the worst they can The Worke is good the proofe shal prayse the Man. FINIS To the wel disposed Reader MEnnes natures being as sundry and variable as their Phisnomies faces bee diuers disagreable small maruayle is it though in iudgements and verdicts they square froÌ„ an vnity and iump not together in one reasonable accord of opinioÌ„ Knowing therfore gentle reader that there be as many Tastes as there be Mouthes I loke not to be accompted so perfect a Cooke as is able to season foode and condimentes for euery palate appetite but referring the construction of my goodwil to the considerations of such huÌ„gry Stomakes as caÌ„ and wil feede vpon and digest such holesome thought homely cheare as is settte before them for the other coyer sorte I professe my selfe more redier to disclayme acquaintaunce then willing to ioine with theÌ„ in their so squemish affectioÌ„s I proofe of both these natured persons I am sure in this boke to find hoping as touching the censure thereof rather to fal into the haÌ„des of indifferente welwillers and by theym to be tryed then among theÌ„ which lyke Aesopes Dogge lying in the Maunger wil neyther doe any thyng themselues nor thynke wel of others that sweat for their coÌ„modyty Which poore labour if I perceiue to be wel accepted I shal be animated shortly to aduenture a further paynfuller and greater Enterprise Fare well THE GOLDEN BOKE of the Leaden Gods. IVPITER IVpiter was figured sytting in Throne of Estate with three eyes and no Eares al naked from the middle vpward the rest couered his Vysage resembling a womans countenaunce in his right hand he held Lightening and in the left a Scepter Standing or treading vpon Gyauntes before him an Eagle and a Page presentinge a cup of Golde Ouer his head an Angel standing on a Globe holding a laurell Garland Signification HIs sitting in Throne betokeneth his Kingdome to be durable his three Eyes signifieth his merueilous Wysdome by which hee ruleth Heauen Sea and Earth his want of Eares declare him to be indifferent vnto all not barkening more to one then to an other The nakednesse of his vpper partes and couerture of the nether did purport him to be inuisible vnto meÌ„ which dwel beelow but visible to the heauenly myndes whch are aboue Hys womanly looke and full Breastes intimate al thinges to be made nourished by him His Lightening in dis right hand dooth signifie his power which lyke to Lightening pearceth through all his Scepter betokeneth his prouidence by which as by a Scepter hee disposeth with hys creatures as he thinketh best His treading vpon Giauntes doth declare him to be a punisher of theÌ„ which are at destiaunce with him by the Eagle is vnderstode the Soule for as the Eagle surmounteth all other Birdes and is swiftest so much doth the minde surpasse the Bodye by the Page the simplicity therof intimating thereby that if the Soule of Man be free from the querkes of dissembling phantasie and as the Eagle soareth aloft so if the Soule of Man shal be occupied with heauenlye cogitations that then shal bee enioyed the Cup of golde whereby is signified the rewarde of Uertue in the presence of Iupiter By the Angell is signified the swiftnesse of well doing By the Globe vnder his feete the small regarde of worldlye Uanitie By the Garlande the endlesse crowne of Immortalitie The auncient Romans entituled him Optimus Maximus because in very dede it is better and more acceptable to profite many theÌ„ to possesse great Wealth and reuenue IVNO IVNO was portraicted sitting vnder a Raynbow with a Crowne of white Lyllies on her head a Scepter in her right hand and in her left hande a payre of Sheares on ech side a Peacocke She had for her footestoole a Lyon her bodye couered ouer with a fine Lawne Signification BY Iuno is mente the Ayre the Raynbowe betokeneth Rayne whereof it is a token Her Crowne of Lyllies signifieth the cause to bee in the Ayre that the Earth doth yelde foorth sweete Flowers her Scepter is a representation of the power that is geeuen to the Ayre aswel for preseruation as encreasing of natural thinges Her Sheares in her left hand sheweth Hotenesse and Moystnesse of the Ayre into which two qualities it is sundered and parted The two Peacockes are added because theyr cry doth prognosticate chaunge of Weather The Lyon is a figure of the Sunne and the Lawne of thynne Uapours for the force and vertue of the Sunne is greatest when hee entreth into Leo hereby aduertising that the heate of the Sunne draweth thyn vapors into the Ayre where beeing congealed by the extreeme colde of the middle Region they are agayne by the scortchinge heate of the Sunne resolued into droppes The Poetes feigne this Iuno to be sister and wyfe to Iupiter I thinke because Iupiter beinge taken pro Aethere and Iuno pro Aëre they haue most semdlable qualities and dispositions Iupiter and Iuno are sayd to bee at variaunce because Iupiter being hoat and drye not hauing his heat repressed with moystnesse all thinges are burned and paâ—â—â—ed agayn when Iunos moystnesse is not qualified with Iupiters heate all thinges are drowned and ouerflowed but when their qualities are with equal temperaunce combyned together then the Earthe doth yelde her fruites with greate plentye and abundaunce APOLLO APOLLO was portraicted beardlesse standing by a Bay tree on whose toppe stoode a Crowe Apollo treading on a Dragon hauing three heades Vpon his head a Crowne of burning Lampes in his left hand an Harpe and in his right hande a Bowe Signifycation BY Apollo is ment the Sunne and being wythoute a Beard Lustines of youth which for the tyme is likened to the Sunne whose beauty or pulchritude is alwayes one and standing by a Baye Tree alwayes greene Figureth the freshnesse of lustye Youthe the Bay tree was first found growinge on the Hyll Parnassus consecrated to Apollo whose Uertue is not to be subiected neither to Beastes nor Lightenings as Authors haue reported Tiberius as often as it thuÌ„dered for his better preseruatioÌ„ against the same was crowned with the Baye called among the Latines Laurus By the Crowne is signified Uigilancie to ouerlooke all things betime as also the Crowe when hee is sicke remedieth his disease by eating the leaues Apollo hys treading vpoÌ„ the Dragon betokneth the crooked course of the Sunne into the twelue Signes of the Zodiake the three heads of the Dragon whereof the one is a Lyons the other a Wolfes the thirde the head of a Dogge generally doth represent tyme and particularlye by the head of the Lyon tyme present the head of the Wolfe tyme paste as it were sodenlye snatched from vs by the head of the Dogge is signified tyme future or to come because hoped tyme flattreth ech estate accordyng to ech vocation to gayn or to reuenge his burning Lampes in his crown resemble his diuers Beames which geeue lighte to the earth His Harpe in his left hand betokneth the harmonie
of the celestial Spheres his Bow in his right haÌ„d signifieth his wasting of some part of the Earth by the Arrowe of extreeme and intemperate heate The Poets feygn that Oenomaus a king of Arcadia counsayled by the Oracle learned that he shoulde dye when his daughter called Hyppodamia shoulde take an Husbande because of a Sonne which shoulde dispossesse him of his Kingdome wherefore hee instituted and ordained a Game called the Runninge of the Chariotts that who soeuer ouercame him by ouer swyftnesse shoulde haue his Daughter and whom be ouercame to be presentlye slayne Hauing by his pollicy subdued many he hoped so to daunt the courage of the rest to be aduised of buyinge loue so deare and thereby to stretch and lengthen his dayes to Nestors yeares But Pelops far enamoured on Hyppodamia by the helpe of swyfte Coursers ouerran Oenomaus Chariotts and wan his Loue or best beloued Apollo for ioye of his Uictorye gaue hym to his Mariage his thre footed stoole wrought out of fyne Gold by Vulcan the Smyth the Legs of the Stoole were Luste Beautie Strength The Seate to sitte vppon Ryches DIANA DIana was portraicted standing in the middest of Satyres Gods and Nymphes of the Seas Ryuers and Fountaynes wyth three heades and two wynges her bow was bent and Quiuer by her side she standing betweene a Panther a Lyon and a Shyppe Signification BY Diana is ment the Moone her Garde of Satyres Gods and Nymphes be token all forces of pâ—ople vnder her Gouernment and also her lighte ouer Woods Seas Fountaines her iii. heades the change of euery Moone into Calends Nones Ides Her winges betoken her swifte motion because she finisheth her course twelue tymes in euery yeare Her bow arrowes represent the lyuelye effect operatioÌ„ of her beames aswel in quickning as filling of mortal creatures She hath a PaÌ„ther on the one fide because the spots of that beast when it is yong are horned as the Moone in her first quarter in her ryper yeares her spots waxe round as the Moone in her ful on the other side a Lyon which resembleth the Sunne because the Moone hath no light of herselfe but that which shee boroweth of the Sunne The Ship warneth Mariners in their courses to haue a special regard to the Mone to the tydes and Flouds guyded by her who when the Seas in the night sparkle like Quickesiluer it betokeneth tempeste to folow geeuing Saylers warning to prepare for Weather The Poetes faygne that Actaeon a man seekinge more for vaine pleasure and iolitye then Uertue and of the progenie of Cadinus after much wearynesse in folowing his houndes sodainly espied Diana with her Dryades Nymphes bathing was for his vnmanernerly viewing traÌ„sformed into an Hart so deuoured of his owne Dogs Diana appellata est quod diem noctu efficiat vel quasi Duana quod duobus temporibus maxime coÌ„pareat die ac nocte Prudentius because he allowed the Goddesse Diana to be gouerner of both the Lightes he being also a valiaunt liberal Capitayne esteeming Men before Money and Ualiauncie before Bryberye and being fallen into great pouertie not able to haue the funerall of vayne brauerye with more mourning Weedes theÌ„ mourning myndes was neuerthelesse by the earneste prayers of his Souldiers by Titan and Cynthia caryed into Coelum Empyreum for an immortall rewarde among the Gods for euer MERCVRIVS MErcurie was portraicted with winges at head and feete wearing an Hat of white blacke colloures A Fawlchon by his side in one hande a Scepter in the other a Pype on the one side stode a Cocke and a Ramme and close by his side a Fylcher or Cutpurse and headlesse Argus Signification BY Mercurie Marchauntes be ment His wynges at head feete betoken the expedition of MarchaÌ„tes which to gett worldly pelfe post through all corners of the World the whyte blacke coloured Hat signifieth their subtilty which for greedines of gaine spare not to face white for blacke blacke for white By his Fawlchon is signified goodes gotten by violence when subtiltie cannot comprehend His Mace is a token of peace but the knot with two serpentes clasping ech other aboute the sayde Scepter doth intimate that no promise must be broken Hys Pype resembleth Eloquence which refresheth the mynde as Harmony doth the eares The Cocke is sayde to be the best obseruer of tymes and seasons warning Marchantes and trauelers to forsake no opportunity The Ramme is a resemblauÌ„ce of hys offyce because the Poets fayne Mercurie to be Embassadoure of the Gods all are obedient to hym as the Flockes of shepe are to the Ramme the figured Cutpurse is a proofe that Mercurie was a thiefe and Headlesse Argus is a witnesse that one Plague bewrayes a thousand euilles The Poets feigne that Argus the Sonne of Aristor had an hundred eyes of al which only two did sleepe by course so that he was not to be takeÌ„ with al a sleepe So subtil was Argus that what fraude soeuer was imagined hee had policie to defende it Wherefore Iuno enuyinge Io her brother and husband Iupiters Harlot committed the keping of Io to Argus supposing so to be most assured from euermore the hauing of Iupiters company Iupiter to acquite Iunos practise commaundeth Mercurye to take him to his Pype and with melodious soundes brought Argus Eyes a sleepe by which is signified what is hee that is so circumspect or aduised but that Flattrye or counterfeited perswasion at one time or other may deceiue which worke being accomplished hee stryketh of Argus head and setteth Io the transformed Cow at liberty Iuno seeing this hap in token of her good wyll sets Argus eyes into the Peacockes tayle for a perpetual remembraunce of his trusty seruice A manifest showe how vayne a thinge rewarde is when it dyeth wyth the partie from the posteritie As when Carnalia had slayne his freend Obliuios enemye thereby receiuing his deathes wounde for his laboure was rewarded with a Million of Gold what pleasure had hee thereof beeinge preuented from the vse by death and not geeuen to his familye MINERVA OR PALLAS PALLAS was portraicted all armed her couÌ„tenaunce menacing the beholder hauing a Cloke of three coulers in her righte hande a Speare and on her lefte a Christalline Target embossed with a Gorgons head By her stoode a Greene Oliue Tree and a Dragon with an Owle flyinge ouer them Signification BY Minerua is signified Wisdome ioyned to Force to qualifie extremities Pallas Armature doeth purporte that it concerneth a wyse man to be fenced aswell against frowarde affections as the outward enemie Her fierce Looke or Countenaunce doth admonish vs not to beholde sinne with gentill and amiable Countenaunce but menacinge and as it were with a Speare to bydde and wage Battayle against it Her Cloake of Whyte Golden Purple colours setteth foorthe Wysdome to the viewe of the eye For the Whyte betokeneth Simplicitie the Golde the glitteringe force of Prudence the Purple the pearcing brightnesse of
all annoyes by the forcke is signified the furniture that good Shippes must haue aswell in weapon as tacklinge thereby to preuente both Bellona Cyclops Seas and Theeues By the Tritones skilfull Maryners Souldiers and Munition The Poetes note that Neptune roade on an horse because when Athens was erected Pallas Neptune were at stryfe aboute the naminge of the Cittie after many Wordes the discorde was put to arbitremente of the Gods they awarded that which of theim coulde finde out the moste profitableste thinge for the life of manne he onlye shoulde haue the aucthoritye to name the Cyttie Neptune smote the ground with his Forke and foorthwith leapt out an Horse But Pallas smyting the Grounde with her Speare sodeynlye sprong foorth a Oliue tree which the Goddes iudged to bee more profitable to the vse of man Pallas obteyninge victorye called the Cittie Athens It was more by the fauour of the Gods so to iudge it then it was to preferre the Oliue tree before the Horse An Epitheton Except by the Oliue tree is signified Uertue and by by the horse vyce Venusta Venus CERES CESES was figured havinge on her heade a Crowne of wrythen Eares of Corne in her right hande an handfull of Corne and in the lefte the Herbe Poppye Signification CEres betokneth encrease of Grayne because she is called Dea Frugum of the frugalitie which commeth of Earthe and Seede The Crowne of Corne Eares betokeneth the encrease the Eares of Corne in her hand betokneth the reserued Seede whereby doth follow the yeares encrease By the Poppie is signified the slouthfull or sleepye tyme to ensue that ech laborer may take hede to neglect no tyme for as the Poppye is a causer of sleepe So Slouth is a vice that looseth gaine The Poppye also called Papa-ver with other weedes are suffered to grow among the Corne which must be weeded foorth for byndring the Cornes encrease The Poetes feigne that Saturne Ceres father was a great deuourer of his Children so sayde by the Fygure Antithesis for that the Earthe as shee yeldeth encrease doth receiue all into her agayne IANVS IANVS was portraicted double faced standing vpon twelue Alters in his right hande hee helde a Keye with ξ ε wroughte vppon it in the left hand a Barre with this letter τ grauen on it Signification HIs two Faces on both sides aswell beehynde as beefore aduertiseth wiselye to consider thynges aswell past as to come standinge vpon Twelue Alters admonisheth Prynces and Men of Honoure to bee constant in all they re doynges but moste especiall in Religion as was IANVS Kynge of Italye so named of Italus from whom proceded the name of the Countrye The Keye in his ryghte hande is a resemblaunce of policie to open and bringe to light the treacherous deuises of diepe dissemblers The Letters ξ. and ε. sygnyfye 55. The letter τ. on the barre three hundred which Barre signified the Fortitude of a good prince in maynteyning Uertue suppressing vyce By the number 355. the dayes of one yeare wherein no day ought to be ouerpassed without some exploite or good act The Romans in honour of Ianus erected a beautifull Temple which in tyme of Warre stode wyde open in tyme of peace it was alwayes shutte Ianus is supposed the firste beginner of letters and skyll of the starres taught the plantinge of the Uyne Deuided the twelue Monethes and sundrye Domesticall skilles for a common wealth therefore double faced the Face of Gouernment and the Face of Labour SATVRNVS SATVRNE was portracted with a hoare head but black bearded feeble footed He held in his hand a Sythe of serpentine forme leaninge on the sneathe or staffe In his left hand hee helde an Infant greedelye deuouringe it his collour pale and wanne Signification SAturnus boarynesse betokeneth Winter his black beard signifieth the Golden worlde in which no mā was tormented with care the earth yelding of it selfe sufficient for euery mans contētation his feeble feete resembled him to be the slowest of the seuen Planets because he can finish his course in no lesse then thyrtie yeares his pale and yealow collour sheweth his cōplexion to be cold and dry hys Sythe signifieth time in the which al thinges are mowen down and wythered hys greedy deuouring of the Childe betokeneth the wastfull spending of thinges before they come to growth whose mouthes be more plentye then good condicions deuouringe more at fewe Bankets then their fathers got in fortie yeares GENIVS GENIVS was portraicted like a younge man hauing two VVinges powring VVyne out of a Bolle vpon an Alter Signification BY Genius is signified the towardnes of quicke wittes whereby sundrye sortes of people are founde to exceede others his Wings betoken the swiftnesse of the mynde as also the readynesse vpon whom he hath taken charge he is sayed to bee the Sonne of the Immortall God because hee is ioyned to humaine forme called reasonable His powring wyne on an Alter signifieth the abundance of Ayry moysture which doth force the barren earth to yeld foorth ech creature and substaunce Plutarch wryteth that Iulius Caesar had a mighty Genius alotted vnto him by whose helpe he not onlie atchieued great Uictories in his lyfe but was also reuenged on his murderers after his death for his Genius so pursued his conspiratours at the verye heeles both by Sea and Lande that hee suffered not one to remayne on lyue which eyther was a doer or a conspirour of the fact so likewise after the fact of Robbers and wilful Murderers in flyinge from place to place they haue neuer beene at quiet til death hath finished they deserued course PLVTO PLVTO was portraicted with a frowninge countenaunce his seate was fiery Cerberus was his footestoole in his right hand he helde a Scepter in his lefte a Sowle Proserpina with hellishe Furies attendinge on hym Signification BY Pluto is mente the vnsaciable gotten ryches that force possesseth his Statelye countenaunce declareth that worldlye Goodes make men proude arrogant and ambicious His fiery Seate betokeneth the violence of the Ryche His Scepter signifieth Welthye menns rule ouer the Poore The Soule which he claspeth with his left hande declareth that vnsaciable desire oppresseth the poore vnto Death and by the Furies are mente the cares which Ryches brynge with them By Cerberus the three mischiefes whych do oppresse the simple Flatterye Hypocrisie and Opression fayre woordes to allure Hipocrisie to dissemble Oppression to take by vyolence is signified The Poetes faygne Cerberus to be Plutos Porter of the Citty Dolor who receiueth all those that Charon bringeth hauing three heades the one of a Goate the seconde of a Beare the thirde of a Tyger whereby is also signified Lechery Gourmandise and Murder dyuers haue framed diuers shapes onely to paint forth the filthines of vice the more to terrify the folowinge Age. Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum BACCHVS BACCHVS was portraicted with a graunde paunch his Charyot was drawen with an Ownce and a Tygre
his head was horned and crowned with an Iuye Garlande in one hande a Bunche of Grapes in the other a Cuppe hauing to his Garde an Ape loking in a glasse a Hogge a Lyon a VVolfe and a Dolphyn Signification BAcchus Was the first that in Grece foūd the manner of planting Uines the secret of pressinge Wines called Liber Pater by an Adage the father of liberty In vino veritas When men bee dronken they disclose all as when the Wine is in the witte is out al superfluous banquetinges and Riotous excesse are called Conuiuia Bacchanalia dronken feastes The Feastes of diuers spottes and colours as is the Ounce Tigre signifie the sūdry affectiōs of the dronken and the desperate madnes that suche possesseth by outragious deedes in dronkēnes his hornes portrait the customes of the Auncients whiche vsed hornes to drinke in in steade of Pottes his strayghte garlande of Iuye resembleth the kerchefes of the dronkē for they were accustomed to bind their head the harder therby to stoppe the vapors from ascending into their brayne The Ape the Hogge and the Lyon the Woolfe and Dolphin bewray the affections of the Dronken for some playe the Ape in imitating euery thyng some the Hog in returning to accustomed dronkennes as filthy affections some the Lyon in executing of cruelty some the Wolfe in rauening and spoyling some the Dolphin ouerwhelmed in Bacchus seas the Ape looking in a glasse they vaine flattery of deceiuable folly The Poets sayne that Semele Bacchus mother was a woman very bewtiful beloued of Iupiter But Iealous Iuno impacient thereof deuised with her selfe Semeles destruction and taking to her the shape of Semeles Nurse she telleth her that it is greatly to be doubted whether hee whō she toke for her Paramour best beloued wer Iupiter in dede or no wherfore her aduise was that Semele should desire of Iupiter that hee woulde company with her in suche so great a maiestye as hee was accustomed to vse with Iuno called the Quene of Heauen Shortly after Iupiter resortinge to her shee desired of him to graunte her one request who promised by an oth that shee shoulde bee satisfied Iupiters othe was by the Riuer Styx Semele supposinge not to bee cyrcumuented by Iuno and chargynge Iupiter with hys Othe to accompanye with her in all his Maiestye but shee by reason that shee was Mortall not able to sustayne his presence died at the first sight thereof and being younge with chyld at that instante through the clemēcy of the Gods it was batched tyl it grew to a graunde paunch called Bacchus wherby is also signified that corruption lyketh all thynges that are filthye BONA DEA BERECYNTHIA or Bona Dea was portrayted sitting in her Chariot on her head was a turretted Crowne her guard with drawn Swordes attending on her her wagon was drawne by Lyons but driuen by Cocks she holding in her hād a Key Signification By Bona Dea is ment the worlds lower part Earth and by the worlde all thinges earthy ouer the which the Mone hath gouernment by the Wagon the swift course of all thinges issuing and growing forth of the same her stately sitting betokeneth the firme ground wheron is builded Cityes and townes by her Crown so signified wearing on her heade as on the vpper face of the Earthe all Edifices framed with mountaynes and valleis as Castels Fortes her Guard with weapons drawen betoken the spedy pace of workinge signes seasons as wel in man as in beast al things crescēt or growing wherin is workīg the spirit of life by the weapons are signified the sodaynnes of deathe warning euery estate to take bede of time By the Liōs the courage of souldiers to lose none oportunitie By the Cockes are ment the priestes of Berecynthia Which must be vigilāt as the Cocks to admonish the people be time By the Key the openyng of the secret and hiddē natures of al things growing in and vpon the earth from whēce the Phisitiō learneth to heale the sicke and the Chirurgiā to cure the wounded as also the earth to be opened in the sommer and shut in the winter when she diminisheth of her increase by the frosen and barren season The Poets faigne her to be the mother of the godds because the Earth is the mother of al creatures into that which they shal retourne againe HERCVLES HERCVLES was figured in a Lions skinne and holding a Clubbe in his right hande Signifycation HErcules apparayled in a Lions skinne signyfyeth the valiant courage of a woorthy Captayne also the Prudencie where with his minde beinge furnished be subdued his outragious affections the Club signifieth vnderstanding throughe which the motions of wicked affections are repressed and vtterly vanquished Hercules was before the destruction of Troie in the third age of the world gouerner among the Lybians had victorye ouer many nations and subdued diuers Kingdomes a Prince of worthye Fame a mainteiner of Uertue and a punisher of Uice such a one as hated those that chose to steale by policye rather then to win by prowesse The Poets fayne that the hill Atlas in Mauritania was a huyge Giant which for the height supported the stars ouercōme by Hercules he wanne the countrye and people also in the valey of the sayd mountain was a pleasant plat the Ladies wherof were three sisters Aegle Erethusa Hespertusa commonly knowē by these names of Hesperides in this valley was the fayned tree with golden Apples kepte by a Dragon whereby is signifyed the great riches that proceaded of so fertill a soyle the couetus disorder of the inhabitantes who by deuouring of others consumed them selues AESCVLAPIVS AESCVLAPIVS was portraited crowned with a Laurel standing in a long gown in one hād a box of oyntment and in the other a staffe Signification Aesculapius signifyeth Phisitiās his lawrel crown the cure by many medicynes his longe Gowne that modesty that belonges to such skill By the boxe of Oyntments the readines of Salues for bodely cure for in Auncient times past the Phisition Chyrurgion and Apothecharie was the office of one man and now for the most parte the Practice of three Theeues For learninge is Ignoraunce For Cunning Craft For cure Spoyle For Lyfe Death Such bee the fruictes of disceyueable Practise By the staffe the stay of Age whereby is signified the Learninge and Experience is stayed by coūsayle thorough the which cōmeth knowledge of thinges both Good and Euell The Poets fayne that Aesculapius was slaine of Iupiter with Lightninge from Heauen for that by hys Arte he raysed Hyppolitus from Death to Life Diana seacretly louing Hyppolitus desired Aesculapius by his skill too reuiue him to hys former Lyfe Which beinge donne shee called him Virbius as if shee should haue sayd bis vir twice a man Iupiter displeased for the Facte deuided their loue by Death replying that Phisike will not helpe where GOD is disposed to plague FLORA FLora was portraited with Flowers in her hand of Beanes and Pease her
as otherwise graue and modeste in Apparell HARPYAE HARPIAE were portraicted like Carmarāts in bodye but strompetlyke faced hauinge long and cruel tallantes Signification BY the Harpyae shamelesse desperate iniuries are signified which as vnder Feathers are shadowed for a season By theyr whorishe Countenaunce the canckered wrath of a malicious woman as in Dalila Memphetica Vasthi Iuno Semiramis Cleopatra Philamertia by their longe and sharp tallentes their gredye desyre to gette in possession the goodes of others The poets faygne that ther are three sisters of them wherof the first is called Aello which in our speche signifieth a spoyler of men by vnsatiable whoredome The second is called Ocypite A spedy conueyer or filcher a hackney whore while she is in fact she pyckes the caytiues pursse The third called Celeno which signifieth darke because the doinges of whoredome loue darknes hate the light PARCAE PARCAE wer thre sisters ef destinie wherof Clotho was figured holdinge the distaffe Lachesis drawing out the threed and Atropos cutting it of Signification THe Poets fayne that these thre sisters betoken the felicity and state of man and the misery of man. By the threedes mans life is signifyed for warning euerye estate to lyve well so longe as Lachesis dothe drawe the Threede it geueth warnynge that tyme be diligently spent for when Atropos commeth to cut the threed thereby is signifyed the ende of lyfe thē is natures course ended if the threed be white it betokens felicity if it be blacke endlesse misery that is if the lyfe be vertuous it obtayneth lyfe if it bee vitious then foloweth death PRIAPVS A YOVNG man armed hauing two winges in his right hand a vessel powringe forth water on a square stone on his left arme bearinge al sortes of frutes in his right hande a whippe of three cordes hauinge also a greene VVillow garland on his heade Signification THE young man betokeneth kyndled lust otherwyse called the God of Lecherye his two winges swyftnes to accomplish carnal Venerie the one wing is Flattery the other is Force The vessel of water poured foorth on the stone the multitude of wordes tending to no vertue the square stone the stubburne and harde harted By the holdinge of dayntye fruites the wastful expence that Leacherye vseth by ryotous excesse By the whip the sharpe toyle of beggery which followeth the haunters of such art By the three cordes hunger sicknes death The Garlande of Willowe foresheweth the sharpe tyme of youthe or floryshynge strength The Poets faine Priapus to be the sonne of Venus which is Lust following carnal desyre This Priapus was honowred for a god among the Gentiles prayed vnto by their women that were barrayne to the ende they might haue children GRATIAE THE Three Graces were portraited naked with hand in hand wherof two loked toward vs and the thyrd from vs. Signification BY the three graces thankfulnes Bountefulnes and liberality is signifyed for in that one loketh frō vs and two toward vs we are let to weete the one benefyte when it is bestowed wel wil bring with him two home agayne They were portrayted naked because benefytes muste not be coūterfaited but done for vertues sake Theyr holding of one an other hand in hand signifieth the boūtie doth winne couple mens hartes together They also were portraited Lawghinge because the liberalitye that is commended dothe procede from a cherefull and wylling mynde The Poets fayne that the first for her mery countinaūce was called Aglaia the second for her fresh colour was called Thalia And the thyrd for her pleasantnes was called Euphrosine Aglaia signifyeth thankefulnes for benefits receiued Thalia plenteousnes by liberal reward Euphrosine liberality whē nede is espied These prefigure that the benefits of the mind ought to bee no lesse liberal then the proceding liberality which procedeth frō forth of the earth therfore called Gratiae ORPHEVS ORPHEVS was figured in a Philosophers wede playing on a harpe with sundry sortes of beastes and byrdes about him Signification BY Orpheus is signifyed skilful musike as wel by songe as instrument By his Philosophers weede the cumly gesture that belongs to handling the instrument By the harpe the wyse sentences and sonets to the adorning of musike By the beastes and byrdes the delectable mindes of the simple vnlearned The Poets faine that he was a peerelesse musition in so much that at his playe wild beasts would come aboute him the byrdes stay their flighte the waters their flowinge the trees bow down theyr toppes and the mountaynes hoppe whereby is sygnifyed the delightsome pleasures in al estates The Poets faygne that when his wyfe Euridice was dead he went to Hell to speake with her soule where his swete musique so rauished the mayster Deuyll that hee consented to let Orpheus haue his wyfe agayne condicionallye that shee shoulde not loke backe til she were out of the infernal kingdome which thing she not able to refrayne he lost her agayne Musique is delectable to the mynde but carnally liked is hurt to the soule PERSEVS PERSEVS had wyngs at his shoulders a Falchion or Percian swoorde by his side and flyinge Pegasus beatinge the grownd with his heeles Signifycation His winges betoken his shippes by which he sayled into Asia his sworde sygnyfieth his victorye ouer Medusa his flyinge horse is a representation of Fame and speedy pursuite after his enemies The Poets fayne Stheno Euriale and Medusa to bee three sisters euery hayre on ech of their heades to to a Snake and all that they looked vpon they turned into stones by which is signified their blazing Beautye to bee such and so greate that they bereft or enamoured al that looked vpon them so farre from wyt vnderstāding by their alluring slights coūterfeyted shewes that therfore they were sayde to bee transformed into stones because they ruled thē at their pleasures The Poetes faygne Perseus to haue borowed of Mercurie both Wynges and Sword and of Pallas a Target and so comminge sodenlye fyndinge Medusa sleeping hee cut of her heade and shewed the same to his enemies at the sighte whereof they turned into Stones The force of Forreyne helpe ech Countrye maketh stronger And force supplied when time doth last doth prosper it the longer The smyling shew which treates a peace to be Is treasons fraude let dayly prudence see FVRIAE THe three Furies Alecto Tysiphone Maegera were portraicted with whyppes in their handes their hayres hyssyng Serpentes with haggish lookes and gryeslye countenaunces Signification BY the Furies the slynge of an euil conscience is signified their whippes betoken the Tormentes which the wicked are forced to endure theyr Serpentyne hayres doth intimate that the Conscience doeth alwayes gnawe and byte the harte of the vngodlye Their menacing looke and countenaunce doth threaten the grieslye toyle in the second Lyfe Tullie in hys Oration pro Roscio declareth after this sorte Nolite putare quemadmodum in fabulis saepe numero videtis eos qui aliquid impiè scelerateque commiserūt agitari