as shee was otherwise learned shee is likewise numbred amongst the Poets some of whose Verses are remembred by Athenaeus Hedyle was the mother of Hedylogus Samius who by the same Athenaeus Lib. 4. Dypnoph hath allotted him a place amongst the Poets shee was the daughter of Moschina Attica that writ Iambickes This Hedyle composed a Poeme inscribed Scilla shee made another called The Loues of Glaucus Sosipatra as Eugapius apud Volaterran relates was a woman practised in many kinds of Disciplines and so excellent in all her studies that shee was said to be educated by the gods Thymele was a Poetesse that first introduced Dances into the Scene which the Greekes from her call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. The place which is onely free for the Actors Of her Martial thus speakes Quae Thymele spectas derisoremque Latinum Suidas writes That Thymele was an Altar frequently vsed in the Theatres which from her borrowed the name Hildegardis Moguntina was eminent both for Learning and Pietie insomuch that from her verie childhood shee seemed inspired from aboue Eugenius the third in the Councell held at Tryer where Doctor Bernard was then present approoued her Workes shee flourisht in the yeere of Grace 1188. Of Clitagora Lacedemonia Aristophanes speakes much but Strabo in Homerica Iliade more of Hesteia Alexandria Auyle writ Epigrams against Themistocles with Verses vpon Birds which are read vnto this day Myrtis Authedonia in a Poeme expressed the death of the Damosell Ochne who had beene before the destruction of the Heroe Ennostus Praxilla Syconia flourished in the 32 Olympiad whom Antipater Thessalus giues the first place vnto amongst the nine Lyricke Poets Shee writ Dithycambi and a Worke which was called by her Metrum Praxillium Shee called Adonis from Hell to demand of him what was most beautifull in Heauen who answered The Sunne the Moone Figges Apples and Cucumbers That and such like was the subiect of her Poeme of which grew a Prouerbe against Lunatikes and mad men euery such was called Praxillaes Adonis Nossis the Poetresse was the composer of Greeke Epigrams and is by Antipater numbred with Praxilla amongst the Lyrickes Myro Byzantia shee writ Elegies and such as the Greekes call Melae or Musicall Poemes shee is said to be the mother of Homer and reckoned one of the seuen Pleiades the daughters of Atlas shee was the wife of Andromachus an illustrious Philosopher Pamphilus her Statue was erected which as Facianus witnesseth was made by Cephisiodotus Damophila was the wife of the Philosopher shee was a friend to Sapho and louer whom in all her Poemes shee striued to imitate Her Hymnes were sung at the sacrifices which were celebrated to Diana Pergaea after the manner of the Aeolians and Pamphilians Shee writ moreouer certaine bookes which shee titled Libri Amatorij Of Minerua c. MInerua the daughter of Iupiter was for no other reason numbred amongst the gods but for her excellencie and cunning in Poetrie and other good Arts of which shee is said to be the first inuentresse From her the antient Athenians haue borrowed the immortalitie of their name Next her wee reckon the Corinnaes There were three of that name The first called Corinna Thebana or Tanagraea shee was the daughter of Archelodorus and Procratia and scholler to Myrtis shee in seuerall contentions fiue sundrie times bore away the Palme from Pindarus Prince of the Lyricke Poets shee moreouer published fiue bookes of Epigrams of her Propertius speakes The second was called Corinna Thespia shee is much celebrated in the bookes of the antient Poets especially by Statius The third liued in the time of Augustus and was to Ouid much indeered but of her wantonnesse than her Muse there is more memorie extant I come to speake next of Erinna who was sirnamed Teia or as some will hane it Telia of the Island Telos not farre distant from Gnidon shee flourished in the time of Dion of Syracusa and published an excellent Poem in the Doricke tongue comprised in three hundred Verses besides diuerse other Epigrams her stile was sayd to come neere the maiestie of Homers she dyed when she was but ninteene yeares of age Damophila was a Greeke Poetesse and the wife of Pamphilus shee was Cousin-german and companion with Sapho Lyrica Poetria shee writ many Poems that were called Poemata Amatoria because their argument was meerely of loue one Poem shee writ in the praise of Diana for so much Theophrastus in the life of Appolonius remembers of her Hyppatia was a woman of Alexandria the daughter of Theon the Geometritian and wife to Isidorus the Philosopher shee flourished in the time of the Emperour Arcadius shee writ certaine bookes of Astronomie and was frequent in diuerse kinds of Poetrie shee purchased her selfe much fame for her learning in so much that shee ingrossed a great confluence of Auditors in the citie of Alexandria where she professed Suidas apud Volaterran Sapho ELianus affirmes her to be the daughter of Scamandronius Plato of Ariston Suidas and other Greeke writers deliuer to vs that there were two of that name the one called Erixia a much celebrated Poetesse who flourished in the time of the Poet Alcaeus of Pittachus and Tarquinius Priscus who first deuised the vse of the Lyre or Harpe with a quill some giue her the honor to bee the inuentor of the Lyricke verse the other was called Sapho Mitelaena long after her who was a singer and a strumpet shee published many rare and famous Poems amongst the Greekes and therefore had the honour to bee called the tenth Muse the reason why she fell in loue with Phaon Pliny attributes to the vertue of an hearbe but Babtista Egnatius a later writer and exquisite both in the Greeke and Latin tongues in trasferring this fable from the originall into the Romon tongue as likewise others of his opinion conclude that Phaon was of the profession of such as get their liuing by transporting passengers from one side of a riuer vnto another a plaine Ferrie-man and that it happened vpon a time that Venus comming to the place where he kept his passage without demaunding any hyre he gaue her a free transportage not knowing to whom it was hee did that courtesie no way suspecting she had beene a goddesse This Venus tooke so gratefully that shee thought to requite his freenesse with a bountie farre transcending the value of his paines Shee therefore gaue him an Alablaster box full of a most pretious vnguent teaching him how to apply it with which he no sooner annoynted his face but hee instantly became of all mortall creatures the most beautiful of whom the Lesbian damsels grew inamoured but espesially hee was ardently and most affectionately beloued of Sapho Phaon hauing occation to passe from Lesbos into Cicilie shee was tortured in soule for his absence intimating that it was done
spoke but snacht out his sword and with it slew her selfe A noble resolution in an heathen Ladie to punish her husbands disgrace and her owne ouersight with voluntarie death and a notable example to all women that shall succeede her to be more charie in keeping their husbands secrets all which I would wish to follow the counsell of the comick Poet Philippides who when king Lysimachus called him vnto him and vsing him with all curtesie spake thus What of the things that are within or without me shall I impart vnto thee ô Phillippides he thus answered Euen what thou pleasest oh king so thou still reseruest to thy selfe thy counsells This puts me in mind of king Seleucus Callinicus who hauing lost a battaile against the Galatians and his whole armie being quite subuerted and disperced casting away his crowne and and all regall ornaments was forced to flie onely attended with two or three seruants and wandering long through many deserts and by-pathes as fearing to be discouered and growing faint with hunger he came to a certaine ruinate cottage where he deâ—ired bread and water the maister of the house not onely affoorded him that but whatsoeuer else the place could yeeld or the suddennesse of the time prouide with a large welcome In the interim of dinner fixing his eyes vpon Seleucus face he knew him to be the king and not able to containe his owne ioyes nor conceale the kings dssimulation after dinner the king being redie to take horse and bidding his host farewell hee replied againe And farewell ô king Seleucus who finding himselfe discouered reached him his hand as to imbrace him beckning to one of his followers who at the instant at one blow strooke off his head so that as Homer Sic caput estque loquentis ad huc cum puluere mistum These were the fruits of vnseasonable babling for this fellow had he kept his tongue till the king had beene restored to his former dignities might haue receiued large rewardes for his hospitallitie who suâ—ered an vnexpected death for his loquacitie Aretaphila ARetaphila Cyrenaea is deseruedly numbered amongst the heroick Ladies she liued in the time of Mithredates and was the daughter of Aeglatur and the wife of Phedimus a woman of excellent Vertue exquisit Beautie singular Wisedome and in the managing of common-welthes businesse and ciuill affaires ingeniously expert this Ladie the common calamities of her countrie made eminent for Nicocaentes the tyrant hauing vsurped the principallitie ouer the Cirenaeans amongst many other of his inhumane butcheries slew Menalippus the Priest of Apollo and assumed to himselfe the sacred office and dignitie In the number of these noble citisens hee caused Phedimus the husband of Aretaphila to be iniuriously put to death married her against her will who as well distrest with her priuate discontents as suffering in the publique calamitie meditated a remedie for both and by aduise of some of her neerest allies attempted to poyson the king but the proiect being discouered was preuented and vpon that ground Calbia mother to Nicocrates a woman of an implacable spirit and prone to any thing wherin there might be blood and slaughter first condemned her to insufferable torture and next to violent death but the tyrant her sonne in regard of the extraordinarie loue he bore vnto her being the more relenting and humane of the two was pleased to put her cause first to examination and after to censure In which triall shee answered boldly and with great courage in the defence of her owne innocence but being by manifest proofes conuicted in so much that her purpose could not be denied she then descended so low as to excuse herselfe alleaging that indeed apprehending the greatnesse of his person and that she was in degree no better to him than an handmaide and fearing least some other more accomplisht beautie might steppe betwixt him and her to insinnuate into his fauour and grace shee therefore had prepared an amatorious confection minding only to continue his loue not to betray his life and if her womanish weakenesse had in any kind through ignorance transgrest the bounds of loyaltie she submitted her selfe to his royall clemencie whose approoued judgement shee made no doubt knew how to distinguish betwixt folly and malice Notwithstanding these smooth euasions Nicocrates fully possest of the truth gaue her vp into the hands of his mother to be tormented who as shee is before charractered being a harsh and mercilesse woman left nothing vnattempted that torture could deuise to wrest from her a capitoll confession but Aretaphila with wonderous patience and constancie induring whatsoeuer the beldame could inflict vpon her Calbia grew as wearie in punishing as she in suffering insomuch that Nicocrates was in some sort persuaded of her innocencie commanded her release seeming sorrowfull for the torments she had indured so that his former loue conquering his suspition he began to studie a new reconcilement and excusing his too much credulousnesse renewed his antient familiaritie and custome But she not forgetting her former rackes and strapadoes now began to meditate vpon his death another way she had a daughter of exquisite feature and the tyrant had a brother called Leander a wilde-headed yong man and apt for any innouation or hair-braind attempt shee wrought so far with her and so inwardly with him that by the consent of the king a match was concluded betwixt them All these things falling out according to her wishes her daughter by the mothers instigation wrought so farre vpon his rashnesse in priuate and the mother gaue him such incouragement withall that putting him in hope to inioy the soueraignetie to himselfe they persuaded him to supplant his brother This tooke such prosperous effect that he suborned a seruant of his called Daphries who attending his opportunitie slew the tyrant Aretaphila not with this contented whose reuenge aymed to extirpat the whole familie of the tyrant and whose goodnesse to free her countrie from all seruitude instigated the citisens against Learchus for the murder of her king and second husband drawing him into the compasse of that publike hate that he was forced to flie as a traitour and a fratricide neither was she satisfied whilst he yet liued therefore by her wit and policie and the industrie of one Anabas hee was at length subtlely surprised by which the citie receiued her pristine libertie and freedome For which the people would haue done her diuine honours as to a goddesse which shee vtterly refused They next proceeded to justice vpon the delinquents where Calbia was iudged to the fire and burnt a liue and Leander to be sowed in a sacke and so cast into the Sea both which executions were accordingly performed The people then once againe assembled and prostrated themselues before her ioyntly beseeching her either to take vpon her the primacie and chiefe gouernment or at least to be a gracious assistant to the magistrates and princes with her directions and counsell both which shee vtterly refused
themselues thus merilie answered him Non capta afferimus fuerant quae capta relictis We bring with vs those that we could not find But all that we could catch we left behind Meaning that all such vermine as they could catch they cast away but what they could not take they brought along Which riddle when Homer could not vnfold it is sayd that for verie griefe hee ended his life This vnmatchable Poet whom no man regarded in his life yet when his workes were better considered of after his death hee had that honour that seuen famous citties contended about the place of his birth euerie one of them appropriating it vnto themselues Pindarus the Poet makes question whether he were of Chius or Smyrna Simonides affirmes him to be of Chius Antimachus and Nicander of Colophon Aristotle the Philosopher to bee of Iüs Ephorus the Historiographer that hee was of Cuma Some haue beene of opinion that he was borne in Salamine a cittie of Cipria others amongst the Argiues Aristarchus and Dyonisius Thrax deriue him from Athens c. But I may haue occasion to speake of him in a larger worke intituled The liues of all the Poets Moderne and Forreigne to which worke if it come once againe into my hands I shall refer you concluding him with this short Epitaph An Epitaph vpon Homer prince of Poets In Colophon some thinke thee Homer borne Some in faire Smyrna some in Iüs Isle Some with thy byrth rich Chius would adorne Others say Cuma first on thee did smile The Argiues lay claime to thee and aâ—er Thou art their countrie-man Aemus saies no. Strong Salamine sayth thou tookest life from her But Athens thou to her thy Muse dost owe As there first breathing Speake how then shall I Determine of thy countrie by my skill When Oracles would neuer I will trie And Homer wilt thou giue me leaue I will The spations Earth then for thy countrie chuse No mortall for thy mother but a Muse. Doris the sister of Nereus the Sea-god was by him stuprated of whome he begot the Nimphes called Nereides Ouid in his sixt booke Metamorph. telleth vs of Philomela daughter to Pandion king of Athens who was forced by Tereus king of Thrace the son of Mars and the Nimph Bistonides though he had before married her owne deere and naturall sister Progne the lamentable effects of which incest is by the same author elegantly and at large described as likewise Beblis the daughter of Miletus and Cyane who after she had sought the imbraces of her brother Caumus slew her selfe Mirrha daughter to Cyniras king of the Cyprians lay with her father and by him had the beautifull child Adonis Europa the mother and Pelopeia the daughter were both corrupted by Thyestes Hypermestra inioyed the companie of her brother for whom shee had long languished Menephron most barbarously frequented the bedde of his mother against whom Ouid in his Metamorph. and Quintianus in his Cleopol bitterly inueigh Domitius Calderinus puts vs in mind of the Concubine of Amintor who was inioied by his sonne Phaenix Rhodope the daughter of Hemon was married to her father which the gods willing to punish they were as the Poets feigne changed into the mountaines which still beare their names Caeleus reportes of one Policaste the mother of Perdix a hunts-man who was by him incestuously loued and after inioyed Lucan in his eight booke affirmes that Cleopatra was polluted by her own brother with whom she communicated her selfe as to a husband Nictimine was comprest by her father Nictus king of Aethiopia Martiall in his twelfe booke writing to Fabulla accuseth one Themison of incest with his sister Pliny lib. 28. cap. 2. speakes of two of the Vestalls Thusia and Copronda both conuicted of incest the one buried aliue the other strangled Publius Claudius was accused by M. Cicero of incest with his three sisters Sextus Aurelius writes that Agrippina the daughter of Germanicus had two children by her brother Claudius Caesar Cornelius Tacitus sayth that she often communicated her body with her owne sonne Nero in his cups and heat of wine he after commanded her wombe to be ripped vp that he might see the place where he had lien so long before his byrth and most deseruedly was it inflicted vpon the brutish mother though vnnaturally imposed by the inhuman sonne Aâ—silaena is worthily reprooued by Catullus for yeelding vp her body to the wanton imbraces of her vncle by whom shee had children Gidica the wife of Pomonius Laurentinus doted on her sonne Cominus euen to incest but by him refused she stangled her selfe The like did Phedra being dispised by her sonne Hippolitus Dosithaeus apud Plutarch speakes of Nugeria the wife of Hebius who contemned by her sonne in law Firmus prosecuted him with such violent and inueterate hate that she first solicited her owne sonnes to his murder but they abhorring the vilenesse of the fact she watcht him sleeping and so slew him Iohn Maletesta deprehending his wife in the armes of his brother Paulus Maletesta transpierst them both with his sword in the incestious action Cleopatra daughter to Dardanus king of the Scithyans and wife to Phinaeus was forced by her two sonnes in law for which fact their father caused their eyes to be plucked out Plutarch reports of Atossa that shee was doted on by Artaxerxes insomuch that after hee had long kept her as his strumpet against the lawes of Persia and of Greece to both which he violently opposed himselfe he made her his queene Curtius writes of one Sisimithres a Persian soldier that had two children by his mother Diogenian also speaking of Secundus the Philosopher saith that he vnawars to them both committed incest with his mother which after being made knowne to them she astonished with the horror of the fact immediately slew her selfe and he what with the sorrow for her death and brutishnesse of the deed vowed neuer after to speake word which he constantly performed to the last minute of his life Manlius in his common places reportes from the mouth of D. Martin Luther that this accident happened in Erphurst in Germanie There was saith he a maid of an honest familie that was seruant to a rich widdow who had a sonne that had many times importuned the gyrle to leaudnesse insomuch that shee had no other way to auoide his continuall suggestions but by acquainting the mother with the dissolut courses of the sonne The widdow considering with herselfe which was the best course to chide his libidinous purpose and diuert him from that leaud course plotted with the maid to giue him a seeming consent and to appoint him a place and time in the night of meeting at which he should haue the fruition of what he so long had sued for shee herselfe intending to supplie the place of her seruant to schoole her son and so preuent any inconuenience that might futurely happen The maid did according to her appointment the sonne with great ioy keepes his
bearing with her in her wombe a child begot by Salomon Lycasth in Theat Human. vitae Lib. 1. cap. de Femin doctis Adesia a woman of Alexandria a neere kinswoman to the Philosopher Syrianus both for her Chastitie and Learning is commemorated by Suidas Vata Lib. 13. cap. 3. Antrop Nicostrata by some called Carmentis helped to make vp the number of the Greeke Alphabet shee is also said to haue added to our Roman Letters Hermodica was the wife of Midas king of Phrygia shee is not onely celebrated for her rare feature and beautie but for her wisedome shee was the first that euer stamped Money or made Coyne amongst the Cimenses Heraclides Numa was the first that made Money amongst the Romanes of whose name it was called Nummus Isiodor Lib. 16. cap. 17. It is likewise called Pecunia of Pecus which signifies Cattell for the first that was made to passe currant betwixt man and man was made of the skinnes of beasts stamped with an impression It hath beene currant amongst our English Nation part of it may at this day be seene as an antient Monument in the Castle of Douer Saturne made Money of Brasse with inscriptions thereon but Numa was the first that coyned Siluer and caused his name to be engrauen thereon for which it still retaines the name in the Roman Tongue and is called Nummus Aspasia was a Milesian Damosell and the beloued of Pericles shee was abundantly skilled in all Philosophicall studies shee was likewise a fluent Rhetorician Plutarchus in Pericles Socrates imitated her in his Facultas Politica as likewise Diotima whom he blushed not to call his Tutresse and Instructresse Of Lasthenea Mantinea Axiothaea and Phliasia Platoes schollers in Philosophie I haue before giuen a short Character Themiste was the wife of Leonteius Lampsacenus and with her husband was the frequent Auditor of Epicurus of whom Lactantius sayth That saue her none of the ancient Philosophers euer instructed any woman in that studie saue that one Themiste Arete was the wife of Aristippus the Philosopher and attained to that perfection of knowledge that shee instructed her sonne in all the liberall Arts by whose industrie hee grew to be a famous professor Hee was called Aristippus and shee surnamed Cyrenaica Shee followed the opinions of that Aristippus who was father to Socrates Shee after the death of her father erected a Schoole of Philosophie where shee commonly read to a full and frequent Auditorie Genebria was a woman of Verona shee liued in the time of Pius the second Bishop of Rome Her Workes purchased for her a name immortall Shee composed many smooth and eloquent Epistles polished both with high conceits and iudgement shee pronounced with a sharpe and lowd voyce a becomming gesture and a facundious suauitie Agallis Corcyrua was illustrious in the Art of Grammar Caelius ascribes vnto her the first inuention of the play at Ball. Leontium was a Grecian Damosell whom Gallius calls a strumpet shee was so well seene in Philosophicall contemplations that she feared not to write a worthie booke against the much worthie Theophrastus Plin. in Prolog Nat. Histor. Cicero lib. de Natur. Deorum Dâ—mâ— the daughter of Pythagâ—ras imitated the steps of her father as likewise his wife Theâ—no her husband the mother and the daughter both prouing excellent schollers Laerâ— Themistoclea the sister of Pythagoras was so practised a student that in many of his workes as he himselfe confesseth hee hath implored her aduise and iudgement Istrina Queene of Scythia and wife to king Ariâ—ithes instructed her sonne Sythes in the Greeke Tongue as witnesseth Herodotus Plutarch in Pericte saith That Thargelia was a woman whom Philosophie solely illustrated as likewise Hyparchia Greca Laâ—râ—â— Cornelia was the wife of Africanus and mother to the noble Familie of the Gracobi who left behind her certaine Epistles most elaborately learned From her as from a Fountaine flowed the innate eloquence of her children therefore Quintil thus sayth of her Wee are much bound to the Mother or Matron Cornelia for the eloquence of the Gracchi whose vnparaleld learning in her exquisite Epistles she hath bequeathed to posteritie The same Author speaking of the daughters of Laelius and Quint. Hortensius vseth these words The daughters of Laelius is sayd in her phrase to haue refined and excelled the eloquence of her father but the daughter of Q. Hortensius to haue exceâ—ded her Sex in honor So likewise the facundity of the two Lyciniaes flowed hereditarily from their father L. Crassus as the two daughters of Mutia inherited the learning of either parent Fuluia the wife of M. Antonius was not instructed in womanish cares and offices but as Volater lib. 16. Antrop reports of her rather to direct Magistracies and gouerne Empires she was first the wife of Curio Statius Papinius was happie in a wife called Claudia excellent in all manner of learning Amalasuntha Queene of the Ostrogothes the daughter of Theodoricus king of those Ostrogothes in Italie was elaborately practised in the Greeke and Latine Tongues shee spake distinctly all the barbarous Languages that were vsed in the Easterne Empires Fulgosius lib. 8. cap. 7. Zenobia as Volaterran speakes from Pollio was Queene of the Palmirians who after the death of Odenatus gouerned the kingdome of Syria vnder the Roman Empire shee was nominated amongst the thirtie Tyrants and vsurped in the time of Gallenus but after beeing vanquished in battaile by the Emperour Aurelianus was led in triumph through Rome but by the clemencie of that Prince she was granted a free pallace scituate by the riuer of Tyber where shee moderately and temperatly demeaned her selfe shee is reported to be of that chastitie that she neuer entertained her husband in the familiar societie of bed but for issues sake and procreation of children but not from the time that shee found her conception till her deliuerie shee vsed to bee adored after the maiesticke state and reuerence done to the great Sophies of Persia. Beeing called to the hearing of any publique Oration shee still appeared with her head armed and her helmet on in a purple mantle buckled vpon her with rich jems she was of a cleare and shrill voice magnanimous and haughtie in all her vndertakings most expert in the Aegyptian and Greeke Tongues and not without merit numbred amongst the most learned and wisest Queenes Besides diuerse other workes she composed the Orientall and Alexandrian Historie Hermolaus and Timolus her two sonnes in all manner of disciplines shee liberally instructed of whose deaths it is not certaine whether they dyed by the course of nature or by the violent hand of the Emperour Olimpia Fuluia Morata was the ornament and glorie of our latter times the daughter of Fulu Moratus Mantuanus who was tutor in the Arts to Anna Prince of Ferrara shee was the wife of Andreas Gunthlerus a famous Physitian in Germanie shee