to be neither beasts nor birds but doe equally partake of both kinds for they haue the vpper part as the head necke and wings of an Eagle and the rest of their bodies shaped to the true similitude of Lyons These strange formed beasts are found to remaine though Pliny sets them downe as fabulous in the furthermost parts of Scythia where as it is written are certaine mines of gold and siluer which these Griffins doe continually guard and keepe so that the people of that Country being called Arimaspes which as many writers affirm haue but one eye in their forehead cannot without great danger and hazard of their liues dig or seach for any of that gold On the top also of that helmet so made for Minerua someimes they placed the forme of a Cocke as in one part of Greece inhabited by the Eleans there was such a Statue erected made by Phidias which was wholly framed of gold and yuorie which was so consecrated and dedicated vnto Minerua because that bird of all others is most fierce bold and hardie in his fight as likewise in Captaines and men of war is requisite and required or els it did demonstrat therby the vigilancie and wakefull cogitations of great commanders and wise Gouernors in whom is required great foresight watchfulnesse care And herein I must somewhat digresse from this treatise of Minerua to obserue my Authour who in this place hath inserted some few capitulations of other abstracts the first beginning with the descriptions of Veritas or Truth with the explications thereof It is written with many Authors especially with Hippocrates that the effigies and portraiture of Truth was framed in the due similitude likenesse of a beauteous young woman attired with very graue modest abillements and yet for that kind of elderly habite very rich and costly And the same Authour also depainteth there the shape of Opinion likewise resembling a young woman not altogether so faire louely and yet not deformed or ill proportioned who saith he seemed rather impudent than modestly bold in all her demeanures with her hands reaching forth to take and receaue whatsoeuer is offered and presented Philostratus speaking of Truth sayth that shee remaineth in the caue of Amphiarus clothed all in white garments glistering and of a beautifull hue where also she was taken and supposed to bee the mother of Vertue which Vertue the Auncients reuerenced and worshipped as a sacred Goddesse consecrated many Temples Statues and Altars vnto her whose Image they erected directly before the Temple which was dedicated vnto Honor meaning thereby that none could enter or haue accesse thereunto but by meanes of the other and that there was no way or meanes to get true honour but by the way line of vertue as that honour dignitie and aduancement were the rewards and recompences of vertuous and well-gouerned actions and this picture of Honor also as diuers write was oftentimes set forth with two wings on the shoulders thereof intending vnshadowing thereby that honour and glorie doe as it were lend wings vnto men of vertue and merit to lift vp and aduance themselues aboue the ordinarie pitch and seat of vulgar and desertlesse people euen to the wonder and admiration of all men Lucianus speaking of a certaine Temple dedicated vnto Truth sayth that in the midst thereof was erected her Image or Statue in the forme of a young woman all sorrowfull sad and discontent habited in vnseemely rags and base attire and as it should seeme by certaine superscriptions ouer the head shee complained that she was ill-intreated abused wronged by Fortune In many places especially in Greece Vertue hath been shaped forth in forme of a Pilgrime or traueller in that she findeth no resting place secure abode or certaine habitation being sometimes vexed opprest by the gouernement of Tyrants sometimes of Vsurers and auaricious commanders sometimes by luxurious Rulers sometimes also by the furie and chances of warres intestine seditions ciuil broiles Sometimes she is defigured forth like a graue and austere Matrone sitting vpon a foure-squared stone all solitarie pensiue and melancholie and leaning her head vpon her knees as though shee seemed wearie of her life being so full of crosses miseries and perturbations It is written with Zenophon and Marcus Tullius that Hercules when he was in his adolescencie and prime of his blooming daies wandering by chaunce in a desart and vnfrequented wood came where two seuerall waies diuided themselues in two contrarie courses the one leading directly into the wood and the other enclining on the one side thereof Hercules as vncertain which of these two he should take stood pondering and considering of the choice hee had not long stood thus reuoluing within himselfe but there appeared before him all on the sudaine two women the one of which was called Pleasure who indeed was wondrous beautifull to the eye and of a louely aspect wanton in her demeanure and exceeding pleasing in all her gestures and shee was apparrelled with verie glorious and gorgeous abillements whose eye-dazeling brightnesse amased Hercules with huge admiration thereof she was so adorned and decked with resplendant iewels and glistering stones this woman seemed to persuade him to take the way of sensualitie delights which at the first entrance appeared vnto him very large faire and easie beset with very pleasant and greene hearbes and diuers-coloured flowers but towards the end it grew very streit stony rough and full of sharpe-pricking thornes the other woman somewhat more graue setled in her countenance was called Vertue who was clothed with verie simple and meane garments and shee with her finger pointed vnto that way which shee would wish Hercules to take which indeed at the beginning shewed it selfe very narrow full of rockes and steepe-ascending banckes verie crooked and almost in-accessable but after towards the midst it shewed very plesant and at the very end of it was a most delicat green mead all beset and enwalled with trees of the rarest and daintiest fruits that could bee wished for the vale it selfe all bespangled as it were with field-flowers of sundry sorts and colours entermixed with the odoriferous rose gillowflower marigold pinke through the midst of this greene plot glided and stole along a soft-murmuring christall spring through the puritie of whose cleerenesse by meanes of the reflection of the sunnes beames an infinite number of golden hewed peble stones daunced as it were leaped on the sands as moued and stirred with the swift-paced current of that faire-running water and vnto this path Hercules betooke himselfe labouring striuing very eagerlie to passe in at the first entrance which at the length with continuing and laborious endeauours he recouered so attained to that delicious beautifull medow which his choice so elected afterwards purchased vnto him euer-liuing fame and glory registered by time in the brasse-leaued booke of endlesse perpetuitie The Auncients also made
caue where Nature sits the soules of men seeme to flutter and houer ouer her head which importeth the infinite numbers of men that are euerie day created bringing then with them their soules and for that they appeare to flie directly ouer the bosome of Eternitie it meaneth that whosoeuer attaines vnto that excellencie of perfection must first enter his aspiring steps by the means of Nature and for that cause she is placed at the dore or portall The aged man which there sits deuiding and parting the starres may be called God not that hee is old for time ouer him loseth her vertue and worketh no effect who of himselfe is perpetuall and euer-liuing but that the auncients heretofore haue pleased so defigure him and because he effecteth all things by infinite wisdome ruling and commanding all creatures whatsoeuer by his vnspeakeable power they therefore attribute vnto him old age wherein is commonly found more wisdome grauitie and experience than in youth Thus farre Boccace reporteth not touching any thing at all the explication of the ages and worlds which followed in that his description in that indeed they were not so enigmaticall but euery one might easily admit the conceiuing knowledge of so familiar intendements Therefore now wee will proceed beginning with the Image or Statue of Saturnus according as it hath beene by the Auncients heretofore composed Saturne SAturne being expulsed heauen by Iupiter as histories record and throwne downe from thence into this middle region after many daies sailing vpon the sea at the length hee ariued in Italie where hee liued manie yeares with Ianus then king of that part of the Countrey where Rome afterwards was built but poorely and meanely he liued as indeed all the people in those times did as hauing vnfound out the vse of tilling and planting whereby corne and other fruits of the earth might suppeditate their wants of necessarie food and victuall The vse of which things they now learned from Saturne who painfully instructed them in the perfect knowledge of the nature of each soile and how and by what industrious meanes of art any ground fruitlesse of it self by nature might become fertile and rich This learned and powerfull skill of Saturne Ianus infinitely admired insomuch as manifesting his gratefulnesse for so be hoofefull and commodious a good turne receaued he communicated part of his kingdome for him to liue vpon affording him many other princely and respectiue regards And further commanded his people that when he died they should with all reuerence honour him as a god a thing easily embraced by the ignorant Heathen in those daies who in that they had receiued so vnexpected a benefite from his meanes willinglie condiscended to ascribe and attribute vnto him all godlike reuerence and deuout adoration as men indeed vnto whome the sole and eternall God had not ministred the Key of vnderstanding that their close-shut hearts liuing in the darke caue of ignorance might therewith bee opened and vnlocked for the admittance of the true acknowledgment of his sacred deitie but they onely worshipped him for their god who by his humane knowledge had found out some new means either for the earths better increase or other like profit that were most auaileable for their labour-lesse and sluggish liuing And therefore they willingly adored Saturne as a mightie and puissant god dedicating vnto him manie sumptuous Statues and temples And him in his Statue they framed with a hooke or syth in his hand demonstrating thereby as they meant it the inuention of tilling of the ground because with that the corne once recouering his maturitie is cut downe Other writers there are that would haue him signifie Tyme as that with his sythe he should measure and proportionise the length of Time and therewith to decurtate and cut away all things contained therein Those also would haue him to be in the shape of a very aged man as one who began from beginning of the world holding in his hand a child which by peecemeales hee seemes greedily to deuour importing the reuenge hee tooke being banished heauen by his owne children those which escapt the furious gulfe of his maw were onely foure Iupiter Iuno Pluto and Neptune which intend the foure elements Fire Aire earth and Water which are not perishable by the all-cutting sickle of deuouring time Martianus Capella depictures him holding in his right hand a Serpent with the end of her taile in her mouth still turning round with a heauie and dead slow pace and he hath his temples redemyted with a greene wreath which seemeth still to flourish his haire of his head and his beard all milke white looking like one of many yeares withering and declining and yet manifesting that it is in his power to rebecome youthfull fresh and blooming The wreath on his head imports the beginning or spring of the yeare his haire and beard the snowie approch of churlish Winter the slownesse of the serpents paces the sluggish reuolution of that planet which as it is of all the greatest so it asketh longest time for his circular circumference and in that from this plannet proceed dolorous and dismall effects they shape him to be old louring sorrowing hardfauonred and sluggish his nature being cold drie and melancholie The same Martianus sayth That the nuptials of Mercurie and Philologia when she had searched and perviewed each corner of the higher and lower heauens shee found Saturne sitting with great solitude in an extream cold mansion all frozen couered with yse and snow wearing on his head a helmet on which was liuely depictured three heads the one of a Serpent the other of a Lyon and the third of a Boare which three by many constructions may signifie the effect of Time but in that it is by the Authors themselues but sleightly approued we will wade no further in it And yet Macrobius toucheth it very neerely when hee describes him with a Lyons head a Dogs head and a Wolfes head intending by the Lyons head the time present which duly placed betweene that past and that to come preuaileth most and is of greatest force or discouering thereby the stormie troubles of mans life by the rough vnpleasing and grim aspect of the Lyon by that of the Dog is meant the present time who alwaies fawnes on vs and by whose alluring delights we are drawne vnto vaine and vncertain hopes The Wolues head signifies the time past by his greedie deuouring what ere he finds leauing no memorie behind of what hee catcheth within his clawes Astarte the daughter of Celum and wife and sister of Saturne made for her husband a princely helmet which had foure eies two before and two behind which continually shut themselues slept by turns so that two alwaies were open and vpon his shoulders were likewise made foure wings two of them volant and two couchant which signified that although he slept he alwaies waked and flying continued fixe and permanent vnclouding hereby the nature of
letters which shee deliuered to the Priests and Churchmen there containing in it in breefe with what zeale and vnfained veneration the gods ought to be worshipped and adored and how neerely now it concerned them to proceed with a heedfull and due effectuating what was there proposed Wherevpon afterwards it grew that their writers of sacred and holy bookes did weare alwaies on their head a red cap with a wing of the same bird infixed thereunto The auncients heretofore did not only vnshadow the propertie of their gods by beasts and liuing creatures but many times also by plants flowers trees which they consecrated of purpose dedicated vnto them wherevpon the lawrell or Bay was then appropriated vnto Apollo and therewith were made wreaths and garlands with which his temples were girt and redemyted in token as some think of the ardent loue and affection which he caried to Daphne the daughter of Peneus transformed into that tree by Neptune The Aegyptians before the vse of letters and writing was found out framed the shape of the sun by composing a scepter in the vpper top whereof they insected an eye very curiously and with great industry of art engrauen and they called it The eye of Iupiter as that he beheld and ouer-viewed the large scope and compasse of the world ruling it with great wisedome and due execution of rightfull iustice so intended by the scepter signifying command and gouernement The Lacedemonians caused the Statue of Apollo to bee cut out with foure eares and with as many hands the reason that they so shaped him as many thinke was for that hee was seene to fight for them in that forme and proportion but others take it to discouer shew vnto vs the iudgement and prudencie of that god as being slow to speake and readie to heare and thervpon it grew as a Proue be among the Grecians Heare him say they that hath foure eares meaning thereby the sound knowledge and vnderstanding of him that heareth much and speaketh little Apulcius affirming That the sunne with his deepe-searching raies beholdeth any thing whatsoeuer sayth That in Thessalie were certaine witches which when they had with their enchauntments and sorcerismes either bewitched any man or theeuishly stolne any thing away would presently flie and conuey themselues into transfaced and vpreared caues and many times into graues where dead carkasses lay interred seeking by such meanes to shrowd themselues from the view and sight of the sun thinking it almost impossible to keep any thing hid from the farre-reaching and sin-discouering eie thereof The Phenicians had the Statue of the sun framed of blacke stone large and spacious at the bottome but very sharpe and narrow at the top the which Herodotus reporteth they boasted to haue receiued from heauen and they solemnely affirmed that to be the true Image or Idea of the sun not made by any cunning of art but so defigured by the diuine powers Lactantius sayth That in Persia the sunne was the principall and cheefest God they there adored and him they worshipped in a caue or denne and his Statue was framed in this manner Hee had the head of a Lyon and was habited according to the Persian custome wearing on his head such tires ornaments as the women of Persia vsed to bee intrested with and he seemed to hold by main force a white cow by the hornes The head of the Lion meaneth that the sun hath greater vertue and domination in that sign then in any other of all the Zodiake or that he is of power and commaund among the planets so mightie as the Lyon is among beasts the caue or den intendeth his eclipse the cow may seeme to signifie the moone for those reasons which hereafter in her description shall be discouered The sun seeming to inforce and constraine her meaneth that hee very oftentimes darkeneth her light and cleane taketh away her brightnes in that Nature by her proposed lawes commands her to obey and follow him Pausanias writeth That in Patra a citie of Achaia was found a Statue dedicated to Apollo made of strange stones and other very hard mettals and it seemed to haue the frame proportion of an Oxe or Cow which beasts as they said were gratefull to Apollo and Homer speaking how Apollo was hired to keepe the heard of cattell for Laomedon thus saith when hee reported the speech of Neptune When first I laid the sure foundation Of those proud clouds aspiring wals of Troy Nere to brought by force to ruination Nor stooping her high lookes to dire annoy Had she beleeu'd Cassandras diuination Thou Phebus in thy shepheards weeds didst keepe In pensiue solitude thy wandring sheepe Which shewes that besides the many names ascribed to Apollo hee was likewise sometimes called a sheepeheard from which it may be intended that as from the temperat heat and vertue of the sun al things here are nourished and increased so by the diligent care of the sheepeheard his flocke receiueth healthinesse soundnesse and increase Lucianus sayth That the Assyrians only defigured Apollo with a beard reprehending all others for shaping him otherwise saying that such youthfulnesse and greenenesse of years discouered a certaine want and imperfection which say they ought not to bee allowed in framing the Statues of their gods and therefore they shaped him with a reasonable long beard as one attained to his true and perfect virility and vpon his breast they placed a shield holding in his right hand a speare on the top whereof was set forth a figurelet of Victoria in his left hand hee seemed to hold a very rare flower downe from his shoulders depended a vestement wherein was curiously proportioned the head of Medusa from which dangled and pointed downewards infinite swarmes of Snakes on the one side of him were placed certaine Eagles volant before his feet stood the liuely picture of a Nimph which on either side of her likewise had two other Nimphs placed whose bodies a Serpent with her flexible and oftenturnings seemed to annodate and conioine This curious-composed Statue flowed with strange varieties of eie-delighting and illustrious decoraments that vndoubtedly the beholders eares asked as great satisfaction to vnderstand the meaning as their eyes craued time to behold the matter And for that Macrobius sets it so forth wee will heare what expositiue interpretation he can deliuer it His beard which from his chin hangeth downe very long sharpening it selfe towards the end resembles sayth hee the raies of the sun which from the heauens reach downe vnto the earth The shield and spear intend the nature of Mars for that with some they are held to be all one The figure of Victoria sheweth vs that all things whatsoeuer are subiect vnto the sun and haue their beginning and being from the vertues thereof The flower signifies the beauties and excellencies of those things which the secret powers of the sun with the life-giuing warmenesse of the same engendreth nourisheth
and maintaineth The Nimph which stands before his feet representeth the earth the which the sun from aboue comforteth with his moderat heat The which also the Assyrians themselues did seeme to confirme as saith Macrobius by the Image of their god which they called Adad vnto whom they made subiect and obedient the goddesse Adargate and vnto these two they beleeued all things to bee tied in subiection and by the one they vnderstood the sun and by the other the earth The other two Nimphs which stand on both sides of him signifie the mould or substance whereof things are made and Nature which shapes them into proportion The Serpent with her often twining of her bodie denotateth the many crooked windings and turnings which the sun with his raies incircleth The Eagles in that by nature they are swift of wing and couet alwaies to flie very high are alluded vnto the wonderful velocitie and exceeding altitude of the sun or as the Eagle commaundeth aboue all other birds so the sunne hath his absolute dominion ouer the Planets The habite which hee wore on his shoulders with the head of Medusa signifies Minerua which is nothing else as Porphirius sayth but that pure vertue of the sun which cleareth and refineth human intellect and infuseth ingenious conceits into the braines of men The Aegyptians composed many Statues of the sun and among the rest one was in the shape of a man with the head of it as it might seeme halfe shauen and the haire taken away so that on the right side only remained haires which according to Macrobius meaneth that the sun is neuer absent from Nature but she continually feeleth the vertues and operations of his raies And that that part of the head that is shauen signifies that though the sun for some time detaine his glorious aspect from the world yet that he is to return and re-beautifie the same with as great brightnesse as at the first as those haires so shauen wil againe spring forth re-increase to their true and full perfections And in some parts of Aegypt they infixed on the Statue of the sun two feathers the one of them blacke and of a duskie hue the other bright and shining and the blacke they termed Penna infernale and the other Penna celeste for that the sunne keepeth his abiding in the heauens all those times when he passeth through those sixe signs of the Zodiake whose vertues make the station of the parching summer being called Segni superiori and they report him to descend down into the lower center of the earth called Tartarius when he beginneth to take his circuit through the other sixe signes entearmed Segni inferiori And for that they placed those feathers so vpon him it signified as Macrobius likewise sayth his swiftnesse and fast-flying circumference It is read that in one part of Aegypt they vnderstood the sun by the name of Serapides which name likewise is oftentimes taken for Iupiter and him they shaped in forme of a man holding in his left hand a bushell intending thereby that there ought to be a proportion and due measure among men obserued with an equal and iust distribution of all things necessarie And this their god which they then tearmed Serapides had a Statue in the temple of Alexandria a cittie in Aegypt dedicated vnto him compacted almost of all sorts of strangest and vnknowne mettals and it was framed of so exceeding huge and immeasurable extension that his armes being stretched forth reached to both sides of the temple at the one side of which was made with subtle curiousnesse of art a windolet or smallest prospectiue hole into which the all-searching radiance of the sun vpon his first apparance hauing vnbolted the purple colour'd dores of the East would penetrate and enter glistering and shining with a maruellous reflection on the well-hewen and finely-polish'd face of that Colosse in such a sort that the foolish and faith-wanting vulgars in those times credibly beleeued that the sun came euery morning of dutie to salute Serapides and to kisse his cheekes This picture was there adored with all reuerence and humble veneration being made with such incredible art workmanship that the stones and other hardest mettals thereof were so collaterally couched and with such priuie conclansture as it they had ben waxe or framed of other like flexible substance being so exquisitely well disposed and with such commodulat order of discreet correspondencie Martianus Capella speaking of the marrying of Mercurie sayth That Mercurie and Vertue looking for Phebus for his aduise in some matters found him sitting gloriously in a regall and tribunall seat hauing before his feet foure vessels of seuerall mettals whose lids were closely shut and couered and these were made of diuers formes and substances the first was framed of the most hard and durable yron from which there seemed to euacuate fresh-burning and liuely fires and it was called Capo di Vulcano The next was of cleerest and brightest siluer filled with the puritie of well-tempred aire and this was called Riso di Gioue the third was compacted of solide and peizie lead implete with raine haile frost and snow called Morte di Saturno the last which stood neere to Phebus was framed of the finest and transparent glasse containing in it the inuisible seed which the vpper elements sprinckle on the earth and it had to name Poppa di Giunone Out of these vessels sometimes from the one and sometimes from the other would he call out such working vertues as therby men here below receiued their health and life or their diseases and death so that when hee intended to send vnto the world a healthie temperature and life-preseruing aire he would commixe some of that contained in the siluer vessell with that inclosed in the vessel of glasse and when hee meant to plague the world with pestilences infections and mortalities he conioined the burning and ardorous flames of the yron vessell with that inteined in the other of Lead Wherby it may directly appeare that the diuersities and contrarious effects of Times proceed from the moderation of the suns forcible radiance or from the extremitie of his fierie riscaldation and that as the one bringeth with it a generall healthinesse and encrease purging the aire of grosse and plagues-ingendring vapours so the intemperature and ouerscorching furie of the same possessing the earth with a vniuersall ariditie poysoneth the aire with infectious humors and distilleth downe on the middle region all kinds of noisome vnsoundnesse and infirmities by whose ill-smelling odors and corruptions the bodies of men and all other creatures become lame sick putrified and diseasefull Among the auncients Esculapius as is already said was held to be the sonne of Apollo and hee was said to bee the father of Higiea which interpreted signifies soundnesse of bodie and perfection of health And Pausanias taking it from the Phenicians sayth That Esculapius is nothing else but the aire which
the Moone was reuerenced and adored vnder diuers and seuerall names so likewise did they then erect and dedicat vnto her Statues Altars and Images of diuers and seuerall formes for that with some she was called Diana with others Proserpina with others Hecate with other some Lucina and in Aegypt generally entearmed Isis And according vnto such the propertie of her names they so ascribed vnto her would they expresse her proportion of bodie her habit her natures vertues and effects And therefore according to the description of Propertius shee was depictured in the shape and due resemblance of a young and pleasantlooking virgine of most amourous and beauteous aspect hauing on either side of her forehead two small glistering hornes newly peeping forth and that she is most gloriously drawne through the aire in a purple coloured coach by two furious and swift-paced horses the one being of a sad and darkish colour the other beautifull and white which according to Boccace entendeth her powerfull operations as well in the day as in the night Festus Pompeius writeth That her charriot is drawne by a Mule comparing her being cold of nature to the barrennesse and sterrillitie of that beast and as her selfe giueth no light or splendour of her selfe but borroweth such her brightnesse of her brother Phoebus so the Mule neuer engendreth by any of her owne kind but by asses horses and other like beastes There are also who depicture the chariot of the Moone drawne by two white bullockes as Claudianus when he speaketh of that great search and enquiry which Ceres made for the finding out of her rauished daughter It is read that in many places of Aegypt they reuerenced the Image of a bullocke with wonderfull zeale and veneration which they cut out and depainted of a sad colour hauing one of his flanckes bespotted with diuers white stars and on his head were placed two such sharpe hornes as the Moone seemeth to carrie in her cheefest waine and lights imperfection And in those places they offered great Sacrifices vnto her vpon the seuenth day after any child was born and brought into the world as in token of their gratefulnesse and thanksgiuing for the safe deliuerie of such new-borne infant for from the moisture and humiditie of the Moone say they the woman receiueth speedier deliuerance and the child easier euacation And for these causes would they oftentimes inuoke her gracious assistance entearming her the most mightie mercifull and most sacred Lucina Marcus Tullius writing against Verres describeth there a Statue or Picture of Diana which he brought from out a temple in Cicilia and he saith that it was of a wondrous heigth and huge demension hauing the whole bodie circumcinct with a thin vaile or couerture the face of it of a most youthfull and virgineall aspect holding in her right hand a liuely burning torch and in her left an yuorie bow with a quiuer of siluer-headed arrows hanging at her back The torch or firebrand as Pausanias sayth signifieth that brightnesse and day-resembling splendor which she so graciously affordeth to the vncertaine steps of forren-nationed pilgrimes and disconsolate trauellers the sharpe pointed arrowes meane those dolourous fits and passions that women feele at their childs deliuerance which in this point is appropriated vnto her as she is Lucina Among the Poets Diana is called the goddesse of hunting and imperiall gouernesse of pleasant groues shrub-bearing hils and christal-faced fountaines giuen vnto her as some hold for that in the heauens she neuer keepeth any direct course but wanders and stragles from that true and perfect circuit which the sunne alwaies obserueth as likewise hunters in the chase and pursuit of their game leaue the most accustomed and trodden paths posting through vncouth thickets and way-lesse passage and they depicture her in the habit of a young nimph with her bow ready bent in her hand a quiuer of arrowes hanging at one side of her and to the other is fast tied a most swiftfooted greyhound with a coller about his necke set and inchased with many rich stones of infinite value and after her follow a troope of siluan virgines and light-paced huntresses whose habites and aspects I remember to be by some thus described Early one morne old Tithons spouse arose And raisd young Phebus from his quiet rest Drawing the certaines that did then disclose Him fast twixt Thetis armes whom he lou'd best He when he heard the summons of the day After some sweet repast streight stole away Scarce was he mounted on his glorious car When thwart th'ambitious hils and lowly plaine Scouring a pace you might perceiue a far A troupe of Amazons to post amaine But when they neerer came vnto your view You might discerne Diana and her crue A carelesse crue of young-year'd Nimphs despising The ioyous pleasures and delights of loue Wasting their daies in rurall sports deuising Which know no other nor will other proue Wing'd with desire to ouertake the chace Away they fling with vnresisted pace Some haue their haire disheuel'd hanging downe Like to the suns small streames or new gold wires Some on their heade doe weare a flowry crowne Gracing the same with many curious tires But in their hot pursute they loose such graces Which makes more beautie beautifie their faces Their neckes and purple-vained armes are bare And from their yuorie shoulders to the knee A silken vesture o're their skin they weare Through which a greedie eie would quickly see Close to their bodies is the same ingerted With girdles in the which are flowers inserted Ech in their hand a siluer bow doth hold With well-stor'd quiuers hanging at their backes Whose arrowes being spent they may be bold To borrow freely so that none ere lackes They neuer need be niggards of their store For at their idle times they make them more Sometimes when hottest they pursue their chases You may perceiue how fast the sweat distilleth In hasty-running streames adowne their faces Like seuen-fold Nilus when she prowdly swelleth For from the time that first Hyperion burneth They cease not till the widowed night returneth And in that swartish and estranged hue Causd by th'abundance of such blubbred heate They looke like youthfull men at the first view So are their beauties ouer-drownd with sweate Thus are those nimble skipping Nimphs displaid That vse t'attend that Goddesse Queene and Maid And thus much touching the description of those virgines which are said to accompanie that woods-delighting goddesse in her sports of hunting Pausanias writeth That the bow in which Diana her selfe vseth to shoot is made of the saddest coloured Ebonie cleane contrarie to the opinion of Ouid who directly describeth it to be of the purest gold and hee further writeth that her chariot is drawne by two white Hinds as Claudianus likewise affirmeth when hee sayth Downe from the steepest clouds-o're-peering mountaines Drawne in a chariot by two winged hinds Posts the commandresse of the groues and
fountaines With greater speed than Eols angrie winds O're hils and valleyes rocks and roughest seas These golden-horned hinds goe where they please It is read likewise with Pausanias that in Arcadia was a Statue made of Diana all couered ouer with the skin of a Hind and from her shoulders there hung a quiuer of arrowes in one hand shee held a burning lampe and the other shee leaned vpon the heads of two gentle serpents and before her feet there stood a hound cut out and proportioned with wondrous great art and industrious labour of the workeman The auncients first began to consecrate Hinds vnto Diana since that time that shee sent such infectious plagues among the Grecians in token of her displeasure which shee conceiued against Agamemnon for killing a Hind And afterwards also among the Romanes they did commonly sacrifice a Hind vnto her adorning their holy sanctuaries and temples with the hornes thereof And hetherto for the description of the Moone as she is Diana who was oftentimes also among the auncients called Triuia and depictured with three heads which indeed rather belongeth vnto her as Hecate and not as Diana This Hecate the auncients worshipped and adored as she that had the guard and keeping of all crosse waies and such lanes as in the end concurred and conioined themselues in one and for that cause they depictured her with three heads whereupon Ouid thus speaketh If in thy trauels thou doe misse thy way Doubtfull and wauering how to guide thy paces Enquire what Hecate to that will say Who for three seuerall waies hath seuerall faces Inuoke her aid and she will guide thy feet Which alwaies after the true path shall keepe From whence likewise it proceeded that Virgil oftentimes cals her Trigemina Triuia and Triforme And it is said that Orpheus ascribed vnto her such faces meaning to declare thereby the diuers and sundrie aspects which we oftentimes may discerne to be in the Moone and that her vertues and effects are powerfull and working not onely in the heauens where shee is called Luna and on the earth where shee is knowne by the name of Diana but also extend down euen to the bowels of Erebus where shee is called Hecate and Proserpina where it is supposed shee remaineth during the time of her lights absence from the worlds view and illustrement And these things Eusebius thus expoundeth The Moone saith hee is called Hecate and Triforme by reason of the many shapes and figures that appeare many times to bee in her countenance which proceedeth from the quantitie of the light which she receaueth from the beams of Phoebus The auncients appropriated the Lawrell vnto her as due vnto her from her brother Apollo And thus much as shee is Hecate The Aegyptians as I haue alreadie said worshipped the Moone vnder the name of Isis and her they depictured couered with a blacke and sable vesture in token that of her selfe shee giueth no light And it is written by the Poets that she was the daughter of the floud Inachus and called by the name of lo and after that she lost her virginitie to Iupiter shee trauelled into Aegypt where among them she was so entearmed by the name of Isis And they framed her Statue holding in one hand a Cymball and in the other an earthen vessell of water whervpon as Seruius sayth many supposed her to bee the Genius of Aegypt in that through such her depicturance the nature of that country was opened and discouered vnderstanding by the Cymball which shee so holdeth in one of her hands that vncouth noise and farre-heard murmure which Nilus roareth forth when with her tumbling and furious billowes shee ouer-washeth the spacious fields of Aegypt and by the other vessell of water the many Riuers Pooles and Lakes in which that Country excelleth Apulcius reporteth that after his recouerie from his transmutation into the forme of an asse bee dreamed to haue seene Isis appeare one night before him in a vision and hee there so describes her as it may bee easily gathered that shee was the very same as I haue alreadie set downe Luna to be and which the Aegyptians with so straunge and new-found ceremonies so adored Martianus writeth That Philologia entring into that spheare of the Moone saw there many and diuers-framed Cymbals and likewise the torches of Ceres the bow of Diana the Timbrell of Cibele and a kind of shape also with three hornes which I haue already said to bee in the Moon all which things are appropriated and due vnto Luna But returning to the description which Apuleius so maketh of her in such his vision he sayth That shee then seemed vnto him as it were all wet and new come out of the sea with her haire hanging loose about her shoulders and vpon the crowne of her head was mounted a most curious and delicate chaplet composed of diuers sweet-smelling and sundry-sorted flowers in the midst of her shining forehead appeared a certaine squared and quadrangulate circle glittering with wonderous lustre and vnspeakeable corruscancie on either side of her stood certaine young whelpes of Serpents her aparrell seemed to bee of diuerse colours of a most subtle and thin substance some part of it shewing white and of an ashie hue othersome darkish and sad and in some other places of it it appeared reddish and high coloured And ouer this garment she wore one other of all blacke yet glistering in that kind and of a most perfect iettish hue which was very thicke bespotted and adulterated with true-shapt starres of gold and siluer amidst the which was inserted a most glorious and bright-shining Moone formed out with inimitable art of the workeman and round about the hem or skirt of this vn matchable vesture was interposed a most curious and delicate border of verdent foliature intrauersed among the liuely depicturances of all kinds and sorts of fruits In her right hand shee held a certaine instrument made like a Cymball which of it selfe would yeeld forth a most shrill and lowd report from her left arme hung downe a straunge-fashioned vessell compacted clean of gold with the handle and foot of it proportioned into the forme of a liuely serpent which seemed mightily puft vp and swoln with poyson and before her feet there was placed a certaine ornament and skilfull deuise made of the leaues of palme And thus farre Apuleius describes the apparance of Isis The varietie of such-her colours in her apparrell may be drawne into these naturall reasons for that the Moone doth oftentimes turne her selfe into diuerse aspects which thereby denotate the diuersities of the natures of seasons succeeding as hir rednes and high colour foretelleth the approch of furious and blustring winds her dark and muddy-hued looke the clustring together and conglomeration of watrie clouds from which issueth ouer abundance of raine and moisture and her white and cleare aspect pretokeneth calmes and serenitie of weather her vpper garment being black signifieth as I haue said
narrow search of the birds as Lyons according as Solynus reporteth are accustomed when they are chased and hunted by woodmen to sweepe disperse the dust with their tailes that so the print and impression of their footing might not detect their course of escape or else to shew that there is no ground so barren stubborne and fruitlesse but may in time by often cultiuation industrious manuring be made a plenteous fertile soile as the Lyons themselues in the end become gentle tame and tractable The emptie and void seats which are placed round about the picture doe import that there is no countrey so populous and abounding in people but are by pestilences infections dissentions and warres wasted spoiled and depopulated or to shew that in many places of the earth are diuerse countries vnpeopled and desolate And thus farre Varro in his description of Ops. It is read with Isiodorus that the Image of this goddesse called Lagran Madre is framed holding in one of her hands a key signifying thereby that the earth in the time of Winter and cold season is locked vp as it were and incloseth within it the seed which is dispersed and throwne downe into it which at the approch of the Spring and Summer doth peepe forth and shew it selfe againe at which time it is said that the earth is again vnlocked and openeth her bosome Cornelius Tacitus reporteth That certaine people of Germanie worshipped and adored this goddesse as she that of all other was the most friendly helping to mankind supplying their wants and necessities with her manifold fruits and encreases And in that they erected not vnto her as I haue in some places alreadie written any Statues Images or Pictures they performed such their adoration in cōsecrated groues wherein they placed a chariot or coach couered all ouer with sacred vestures vnto which no man might be suffered to approch and touch but only a certaine Priest appointed to speake to her as hee onely that knew the goddesse to be there was further acquainted with all her vnreuealed matters of secrecie and in this respect they all gaue him preheminence place and dignitie And this chariot was drawne very solemnely and with all obseruancie of reuerence done vnto it by the people by two white Cowes It is to be pre-intended that the world in those daies was not afflicted with warres stratagemes contentions intestine broiles and fatall massacres neither knew it the vse of yron or steele the daies and yeeres were then circumfered in ioy tranquilitie and hearts content all places were free peacefull secure and quiet vnto this sight and solemnitie the people came flocking in with great humility deuoting vnto her their poore seruices with many gifts presents and oblation And after that this goddesse afterward intended to end such her progresse and to abide no longer below in the world the chariot with the cloths thereof was suddainely by some sleightfull art throwne violently into a Lake or Riuer with the picture of the goddesse in it and the seruants so appointed for this deuise all ouerwhelmed and drowned in the water And it is thought that this fond ceremonie encreased mightily their opinion and beleefe of such their religion and caused that she was alwaies among them adored and worshipped as a mightie goddesse And this goddesse was also called as I haue alreadie written Cibele which name according to the opinions of manie came of a certaine mount so entearmed But Festus Pompeius giues her the same nature and vertues and the same Statues Images and Pictures as she hath being Ops with her chariot likewise drawne by two furious Lyons which Aristotle likewise affirmeth when writing of many wonders and miraculous things in the world he remembreth in such his description a certaine stone which groweth on the hill Sipilus in Phrygia the which who so had found and caried away any part of it into the Temple of Cibele he should become instantly most dutifull obedidient and regardant vnto his parents although he had before infinitely hated despised and by violent and impious hands beaten them and vnder her picture there in that temple were placed with great curiosity of art two stately and maiestical Lyons But Diodorus and manie others are of opinion that the Lyons so dedicated vnto her signified that she was once fed and nourished by them on that Mountaine Sipilus as it is read also of many others that haue beene kept aliue and preserued by Wolues Harts Beares and Serpents The Naturalists and such as haue laboured for the vertue and nature of things produced say that the elements admit in themselues such a coherence communencie and coniunction that the one is easily changed into the nature of another according as the aire becommeth indensate and grosse or pure and rarified And in that regard there ought to follow lesse admiration among vs of such intricate names effects and properties of the gods of the auncients as the one sometimes vnderstood for one thing and sometimes for another and yet all signifying vnder seuerall names and titles one and the same thing as Iupiter oftentimes is taken for the element of Fire sometimes for the aire and so likewise the Sunne and the Moone in many places taken for the same and yet exposed vnder diuerse names The waters also had diuerse gods shewing forth their sundry qualities and effects in the same manner as the earth from whose bosome ascend vp mistie and vapourous exhalations and are setled and remaine in the lower part of the aire composing there thicke and conglomerated clouds from whose moistnesse afterward issue downe on the earth great vents and abundance of raine And for this cause according to Fornutus the earth is called Rhea as it were guiltie and being the cause and occasion of such showers and rainie moistures And the Image of this goddesse was set forth with many Cymbals and vessels of water as also torches lampes and firebrands meaning thereby the many lightenings and suddain flashes which immediately precede the approches of violent and tempestuous showers The Statue of the earth as she is Vesta is proportioned in the shape of a young virgine with her apparrell beautified and bedecked with many curious ornaments and attires of sundrie and diuerse colours as wee see the earth vpon the comming of the Summer to bee so gloriously bespotted with seuerall-sorted flowers But it is to bee obserued that among the auncients was also another Vesta which as the first as I haue said signified the earth this intended the fire that is that liuely nourishing heat from which being dispersed into the bowels of the earth euerie thing therein contained receiueth his being and encrease and of this the auncients shaped not any Image or Statue in that it could not be discerned by any outward eies but with diuine and contemplatiue thoughts being of it selfe wholly celestiall And besides these names of the earth it was called also when of
and on the left side was depainted a Goat a little bird much like vnto a Sparrow-hawke all which depicturances containe within themselues the mysteries and darke meanings of the Aegyptians with whom Mercurie was worshipped adored vnder the name of that god which with them was called Anubis and was depictured also with his Caduceus as Apuleius likewise where hee writeth of certaine tales of those people which trauelled with Isis depainteth him And sayth that Anubis which the Aegyptians called Mercurie was setforth depictured sometimes of a blacke and swartish complexion sometimes also very beautifull and of a faire aspect And among some of them also they framed his Image as hauing the head of a Dog in his right hand holding a Snakie wand and with his left shaking a greenebough of Palme By the head of the Dog was vnderstood the subtiletie craftinesse which proceeded from Mercurie for so much as there is thought no beast to be so wise capable and wilie as the Dog Or else they so shaped him with the head of a Dog for that as it is written by Diodorus Siculus this Anubis was the sonne of Osiris who long before that following his father in the warres shewed himselfe so valerous and approued hardie as that indeed after he was dead hee was worshipped honoured as a god And for that in his life time hee alwaies carried depainted in his shield the portraiture of a Dog defiguring the same also vpon all his other armes his Image or Statue was afterward in that manner drawn and set forth with a Dogs head demonstrating also thereby that hee was louing faithfull and obedient to his father defending him alwaies from all dangers abuses and perrillous accidents which also is commonlie seene in that beast towards his maister or keeper There be some haue written that Mercurie was taken held for the very same as Hercules or not much different frō him as his Image or Picture held among the French men manifested which people likewise adored him as the god of Wisdome Eloquence and his Statue was thus composed There was hewen and cut out with most exquisite skill and care of the workmen an excelently well-proportioned Image in the similitude and shape of a very aged man euen decrepit as it should seeme and in the extremitie of yeares his head almost bald sauing that on the sides remained some few haires short and curled his countenance seuere grim and soure his complexion of a tawnie and time-worne hue his vpper vesture was the skin of a Lyon and in his right hand he held an vnweldy and huge poleaxe in his left hand an yron bow and at his backe hung a quiuer of steele-headed arrowes to the end of his tongue were fastened and annexed many small chaines linkes of gold with which hee seemed to pull and draw vnto him infinite multitudes of men of sundry Nations which were also tied and fastened to those chaines and yet of themselues seemed voluntarily to follow him the picture looking alwaies backeward to behold such innumerable troopes flocking towards him And this peece of worke was framed with inexplicable rare perfection of knowledge beautified adorned with delicate politure and true couching and conclausture of those hard and almost impenetrable stones By the description and setting forth of which is discouered and vnript as it were the all-drawing force and attractiue power of eloquence so attributed ascribed by these people vnto Hercules In framing him old and in yeeres is vnderstood that in men of experience and long studies eloquence is of more vertue and power as attained vnto naturitie of perfection being indeed raw and therefore not well digested in yonger yeeres which of necessitie must want iudgement and a setled experience to adioine vnto it by which it is made more forcible preuailing and gracious as Homer at large copiously speaketh thereof in his commends and praises of Nestor From whose mouth sayth hee most fluently rushed forth streames of dulcet honny and whose penne distilled sugred drops of delicious sweetnesse and whose workes and fruits so compleat adorned with golden sentences assuageth the malice of time and mittigateth and allaieth her spight of forgetfulnesse whose perpetuitie is engrauen in the brasse-leaued bookes of neuer-dying memorie And thus much concerning the Statues Images Pictures and Descriptions made of Mercurie held among the Ancients to be the god of craft and eloquence Minerua IT is manifest that the knowledge of neuer so many things without either a grace or a certaine kind of pleasing deliuerie of the same is not absolutely exquisite in praise yet merritting due commends though not in the excellencie or height thereof so likewise to speake much and to enter into the handling or discourse of many matters for one that knoweth little is but sleightly trauelled in the truly-conceaued paths of literature not only discouers an ineducated rudenesse and lame ignorance of letters but oftentimes induceth vnto himselfe danger and may offend very highly as Marcus Tullius at large and learnedly hath written As therefore among the Ancients Mercurie was taken and held in respect of his mellisluous and honny-dewed tongue of deliuerie for the god of eloquence so likewise was Minerua reuerenced and adored amongst them for the Queen and Goddesse of Wisedome Learning and Knowledge And to let vs vnderstand that it is requisite as before is something touched to know very well what we vndertake to speake and discourse of and to apprehend a right conceauement what wee suppose wee know indeed to argue with short and pithie disputes thereby to pull on attention and auoid the miserie of being thought to be tedious to contend mildly and lastly to write methodically and with a good grace being indeed a speciall introducement of a reading spirit the Ancients haue thought fit to conioine the Statues of this god goddesse together as betweene whom rested a kind of Sympathie and concordance of dispositions and they called it by a Greeke name Hermathena for that the Grecians entearmed Mercurie Hermes and Minerua they called Athena And they vsed to erect this Picture or Image alwaies in schooles intending thereby to put schollers in mind that they ought to embrace knowledge with eloquence making thereof a composed medling and entermixing as that by the one the other receaued farre greater vertue grace and perfection by the combination of both their powers together And it was held among the Auncients that Wisdome and Knowledge was not only necessarie and to be acquired solely in Citties and in priuate domesticall gouernements but also to be entertained imbraced abroad in the warres among Generals Captaines and all sorts of commanders therefore they attribute vnto Minerua the care charge of the wars and depicture her in her Statue all armed like a valiant commandresse as it is recorded that shee shewed her selfe very gallant valerous and forward in the warres held betweene the gods the Gyants wherin as
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