and oftentimes in painted Images from whence it proceeded that there were then in such friuolous and superstitious reuerence so innumerable multitudes of gods among the auncients For not onely the seuerall humours of diuerse Nations but euerie particular Cittie caused their Image that they would worship so to be framed according as they were then to craue and request some especiall and extraordinarie boone of their wooden deities or hauing alreadie obtained it entended thereby to manifest their thanksgiuing and gratefulnesse And being as it were rockt asleep with the pleasing conceit of this their superstition it grew so farre vpon them that in the end they worshipped and deuoutly adored men like vnto themselues such as were knowne to haue inuented and found out some speciall good and adiuvament for their easie and quiet liuing or to haue as it were hewen out and forced from their deepe-searching capacities some strange and vncouth art science or profession And to these men were erected and dedicated excellent grauen statues in whose curious architecturie all those good things and deeds which they deuised or atcheeued here among men were liuely and exactly set forth and intersected And although this kind of Idolatrous veneration firmly possest the thoughts of men generally yet vniuersally it extended not For there then liued who carried an irremoueable beleefe of the sacred deitie of one God onely which was euer-during and inuisible and therefore shaped not to themselues any further Image or representation which who so seekes to entertaine walketh in the erroneous paths of soule-endangering ignorance The Iewes which among the ancients attained nighest vnto the sure and infallible truth worshipped one God onely and him they adored not in counterfeit and stone-built Statues discerned onely with the eies of the body but with the cleere-shining light of the mind and were still rapt with premeditating and contemplatiue thoughts of his ymeuse and incomprehensible diuinitie And as Cornelius Tacitus affirmeth they accounted them wicked and impious who of themselues would make such countershape or representation of God composing in it likenesse and similitude to the proportion of a humane and terrene bodie and therefore neither in their Cities nor in their Temples admitted they any such vaine sencelesse adoration Lycurgus who in perfection and maturitie of true knowledge did no way equalize the Iewes would not by any meanes that there should be contriued any frame or Idea of their gods because sayth hee they cannot bee likened neither to man or anie other liuing creature and being likewise inuisible who can depicture that which his eyes neuer faw Lactantius writeth That the Aegiptians worshipped with all deuotion the foure elements and yet not making any Image or picture of them The Persians the Scythians and those of Libia neuer had Statues Altars or Temples but onely made their resort in seuerall conuenticles to consecrated woods groues and to them onely they submitted themselues in reuerence and powred out ther deuotion And so likewise did those of Maxilia in Gallia Narbonense worshipping in all humilitie certaine woods and groues which they purposely consecrated for that intendement and directed vp all their deuout praiers and obtestations to leauelesse trunkes and stocks of trees wherevpon Lucan writeth thus of them They worshipt stockes and armelesse trunckes of trees Which neither shape or due proportion haue And to these posts all reuerence they gaue Cornelius Tacitus writing of Germany sayth That the Germanes not onely denied all reuerence to any pictures of their gods but would not by any meanes suffer any Temples to be built or dedicated vnto thē saying that it was very incongruent and inconuenient to shut vp their deities within the wals of so small a circuite and that it was not a thing meet or agreeable for their infinite greatnesse to bee shaped out to the small forme and proportion of a humane bodie As the Grecians did after that and the Romanes and before them the Aegyptians who all framed their Images of their Gods to the due likenesse and proportion of a mans bodie But yet they did not so farre ouershoot themselues as to thinke that their celestiall gods had either heads hands or feet but to shew as Varro sayth That the soule of man which is imprisoned here in the fleshly dungeon of the bodie resembles the diuine soules which inhabite in the celestiall dwellings of the heauens and for that the mind or soule cannot externally bee seene or proportioned they did prefigure it and make it apparent by the shape of a humane bodie Porphirius sayth as Eusebius reporteth That the Images of their gods were made to the likenesse of men because God saith he is al spirit and reason whereof men and no other creatures doe participate Lactantius giueth another reason of these Statues saying that they were first made for the conseruation of the remembrance of deceased kings and gouernours for the perpetuall eternisement of their famous and memorable atcheeuements wherevpon Eusebius writing of the Ecclesiasticall historie likewise writeth That it was a generall custome among the Gentiles to honour the greatest personages and men of best demerit by representing their Ideas by Statues or Pictures and so by that meanes keeping them as it were aliue by the memorious trophies of their neuer-dying worthinesse wherby their succeeding posteritie might euidently perceiue what respectiue regard was had and cannonized of those who had in their life time adioined to their valerous approuements ciuile and vertuous conuersation you shall read in Plinie that in Rhodes were found at one time more than three thousand Statues and not many lesse in Athens or in Delphos and so also in manie other places of Greece In which foolish superstition Rome also though not so lately was vnto any of those nothing inferior who had indeed gathered together so many pictures and supposed gods that it was said that in Rome there were another sort of people made of stone for what pictures soeuer they could get either of painters or ingrauers they omitted no meanes to compasse and with those would they beautifie their houses not only in the Citie but euen in their country or farme-houses which indeed was iudged to bee too effeminat soft for the strict and seuere life of the Romanes Lucullus as Varro writeth had such delight in such Images that almost euery day infinite numbers of people resorted to his farmes in the country to see his strange pictures and curious engraued Statues And this note the ancients obserued that those their Images were made with a deuise as when they pleased themselues they might take off their heads and set them vpon others Whervpon Suetonius speaking of the glorious and insolent humor of Caligula sayth That he perceiuing himselfe to haue surpassed all other Princes and Gouernours his predecessours in greatnesse and powerfull command began to sooth himselfe vp so farre in that insolencie and superarrogation that hee
with Porphirius Eusebius and Suida who depicture the Image of Iupiter as it were sitting vpon a firme and irremouable seat to signifie that that vertue which gouerneth and preserueth the world is firme permanent and continuing the vpper parts of the picture appeare naked and vnclothed the lower parts couered and inuested dishadowing therby that the mercie and compassion of the diuine powers is alwaies manifest and apparent to those that are possessed with an vnderstanding spirit the lower parts being clothed meaneth that all the while that wee are here in the world delighted and as it were rockt asleepe with the illecebrous blandishments thereof we cannot any way apprehend superior knowledges but they are kept obscured hid and vnreuealed from vs. In his left hand he held a scepter for that say they on that side of the bodie lieth the principall part of man being the heart from which are dispersed and sent out the vitall spirits and powers of the body and as the king ruleth absolutely and commandeth ouer his people at his pleasure so the world al things cōtained therein are tied in subiection and dutie vnto the will of the highest king In his right hand they place a mightie Eagle ioyned with the portraiture of Victoria meaning thereby as by the other that as the Eagle ouer all other birds whatsoeuer ruleth as cheef so all the men in this world and all other things inclosed within her spacious embracements stand vassalized and subiect to the all-commanding power of Iupiter And this picture was erected in Piraeus a stately and magnifique gate of Athens The Aegyptians framed vnto themselues for the picture of Iupiter a peece of squared wood wherein was proportioned two round circles as it were one ouer the other through which there seemed to creepe a Serpent hauing the head of a Sparrowhawke The circles intended the widenesse and rotunditie of the world the Serpent the great commander and conseruer of all things therein for among the Aegyptians and Phenicians they held that Serpents were of a diuine and supernaturall power as hauing such speed and swiftnesse in their going without the supportation of any exterior lim carried onely by an interior spirit and liuelinesse which makes them so often wrest retort their bodies with so many flexuous and winding turnings and that they liue on the earth a wonderfull long time as disburdening themselues of their years by dispoiling and vncasing them of their vpper skins and so instantly againe rebecome youthfull and vigorous the head of the Sparrowhawke signifieth nimblenesse promptnesse and agilitie Martianus when hee writeth how Iupiter summoned all the gods to the marriage of Mercurie and Philologia depictures him there impalled with a regall crowne all adorned with most precious and glittering stones ouer his shoulders he weares a thin vaile wouen and made vp by Pallas owne hands which appeareth all white wherein are inserted diuerse small peeces of glasse formed out into the due proportion of the most resplendant starres in his right hand hee holdeth two round bals the one wholly of gold the other halfe gold and halfe siluer in the other hand an yuorie Harpe with nine strings his shoes are made of the greene Smarald and he sitteth on a footcloth wherein is wrought and intexed diuerse straunge workes with the feathers of a Peacocke and hard by his side lieth a tridentall gold-embossed mase And so farre Martianus among manie other his descriptions sets him forth In many Countries the Statues and Images of Iupiter were so depictured as they thereby discouered not only what hee was and of what vertue power and commaund but gaue light as it were and admonished Princes and Gouernours how to proceed in the execution of their rule and authority as being on earth the viceroyes and vnder kings vnto Iupiter appointed and installed by him to see iustice and equitie truly and effectually ministred and performed And Plutarch writeth That in some places of Crete were Statues erected of Iupiter which had all the proportion and shape of a humane bodie saue that they had no eares signifying thereby that he that commandeth in superiour authoritie aboue others ought not to be persuaded or carried away by any priuate conference or glosing insinuation but must stand vpright firme and stedfast not leaning to one side more than to another whereby he may be known not to fauour or partialize And contrarily the Lacedemonians framed his picture with foure eares as that Iupiter heareth and vnderstandeth all things alluded also to the wisdome of Princes and Magistrats which ought to haue information of euery cause or matter throughly before they deliuer out a definitiue sentence or iudgement and likewise that they receiue and admit intelligences and notices how their lawes precepts and edicts are kept and obserued among their subiects Pausanias reporteth That among the Argiues there was erected in the temple of Minerua the Statue of Iupiter made with three eies two of them seated in their right places and the other in the middle of his large forehead vnderstanding thereby that he hath three kingdomes to gouerne and mainetaine the one the heauens as that especially and intirely commanded by him the other Hell which is there vnderstood by the earth which compared with the wondrous glorie and beauteous excellency of the heauēs may in that respect worthily merit that name and the third kingdome is the sea for so much as Eschylus in manie places entitleth him with the name of the lord and commander of the watrie gouernement and dominion It is read also that hard by the pictures of Iupiter was alwaies placed the Image of Iustitia as that kings and great potentates might not commit anie thing wherin iustice and right were not administred And much to this purpose Plutarch writeth That in Thebes were certaine Statues and Images of Iupiter made without hands demonstrating thereby the dutie of Iusticers and authorised Officers for that indeed they ought to bee as it were without hands that is that they should not receaue any kind of bribe or reward nor bee corrupted with the enticing proffers of bounteous gifts whereby they might become iniurious to the true deseruers of right and equitie and bee drawne to giue wrongfull iudgement vpon the truth-inferring pledant Some there are also who haue defigured him without eyes as by that meanes Iusticers and men authorised for deciding lites and controuersies might not see their deerest friends in such times of pleading and so not put in mind either of friendship kinred or other occasion to lead them to partialitie And it is thought that this Iupiter with the Romanes was the same which they then entearmed Deus Fidius so reuerenced and adored among them whose picture was alwaies kept among their most sacred and regarded reliques and it was thus composed There stood in the midst of a Temple a great Colosse of marble out of which was framed and hewen with great curiositie of art a
in aduauncing the desertlesse and illiterates leauing and forsaking the vertuous and learned to miseries and all-despised pouerties as also accusing the world and the children therof with two much forgetfulnesse of themselues in regarding so deerely the fruition of many riches and pleasures wholly neglecting or rather scorning the embracement of vertue letters or knowledge thus sayth But first the Poet setteth downe the place where this discontented louer vnbowelled as it were and anatomised his hearts oppressions Downe by that prowd ambicious Riuers side On whose enameld bankes were wont to lie The weeping sisters of that daring guide That needs would rule the chariot of the skie Vnder the shade of a frondiferous beech Sits greefefull Dolio breathing out this speech Sleepe Phebus sleepe rest in thy watrie bed Looke on vs this blacke and dismall day Wher at he paus'd and hanging downe his head Greefe stopt the passage of his speeches way All sorrow-wounded thus he lookt like one Whom heau'ns had metamorphiz'd to a stone Such stone within whose concaue bosome dwels Some thin-cheekt Fountaine leane and hollow-eyed From out whose loines spring forth a thousand wels Which closely sneke away for being spide So stealingly there creepes Downe Dolios face Two small deuided streames with silent pace At last when inward greefes had almost slaine him For vn-reuealed woes soone kill the heart Viewing the blushing East he thus gan plaine him O thus he waild as though his life should part Sleepe Phebus sleepe rest in thy watrie bed O rest in Thetis lap thy drowsie head And thus he often woo'd and stil entreated The sun to hide the glorie of his face Which words he iterated and repeated To shew the blacke disasters of his case Sad night he knew best fitte à his dull spright The wo-tormented soule doth hate the light O cruell Fortune stepdame to my ioies That dishinherits them from sweet content Plunging their hopes in seas of dire annoies Depriuing them of gifts which Nature lent When will thy prowd insulting humor cease That freed frrom cares my scule may liue in peace But why doe I entreat thy ruthlesse heart That knowes thy greatest pleasure thy delights Censists in aggrauating my soules smart Poysen'd with woe by venome of thy spight No let me rather curse thy bloudie mind Which executes the wrath of one so blind So blind as will aduance ech low-bred groome To haughtie titles of a glorious place Lifting him vp from nothing to the roome Where those of honours and of vertues race Should seated bee and not th'illiterate Learning not place doth men nobillitate But what thou wilt must stand the rest must fall All human kings pay tribute to thy might And this must rise when pleaseth thee to call This other perrish in a wofull plight Thy courses are irregular thy kindnesse Misplac'd thy will lawlesse all is blindnesse Thou filst the world with hell-bred villanies Dis arming vertue of all true desence Leauing her naked midst her enemies That are both void of learning wit and sence Only this sence they haue for e're to hold Their high-pil'd heapes of all-preuailing gold And that is it that chokes true vertues breath Making it die though she immortall be Fruitlesse it makes it subiect vnto Death That's want or else it liues eternally But men doe count of vertue as a dreame Only they studie on some golden theame Neuer was any thing so pricelesse deemed So louingly embosom'd in mans thought No not religious rites are so esteemed As gold for which both earth and hell are sought All paines are ease so wee may it obtaine All ease is paine when wee should vertue gaine Where haue you seene one of the Muses traine Whose mind is impleat with vertues seed Scorning this worldly soule-polluting gaine But that he liues in euerlasting need And yet not basely though in meane estate For vertue scornes base meanes with deadly hate But there's no thought of vertue no regard Whereas this guilded idoll beares the sway Men of desart from fauours are debard And churlishly thrust from preferments way When some base Gnatoes sleepe in Fortunes lap Whose wealth not wit procures such fooles such hap Then come you wounded soules conioine with me In some obumbrate thicket let vs dwell Some place which heau'ns faire eie did neuer see There let vs build some sorrow-framed cell Where weele cast our sighs and sum our cares Penning them sadly downe with sea-salt teares Wearying the lowd-toungd daughter of the aire Infusing trembling horrors in ech beast With suddein-broken accents of dispaire With deepe-fetcht grones as signes of our vnrest And if the Satyres aske why we complaine Fortune commands and vertue now is slaine Thus in these raging fits of true-felt passion This melancholike louer vsd to crie Railing gainst Loue and Fortune in suoh fashion As if twixt both there were one simpathie Of natures and of humours all one kind Both being false mutable and both blind And in this inuectiue and selfe-afflicting vaine the same Louer in another place further complaineth of the ouermuch rigour of his Ladie preseruing and continuing in hate and scorne of his loue which words reduced to a Sonnet are these or to the like effect Hard is his hap who neuer finds content But still must dwell with heauy-thoughted sadnesse Harder that heart that neuer will relent That may and will not turne these woes to gladnesse Then ioies-adue comfort and mirth farewell For I must now exile me from all pleasure Seeking some vncouth caue where I may dwell Pensiue and solitarie without measure There to bewaile my such vntimely fortune That in my Aprill daies I thus should perish And there that steele-hard heart still still t'importune That it at last my bleeding soule would cherish If not with greedie longing to attend Tillpitty-moued Death my woes shall end And thus farre haue I continued the exclamations of an vnhappy louer who in the same place also writ many other inuectiues againg Fortune and Loue ioining them both together which I will here pretermit hauing already too much digressed from our cheefe intendement reuerting therefore from whence we left you it is written that the Thebans in a certain statue which they dedicated vnto Fortune being also in the shape similitude of a woman placing in one of her hands a yong child which they tearmed by the name of Pluto which with many is taken to bee the god of riches so that is discouered by representing Pluto in the forme of a child that in the hands of Fortune was the bestowing and disposing of wealth riches possessions and aduancements commanding thē and hauing that absolute authority rule ouer them as mothers gouerne and rule their children Martianus thus describes her to appeare at the mariage of Philologia There was saith he among the rest a young and beautifull woman more talking and more abounding in idle discourse and words then any of the rest who seemed to be full of gestures and of