was converted by abuse unto Idolatry The Jews were often guilty of this superstition 2 Erisichthon perhaps was a prodigal glutton who by wast expences was reduced to such extreme beggery that he was glad to prostitute his own daughter for his sustenance who had Oxen Sheep and other provisions given her by her lovers Therefore Metra was scoffingly said to be changed into many shapes for the Ancients cattle was their Money Pecunia from Pecus Judah sent such a reward to Thamar Misery is the companion of impiety 3 Perhaps Erisichthon had a wolf in his breast or had a dog-like appetite ever hungry never thriving of which disease Eusebius reports the Murderers of the Innocents died 425. Let mans flesh prove delicious unto thee So of our time a Tydeus thou shalt be Tydeus son of Oeneus King of Calidonia when he was mortally wounded by Menalippus desired and had brought unto him the head of his enemy which he gnawed like a dog and so died 1 The biting of a dying serpent is deep 2 That mans hate is almost immortal that is not satisfied with the head of his mortal foe Heroick Caesar wept over Pompey dead whom he could not indure alive A Coward like Dametas will fearfully abuse that person dead whose face without trembling fear he durst not look upon alive Act that which may the Horses of the Sun Affright and make to th' East from West to run Thyestes adulterously used the wife of his brother Atreus he in revenge killed the children of Thyestes and made of them a feast for their father at sight of which horrid fact the Sun is storied to run back 1 Jealousie and abuse of the marriage bed burneth like fire and is seldome quenched without some bloud Pelopis domus ruat vel in me dummodo in fratrem ruat Senec. Thyest saith Atreus Let Pelops house fall on me too so it falls upon Thyestes Revenge is delicious malicious ingenious and ambitious Thyestes was wicked in wronging Atreus wife Atreus was more wicked in slaying Thyestes innocent children We blame the heathen for killing other mens children and we more cruelly kill our own either in giving them that we should not by Indulgence or not giving them that we should by Education Yea some devour them alive if not in persons yet in their portions by luxury and lust Virgil. 2 Aen. 2 Atreus as Servius noteth was the first that found out the Eclipse of the Sun therefore the Sun is said to hide his face 3 When the Son of God suffered the Sun of the Skie did hide his face The Sun of righteousness is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity Do thou revive Lycaons bloudy feast 430. And seek by guile to cozen Jove thy guest Lycaon the Arcadian King with rost and sod limbs of a Molossian entertained Jupiter walking on the earth in the shape of a man on purpose to kill him the God burn'd his house and turned him into a Wolfe 1 Pontanus thinks this to be derived from thâ— eighth chapter of Genesis Thus many Poetical fables saith Tertullian had their original from the Scriptures 2 Lycaon an inhumane Prince feasted the Cretan Jupiter then with him on an embasie with the flesh of a stranger which discovered he overthrew the table and raised the citizens who by Joves conduct drove him out into the woods where living like an out-law he committed many robberies hence arose this fable Men infected with the Melancholy disease or rather madness called Lycanthropia think themselves Wolves and lurk in woods This fable deterreth us from impiety treachery and inhospitality and exciteth us to the contrary virtues seeing the Gods though disguised are alwayes present punishing and rewarding according to our actions In all affections our Poet proportioneth the transformation according to the quality of the transformed as this of Lycaon Let one tempt God and make a meale of thee Thou Tantalus and Tereus boy shalt be Tantalus cut his son in pieces and set it before the Gods in a feast either to see if they could discern it or for the greater magnificence in sacrificing unto them that which was most in estimation None was eaten but the shoulder by Ceres The Gods pitying Pelops supplied the want with Ivory and revoked his soul to the body 1 This sacrificing of children is thought to be derived from the immolation of Isaac A wretched custome not onely among the Heathens but Jews who offered their sons and daughters unto Moloch Tantalus offering his son to the Gods allegorically declareth that nothing should be so near and dear to us which we would not sacrifice to God and Religion who restores what we give with greater perfection For Tantalus being rich despised all wealth and pleasure to attend the Gods service and thence is said to starve in plenty For the History It is conjectured that Pelops was inhumanely handled by his father therefore feigned to be cut in pieces and served to the Gods who recompenced his sufferings with future plenty reputation and power for Ivory signifieth riches and shoulder strength 2 Though Ceres that is the Earth shall consume our flesh it shall be restored stronger our bodies sown in weakness shall be raised in power 2. Tereus son of Mars ravished Philomela sister of his own wife Progne and fearing discovery cut out her tongue Progne being certified of it by lines written in the bloud of Philomela killed her son Itis gotten by Tereus and boyled him for her husbands supper which being discovered he drew a sword to kill her but she was turned into a Swallow and escaped he into a Lapwing and Philomela into a Nightingall 1 Lustful Kings resemble Lapwings they have Crowns as these have tuffs on their heads they take delight in sensual pleasure as these birds in filthy dung 2 By Progne and Philomela may be meant Oratory and Poetry Oratory delights in Towns as the Swallow in houses Poetry as the Nightingall in woods Ovid. Trist Carmina secessum scribentis otia quaerunt And as far as the Nightingal exceeds the Swallow so doth the Poet excel the Orator for the Poet adds delight unto perswasion 3 Learning by sons of Mars as Tereus is made tengue tied Scholars like the Nightingall have a prick at their heart if they sing the burthen must be Lachrymae or Lamentation So let thy limbs be scattered in the way As his that did his fathers pursuit stay Medea flying after Jason taketh her young brother Absyrtus with her to retard the violence of her pursuing father she kills the child and straweth his mangled limbs in the fathers way 1 The Devil is not so black as he is painted nor Medea so bad as she is feigned Medea signifies Counsel daughter of Iduia that is Knowledge she followeth Jason that is a Physician this declares that he is no Physician but a Fool that wanteth counsel and understanding She was begotten of the Sun for all Counsel and Understanding comes from Heaven 2 Let
till they drink and then can much less rest till they die It is a fools paradise and wilful unquietness 2 Ambition is still climbing but not on Jacobs ladder for the higher it mounts the farther it is from heaven yet this sin doth ambitiously insinuat among the best as Satan among the children of God Joh 1. It crept into the very hearts of Christs own disciples they strove as Lycophron who should be the greatest Let kinsfolks through a wood thy torn limbs rake As him at Thebes whose grandsire was a snake Pentheus grand-child of Cadmus that was turned into a Snake despising the religion in Thebes established by Bacchus the God of wine notwithstanding the counsel and requests of Cadmus and Athamas with all speed would alter it His mother with his Aunt 's Ino and Autonöe all distracted with the fury of Bacchus supposing Pentheus to be a Bore transfixed him with Javelins and tore him in pieces 1 Noah was first after the flood that planted vineyards and taught men the use of wine therefore some write that of Noachus he was called Boachus Sandys and afterwards by the Heathens Bacchus by contraction or ignorance of Etymology 2 Nothing as King Pentheus well perceived can more please the vulgar then Innovation of government and religion to this they do throng in multitudes 3 Wise Princes should rather endeavour to pacifie then violently oppose a popular fury which like a torrent breaks all before it but being let alone exhausteth it self and is easily suppressed Reformation is therefore to be wrought by degrees lest through their too forward zeal they encounter too strong opposition and ruine themselves and the cause as this Pentheus did 3 The blind rage of superstition extinguisheth all affection Agave murders her own son and their Aunt their Nephew Nor have the latter ages been unacquainted with such horrors Or as th' imperious wife of Lycas thou Be dragg'd by Bulls along a mountain brow Lycas King of Boeotia first married Antiopa she was got with child by Epopus and was brought to bed of Zethus and Amphion whom she fathered upon Jupiter Dirce second wife to Lycas caused Antiopa to be bound with chains by prayer to Jupiter her chains are loosed and she freed her sons drag Dirce at Bulls tailes the Gods turn her into a fountain 1 Many sin willingly as Antiopa and lay the blame on God whereas God tempteth no man to that which he hateth forbiddeth and punisheth but every man is tempted of his own lust 2 Adultery overthrows whole families Antiopa was the cause of her own divorce and imprisonment or her husbands death and the murder of Dirce. 3 In distress as Antiopa pray unto God he will not onely loose thy chains and open the prison gate as to Paul and Sylas but in the end he will loose the chains of death and open the prison of the grave 535. As th' Harlots to her sisters husband let Thy tongue cut out fall down before thy feet Tereus ravished Philomela his wises sister and cut out her tongue Progne revengeth it by killing their son Itys Tereus is turned into a Lapwing Philomela into a Nightingall and Progne to a Swallow of this read more before 1 Pausanias observeth that no Nightingall doth sing nor Swallow build in Thracia as hating the countrey of Tereus But where Swallows build the Archietecture of their nest is admirable and to rob it or pull it down was among some people held not onely unfortunate but sacrilegious When cold weather comes and Flies which are their chiefest food be gone they creep into the clefts of rocks or sink to the bottom of a water Mr Burton and Mr Sandys do report that it is not extraordinary to draw Swallows out of some ponds with the fish which do seem dead but being put in a stove or to the fire they revive and take them to their wing As Blesus that knew Myrrha dull'd to a tree So childless found mayst thou in all parts be Blesus it seems first knew the virtue of the Myrrhe tree for he was childless And Dioscorides saith that Myrrhe openeth the Matrix and helpeth child-birth and why not child-begetting Ovid here wisheth Ibis that though he should change many climats and many wives yet he should still be childless Which doubtless is an heavy curse and reproch to man as Barrenness among the Jews was to a woman For he heapeth up riches and cannot tell who shall gather them See more of Myrrha before 1 Myrrha is feigned to be turned into a tree because after that horrid fact in the fruition of her own fathers bed she ever after hid her self and though unsensibly she shed bitter tears for her transgression signified by the gumme distilled from that tree 2 This tree doth prosper the better when the root is boared and distills most juyce in blustering winds So an upright setled mind remains immoveable and I bears most fruits of virtue in the stormes of envy and affliction appearing more comfortable and glorious being oppressed Virescit vulnere virtus Let busie Bees fix in thine eyes their stings 540. Such creatures to Achaeus did like things Achaeus devising a Poem in his garden was stung in the eyes with bees and so made blind 1 Thus envious enemies of the Gospel of peace as busie bees or rather wasps put pricks in our eyes to blind us that we might not see the truth But behold and tast that honey-like comfort of the sweet singer of Israel They came about me like bees yet they are extinct as the fire among the thornes for in the name of the Lord will I destroy them Nay they will destroy themselves As wheresoever a bee stings she leaves her sting behind and then turns a buzzing idle drone despicable to all ingenious industrious bees Fixt to a rock gnaw'd be thy bowels as He to whom Pyrrha brothers daughter was Prometheus brother to Epimetheus that was father of Pyrrha for his bringing fire out of heaven unto earth was bound on the hill Caucasus where an Eagle fed upon his heart 1 Menander the Greek Poet thinks that Prometheus was thus tormented not because he brought fire from heaven but because he bought woman which is worse into the earth 2 Our daily labours be refreshed by sleep at night as Prometheus heart Cura cor urit Renew the pattern of Thyestes meat Thee like Harpagus son thy father eat Harpagus because he killed not Cyrus as his grand father King Astyages had commanded him was invited by the King to a feast where Harpagus own son was the chiefest dish being killed and his limbs sod and rost Read this history at large in Justin l. 1. So was Thyestes served by his brother Atreus Good Authors do relate this of Harpalice who being forced by her father Clymenus when she was delivered killed the child and made it for her fathers table Of Thyestes read before 1 Maugre all the bloudy malice and preventing plots of Astyages Cyrus his grandchild and
best Saints was advised by his Ghostly Father to drink a little wine 1 Tim. 5. Why then should the dry Goatly Fathers of his Holiness rob their Lay-children of their due share in that cup of blessing in the Sacrament They may as well make them vow with the Reckabites not to drink wine for ever 345. Oetous and Dragons son in law be thy fate Tissamens Father and Callirhöes mate 1. Hercules suspected by his wife Dejanira that he loved Iole more then her sacrificing on the hill Oete in a garment dipped in the bloud of the Centaur Nessus sent as a token by his wife fell mad and burned himself 1 Womens Jealousie is like their Lust and both like the fire of hell unquenchable Some think that Dejanira sent her husband that token not in revenging hate but to gain his love So often an ill event follows a good intent Thus a cockering mother kills her best beloved child with kindness Thus the Ape by hugging strangles her dearest darling 2. Athamas husband of Ino daughter of Cadmus that was turned to a Serpent having in his madnesse killed his son Learchus at last killed himself 1 Unreasonable creatures do not onely procreate but preserve their issue why then should man be so mad with reason to murder his own child 2 Let us strive to give deadly wounds to our sins those bastards begot by the Devil upon our flesh Happy is he that can dash these Babylonish brats against the stones 3. Senec. Trag. Orestes father of Tissamenus son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra having killed his mother that committed adultery with Aegysthus fell mad 1 If a parent sins how dare a child or any private person take up the publick sword to punish This Matricide Orestes ran mad after the fact Parricides voluntarily are mad before The end of such is by their own or by anothers hand 4. Alcmeon husband of Calirhoe going to his other wife Alphesthaea whom he had deceived for a jewel was slain by her brothers 1 Polygamie is double Misery One may as easie serve two masteâ—s as please two wives One at once is enough if not too much 2 Achans golden wedge procured his untimely death Covetousness endangereth body and soul Thy wife to thee no chaster prove then she Of whom old Tydaeus might ashamed be Diomedes son of Tydaeus married Aegiale whom Venus caused to make her body common because her husband happened to hurt Venus when she defended Aeneas 1 An adulterous wise is Acteons park dispal'd a whole pound of Harts-horn infused in Nectar will scarcely cure her husband of the head-ache The urine cast by scolding Zantippe upon the head of her husband Socrates was less dangerous then an harder thing A loose wife makes her husband horn-mad and heart-sad Faelix quem faciunt aliorum cornua cautum Or Locris lass that with her husbands brother 350. Lay and kill'd her maid the fact to smother Hypermnestra of Locris lay with her husbands brother and killed her maid to make the world think that she not the mistriss was guilty of the offence 1 Sin scornes to go alone Adultery hath Murder waiting at her heels she that dares destroy her own soul by Adultery will not stick to destroy anothers body by Murder 2 Committing a second sin to cover the first is to take a remedy worse then the disease Boyes will excuse the fault of Treuantnes by the sin of lying Adam to quit himself will lay the fault on God The woman Thou gavest me c. Gods grant thy life be faithless and so bad As Taläus and Tyndar's son in law had 1. Amphiaräus husband to Eriphele daughter of Talâus one of the seven Kings that besieged Thebes at first for fear of the war hid himself his wife for jewels discovered him he went to the siege and there was slain 1 An army of valiant Lions led by a cowardly Hart is not so prevalent as an army of Harts led by a Lion Like Captain like company 2 God made husband and wife one flesh No man ever yet hated his own flesh but woman doth hers The Philistines could not plough without Sampsons Heifer He was never taken but by means of a wife Neither can the Devil tempt us to evil without the Dalilah of our own flesh We have good cause then to pray in the sense of the Spanish proverb O Lord deliver me from my selfe 2. Agamemnon husband of Clytemnestra daughter of Tyndarus returning from Troy was killed by his own wife and her Adulterer Aegysthus 1 My own house should be my castle of defence not offence Women chiefly a wife should be not woe to man but a helper 2 A sheep shunning a storm shelters under a bush where he loseth his fleece perhaps his life So the foolish fish leaped out of the frying-pan into the fire A window wholly opened brings in less dangerous cold then a small chink Open enemies abroad overcame not this royal Agamemnon but that bitter-sweeting his wife at home Or Belus Neeces that did dare to kill Their Husbands Therefore carry water still Fifty daughters of Danâus son of Bâ—lus marrâ—ed to fifty sons of their uncle Aegyptus Ovid. Met. in the first night killed all their new husbands but one wherefore they are condemned to draw water in hell till they fill a sieve or a pitcher full of holes 1 Husband-mens toyl is like these wenches their work is never at an end 2 Learn with the one sister Hypermnestro rather to obey the command of your Heavenly then Natural or Civil fathers 355. With lust of thee thy sister burn and be True but in vice as Biblis Canace 1. Biblis daughter of Miletus and Canace lustfully loved her brother Caunus Natal Comes travelling many Countreys and not finding him she dissolved into a fountain the monument of her punishment and perpetual sorrow 1 Here we may observe the impotency of passion and wicked affection Woman is naturally of a more cold complexion and tempered with less impudency then Man yet that devillish Cupid findeth the weaker vessell to be the fittest instrument to kindle his fiery darts 2 It is true that Cain and his sons out of necessity married their own sisters which was afterwards forbidden by the law of Nature acknowledged by all Nations Justin But Cambyses perswaded by his sycophants that a King was liable to no law durst infringe it Nay among the Romans Claudius was the first that married his Neece Tacitus 2. Canace daughter of Aeolus brought forth a child begotten by her own brother Macareus her father discovering the child by the crying going to nurse killed it with his doggs 1 All kinds of sin by the law of Heathens so by the law of God were accounted equal yet by the laws of Man Fornication is a great sin Adultery greater Incest greatest of all in that kind A great folly was committed in Israel when Judah lay with Thamar his daughter in law Gen. 38. A greater when Ammon defiled his sister
fraudulent mists he endeavours to conceal himself Who brought with Lernian poison di'd the gift 430. And di'd with 's bloud the Euboean sea and clift Licas servant unto Hercules brought his master a garment dipped in the poysonous bloud of Nessus for which cause Hercules being inraged threw him down a clift into the Euboean sea where he was turned into a rock 1 This rock lying against the Caenean Promontory resembles a Man which perhaps gave an argument to this fiction 2 It is almost the highest pitch of Fortune to be a favourite to a Prince but it ofttimes proves unfortunate not by any guilty intent of the servant but innocent ignorance of his masters intention 3 Rash Kings in an hasty passion have killed their dearest friends as Alexander did Clitus and Hercules Lycas It is Hallifax law first to condemn and execute and afterwards examine the cause Or into Tartar from a rock fall dead As he that Platoes book of death had read Cleombrotus a Philosopher of the Academick sect as soon as he had read the book called Phaedon concerning the immortality of the soul compiled by Plato who was scholar of Socrates cast himself down from a rock into the sea hastening to enjoy the happiness he had read of 1 Summum nec metuas diem nec optes No fear nor wish thy latter end Be not ashamed to live nor afraid to die nor hasten thy death in hope of a better life The souldier ought not to move unless the Commander give the word 2 Although our light afflictions are not to be compared to the eternal weâ—ght of glory immortal though we have a crown of righteousness laid up for us it is rather with patience to be expected then preposterously to be snatched The kingdome of heaven is not to be caught with such kind of violence 3 Those heathen Philosophers may rise up in judgment against these modern Hereticks that do hold that the body and soul die together Or he that Theseus guileful sail did view Or as the boy that one from Troyes wall threw 1. Aegaeus standing on the shore and seeing the black sail on his son Theseus ship at his returne from conquering the Minotaure contrary to his sons promise to put forth a white one threw himself down into the sea which ever since is called by his name the Aegaean sea 1 As well Joy as Fear distracts the faculties 2 Prosperity makes a man forget his own father many times himself 3 Parents are not more carefully mindful of their children then children are carelesly forgetful of their Parents Virgil. Aen. Omnis in Ascanio chari stat cura parentis Rivers never return a streame up to the spring from whence they flow nor children like love unto their parents Wise and true was the ancient saying To the Gods Parents and Teachers equivalent recompence cannot be rendred 2. Astyanax onely son of valiant Prince Hector was by Ulysses thrown headlong from a Turret of Troy lest he might afterwards claime the kingdom and take revenge upon the Greeks 1 A Conqueror if he would securely enjoy what he hath won must pluck up both branch and root of the former stock Caesar will indure no superior nor Pompey admit an equal Herod therefore would not onely have killed Christ whom he heard to be King of the Jews but burnt the ancient Records of the Kings That government whose foundation is laid in bloud and oppression is like a building whose groundsels are rotten it may for a time be under-propped and kept up but once falling no possible means can stay it 495. Or Bacchus Nurse and Aunt or who was sent Headlong because the saw he did invent 1. Ino sister of Semele mother of Bacchus was his Aunt and Nurse she being second wife to Athamas whom Juno did infuriate flying her husbands rage that would have killed her for a Lioness and her son Melicertes for a whelp threw her self and her son into the sea 1 Ino is called among the Greeks Leucothea among Latins Matuta or the Morning Melicertes is in Greek called Palemon in Latin Portunus which signifies the driving force of stormes he is son of Matuta the Morning because a red morning brings forth tempests 2 Learn by the pride of Ino to be moderate in prosperity No man knows what where or when shall be his death 3 Ino a Heathen disdained not to nurse her sisters child but the more shame and pity some Christians refuse to nurse their own thus they shew themselves but half-mothers yea more unnatural to their young ones then savage beasts 2. Perdix cousin and pupil to Daedalus rejoycing at the death of Icarus and because he was very ingenious for at twelve years of age he invented the saw was in envy thrown down by Daedalus from the top of Minerva's tower in Athens but he was supported by the Goddess and turned to a Partridge a bird of his own name 1 There is no envy so great and deadly as that between men of the same profession as Daedalus and Perdix Figulus Figulo invidet Nay some will violate all obligations to remove the rivals of their praise wishing their necks broke that they may not stand in their light But Minerva or admirable Art sustains and giveth life to happy endeavours Or as the Lydian girle whose neck was broke ' Cause against Mars reviling words she spoke Ilice daughter of Ibicus a Lydian being lustfully beloved of Mars by the help of Diana was kept from his violence yet she reviled against him wherewith Mars being much incensed killed her father with which Ilice being much grieved fell mad and threw her self from a rock into the sea 1 Innocent virginity had been too often a prey to the impetuous souldiery of Mars had not preserving providence made a rescue 2 A railing and reviling tongue bespeaketh destruction to it self and friends But why should Ibicus the father suffer when the child offends Perhaps the offence came by him for want of due correction restriction and instruction The Mother in the fable rather deserved to be hanged then her son for that she connived and not whipt him being a boy for stealing a book at school 3 Grief for loss of friends deceased is a sign of love not to them but our selves It is misery enough to lose a father why should I double it in losing my self too Meet in thy field a whelping Lioness 500. Let her thee kill as one did Paphages Paphages King of Ambracia in his walke meeting a Lioness with whelp was killed by her 1 Paphages may be a fat rich Prince the Lioness with her whelps may be a numerous army invading his plenteous kingdome 2 In natural bodies the longer they subsist in perfect health Dal. Aph. the more dangerous is the disease when it cometh and the longer in curing as having none of these humours spent which by distemper give foment and force to the approching malady So it is in the body Politick when war once seiseth
Christians there is but one God represented under those fictious names He is All in All our Help Wisdom Captain and Comfort To me to me with ears and hearts attend And let my prayers have their weight and end Hear me O Earth hear me O boysterous Main Hear me O skie let me your favours gain O Starres O Sun most glorious in thy rayes O Moon appearing not alike alwayes 75. O Night renown'd for shade O Triple Fate That spin our lives to the appointed rate The Gentiles made Night a Goddess but gave her no Temple nor sacrifice She is painted like a woman because that sex is more fearful and so are men by night more then day She bears a white child in the right hand that is Sleep and a black one in the left that is Death The three fatal Sisters are Clotho that holds the distaff Lachesis that spins the thred of mans life and Atropos that cuts it off 1 There is a three-fold estate of man Birth Life Death Hence the first Fate is called Nona because man is born in the ninth moneth the second Decima because man liveth ten times ten years the third Morta Death They are called Parcae because Death spares none They are the daughters of Jupiter and Themis God of Heaven and Goddess of Justice for Death is Gods just decree for sin Styx whom the Gods do swear by that dost glide With murmuring noise through valleys by Hell side Styx indeed is a Well in Arcadia whose water is strong poison so cold that nothing can contain it but a Mules hoof with this Alexander is thought to be made away by Antipater not without some aspersion upon Aristotle The Poets feign that this is a river in Hell that the Gods did swear by it which oath if any brake he was for certain years debarr'd from Nectar and Ambrosia the food of Deities 1. Styx signifies Hate because men dying begin to hate their former sins Heathens durst not take the name of Styx in vain but Christians take the name of God in vain what then may such sinners expect but to be debarr'd from Nectar and Ambrosia life and immortality Furies whose tresses winding snakes do tie 80. Who at the gates of that dark prison lie The three Furies Alecto Megaera and Tisiphone daughters of Pluto and Proserpina were called in heaven Dirae in earth Harpyae in hell Furiae 1 These are taken for the tortures of a guilty conscience where the torments of hell begin or for the commotions of the mind Covetousness Envy Discord or for Gods three judgments Megaera Plague sweeping all away Alecto Famine never satisfied Tisiphone Sword a murtherer and revenger of sin These are worshipped not because they can do good but lest they should do hurt Fawnes Satyres Lares Gods of low degree Rivers and Nymphes and you that half-Gods be 1. Faunus king of the Latins had a wife called Fauna or Fatua from prophecying she read fortunes Hence foretellers of things are called Fatuarii and inconsiderate speakers Fatui The Faunes are thought to have sent the disease called Ephialtes or Night-mare which Pliny terms Faunorum ludibria Faunus was worshipped as a God for teaching Tillage and Religion much more should we worship the true God that giveth all good things These Gods had hornes to fright men to religion whom reason would not draw Primus in orbe Deum fecit timor 2. Satyres were lascivious creatures their descent I find not they were like the Faunes with a mâ—ns head horned all hairy with Goates feet they were Deified because they should not hurt the catel 1 These are but rude rustick clownes given to drinking wenching and dancing â—acchus is said to be their companion because â—ine provokes lust This conception of Satyes may proceed from savage men discovereâ— in woods by the civil wearing beasts skins on â—heir tawny bodies with the tail hanging doâ—n behind and hornes on their heads either for ornament or terrour such are yet amoâ—g the West-Indians Mr Sandys to these ignorance and â—ar ascribed a celestial Deity 3. Lares â—ere begot of Mercury and Lara Some think the Lâ—rvae and Lemures to be the same they are as Penates Gods of houses and Lar is painted like a dog a good house-keeper which is kind to the houshold fieâ—e to strangers Men sacrificed to him in the châ—ney hence the house and so the fire is called La. 1 Thâ—se were Gods of low degree among the ancient Romans and what higher have the new 4. Nymphae quasi Lymphae were Deities of the Waters if sprung from Mountains they were called Oreades if from Woods and Trees Dryades and Hamadryades if from moisture of flowers Napeae if from the Sea Nereides if from Rivers Naiades 1 These Nymphs were daughters of Oceanus because Rivers return into the Sea froâ— whence they came So should we return thanks to God from whence comes all These Nymphs are painted spinning It is no shâ—me for a Lady to be a Spinster or a â—uswife 2 In Poets there be Gods of Haven Earth Hell Woods Waters c. Tâ— shew that Gods power and providence dâ— reach unto every place If I climbe to â—eaven thou art there if to Hell thou art tâ—ere also Enter presenter Deus hic ubiq potenter Gods old and new that do remain till now From the first Chaos listen to my vow 85. While ' gainst this hateful wretch with câ—â—rms I pray While grief and wrath their several parts diâ—play Gods of each rank let power my wish attâ—in And let no jot nor point of it prove vain As I do wish Gods do that all may be 90. Thought by Pasiphäes step-step-son said ot me Theseus son of Aegeus that took â— wife Ariadne daughter of Pasiphäe whom Bacchâ— after married being too credulous to the false acusation of his son Hippolitus made by Phoedra â—s Mother-law prayed Neptune to destroy him â—e caused a Sea-calf to startle his Coach-horses they threw him dragg'd him and kill'd him 1 If Theseus his curse prevailed against his own son why not Ovids against his foe 2. Note the malice of a Stepmother 3. Take heed of a parents curse Let him endure those pains which I omit And let his torments far exceed my wit I feign his name but let my vote no lesse Vex him or with the Gods find less success 95. He whom I curse goes now on Ibis score That knows he hath deserv'd these plagues and more I le not delay but speedily proceed To sacred Rites all people hear and heed Utter such dolefull words become a Herse 100. And let your faces overflow with tears Come to him with bad Omens and left feet Put on such robes as be for Mourners meet Ibis put on thy sacrificing weed Here stands the altar for thy death make speed 105. The pomp's prepared for thy Obsequies Hasten lay down thy throat curs'd sacrifice Earth thee no food no water streams allow A prosperous gale wind on thee never blow Let neither
Paris son of Primus King of Troy took away Helena wife of Menelaus a Grecian King and kept her in Troy therefore the Grecians besieged the city and in the tenth year of their siege burned it 1 Woful experience hath taught us by too many a short siege what lamentable effects a long one will produce Lord defend our Troynovant In wars without send us peace within As Paeans son club'd Hercules his heyre So in thy thigh a poyson'd ulcer beare Philoctetes son of Paean swore to Hercules dying on the hill Oeâ—e that he would never reveal his grave to bind which trust Hercules gave him his arrows Without these arrows Troy could not be stormed Philoctetes earnestly sollicited by Ulysses would not express by words but gave signs with his foot where Hercules was buried Philoctetes carrying those arrows towards Troy was wounded by one of them in that part which divulged the secret 1 In trust be just if thou be executor performe the will of the Testator Much more let Christians keep the covenant in the Testament of Christ on their part 2 Without the arrows of Hercules Troy could not be taken without the arrows of Gods judgment for sin souldiers besiege us in vaine 3 Equivocate not as Philoctetes did and Papists do by words nor by signs or tokens 4 Though treason prevaile the Traytor is punished 5 God punisheth the member that sinneth as Dives tongue and Philoctetes foot Be vex'd no less then he that Hind did suck Who by an unarm'd man being arm'd was struck Telephus son of Hercules and Auge King of Mysia was nursed by an Hinde hindring the Grecians army to pass through his Countrey towards Troy he was wounded by Achilles in his thigh nothing could cure the wound but the rust of the same spear that gave it which Telephus desired and obtained But some conjecture that he was cured by the Magnetical oyntment applied to the spear 1 It is no piece of safe policy in a Prince to suffer a forreign Prince to enter into his territories For give him an inch and he will take an ell 2 If an army be terrible to a great kingdome what may it be to a small Countrey 3 They say the love of a Lady that wounded the heart can cure it as Achilles his spear did Telephus doubtless our offended God can wound by his darts of judgments and cure us by his salve of mercy 255. Or who in forreign parts from horse fell dead Whose beauty had his life endangered Bellerophon a comely person being falsly accused of Antaea or Stenobaea wife to King Praetus for tempting her chastity was sent by Praetus with Letters to Jobas desiring that he would kill him he employs him against the Solymi Chimaera and Amazons by the help of the winged horse Pegasus he overcometh them all For which noble acts Jobas gave him his second daughter and half his kingdome Antaea hearing of this hanged her self Bellerophon proudly mounting his horse towards heaven fell off and died 1 Note the malice of an harlot missing her aime she will ploâ— thy undoing Thus Potiphars wicked wife abused honest Joseph but providence will alwayes preserve the innocent and bring to a shameful end their persecutors A good Conscience like a brasen wall retorteth all false accusation upon the head of the enemy 2 Christians must fight against Solymi Chimaera and Amazons the world the flesh and the Devil and raise their souls on the wings of meditation as a Pegasus up to heaven 3 The Proverb is fully verified in Stenobaea Harme watch harme catch Envy not prevailing turnes fiercely upon it self 4 Some do physically take Bellerophon for the moysture of the earth exhaled by the Sun and falling down again but the morality of this story may be this Pride will have a fall Or like Amyntors son be thou struck blind And trembling grope with staff thy way to find Phoenix son of Amyntor by his Mothers advice lay with his Fathers Concubine for which bold attempt his Father cursed him he flying to Peleus was made Tutor of his son Achilles he is reported to have first invented the Greek Letters but at last he was struck blind 1 Climb not thy fathers bed with Phoenix and Reuben lest a curse befall thee 2 Follow not thy own mothers counsel to do evil 3 Take heed to thy wayes and incur not a parents imprecation for it happeneth too often very fatal See thou no more then whom his daughter led 260. That kill'd his Father did his Mother wed Oedipus son of Laius King of Thebes and Jocasta whom the Oracle foretold should kill his Father and marry his Mother as soon as he was born was by his Father delivered to his shepherd to be killed the shepherd pittying him bored two holes in his feet whence he gain'd the name of Oedipus that is swollen-foot and hanged him on a tree Phorbas the King of Corinths shepherd found him and gave him to his Queen being then childless when he came to mans estate he unawares killed his Father and married his Mother which when he once knew he plucked out both his eyes and was led by his own daughter Antigone 1 Let not childless parents repine or be impatient better want then have a son like Oedipus 2 Too many by ill courses bring their fathers gray hairs with sorrow to the grave Therefore Augustus Caesar wished that he never had been married or never been a father 3 Oedipus repenting plucked out his eyes Eyes are the holes through which sin enters into the soul yet we must not follow his example when our Saviour bids us pluck out the offending eye the meaning is that it is better lose an eye then a soul better to part with a sin as dear as thy eye then lose heaven Or that old Judge i' th' merry case of Jove That famous in Apollo's art did prove Tiresias son of Udaeus one of the five captaines that survived the unnatural war of Cadmus killing of a female Serpent was turn'd to a woman long after killing a male was turned into a man againe Being a fit and elected Judge betwen Jupiter and Juno he gave this sentence That the woman had nine ounces in the vigor of Love and the man but three therefore Juno deprived him of his sight which Jupiter supplies with the gift of Prophesie 1 Histories if we may believe them tell us that some women have been turned to men not men to women 2 Tiresias judgment between Jupiter and Juno was in this kind just as Jupiter is taken for the element of fire and Juno for the air For the air confers thrice as much as the fire to the generation of vegetables moysture yielding the chiefest part of the materials and heat producing form and maturity Nor without cause among Grammarians are the two superiour elements Fire and Air of the masculine gender and the two inferiour Earth and Water Feminine because the superiour have predominancy over the inferiour as the husband hath or
should have over his wife 3 As Tiresias was both male and female so are turn-coats hodiè mihi cras tibi to day mine to morrow thine So is the multitude Neutrum modò Mas modò vulgus 4 Many that are blind in body are quick-sighted in their mind as Tiresias 5 When a great power as Juno doth oppress us a greater as Jupiter may relieve us Saepè premente Deo fert Deus alter opem Lucian reports that Tiresias is feigned to be male and female among the Grecians because he divided the wandring stars into male and female Or he be whose devise a Dove was guide Where Pallas ship should on the Ocean ride Phineus son of Agenor had by Cleopatra two sons Orythus and Crambus whose eyes by the counsel of his second wife Idaea he plucked out in revenge whereof the Gods plucked out his He advised the Argonauts to follow the Dove which Pallas should send and so avoid the rocks called Symplegades 1 Phineus may be feigned to have lost his sight because he was so blind with avarice that he could not look unto himself nor afford necessaries unto life which is contented with a little 2 Stepmothers like Idaea seldome love the children of a former wife Injusta noverca 3 Retaliation is a just judgment of God an eye for an eye 4 Parents that blind their Children with ignorance not allowing them education God will punish so that the blind shall lead the blind 5 Let every Elymas that blind mens souls and draw them from the faith expect not onely corporal blindness but utter darknesse 6 If you will avoid the offensive rocks of schisme and heresie follow the true Pallas Christ the wisdom and the Dove which he hath sent the spirit of truth so will you safely arrive at the haven of heaven Mean time from blindnesse of heart good Lord deliver us 265. Or he whose eyes the infants Gold surpriz'd Which to her son the mother sacrific'd Polymnestor King of Thracia received into his Guardianship with a vast summe of money Polydorus son of Priamus King of Troy whom when Troy was sacked coveting the money he inhumanely killed Hecuba mother of the child sent for Polymnestor pretending to deliver him another summe when he came she scratched out both his eyes 1 Guardians should be defenders not destroyers of their Pupils 2 Covetousnesse is the root of all evil 3 No sin comes single Robbery and Murder will hang together 4 The natural much more the violent death of a child moves a mother to impatience As Aetna's shepherd whose blind fate of old One Telamus Eurymons son foretold Polyphemus was a shepherd on the hill Aetna and chief of the Cyclopes he had one eye in his forehead which Ulysses put out with a fire-brand when he had besotted him with wine after he had eaten four of his men that came to lodge in his cave One Telamus prophesied his misery These Cyclopes made thunderbolts for Jupiter and chariots for Mars 1 Injustice armed with power is most outragious and bloudy but Polyphemus was more savage then the West Indians these eat but their enemies onely he his guests 2 These Cyclopes may be evil spirits whose service God sometimes doth use in raising thunder and stormes to punish the wicked Polyphemus or Beelzebub is the chief he devoured Ulysses men that is man-kind but the true Ulysses Christ pouring into him the red wine of his wrath thrust out his eye restrained his power When Polyphemus the shepherds eye is blind what a blind guide hath the sheep 3 When there was no King in Israel the light was quenched the Eye was out then followed intestine wars and Vulcans sons did work for Mars Like Phineus sons whose eyes one gave and took 270. Like Thamyras and Demodocus look Orythus and Crambus their eyes by their Stepmothers counsel were plucked out by their own father Phineus whom divine vengeance after blinded for his unnatural cruelty and sent Harpyes to eat his meat and defile his table 1 Mark the just judgment of God upon an unmerciful father provoked by the false suggestions of a femal night-crow 2 These Harpyes might be covetous desires not suffering him to eat what was set before him himself polluting it with his own sordid disposition 2. Thamyras or Thamyris a Poet and Musician comparing himself with the Muses for skill was deprived of his harp and sight 1 Boldness puts men forth before their time they run before they are sent like Lapwings with some part of the shell upon their heads so it follows as they began presumptuously they proceed unprofitably and end not without shame every man condemning them of arrogance and ignorance and indeed these are inseparable twins for who is bolder then blind Bayard as the proverb passeth 3. Demodocus was an admirable harper but he was blind 1 No man is so happy to have all gifts no man is so miserable but to have some Of the two I had rather be blind Homer with his acute mind then nimble-eyed Lynceus with his obtuse capacity 2 Note that Ovid wisheth to Ibis not any of these mens good qualities but blindness Let one thy members crop as Saturne that Wherewith his ancient father him begat Saturn son of Coelum and Thetis cut off his fathers testicle◠the bloud whereof ingendred the Furies 1 Saturn that is Time cut off the genitals of Caelum that is heaven because the heavens at last shall grow old and by time shall lose the power of generation 2 Gelders of ancient Records Fathers and Scripture rebel against heaven like Saturne and hence proceed those Furies of Heresie Dissention and Schisme To thee let swelling Neptune prove the same As him whose wife and brother birds became Caeyx King of Thracinia son of Lucifer his brother Daedalion being turned to a hawke went to the Oracle promising his wife Halcione to return with speed She seeing his dead body in the sea would have drowned herself but the Gods turned her into a Kings-fisher and him into a Sea-mew 1 When the Halcions lay eggs the sea is calme hence peaceable dayes are called Halcionian or Alcian dayes 2 Alcione was the daughter of Aeolus that could imprison the winds and a dead Kings-fisher hanged up by the beak will turn her belly to the wind 3 The Male and Female accompany all the year not for lust but love I wish no lesse modesty and love in all married people 4 Moderate sorrow for friends is comely immoderate dangerous it made Halcione desperate 5 These Halcions were begot of the Morning-star Lucifer and calmed the sea but some soul birds in the world begot of hellish Lucifer do raise stormes and disturb the sea of the State laying eggs of dissention and fishing in troubled waters 275. Or the wise man on shipwrack'd plank that sat Whom Semele's sister did compassionate Ino sister of Semele advised Ulysses to leave the ship and trust to swimming offering him an immortal ribband to gird his paps he refused her
is the Mind foreseeing things to come with prevention of evil Epimetheus is Knowledge after events whose daughter is Repentance Hence came the Proverb Praestat esse Prometheum quam Epimetheum Better beforehand to prevent then after to repent Be slain and drowned like Etracides The fifteenth by descent from Hercules Etracides concerning whose right name many cavil lovingly entertained one Cleba son of Dorus affording him all things necessary but in the end this unthankful guest slew his so courteous friend 1 It is most horrid and devilish ingratitude to take life from him that preserved ours Jupiter the feigned God of heaven is called Hospitalis It was a heinous offence to the Gods for the host to kill his guest how much more heinous for the guest to kill his host As to Amantus son a boy with hate And sword thy lustful love remunerate Archeläus the twelfth King of Macedonia was slain by a boy called Cratera whom he too lasciviously affected 1 The least offence or transgression in a Prince is like a great Mole in the face more conspicuous then in any other part much more is open Lasciviousness most of all that unnatural sin of man with man called Sodomy To this abominable vice the people of Hispaniola were addicted Purchas But this lothsome sin had among the Turks this lothsome punishment they cut a hole in the panch of a new killed beast and thrusting the offenders head into this dung-wallet they carried him about the towns in pomp Dignum patellâ operculum 295. Let treacherous cups be mingled unto thee As him that son of horned Jove would be Alexander the great Monarch of the word became so proud by his victories that he affected to be called the son of Jupiter Hyrcaeus or Hammon he was excessively given to wine at last he was poysoned by his own butler Iöla 1 Jupiter is horned because in a Rams shape he procured water for thirsty Bacchus therefore Bacchus built him a Temple and an Image like a Ram. But proud men may better be called the sons of Lucifer the Devil then of Jupiter a God Pride is a worm that eats down the tallest gourds of honour one dram of it poysons a great measure of virtues Let us not be more afraid of doing good things then of pride when we have done them well 2 A drunkard is worse then a beast for a beast will drink no more then will do him good and how can he be a ruler of men that is not his own man nay scarce a man It is not for kings to drink wine it is not for Princes to drink strong drink Prov. 30.4 Die as Achaeus whom his subjects took And hang'd him headlong in the golden brook Achaeus King of Lydia because he exacted more then ordinary tributes was by his subjects hanged with his head downward in the river Pactolus whose streames are feigned to be golden Now Midas having obtained of Bacchus that all he touched might be gold was almost famished for his food became gold by Bacchus counsel he washed himself in this river and was restored Since the streams are feigned to be golden 1 Pactolus may be called golden because it enriched the Countrey by watering it or because Midas spent much money in cutting it into small streames 2 Nothing can quench the flame of the high hill Chymera but onely earth nothing can satisfie the muddy thoughts of the covetous mind but the grave like a hog he is never good till he be hang'd by the heels The unsatiâ—fied disease of this dropsie of covetousness drives a man on beyond reason or justice to cover more and more till this man of metal like a Tinker breaks his back with his own budget 3 If any Publican hath exacted or extorted better for him with Zacheus restore it four-fold then with Dives hang in the lake of fire As once Achilles Nephew whom they call 300. Famous a foe thee with a tilestone mall Pyrrhus King of Epirus at the siege of Argos was wounded by a tilestone off the wall thrown by a womans hand upon his head He was sâ—rnamed Clarus for his valour 1 It is fool-hardy rashness chiefly for a General to venture too nigh a besieged wall for he is not sure of a safe retreat and to come scot-free to his tent witness Hereford 2 Providence may guide a Womans hand to do more then a whole Army as Judith to Holophernes Jael to Sisera 3 When thy spiritual enemies shall besiege thy soul take up Christ the corner-stone the seed of the woman he will bruise the serpents head Thy bones like Pyrrhus shall have rest no where That on th' Ambracian coast dispersed were Pyrrhus son of Achilles was slain by Orestes Virgil. 3. Aen. and his bones were scattered in Ambracia a coast of Epirus 1 It is a most noble act in a conquerour to vouchsafe his conquered foe an honourable grave if not a monument For the glory will be his as much yea more then the dead persons So it is most sordid cowardise to tear a carcase or abuse the dead in word or deed Defuncti tumulum turpis Hyaena fodit Hyaena that most filthy beast Digs up the graves of men at rest Or as Achilles Neece let darts thee kill This sacrifice will pease Dame Ceres well The last of Pyrrhus bloud was Nereis and Läodamia the yonger in a tumult though she fled to the Altar of Ceres was slain by one Milo for which the Goddess plagued that Countrey the murderer fell mad cut his flesh and within few dayes died 1 It was forbidden the Jews by the law of Moses to prosecute him that was unwillingly guilty of killing his neighbour if he fled to a city of Refuge how heinous then is it to murder the guiltless even at the Altar 2 For one mans offence a whole Countrey may be punished but the offender manifold 3 In tumults and troubles flie unto God the best sanctuary and refuge in distress 4 If I must be slain let me be slain in my prayers 305. As Nephew to that King of whom I spoke Thy Mothers hand thee with Cantarides choke Nereis wife of Gelon King of Cilicia with green venomous wormes named Cantarides poysoned her own son Magnates because he would not yield to her horrid provocation to lust 1 Covetousness and lust admit of no bounds or limits the one will rob a father of money the other a son of chastity 2 In all carnal temptations resolve upon the question with honest Joseph How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God A whore by stabbing thee may honour gain As she by whom was faithless Leucon slain Leucon committed adultery with the wife of Oxilocus who was his own brother and in hope to enjoy the kingdome killed the King in revenge the Queen killed him for which fact she was called Pia. 1 Hunters knowing that the Panther much desireth the poysonful Aconite Dallington Aph. do hang it up in vessels above their reach
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
ascended and used her father as he had used his daughter 1 See here the disposition of a cruel father though the offence of a child be great the punishment of a father should be gentle Pro peccato magno paululum supplicii satis est patri It is unnatural for a man to be cruel Terence whose name should mind him of pity Homo ab humanitate but for a father to be cruel is hard and barbarous 2 Frankincense serves for many uses in Physick whereof Apollo is the God It grows in Sabaea as naturally loving heat therefore Apollo and LeucothoÌ„e are feigned reciprocal lovers 2 Frankincense smells not sweet unless it be melted by the Sun or fire so prayers in themselves have no savour unless inflamed with zeal and devotion expressed in the Ceremonial Law by the Censer Such monster spoil Thine as Chroraebus kill'd That ease unto poor Grecians did yield Linus begot by Apollo upon Psamathe daughter of Crotopus King of Argives was killed by his grandfathers dog In revenge whereof Apollo sent a monster to plague the Countrey called Paena that would pull the Infants from the mothers breast and kill them before their faces This monster was slain by Choraebus 1 A trivial saying there is that Wine Women and Dogs be the occasions of most part of mischiefs 2 For a personal offence though suffered not acted comes a National punishment as here for Crotopus dogs This Monster may be some filthy catching disease as the small Pox that plucks away and destroyeth Infants Choraebus the skilful Physician Conquers and kills it 575. As Aethra's Nephew slain by Venus wrath Let scared horses drag thee unto death Hippolitus son of Theseus by Antiope who had denied Venus a courtesie upon false accusation of his step-mother Phaedra that he should tempt her chastity was by his credulous father abjur'd and cursed to death which Neptune accomplished for the horses of Hippolitus affrighted with a sea calf threw him down and dragg'd him to pieces on the â—ock Aesculapius restores him to life and changeth his ominous name Hippolitus to Virbius signifying twice a Man 1 Curses of parents fall heavy upon children though undeserved 2 Rash belief is the author of much mischief and unsuspended wrath of too late repentance The chast youth suffers for anothers inchastity but virtue though for a time afflicted cannot be finally suppressed 3 This Virbius by some is thought to be a cunning impostor suborned by the Priests of Diana Aricina to draw a greater concourse to that grove that their gain may increase by more frequent devotion And have not others in later dayes used such incredible forgeries to serve their own turn One host for his great wealth his guest did slay For thy small wealth thy host make thee away Polymnestor to enjoy the gold sent by King Priamus to him with his son Polydorus killed the young Prince his pupil Read more before 1 The wisest Creator hath placed the basest part of his creatures as gold and silver under our feet the noblest over our heads on purpose that we should neglect and scorn the one admire and love the other yet we by a simple conversion or Hysteron Proteron embrace the worst and slight the best trampling under foot affinity consanguinity fidelity yea Christianity and humanity it self for filthy lucres sake losing the crown of glory to gain a crown in gold Virgil. Quid non mortalia pectora cogis Auri sacra fames With Damasicthon were six brothers slain 580. So of thy kin let none alive remaine Amphion King of Thebes had by Niobe seven daughters and seven sons whose names were Ismenus Siphus Phedinus Tantalus Alphenor Damasicthon and Ilioneus The daughters were slain by Diana and the sons by Apollo's arrows because Niobe presumed to prefer her self before Latona and Niobe was turned into a Marble 1 Wealth and honour ingender pride in the hearts of Mortals whence proceeds the contempt of God and man and insolent forgetfulness of humane instability Thus from the height of glory by divine vengeance they are made spectacles of calamity and subject to their pity whom they formerly despised so wanting valour to support and virtue to make use of afflictions with immoderate sorrow they are besotted and stupified like stones 2 A raging plague in Boeotia swept away the children of Niobe with other people which is caused by extreme heat and contagious vapors signified by Apollo's arrows and Diana Niobe is said to be turned into a stone because excessive sorrow made her sensless Senec. Curae leves loquuntur ingentes stupent The Harper to his children joyn'd his death So be thou justly weary of thy breath Amphion husband of Niobe son of Jupiter and Antiopa was brought up among shepherds and taught Musick by Mercury he built the walls of Thebes with stones drawn thither by playing on his instrument Afterwards outbraving Apollo and Diana he was killed 1 Amphion the Musician is son of Jupiter because that Musick is from God Or Jupiter is the air because as Jupiter gave life to Amphion so doth air unto Musick Amphion was bred among shepherds for these people leading an idle life were invited to invent Musick by singing of birds whistling of winds and running of waters he was taught by Mercuâ—y to shew that Eloquence and Musick have equal power upon the affections Eloquence is a musical speech and Musick a speechless Eloquence He built Thebes by Musick that is Eloquence by it rude people are drawn to Religion Policy and Civility He out-braving Apollo and Diana the Sun and the Moon shews that Musick doth as much affect the soul by the Ear as light doth the Eye 2 Christ the heavenly Amphion by the harmony of his word hath made us being dead and scattered to become living stones toward thâ— building of his Church Amphion civiliz'd sensless creatures but could not charm his own wifes pride Christ could not cure the pride of the Jews whom he had married to himself He piped to them in the musick of the Gospel but they would not dance unto it by obedience Like Pelops sister hard'ned stone become Or Battus like whose tongue did make him dumb Niobe sister of Pelops was turned into Marble Battus a shepherd was turned into a Touch-stone by Mercury because when Mercury had stollen from Apollo some of the Cattel of Admetus he gave Battus a Cow to conceal the business which he vowed to do but Mercury having chang'd his habit promising Battus a cow and a bull he revealed to him where the cattel were therefore he was so punished 1 Mercury it seems was a very early thief for Homer reports that he stole those cattel the first day he was born Not long after he stole Apollo's arrows Vulcans tools Venus girdle Joves scepter when he was yet a child nay he had stole his lightning too but that he was afraid to burn his fingers 2 This fiction sheweth that Eloquence hath a bewitching power to deceive and that
lovers horses being the Hieroglyphick of lust and foul desires compared by holy writ to their neighings for no creature is so prone to Venus as a Mare and is therefore feigned to conceive with the wind 4 Some do conclude these horses to be his followers maintained by exactions feeding on the bowels as it were of his miserable subjects But the horses and Master are slain by Hercules Covetousness cruelty and uncleanness corrected and subdued by the zeal of virtue Or who the Lions of Therodomas fed Or were to Thoas Goddess offered 1. Therodomas a King of Scythia fearing that his people would rebel fed Lions with mans flesh that so they might become the more fierce to defend his person and offend the people if cause were given 1 Wicked rulers do more fear others then others do fear them A guard of simple men is more then enough for a conscientious King a guard of savage Lions too little for a conscious Tyrant Lions by nature are noble creatures and sometimes more merciful then their ignoble masters so those civil beasts of that cruel King to the patient Prophet Dan. 5. 2 Except the Lion of the Tribe of Judah the King of kings be his tutelary God no King can be saved by a multitude of horses nor safely guarded by an host of men and roaring Lions of hell 2. Thoas King of Taurica vowed to sacrifice to his Goddess Diana all shipwrack'd men and strangers that came into his territories 1 Dido was not so extremely courteous to shipwrack'd Aeneas by recruiting his wasted livelihood as Thoas extremely cruel by taking away shipwrack'd men strangers lives when their livelihood was gone And which is most abominable pretending forsooth a sacrifice to his Goddess Thus persecutors as Christ did prophesie by killing his Ministers shall think they do God service Ioh. 16.2 Simulata sanctitas duplex iniquitas Or those with whom Dulichian ships were fraught Whom swallowing Scylla and Caribd's caught Scylla daughter of Phorchus was beloved of Glaucus Circe the famous inchantress diverts his affection to her self and infects the bay frequented by the Nymph wherein she bathing contracts that monstrous deformity her loines environed with howling wolves and barking dogs destroying all that come near her as six of Ulysses ships 1 Scylla so a virgin while chast attracts by her beauty the affection of all once polluted by the sorceries of Circe rendring her maiden-honour to be deflowred by bewitching pleasures she is transformed into an horrid monster endeavouring to shipwrack others on the same rocks of vice and misery such is the envy of infamous women Scylla was soon after turned into a rock So is the impudence of lascivious women hardened by custome Near the Promontory of Pelorus a sharp clift shuts out like a woman this they call Scylla full of holes the enraged sea here making a noise are the imagined dogs on this many ships too fearfully avoiding the gulf Charibdis have been split Sailing between these two is safe in the mean between two extremes Prosperity and Adversity Medâ—o tutissimus ibis Give me neither poverty nor riches Lord keep me below envy and above pity 385. Or int'his his paâ—ch whom Polyphemus sent Or to the King of Lestrigonia went Of Polyphemus see before While Ulysses slept his companions peeping into the bladder or bag wherein Aeolus had given Ulysses the winds lost both the winds and the greater part of the company for they were carried to Lestrigonia where Antiphates a Giant being their King ate one of the messengers that were sent for victualing Ulysses escaping thence lost eleven ships and scarcely saved his own After twenty years travel and innumerable crosses he arrived home 1 The Sun shineth brighter through a vapour dispersed Dalling Aph. and shews the best lustre upon an incounter So virtue Behold in Ulysses a wise and good man drawn to life He was wise in not making haste to war he was wise in joyning Achilles strength with hâ—s policy he was wise in refusing the enchanting cups of Circe c. but no man ever was under pressures more then he yet still supported and relieved by virtue 2 Providence doth vouchsafe us helps as the winds to Ulysses to guide us to our haven if we sleep as he and neglect the means we shall find our voyage very dangerous But through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of heaven Or whom in ditch the Carthage Lord did drown And made the waters white by stones in thrown Amilcar drowned the Councellours of the Acerranii in a ditch and threw in stones upon them Some rather think here is meant Hannibal Amilcars son that made a bridge of dead bodies over the river Gella 1 Rather then try what an enemy can do when thou seest what he would do make him a bridge of silver to go his way Rather then stay till they come on ours let us pass though over a bridge of dead bodies and sight him on his own ground Turpius ejicitur quà m non admittitur hostis An enemy is easier kept out then thrust out As maids and wooers of Ulysses wife 390. And who to kill his master lent a knife Ulysses when he came to his house he was not known to any By the help of his son Telemachus he slew the lascivious wooers of his Queen hanged her unchast maid-servants and mangled to death Melantâ—ius his man-servant that lent a knife to kill his Lord. 1 Visit not a friend too often lest thou seem troublesome not too seldome lest thou be forgotten 2 As Ulysses killed the impetuous Wooers let us subdue our affections that would seduce our souls to vice that should be as chast Penelope 3 Melanthius that lent his knife had been as guilty as he that used it In murder there is no accessary the abettor and actor be all one The Jews were as guilty as Pilate and the executioner Just judgment overtook the Judge and the bloud of their King still lies upon the Jews Or th' Wrestler that th' Aônian guest did kill That when he fell 't is strange was victor still Antaeus a Giant of Lybia 64 Cubits high begotten of Neptune and the Earth in wrestling Nat. Com. when he was thrown down by Hercules upon the ground his strength increased which Hercules perceiving lift him from the ground and squeezing him to his breast stiffed him 1 Hercules that is the heat of the Sun overthrows Antaeus which signifies the contrary with his too much heat according to the Axiom Contraries are cured by their contraries A Fever is not cured by hot things nor a Hydropsie by cold and moist 2 Hercules â—s the symbol of the soul Antaeus the body between Reason the essence of the one and Pleasure the essence of the other is a perpetual conflict Reason cannot prevaile unless it so raise the body that it receive no force from the earth and that the desires and affections which are the sons of the earth be strangled The covetous
the more their affections cling to earthly things the more strongly covetous they are 3 Prosperity by lifting up chokes adversity by casting down doth strengthen Or whom Antaeus armes press'd out of breath Or Lâ—mnian wives did put to cruel death 1. Antaeus compelled forreigners to wrastle with him and so strangled them with his matchless strength 1 Thus the mighty oppress the weak as the greater fish devour the less The brasse pot with one touch will crack the earthen let the brittler then keep off with a Noli me tangere If the Frog swells at the Ox he will burst so a Peasant medling with a Potentate 2. The women of Lemnos for despising the sacrifice of Venus were by the Goddess made so lothsome that their husbands left them and lived with new wives abroad at last coming home the old slew the new wives and their husbands with all the male-children save one 1 If no relation no Religion no other motive can perswade methinks women should serve and love God that the God of love may not permit their husbands instead of love to lothe them 395. Or he that by inhumane sacrifice Got rain but suffer'd by his own device Thraseas or Thraseus a soothsayer in a great drought told Busiris the Tyrant of Egypt that rain would fall if he sacrificed strangers to Jupiter Busiris finding him to be a stranger replyed Then thou shalt first bring Egypt rain and so offered him first 1 Drought in Egypt is rare Herodotus for the river Nilus doth over-flow it 2 ' H 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Evil counsel proves worst to the counseller as to Thraseus and Achitophel 3 Let us wanting raine fall to the earth as Elias and ascend to heaven with prayer let us with David water our couch with tears for our sins which make the heavens like brasse Or like Antaeus brother that did stain Altars with bloud whereon himself was slain Some take the brother of Antaeus to be Pigmalion but I think more properly it was Busiris for he and Autaeus were sons of Neptune As he sacrificed men to Jupiter so did Hercules him 1 Were that primordial Law of Nature well pondeâ—ed applied and practised Do as thou wouldest be done to who would steal who would murder Now because men will not do to others as they would have others do to them they suffer by others as others did by them 2 Busiris is held to be the King of Egypt Sandys Met. that so heavily oppessed the Israelites the author of that inhumane Edict of drowning their male-children hence he is said to have sacrificed strangers his daughter is supposed to be the same that fostered Moses Reinesius proves that he was a King of a new family who usurped that crown intimated by that text in Exodus There arose a new King in Egypt that knew not Joseph Or who his cruel horses did insteed 400. Of grass and hay with humane bodies feed Of Diomedes you may read before Like two by one revenger singly kill'd Diximanus son in law and Nessus still'd 1. Diximanus of Olenum was forced by Euricion to promise him his daughter Mnesimache and to make him his son in law on the appointed day of marriage Hercules requested by Diximanus came and cut off his head 1 Ingens telum necessitas Fear makes a man promise what he is not onely unable but unwilling to performe 2 By one pin drive out another force by force plot by plot 3 Involuntary love is like a Mushroome that hath no root the least puff will blow it down 4 Hercules better deserved a Deity then all the rest of the Heroes he conquered nothing for himself but ranged all over the world not to oppress it but to free it from oppressors and by killing of Tyrants and monsters preserved it in tranquillity He got immortal glory by Juno's mortal envy before called Alcides strong he gain'd the name Hercules compounded of Juno and honour 2. Nessus a Centaure promised to carry Deianira the wife of Hercules over the river Evenus while himself did swim the perfidious Centaure he being landed attempts to ravish her but is prevented by a mortal wound from his arrow 1 It is not safe trusting a stranger with my goods much less with a good wife The counsel is general Fide sed cui vide Try before you trust For in this monstrous age too many Centaures of two several natures do survive that pretend one courtesie to their neighbour and therby intend two unto themselves as these double creatures inherit Nessus his condition I wish they were inhabiting in his countrey Mel in ore verba lactis fel in corde fraus in factis Words of milk honey in mouth gall in heart no deeds of truth 2 The arrows of vengeance will overtake the adulterer as Nessus 3 Fear judgment and thou wilt forbear sin Like Saturnes Nephew whom Coronis son Saw yielding up the ghost from his own town Aesculapius son of Coronis and Apollo from Epidaurus a town which he had built saw that famous thief Periphaltes or Periphetes who was son of Vulcan the son of Saturn killed by Theseus and his club taken from him as the Lions skin by Hercules whose example in most things Theseus followed And now our Poet having past over the most remarkable acts of Hercules begins with those of Theseus 1 Heathen Gods are feigned to have leaden feet and iron hands in that divine vengeance though slow is sure and sore and payeth offenders home in their own coin Those that killed with the club have perished by the club So it was foretold by the Lord of the Prophets He that takes the sword shall perish by the sword These knockers and cutters my ever honoured friend that reverend Divine Dr Hoskins in his Lecture upon the eighth Commandement doth call St Nicholas Clerkes I know that some of those Clerks have been well content with so much of the Latine tongue as Legit ut Clericus others have aspired so high as the Greek Alphabet and when they came to II they made an end 2 From Jericho to our heavenly Jerusalem we often fall among thieves Lord give us complete armour of the Spirit to conquer them 405. As Sinis Sciron Poliphemon and His son with him that was half bull half man Plutarch in Theseùs 1. Sinis which is by Plutarch called also Pityocamtes that is a wreather of Pine-trees tied men to branches of trees bended down so the cords or withes being cut the strangers being jerked up were killed So Theseus used him for both Theseus and Hercules made Tyrants undergo their own cruelties 1 The Eagle in the Fable mounted the Tortoise aloft on purpose to break it Many Kings have advanced ambitious subjects not in love but envy not to prefer and raise them but to precipitate and ruine them the higher they climb the lower they fall 2. Theseus threw Scyron down a clift who in cruell pastime caused those whom he robbed to wash his feet and