discourse of the Chase I have observed that it is good for all to dream they are fair and of good grace and strong and yet without excéeding common custome for to be too faire too brave and too strong is as much as to be ill favoured faint hearted and weak which things signifie death to the Sick and to Lovers ill successe and attachment for treason Of Arts Works and Exercises WHosoever in his dreame seemes to do that which he hath learned and exercised shall have good successe and is very good to all foretelling that one shall come to honour by his businesse and enterprise but if in your dream you have not good issue it signifyes the contrary If one in his dreame doth that which he hath not learned and it hath good issue in his dreame then it is good but if he finde himselfe hindred and cannot bring it to good 't is anger and let of businesse untill he be mocked To play the Husbandman or Plowman to sow or plant is good to him which seeks a wife or which hath no children for the Field is his wife the seed and trees his children the wheat males the barley females and abortives to others this dreame betokeneth sicknesse and anger if any one be sick in the house where this dream is it signifyeth death for the séed and plants are put in the earth as the dead To reape to cut to trim vines and to plough against harvest signifye that your affairs and work shal be deferred till the accustomed time of doing them To govern a ship if one have good successe and honour without perill provided that it be without doubt or pain it is good but if one be troubled with tempests or if the ship be bruised and broken it is abundance of evill which I have often known by experience to cut and sowe in leather to married folks is good It is also good for him which would marry or get acquaintance and allyes by reason of close and joyned seames But to dye leathers is ill to all and revealeth secrets To sée medicines is worst of all to be a goldsmith signifyeth harme to him which dreames it by reason of the poysons and instruments that they handle to be a graver turner or carver of images and figures is good for adulterers pratlers cooseners and deceivers because their arts shew other effects then the true To others it signifyeth honour for such with reverent works are shewed to many To worke in Iron FOr to work in Iron and strike upon the Anvile signifieth noise and suits in law the like we must judge in all other arts of the persons which dreame them And we must understand that it signifies as much as to sée the tradesmen working or their shops and tooles as to see himselfe use the same Art Notwithstanding there is difference between tooles those which cleave and break signifie discord and hurt those which unite and binde signifie profit marriage or allyance but hindrance of voyages those which scoure or smooth appease strife those which addresse and compasse signifie revealing of secrets as you may sée in Geometricians Of the Letters TO learne the letters is good for the ignorant for some good will betide them but with labour and feare But to him which knows the letters to learne them again is not good for it is the part of a child to learn now it signifies to him hindrance of affaires and ill issue onely it is good for him which desired to have a sonne for not he but his sonne shall learn If a Grecian dreams that he learneth Latin letters or on the contrary any Roman the Greeke letters they shall travaile and go from the one country into the other Many Romans by this dreame have had Grecians and as many Grecians Romans to their wives to reade well and truly Barbarian or strange Letters signifie that they shall goe into that Country and have goods and honour there but to read badly signifies the contrary Or that the sick man shall enter into foolishnesse and frenzie by reason of the savage and strange spéech which a raving man speaks All Letters in any language which one cannot read signifie anger and trouble for few dayes if the writing be little but for longer time if it be much Of Playes and Pastimes TO play with a top is pain and travaile whereof notwithstanding shall come good To play at Tennis signifieth long noyse and quarrels and often foretels love towards a whore for the Ball represents the whore because it hath no stay and it goeth through the hands of many Of Playes Games and Instruments IF one dreams of the trumpet to them which would fight is good and to those which have lost their Servants But it revealeth secrets by reason of the great sound but killeth the sick to servants it promiseth liberty but to winde a horne is ill and forbids to undertake any Law suit Every Instrument which one may blow signifieth trouble to dream that you play the publike Cryer may be imeâ—preted as to sound the trumpet to play upon a Réed or upon a Bagpipe is good to all to sing and play upon the Harpe at Offrings and sacrifices is good for weddings and contracting of affinity but ill for other affairs to many it signifies the Gout because of cords and nerves to play or sée plaid Tragedies signifyeth travail fighting injury and a thousand evils But to play merry playes is a merry issue of affairs to hear singing signifyes deceit to ride a horse nimbly is good for all for thy horse signifyes a woman or a friend the ship the Master and guide to governe and the good friend So then as a man findes his horse well so shall he do all this The â—art signifies as much as the horse but that to a sick person it is death as also a chariot of 4. whéeles To ride a horse through the town is good for him which undertakes to play a prize and to a sick man for the one shall gaine the prize and the other shall be â—â—aled but to ride out of town is quite contrary to lead and guide Chariots through woods and desarts is death to all at hand Of the race FOr to run is good to all except to sick persons when they dream they come well to the end of their race for it signifies that shortly they shall come to the end of their life To be put out of Office IF any one dreams he is deposed out of his place estate and dignity it is ill to all and kils such as are sicke Of Wrastling FOr to wrastle with any parent signifyes strife with him And among such as are at strife already he which dreames he is superiour shall vanquish if they strive not for beritage for in such a controversie it were better to be beaten to wrastle with a stranger is danger of sicknes if a man fight with a child and he throw him upon the ground he shall lose some
be made a Bishop is good for all onely except those which would be secret to be chief of the House assembly or Congregation is pain anger and oftentimes hurt any state belonging to a man which a woman dreameth she hath it signifyeth to her death and the contrary Of Warre of the Army and Election of men at Armes WAr and affayres of war are troubles and anger to all excepting Captains and souldiers and such as live by it for to such it is gaine Arms which cover the body are great surety as the Buckler Helmet Corslet and such like other which one tosses and brandishes as the Pike the Lance the Arrow and Dart signifye debate and sedition the Woodknife or Sword is courage force and vertue the Buckler and Helmet have also reference to the wife who shall be eyther fayre and rich or poore and ill favoured according to the quality of the harnesse To chuse men of war or souldiers to the battaile is death to those which are some way sick and often to old folkes to others it is businesse and angers change of place flights and voyages to the idle and poore it is work and profit which shall befall them for the souldier is not idle nor without praise to a servant it is honour and estimation Of single Combat SIngle Combat signifieth noyse or Law suits which resemble the paines and labour of the Combatants the Armes of him which flyeth signifie to go to Law of him which pursueth signifie to call one to law Sometimes I have knowne that this dreame hath many times forefold Marriages Of the Sunne TO dream the Sun riseth shining and clear is good to all and also setting so it signifyeth gaine operation protection and liberty to servants but to such as would be secret is ill for it discloses and discovers all In like sort if it rise towards the East it reléeveth the sicke after he hath béene very low and signifies that sore eyes shall not make blinde the patient and the returne of him which is farre off Also it is good for him which would travaile towards the East to others in all affayrs it is crosse If the Sun séemes to rise in the South or North you must judge thus the Sun being darke or bloudy or as it were murmuring with anger or heate is ill to all and signifieth sorenesse of eyes sicknesse and children And yet it hath béene found good to them which are in doubt and which would be secret the Sun descending upon the earth or any house is a signe of danger by fire Entring the Chamber and threatning is great sicknesse or burning But if it speaketh or maketh any good signe it is abundance of goods The Sun vanishing away or hiding and absenting it self is ill to all except to those that would be secret most often it is losse of sight or death of a childe it is alwayes better to sée the Sun-beames entring the house then the Sun it selfe for the beames are abundance of goods the sun abundance of evils which one cannot suffer no more then he can endure the light or great heate of the Sun neare him The Sun giving or stealing away any thing is losse and danger Of the Moone THe Moon is the Wife Nurse daughter or Sister of him which dreames thereof and signifies money riches Merchandise and trafficke also Navigation the eyes of him which dreames and the Master or Mistresse And therefore if the Moon turn her selfe into good and joy it is good and honour by those whom it represents and on the contrary To see himselfe in the Moon is the son of the man the daughter of the woman that dreames it this dream also is good for exchangers usurers and takers of receit for Uictuals Also it is good for those which would shew themselves and appeare but it discloseth the hidden and puts sicke men and Marriners in danger of theyr lives what good or evill the Sun signifieth the same signification hath the Moone also but lesse or more to the woman then to the man Of the Starres TO see all the starres clear and fayre is good for a travailer and for all businesse and for secrets in which they agrée not with the Sunne or Moone Those stars or Planets which are causes of cold signifye anger and dangers but those which cause fayre and calme weather are prosperity and Riches Those which are the cause of the winter shortest day are change into evill or the worst of the Summers shortest day into good or better Such stars as vanish and goe out of the skie are poverty and forsaking to the rich for you must imagine that the skie signifyes the house of him that dreams the stars his goods and possessions to the poore this dream signifies death It is only good for them which have attempted some great evils whosoeuer dreams that the starres vanish out of the skie his hayres shall fall from his head Starres falling upon the earth or vanishing is losse of parents or friends great or little according to the quality of the starres To rob the stars is not good for it hath faln out that after this dream the dreamers thereof have committed sacriledge and for it have been apprehended and punished To eat the stars also is not good except to Astrologians and Sooth-sayers to whom it signifieth gain to others death to sée the starres under the eaves of thē house is that the house shall be forsaken consumed or burnt or that the master of the house shal die the comets beams and burning rayes and other like things séen in a dream signifie as their nature Of the Rain-bow THe Rain-bowe on the right hand is good on the left ill and we must judge the right or the left according to the Sun and in what quality soever it appeareth it is a good signe to any one that is afflicted with poverty or any other affliction for it changeth the time and ayre Of Clouds WHite clouds is prosperity moūting from the earth on high is a voyage the return of the absent and revealing of secrets Red or inflamed is ill issue of affayrs smoaky dark or obscure is ill time or anger Of the Windes GEntle windes are good violent are wicked and evill people troublesome tempests of winde are perils and troubles Of Earth-quakes and gaping of the Earth THe earth trembling is change of estate and affayrs but openings déep pits concussions and turning upside down of the earth are injuries death and losse of goods Onely this dream hath béen tried good to those which purposed to travell and which were indebted Of the Ladder the Step a Case a Milstone a Pestle and the Cock. THe Ladder is a signe of travelling the steps are advancement Some say they are danger A case or frying pan is hurt and a woman which is given to talk The Milstone signifieth end of great and angry matters and a good and loyall servant the pestle is the man the Morter the woman the Cock is
Towns whereto one resorts is better then to see strange towns especially if they be townes of his own Country and those wherein one hath had good fortune and prosperity and above all it is good to see them well peopled and filled with inhabitants goods and Merchandise by which things one may know the honor and riches of the towns Parents also are signified by the towns where we make our residence As for example A man dreamt that his Country and the place where he was born was faln down and ruinated by an Earthquake and his father was condemned to death and executed If it be possible at the same time to have both good and bad dreames A Man may dream both good and bad dreames not only in one and the same night Nay more in the selfe same dreame one may sée both good and bad things which the interpreter must separate in judgment And it is no marvaile since the life and affayrs of one particular man are such that is to say mingled ordinarily with good and evill and in the same time one may do and suffer both good and evill neither must we be alwayes content with one onely issue of our dream because it hath not alwayes the like effect wherein Antipater an Interpreter of dreames often deceives himself for when any one hath dreamt that he embraceth yron it signifyeth that he shall be imprisoned and live among yrons The good Antipater to another which hath had the like dream will interpret that at a particular combat in a close field he shall be condemned or he shall kéep a Fencing Schoole and live as it were among and by yron to wit by the Exercise and Art of Fencing when one doth nothing but handle daggers and swords of yron to whom notwithstanding this falles not out but he hath a Member cut off Wherefore we must not alwayes rest at one onely point or effect that happeneth for it were to deal with beasts or as Fidlers that can play debut one tune but we must be ingenious to vise every day divers things and they must not in all points be divers but some what alike for our spirit and nature are fertile and recreate and sport themselves in variety That our Brethren signifie our Enemies OUr Brethren have the same signification as our Enemies as touching the effect and event of dreams and our Enemies on the other side have like effect with our Brethren and not without reason Because our Brethren bring us nothing when they are borne but diminish our Inheritance and Succession and are the cause that those things which should be all our own are divided into many parts between them and us Timocrates dreamt that he buried or caused to be interred one of his brothers departed and a little while after one of his adversaries or Enemies dyed And the death of our Brethren signifyeth not only losse of our enemies but also deliverance or acquittance from some losse or hurt which attended us and whereof we stood in fear As it happened to Diocles the Grammarian who sustained no losse of mony whereof he stood in doubt and was afraid because he dreamt before that he saw his brother dead Of Funerall Banquets reviving and mounting to Heaven NEyther to sée nor to eate such meate as one dreams is prepared for the feasts of the dead is not good to dream Neither in like sort to dream that you make such a feast for your parents or friends for it signifieth and foretelleth to the sicke his owne death and to him which is in health the death of some familiar friend of his To dreame to dye and afterward to revive is not ill but signifieth victory Such things as one bath custome to offer and present in oblation for the decased is not a good dreame either to offer them or to take of them for it signifyeth death eyther to the dreamer or to some of his parents Notwithstanding to take victuals gold silver apparell and vessels from the hand of the dead whether if be altogether or at divers times it is a good dreame and a signe of profit But to dream he mounts to heaven for him which is sick is death in like sort to be in great tranquility rest and happines Within what time dreames come ALl things which are wont to have a certain determined time and are séen in a dreame must be referred to that time and other things which have no certain nor determinate time which theyr effects will shew And we must iudge of the time farre or near according to the circumstance of the dreame For he were a foole that would refer to a year the effect of a mans dreame whâ—â— his constituted eyther in great pain great hope or great fear And we must know that the things which a man dreams to see farre off as it were about heaven have theyr effect more slow by reason of the long distance Moreover we must not be ignorant that good or evill dreames signifie to the great or little greater or lesse good or evill The End of the Fourth Booke The Fifth Booke of Artimedorus His Exposition of Dreames Containing certain examples of Dreames with their effects which followed A Man dreamt that he drank Mustard so well stampt and so cleere that it was potable it so fell out that one practised and coyned a certain accusation in case of a crime of man-saughter wherewith he was so well charged and so attainted to the quick that he received sentence of death and was executed by Justice An other dreamt that the water of the River of Xanthuâ— which is near Troy the great was all changed into blood A dream very fearfull and marvellous What then fell out He cast bloud at divers times for ten years together and died thereof by which appears that great Rivers stay not but do continue and hold out theyr course A man dreamt that his cushion or Fetherbed was full of corn in stead of feathers He had a wife which never before had any childe and that year conceâ—ved and bare him a sonne Another dreamt he lighted a candle at the Moon and he became blindâ— for he dreamt a thing impossible besides the Moon hath no light of her own A woman dreamt that she saw within the Moone thrée images or resemblances like her self and she bare thrée daughters which within a month died for the Moon hath a moneths life A man dreamt he saw his image or representation in the Moone and he made long voyages wandring this way and that way a long time for the continuall change of the Moon signified that he should often change his place and habitation A man dreamt his privie Members was of Massy yron and he had afterwards a Sonne by whom he was slain for yron by its owne rust consumes it selfe A man dreamt an Olive tree came out of his head and he followed the study of Phylosophy with great courage and got everlasting knowledge and honour for this is a
tree always green and sound and by all antiquity dedicated to the Goddesse Minerva reputed the goddesse of Wisdome A certain man dreamt that his servant whom he loved above all the rest was changed into a torch or flame and he lost his sight and was led and guided by that servant A servant dreamt he saw a starre fall from heaven and another come out of the earth and flye up to heaven his Master died and his Masters son rose up into his masters place A Brother having his sister rich and sick dreamt that before her doore grew a Figge-trée from whence he gathered seven black Figs and eate them his sister deceased seven dayes after and made him her heyre A man dreamt he cast his skin and renewed it as a serpent and the day after he died for the soul which must leave the body represents such like visions to it in a dream Another dreamt that his father drew his sister being married from her husband and gaveÌ„ her in marriage to another and he died soon after for his father represented God the creator and heavenly father of our souls thâ—s sister represented the soule of him that dreamt it which sister being separated from her spouse and given to another seemed to say that she should be separated from her body and should live and converse elsewhere signifying that the soules of those which dye do nothing but only change their place A man dreamt that he was great with childe and that he was delivered of two black daughters and he lost both his eyes or the sight of them for his two eye-lids which covered his eyes fell down A sonne being farre from his country dreamt that his own mother bare him again he returned into his own Country found his mother sick and was made her heyr by her death and will This dreame signified as much to him to wit that by his mothers meanes he should come from poverty to riches One dreamt that he ate his bread stéeped in honey and he thereupon gave his minde to the study of Philosophy and thereupon got wisedome honour and goods The honey therefore by his sweetnesse signified the sweetnesse of wisdome and the bread wealth Another dreamt that from his stomack there came eares of Corne and that there was one which pluckt them out he had two sonnes which soone after him dyed The end of the fifth Book of Artimedorus AN EPITOME OUT OF VALERIUS MAXIMUS Concerning Dreams Of the Emperour Augustus and Calphurnia AS Artorus Physitian to the Emperour Augustus say in his bed the Night before the Armies of the Romans namely the Host of Augustus and Mark Anthony on the one party and the Bands of Brutus and Cassius on the other were to figot the Battell in the Philippick Fields Pallas presented her selfe to this said Physitian commanding him to tell Augustus that although he was very sick he should not fail but be present at the battle Which Augustus understanding that he were very sick he should not faile but be present at the battle Which Augustus understanding he left his Tent being carried in a Litter though he could not fight for the victory presently the souldiers of Brutus ' army sarprised his Pavillions and although Augustus had resolved not to stir out of his Tent by reason of his sicknesse neverthelesse by the admonition of his Physitian by this meanes he saved his life for the souldiers of Brutus aymed chiefly at his Tent supposing to have found him there But because this Emperour was subtle wise and advised in all his actions the example of his adâ—pted father and predecessor Julius being yet fresh in his mind perswaded him to obey the dreame of his Physitian For he wel knew that Calphurnia the wife of Julius Caesar had séen in her sléep the night before he was slain that he lay wounded in her armes and bosome with many wounds by reason of which horrible dream she intreated him not to be â—een the day following at the Court but he not willing to give eare to a womans dream thought rather to go to the Senate and sate in Parliament where he was put to death being miserably wounded with more then twenty wounds Of Publius Decius and Manlius Torquatus Consuls of Rome THe Uision which appeared in sleep all in the same night to Publius Decius and Manlius Torquatus was of great admiration and manifest issue For then when these two Consuls pitched a Field near the Hill Vesuvius viz. when the Latins left the side of the Romans To each of these two Consuls sléeping appeared a man and told them that of the one Army theyr Captain should be slain and of the other a great company should be discomfited but the chief of that Hoste that would assail the Troops of the Enemies and vow to suffer death fâ—r the rest they should have the victory Hearing this newes and waking rom their sléep these Consuls made a covenant together that what wing soever should first séem to stoop under the burthen of the battaile the captain of that band so discomfited should lay downe his life for his country and although neyther the one nor the other feared this advenâ—â—re yet the chance fell upon Decius for his Troops began to be out of heart which he seeing cast himselfe in the middle of his Enemies with his sword in his hand and was slain So the Romans had the triumphant and desired Uictory against the Latines bâ— the death of one of their chief Captains following this dream Of Cicero TUlly being banished Rome by the conspiracy of his Enemies went to a Uillage and in his sléep seemed walking by desart places to meet with Marius then Consull and his Troopes who demanded of him why he was so sad and the cause why he haunted those desarts and was so transported into an unknowne way and after he had understood the many injuries which Tully had undergone he tooke him by the hight hand and gave charge to the principall of his Officers to leade him to his Chappell telling him he should heare there some good newes of the restoring of his estate which fell out in like manner For in that Chappell which Marius had caused to be built the Senators sate in counsell concerning the return of Cicero and it was so concluded that he should return safe and sound without any charge or dishonour Of Caius Gracchus AS Caius Gracchus slept he dreamt he saw his Brother Tyberius telling him that he should be killed as himself had beene before Many heard that he made account of this dreame especially before he was made Tribune of the people in which Office he received his death agréeable to his brothers Of Arthur Rous. THere being a prize to be plaid at Syracusis Arthur Rous a Roman Knight dreamt the night before that a Carrier of Nets or a Fisher should kill him The day after he was at the Combate and told his dream to the Defendants It fell presently after that near the place