phalaris King of Agrigentum to fry men to death in an Engine of Brasse made like a Bull which Perillus first seasoned with his own death 1 The Water is commonly even till he undermining wind doth force it into surging billows A small sparkle of severity in a Prince hath not seldome been kindled into unexpected flames of Tyranny by the ominous breath of ambitious and covetous spirits but the sparks have often retorted into the faces of those incendiary Boanerges Self-end Timists have brought upon themselves untimely ends When Achitophel saw that his counsell turned to foolishness he foolishly saved the Hangman a labour As cruel Phalaris let thy tongue be cut Then Bull-like rore in brass of Paphos shut Phalaris long practised the torture that Perillus taught and at last suffered the same death in his own Bull. 1 A free horse being pricked runs on till he break his own neck Ill counsel like the Basilisk kils the object with its pestiferous influence 2 Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare Princes that have acted what they would have suffered what they would not The wicked fall themselves into the same pit which they digged for others Hamon shall be hanged on the same gallows he made for Mordecai Or like Admetus father-law that would 440. Return to youthful years when he was old Pelias whose daughter Alceste was married to Admetus in hope by the medicines of Medea to renew his old age was cut in pieces and sod in a Caldron mean time Medea upon her winged serpents fled in the air away 1 Medea was the first that invented Physical baths whereby she cured many diseases especially Consumptions and restored men to their former alacrity and because her Composition was called a decoction she was feigned to effect her cures by boyling of her Patients But Peleas being old and weak is said to have died in the bath through extreme imbecility That is the ground of that fable 2 Thus many are seduced by vain hopes to attempt things impossible with fruitless labour and irrepairable loss So those that by the cuning of impostors are seduced to study that foolish art of Alchymy hoping to turn all metals into gold silver turn themselves out of all 3 We all desire old age but when we have it we are weary of it Ubi ad metam perveneris ne velis reverti When thou art come to thy journeys end 't is madness to return on purpose to begin again I have been young and now am old and would not be young again for I have suffered already enough of misery and acted too much sin Leap into th' earth alive like that stout Roman But let thy act be Chronicled by no man Marcus Curtius when he heard that a great cleft in the midst of Rome presaging the ruine of all could not be shut unless some noble man leaped into it he armed on horsback rid into it so presently the gap was closed and the city saved from sinking hence that place was called Curtius lake 1 Why should Christians tremble at death by which they hope to gain a better life when a Pagan meets and embraceth death whereby he thought his life and all future hopes were lost 2 A good man is a common good The heathen accounted it the greatest honour to sink that so their Countrey might swim in honour What then is that Christian who cares not if his countrey sink so that himself may swim in wealth and pleasure 3 Christ willingly submitted his â—ody to death and the grave that Christians souls might not be swallowed up in hell Perish like those that in the Grecian land Sprung up of teeth sown by Sydonian hand Cadmus that ruled in Sydon sent by his father Agenor to seek his lost daughter Europa killed a Serpent whose teeth being sowed in the earth produced armed souldiers which presently killed each other Cadmus himself was turned into a Serpent and at last sent by Jupiter to the Elysian fields 1 Agenor by interpretation is a valiant man Cadmus his son doth confirm it Europa is immortal glory carried away by Jupiter whom to find is a labour of excessive difficulty therefore Cadmus consulteth with Apollo for divine advice is the best Philosophy and onely guide to noble endeavours By thiâ— we shall be enabled to kill the serpent of hell and those snakes in our own bosoms Intemperance and all evil desires 2 This history or fable gives me hint of civil war but I dare not touch that string Infandum renovare dolorem lest I drop more tears then ink But to our comfort Christ was the true Cadmus who was sent by his father to seek that which was lost he was the destroyer of the great Dragon the Devil and all his armed teeth his associats the Hereticks and Schâ—smaticks 445. As Pentheus Nephew and Medusa 's brother For cross misfortunes be thou such another Menaecius a Theban son of Creon who was grandchild to Pentheus when he heard that the Oracle answered If the last of the posterity of Cadmus were sacrificed to Mars the city Thebes then besieged by the Argives should be saved thinking the matter concerned him with his own sword killed himself As for Medusa's brother I return ignoramus for Medusa one of the Gorgons had no brother perhaps Ovid means Archilochus of whose death read before 1 Pro patria sit dulce mori licet atque decorum Vivere pro patria dulcius esse puto Though for my countrey sweet it is to die To live for it 't is sweeter far say I. I cannot much condemn him that living by the dim candle of Nature did sacrifice himself to Mars by sword to the honour of his God himself and his countrey as him that under the clear sun-shine of the Gospel doth sacrifice himself unto Bacchus by riot to the dishonour of God himself and his countrey Plures nâ—cat gula quam gladius Such as the bird was doom'd to that did chatter Small secrets and doth wash her plumes in water Coronis informes of the infidelity of Aglauros Pandrosus and concerning Erichthonius given them to keep in secret she is therefore banished the service of Minerva and of a white Nymph turned to a black Crow 1 The Crow is the symbol of Garrulity and therefore rejected by Minerva because much talking interrupts the meditation of the mind and is offensive to wisdome And no Crow comes near Athens called so from Athena the Greek name of Minerva of which city Minerva was Patroness That perhaps may be the ground of this fable 2 Silence is secure when speaking truth is often obnoxious unto danger We have given us by nature two Eyes two Ears and but one tongue
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
that name son of Mino◠and Pasiphäe playing with a tennis-ball fell into a barrel of honey and there died Polyidus a Physician was shut up with the dead body in a room that he might restore him to life Seeing a Serpent coming towards the body he provoked him on purpose to be killed by him but by chance he killed the Serpent Another Serpent comes to the dead Serpent and with an herb revives it Polyidus with the same herb restores to life the dead body of young Glaucus 1 If by playing with the unconstant ball of the world we are drowned in mellifluous pleasures whereby our souls are dead in sins and trespasses none but Polyidus our knowing Physician Christ by the sovereign herb of grace can revive us to evarlasting life Or guilty drink with trembling hand that cup Which Socrates undauntedly suck'd up Socrates though by the Oracle of Apollo he was accounted the wisest and by the vote of all men the honestest yet by three envious neighbours Anytus Lycon and Melytus being falsly accused he was by the Judges condemned so drunk to his enemy Anytus a cup of poyson wherewith he died 1 There are sons of Belial knights of the post knaves that be-lie-all by false accusation will soon hang one true honest man And what will not malice and envy act chiefly being back'd with power rather then not see his neighbours two eyes out the envious man will gladly pluck out one of his own Those persecuting prosecutors of Socrates some were banished someslain Pilat though he knew that the Jews had delivered Jesus onely for envy yet condemned him He having drank of gall and vinegar a health to his enemies died upon the Cross but the Traytor suffered a more dishonourable death If thou dost love the steps of Haemon tread 560. As Macareus do thou thy sister wed Haemon married his own sister Rhodope therefore the Gods revenging so foul a fact turned them both into mountains 1 Peruse the histories of all the ancient authors and you will scarce find one among an hundred of that unlucky brood sprung from incestuous parents but was monstrously inhumane and bloudy and the end of the parents ominous Haemon and Rhodope were turned into mountaines In mountains and hills brute beasts do promiscuously couple without distinction or relation of brother sister dam or sire I hope this beastly heathenish vice is not so much as named among Christians therefore it shall not defile my pen nor offend my readers eyes or ears for me Concerning Macareus and Canace read before See thou as when the fire burn'd all things down What Hectors son did from his fathers town How Ulysses cast down Astyanax son of Hector from the walls of Troy read before Perish like him whose grand-sire was his sire His sister mother by incestuous fire Adonis begotten by Cynaras on his own daughter Myrrha was slain by a bore whose death Venus lamented with bitter tears and converted him into a flower which some call Anemony 1 Men of excellent beauties have been subject to miserable destinies Rarò forma viris impunita fuit 2 This lamentation for Adonis is mentioned under the name Tammuz which Jerom takes for Adonis but Tremelius for Osyris Ezech. 8. Allegorically both are one Now Adonis was no other then the Sun adored under that name by the Phoenicians Sandys as Venus by the name Astarten for the Naturalists call the upper Hemisphere of the earth which we inhabit Venus the lower part Proserpina Venus wept when Adonis was dead so when the Sun enters into the six Winter-signs of the Zodiack the widdowed earth weeps overflowed with raine Adonis in the Hebrew signifieth Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Sun is Lord of all the Planets Adonis was killed by a bore so the savage horrid winter delighting in mire and cold like a bore unfit for Venus doth as it were kill the Sun diminishing his heat and lustre Thus not onely the factious little foxes of schisme do pluck off her grapes but the wild bore of Heresie endeavours to root up and kill the vineyard the Church of Christ 565. Let such a kind of dart in thy bones stick As Icarus son-in-law to death did prick Ulysses husband of Penelope who was Icarus daughter was slain by a dart thrown unawares from the hand of his own son Telegonus near his Palace in Ithaca after that he had returned safe from Troy 1 No General though so wise valiant and triumphant as Ulysses having passed the pikes pistols and swords of the enemy can scape the dart of the last enemy which is death and that if providence so permit by the hand of one that is most near dear Alexander that conquered all the world was killed by a cup of wine from his own Butlers hand 2 The time manner and place of death is as much uncertain as death it self is certain Let us therefore with the Poet think everyday the last let us with Job expect every hour till our change come let us still pray with the Church From sudden death good Lord deliver us Like Anaxarchus be in morter pound Thy scatter'd bones like common grain resound Anaxarchus a Philosopher of Abdera being condemned by Nicocrean Tyrant of Cyprus to be pound with iron pestels in a morter suffered that torment so undauntedly that he often repeated this memorable speech Pound Tyrant pound Anaxarchus his wind-bag thou poundest not Anaxarchus Being threatned that his tongue should be cut out he bit it off in pieces and spit it in the Tyrants face 1 I do confess that this Heathen was an unparalell'd piece of Heroick valour but it merits the title of an effect of revengeful active malice rather then a testimony of patient passive martyrdome in comparison of Christians Hear the language of Saint Laurence who being laid naked on a burning gridiron is reported to have said thus Tyrant turn the other side this is broyl'd enough Those glorious Martyrs in Queen Maries fierce persecution kissed the flame and clipped the stake being fully assured that upon the wheels of faith in that fiery chariot with Elijah they should be carried into heaven And as the pratler off his horse fell dumb 570. The passage of thy throat choke with thy thumb Agenor a pratler not sparing Jupiter himself in his reviling talk fell off his horse and choked himself with his own thumb 1 Nature it self hath bound the tongue to the good behaviour and shut it within the outward prison of the lips and the inward of the teeth yet the unruly member is alwayes apt to break out But for so little a creature to flie out against Jupiter her Creator deserves death not onely sudden but eternal Like Psamate's father thee let Phoebus throw To deepest hell he us'd his daughter so Orchamus King of Babylon perceiving that his daughter Leucothōe had lain with Apollo buried her alive Apollo not able to revive her sprinkled Nectar upon her grave whence a Frankincense tree
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