Skia nyktos. = The shaddovv of night containing two poeticall hymnes, deuised by G.C. Gent.

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . THE SHADOW OF NIGHT : CONTAINING TWO POETICALL HYMNES , Deuised by G. C. Gent.

Versus mei habebunt aliquantum Noctis . Antilo .

AT LONDON , Printed by R. F. for William Ponsonby . 1594.

TO MY DEARE AND MOST WORTHY FRIEND MASTER MATHEW ROYDON .

IT is an exceeding rapture of delight in the deepe search of knowledge , ( none knoweth better then thy selfe sweet Mathew ) that maketh men manfully indure th' extremes incident to that Herculean labour : from flints must the Gorgonean fount be smitten . Men must be shod by Mercurie , girt with Saturnes Adamant●e sword , take the shield from Pallas , the helme from Pluto , and haue the eyes of Gr●a ( as Hesiodus armes Perseus against Medusa ) before they can cut of the viperous head of benumming ignorance , or subdue their monstrous affections to most beautifull iudgement .

How then may a man stay his maruailing to see passion-driuen men , reading but to curtoll a tedious houre , and altogether hidebownd with affection to great mens fancies , take vpon them as killing censures as if they were iudgements Butchers , or as if the life of truth lay tottering in their verdits .

Now what a supererogation in wit this is , to thinke skil so mightilie pierst with their loues , that she should prosti●utely shew them her secrets , when she will scarcely be lookt vpon by others but with inuocation , fasting , watching ; yea not without hauing drops of their soules like an heauenly familiar . Why then should our Intonsi Catones with their profit-rauisht grauitie esteeme her true fauours such questionlesse vanities , as with what part soeuer thereof they seeme to be something delighted , they queimishlie commende it for a pretie toy . Good Lord how serious and eternall are their Idolatrous platts for riches ! no maruaile sure they here do so much good with them . And heauen no doubt will grouill on the earth ( as they do ) to imbrace them . But I st●y this spleene when I remember my good A●a● . how ioyfully oftentimes you reported vnto me , that most ingenious Darbie , deepe searching Northumberland , and skill imbracing heire of Hunsdon had most profitably entertained learning in themselues , to the vitall warmth of freezing science , & to the admirable luster of their true Nobilitie , whose high deseruing vertues may cause me hereafter strike that fire out of darknesse , which the brightest Day shall enuie for beautie . I should write more , but my hasting out of towne taketh me from the paper , so preferring thy allowance in this poore and strange trifle , to the pasport of a whole Cittie of others . I rest as resolute as Seneca , satisfying my selfe if but a few , if one , or if none like it .

By the true admirour of thy vertues and perfectly vowed friend . G. CHAPMAN .

Hymnus in Noctem . GReat Goddesse to w●ose throne in 1 1

HE cals these Cynthi● fiers of Cynthius or the Sunne . In whose beames the fumes and vapors of the earth ar● exhald . The earth being as an a●lter , and those fumes as s●crificing smokes , becau●e they seeme pleasing to her in resembling her . That the earth is cald an aulter , Aratus in Astronimicis testifies in these verses : 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 &c. Nox antiqua suo curru conuoluitur Ar●● Hanc circum , qua● signa dedit certissima ●a●tis Commiserata vir●m metue●dos vndique cas●s . In which verses the substance of the first foure verses is exprest .

Cynthian fires , This earthlie Alter endlesse fumes exspires , Therefore , in fumes of sighes and fires of griefe , To fearefull chances thou sendst bold reliefe , Happie , thrise happie Type , and 2 2

Night is cald the nurse or mother of death by Hesiodus in Theogonia , in these verses repeating her other issue : Nox peperit fatumque malum , Parcamque nigrantem Et mortem & somnum , diuersaque so●nia : natos Hos peperit , nulli dea nox coniuncta marito .

nurse of death , Who breathlesse , seedes on nothing but our breath , In whom must vertue and her issue liue , Or dye for euer , now let humor giue Seas to mine eyes , that I may quicklie weepe The shipwracke of the world : or let soft sleepe ( Binding my sences ) lose my working soule , That in her highest pitch , she may controule The court of skill , compact of misterie , Wanting but franchisement 3 3 Plat● saith dicere is nothing else but reminisci . and memorie To reach all secrets : then in blisfull trance , Raise her ( deare Night to that perseuerance , That in my torture , she all earths may sing , And force to tremble in her trumpeting Heauens christall 4 4 The heauenly abodes are often called , celestiall temples by Homer & alijs . temples : in her powrs implant Skill of my griefs , and she can nothing want . Then like fierce bolts , well rammd with heate & cold In Ioues Artillerie , my words vnfold , To breake the labyrinth of euerie eare , And make ech frighted soule come forth and heare , Let them breake harts , as well as yeelding ayre , That all mens bosoms ( pierst with no affaires , But gaine of riches ) may be lanced wide , And with the thr●ates of vertue terrified . Sorrowes deare soueraigne , and the queene of rest , That when vnlightsome , vast , and indigest The formelesse matter of this world did lye , Fildst euery place with thy Diuinitie , Why did thy absolute and endlesse sway , Licence heauens torch , the scepter of the Day , Distinguisht intercession to thy throne , That long before , all matchlesse rusde alone ? Why letst thou order , orderlesse disperse , The fighting parents of this vniuerse ? When earth , the ayre , and sea , in fire remaind , When fire , the sea , and earth , the ayre containd , When ayre , the earth , and fire , the sea enclosde , When sea , fire , ayre , in earth were indisposde , Nothing , as now , remainde so out of kinde , All things in grosse , were finer then refinde , Substance was sound within , and had no being , Now forme giues being ; all our essence seeming , Chaos had sou●e without a bodie then , Now bodies liue without the soules of men , Lumps being digested ; monsters , in our pride . And as a wealthie fount , that hils did hide , Let forth by labor of industrious hands , Powres out her treasure through the fruitef●ll strands , Seemely diuided to a hunderd streames , Whose bewties shed such profitable beames , And make such Orphean Musicke in their courses , That Citties follow their enchanting forces , Who running farre , at length ech powres her hart Into the bosome of the gulfie desart , As much confounded there , and indigest , As in the chaos of the hills comprest : So all things now ( extract out of the prime ) Are turnd to chaos , and confound the time . A stepdame Night of minde about vs cli●gs , Who broodes beneath her hell obscuring wings , Worlds of confusion , where the soule defamde , The bodie had bene better neuer framde , Beneath thy soft , and peace-full couert then , ( Most sacred mother both of Gods and men ) Treasures vnknowne , and more vnprisde did dwell ; But in the blind borne shadow of this hell , This horrid stepdame , blindnesse of the minde , Nought worth the sight , no sight , but worse then blind , A Gorgon that with brasse , and snakie brows , ( Most harlot-like ) her naked secrets shows : For in th' expansure , and distinct attire , Of light , and darcknesse , of the sea , and fire , Of ayre , and earth , and all , all these create , First set and rulde , in most harmonious state , Disiunction showes , in all things now amisse , By that first order , what conf●sion is : Religious curb , that manadgd men in bounds , Of publique wellfare ; lothing priu●te grounds , ( Now cast away , by selfe lou's para●ores ) All are transformd to Calydonian bores , That kill our bleeding vines , displow our fields , Rend groues in peeces ▪ all things nature yeelds Supplan●ing : tumbling vp in hills of dearth , The fruitefull disposition of the earth , Ruine creates men : all to slaughter bent , Like enuie , fed with others famishment . And what makes men without the parts of men , Or in their manhoods , lesse then childeren , But manlesse natures ? all this world was namde A world of him , for whom it first was framde , ( Who ( like ● tender Cheurill , ) shruncke with fire ) Of base ambition , and of selfe-desire , His armes into his sho●lders crept for feare Bountie should vse them ; and fierce rape forbeare , His legges into his greedie belly runne , The charge of hospitalitie to shunne ) In him the world is to a lump reuerst , That shruncke from forme , that was by forme disperst , And in nought more then thanklesse auarice , Not rendring vertue her deserued price : Kinde Amalth●a was transferd by Ioue , Into his sparckling pauement , for her loue , Though but a Goate , and giuing him her milke , Basenesse is flintie ; gentrie soft as silke , In heauens she liues , and rules a liuing signe In humane bodies : yet not so diuine , That she can worke her kindnesse in our harts . The sencelesse Argiue ship , for her deserts , Bearing to Colchos , and for bringing backe , The hardie Argonauts , secure of wracke , The fautor and the God of gratitude , Would not from number of the starres exclude . A thousand such examples could I cite , To damne stone-pesants , that like Typhons fight Against their Maker , and contend to be Of kings , the abiect slaues of d●●dgerie . Proud of that thraldome : loue the kindest lest , And hate , not to be hated of the best . If then we frame mans figure by his mind , And that at first , his fashion was assignd , ●rection in suc● God-like excellence F●r his soules sake , and her intelligence : She so degenerate , and growne deprest , Content to share affections with a beast , The shape wherewith he should be now ●nd●de , Must beare no signe of mans similitude , Therefore * * ●e cals them Promethe●n Poets in this high conceipt , by a figurat●ue compari●on betwixt them , that as 〈◊〉 . with fire ●etcht from heauen , made men : so Poets with the fire of their soules are sayd to create those Harp●es , and Cen●aures , and thereof he calls their soules Geniale . Promethean Poets with the coles Of their most geniale , more-then-humane soules In liuing verse , created men like these , With shapes of Centaurs , Harpie , Lapithes , That they in prime of erudition , When almost sauage vulgar men were growne , Seeing them selues in those Pierean founts , Might mend their mindes , asham'd of such accounts . So when ye heare , the * * Call●ope is cald the sweetest Muses , her name being by signification , Cautus suauitas , vel mod●l●●io . sweetest Muses sonne , With heauenly rapture of his Musicke , wonne Rockes , ●orrests , floods , and winds to leaue their cou●● In his attendance : it bewrayes the force His wisedome had , to draw men growne so rude To ciuill loue of Art , and Fortitude , And not for teaching others 5 5 Insolence is here taken for rarenesse or vnwontednesse . insolence , Had he his date-exceeding excellence With soueraigne Poets , but for vse applyed , And in his proper actes exemplified . And that in calming the infernall kinde , To wit , the perturbations of his minde , And bringing his Eurydice from hell , ( Which Iustice signifies ) is proued well . But if in rights obseruance any man Looke backe , with boldnesse lesse then Orphean , Soone falls he to the hell from whence he rose : The fiction then would temprature dispose , In all the tender motiues of the minde , To make man worthie his hel-danting kinde . The golden chaine of Homers high deuice Ambition is , or cursed a●arice , Which all Gods haling being tyed to Ioue , Him from his setled height could neuer moue : Intending this , that though that powrefull chaine Of most Herculean vigor to constraine Men from true vertue , or their pristine states Attempt a man that manlesse changes hates , And is enobled with a deathlesse loue Of things eternall , dignified aboue : Nothing shall stirre him from adorning still This shape with vertue , and his powre with will . But as rude painters that contend to show Be●sts , foules or fish , all artlesse to bestow O●●●ery side his natiue counterfet , Aboue his head , his name had neede to set : So men that will be men , in more then face , ( As in their foreheads ) should in actions place More perfect characters , to proue they be No mockers of their first nobilitie : Else may they easly passe for beasts or foules : Soules praise our shapes , and not our shapes our soules . And as when Chloris paints th' ennamild meads , A flocke of shepherds to the bagpipe treads Rude rurall dances with their countrey loues : Some a farre off obseruing their remoues , Turnes , and returnes , quicke footing , sodaine stands , Reelings aside , od actions with their hands ; Now backe , now forwards , now lockt arme in arme , Not hearing musicke , thinke it is a charme , That like loose froes at Bacchanalean feasts , Makes them seeme franticke in their barraine iestes . And being clusterd in a shapelesse croude , With much lesse admiration are allowd . So our first excellence , so much abusd , And we ( without the harmonie was vsd , When Saturnes golden scepter stroke the strings Of Ciuill gouernement ) make all our doings Sauour of rudenesse , and obscuritie , And in our formes shew more deformitie , Then if we still were wrapt , and smoothered In that confusion , out of which we fled . And as when hosts of starres attend thy flight , ( Day of deepe students , most co●tentfull night ) The morning ( mounted on the Muses 6 6

Lycophron in Alexandra , affirmes the morning vseth to ride vpon Pegasus in his verses : Aurora montem Phagium aduoluerat V●locis altum nuper alis Pegasi .

stead ) Vshers the sonne from 7 7 Vulcan is said by Natalis Comes in his Mythologie , to haue made a golden bed for the Sunne , wherein he swum sleeping till the morning . Vulcans golden bed , And then from forth their sundrie roofes of rest , All sorts of men , to sorted taskes addrest , Spreade this inferiour element : and yeeld Labour his due : the souldier to the field , States-men to counsell , Iudges to their pleas , Merchants to commerce , mariners to seas : All beasts , and birds , the groues and forrests range , To fill all corners of this round Exchange , Till thou ( deare Night , ô goddesse of most worth ) Letst thy sweet seas of golden humor forth And Eagle like dost with thy starrie wings , 8 8 Quae lucem pellis sub terras : Orpheus . Beate in the foules , and beasts to Somnus lodgings , And haughtie Day to the infernall deepe , Proclaiming scilence studie , ease , and sleepe . All things befor● thy f●rces put in rout , Retiring where the morning fir'd them out . So to the chaos of our first descent , ( All dayes of honor , and of vertue spe●t ) We basely make retrait , and are no lesse Then huge impolisht heapes of filthinesse . Mens faces glitter , and their hearts are blacke , But thou ( great Mistresse of heauens gloomie racke ) Art blacke in face , and glitterst in thy heart . There is thy glorie , riches , force , and Art ; Opposed earth , beates blacke and blewe thy face , And often doth thy heart it selfe deface , For spite that to thy vertue-famed traine , All the choise worthies that did euer raigne In eldest age , were still preferd by Ioue , Esteeming that due honor to his loue . There shine they : not to sea-men guides alone , But sacred presidents to euerie one . There fixt for euer , where the Day is driuen , Almost foure hundred times a yeare from heauen . In hell then let her sit , and neuer rise , Till Morns leaue blushing at her cruelties . Meane while , accept , as followers of thy traine , ( Our better parts aspiring to thy raigne ) Vertues obscur'd , and banished the day , With all the glories of this spongie sway , ●risond in flesh , and that poore flesh in bands Of stone , and steele , chiefe flowrs of vertues Garlands . O then most tender fortresse of our woes , That bleeding lye in vertues ouerthroes , Hating the whoredome of this painted light : Raise thy chast daughters , ministers of right , The dreadfull and the iust Eumenides , And let them wreake the wrongs of our disease , Drowning the world in bloud , and staine the skies With their spilt soules , made drunke with tyrannies . Fall Hercules from heauen in tempestes hurld , And cleanse this beastly stable of the world : 9 9 Here he alludes to the fiction of Hercules , that in his labor at Tartessus fetching away the oxen , being ( more than he liked ) heat with the beames of the Sunne , he bent his bow against him , &c. Vt ait Pherecides in 3. lib. Historiarum . Or bend thy brasen bow against the Sunne , As in Tartessus , when thou hadst begunne Thy taske of oxen : heat in more extreames Then thou wouldst suffer , with his enuious beames . Now make him leaue the world to Night and dreames . Neuer were vertues labours so enuy'd As in this light : shoote , shoote , and stoope his pride : Suffer no more his lustfull rayes to get The Earth with issue : let him still be set In Somnus thickets : bound about the browes , With pitchie vapours , and with Ebone bowes . 10 10 This P●riphrasis of the Night he vseth , because in her the blest , ( by whom he intends the vertuous ) liuing obscurelie are relieued and quieted , according to those verses before of Aratus , Commiserata virum metuendos vndique casus . Rich-tapird sanctuarie of the blest , Pallace of Ruth , made all of teares , and rest , To thy blacke shades and desolation , I consecrate my life ; and liuing mone , Where furies shall for euer fighting be , And adders hisse the world for hating me , Foxes shall barke , and Night-rauens belch in grones , And owles shall hollow my confusions : There will I furnish vp my funerall bed , Strewd with the bones and relickes of the dead . Atlas shall let th' Olimpick burthen fall , To couer my vntombed face withall . And when as well , the matter of our kind , As the materiall sul stance of the mind , Shall cease their reuolutions , in abode Of such impure and vgly period , As the old essence , and insensiue prime : Then shall the ruines of the fourefold time , Turnd to that lumpe ( as rapting Torrents ri●e ) For euer murmure forth my miseries . Ye liuing spirits then , if any li●e , Whom like extreames , do like affections giue , Shun , shun this cruell light , and end your thrall , In these soft shades of sable funerall : From whence with ghosts , whom vengeance holds from rest , Dog-fiends and monsters hanting the distrest , As men whose parents tyrannie hath slaine , Whose sisters rape , and bondage do sustaine . Bu● you that nere had birth , nor euer prou'd , How deare a blessing t is to be belou'd , Whose friends idolatrous desire of gold , To scorne , and ruine haue your freedome sold : Whose vertues feele all this , and shew your eyes , Men made of Tartar , and of villanies . Aspire th' extraction , and the quintessence Of all the ioyes in earths circumference : With ghosts , fiends , monsters : as men robd and rackt , Murtherd in life : from shades with shadowes blackt : Thunder your wrongs , your miseries and hells , And with the dismall accents of your knells , Reuiue the dead , and make the liuing dye In ruth , and terror of your torturie : Still all the powre of Art into your grones , Scorning your triuiall and remissiue mones , Compact of fiction , and hyperboles , ( Like wanton mourners , cl●yd with too much ease ) Should leaue the glasses of the hearers eyes Vnbroken , cou●ting all but vanities . But paint , or else create in serious tr●th , A bodie figur'd to your vertues ruth , That to the sence may shew what damned sinne , For your extreames this Chaos tumbles in . But wo is wretched me , without a name : Vertue feeds scor●e , and noblest honor , shame : Pride bathes in teares of poore submission , And makes his soule , the purple he puts on . Kneele then with me , fall worme-like on the ground , And from th' infectious d●nghill of this Round , From mens brasse wits , and golden foolerie , Weepe , weepe your soules , into felicitie : Come to this house of mourning , serue the night , To whom pale day ( with whoredome soked quite ) Is but a drudge , selling her beauties vse To rapes , adultries , and to all abuse . Her labors feast imperiall Night with sports , Where Loues are Christmast , with all pleasures sorts : And whom her fugitiue , and far-shot rayes Disi●yne , and driue into ten thousand wayes , Nights glorious mantle wraps in safe abodes , And frees their neckes from seruile labors lodes : Her trustie shadowes , succour men dismayd , Whom Dayes deceiptfull malice hath betrayd : From the silke vapors of her Iueryport , Sweet Protean dreames she sends of euery sort : Some taking formes of Princes , to perswade Of men deiect , we are their equals made , Som● clad in habit o● deceased fri●nds , For whom we mournd , and now haue wisht a●●nds , And some ( deare fauour ) Lady-like attyrd , With pride of Bea●ties full Meridian fir●d : Who pitie our contempts , reuiue our harts : For wisest Ladies loue the inward parts . If these be dreames , euen so are all things else , That walke this round by heauenly sentinels : But from Nights port of horne she greets our eyes With grauer dreames inspir'd with prophesies , Which o●t presage to vs succeeding chances , We proouing that awake , they shew in trances . If these seeme likewise vaine , or nothing are V●ine things , or nothing come to vertues share : For nothing more then dreames , with vs sh●e findes : Then since all pleasures vanish like the windes , And that most serious actions not resp●cting The second night , are worth but the neglecting , Since day , or light , in anie qualitie , For earthly vses do but serue the eye . And since the eyes most quicke and dangerous vse , Enflames the heart , and learnes the soule abuse , Since mournings are preferd to banquettings , And they reach heauen , bred vnder sorrowes wings . Since Night brings terror to our frailties still , And shamelesse Day , doth marble vs in ill . All you possest with indepressed spirits , Indu'd with nimble , and aspiring wits , Come consecrate with me , to sacred Night Your whole endeuours , and detest the light . Sweete Peaces richest crowne is made of starres , Most certaine g●ides of ho●●rd Mari●ars , No pen can any thing eternall wright , That is not ●●eept i● h●m●r of the Night . Hence beasts , and birds ●o caues and b●shes then , And welcome Night , ye noblest heires of men , Hence Phebus to thy glassie str●●pets bed , And neuer more let The●●● d●●ghters spred , 11 11

Themis daughters are the three houres , viz. Dice , Ire●e , and E●●omia , begotten by Iupiter . They are said to make ready the horse & chariot of the Sun euery morning . vt Orph. Et louis & Themidis Horae de se●ine 〈◊〉 , &c.

Thy golden harnesse 〈◊〉 thy rosie horse , But in close thickets 〈◊〉 thy oblique c●●rse . See now asce●ds , the glorio●●●ride of Brides , N●ptials , and triumphs , glittring by her sides , Iuno and Hymen do her traine adorne , Ten thousand torches ro●●d about them bor●e : Dumbe Sile●ce 〈◊〉 on the Cyprian starre , With becks , reb●kes the winds before his carre , Where she 〈◊〉 ; beates downe with clo●die ●ace , The feeble light to blacke Saturnius pallace : Behind her , with a brase 12 12

Cynthia or the Moone , is said to be drawne by two white hindes , vt ait Cali●ach●● : A●rea nam d●mitrix Tityi sunt arma Diana Cuncta tibi & zona , & fuga qua● cer●icibus a●rea Cer●arum imponis currum c●● d●cis ad a●re●● .

of siluer Hynds , In Iuorie chariot , swifter then the winds , In great 13 13

Hesiodus in Theogonia cals her the daughter of Hyperion , and Thya , in his versibus . Thia parit Sole● 〈…〉 Auroram quaefert luce● mortalibus 〈◊〉 C●elicolisque Deis cunctis , Hyperionis al●● Semine concepit , namque illos Thia d●cora

So is she said to weare partie-coloured garments : the rest intimates her Magick authoritie .

Hyperions horned daughter drawne Enchantresse-like , deckt in disparent lawne , Circkled with charmes , and incantations , That ride h●ge spirits , and outragious passions : Musicke , and moode , she lo●es , but lo●e she hates , ( As curious Ladies do , their publique cates ) This traine , with ●eteors , comets , lightenings , The dreadfull presence of our Empresse sings : Which grant for euer ( ● eternall Night ) Till vertue flourish in the light of light . Explicit Hymnus .

Gloss

1 HE cals these Cynthi● fiers of Cynthius or the Sunne . In whose beames the fumes and vapors of the earth ar● exhald . The earth being as an a●lter , and those fumes as s●crificing smokes , becau●e they seeme pleasing to her in resembling her . That the earth is cald an aulter , Aratus in Astronimicis testifies in these verses : 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 &c. Nox antiqua suo curru conuoluitur Ar●● Hanc circum , qua● signa dedit certissima ●a●tis Commiserata vir●m metue●dos vndique cas●s . In which verses the substance of the first foure verses is exprest .

2 Night is cald the nurse or mother of death by Hesiodus in Theogonia , in these verses repeating her other issue : Nox peperit fatumque malum , Parcamque nigrantem Et mortem & somnum , diuersaque so●nia : natos Hos peperit , nulli dea nox coniuncta marito .

3 Plat● saith dicere is nothing else but reminisci .

4 The heauenly abodes are often called , celestiall temples by Homer & alijs .

5 Insolence is here taken for rarenesse or vnwontednesse .

6 Lycophron in Alexandra , affirmes the morning vseth to ride vpon Pegasus in his verses : Aurora montem Phagium aduoluerat V●locis altum nuper alis Pegasi .

7 Vulcan is said by Natalis Comes in his Mythologie , to haue made a golden bed for the Sunne , wherein he swum sleeping till the morning .

8 Quae lucem pellis sub terras : Orpheus .

9 Here he alludes to the fiction of Hercules , that in his labor at Tartessus fetching away the oxen , being ( more than he liked ) heat with the beames of the Sunne , he bent his bow against him , &c. Vt ait Pherecides in 3. lib. Historiarum .

10 This P●riphrasis of the Night he vseth , because in her the blest , ( by whom he intends the vertuous ) liuing obscurelie are relieued and quieted , according to those verses before of Aratus , Commiserata virum metuendos vndique casus .

11 Themis daughters are the three houres , viz. Dice , Ire●e , and E●●omia , begotten by Iupiter . They are said to make ready the horse & chariot of the Sun euery morning . vt Orph. Et louis & Themidis Horae de se●ine 〈◊〉 , &c.

12 Cynthia or the Moone , is said to be drawne by two white hindes , vt ait Cali●ach●● : A●rea nam d●mitrix Tityi sunt arma Diana Cuncta tibi & zona , & fuga qua● cer●icibus a●rea Cer●arum imponis currum c●● d●cis ad a●re●● .

13 Hesiodus in Theogonia cals her the daughter of Hyperion , and Thya , in his versibus . Thia parit Sole● 〈…〉 Auroram quaefert luce● mortalibus 〈◊〉 C●elicolisque Deis cunctis , Hyperionis al●● Semine concepit , namque illos Thia d●cora

So is she said to weare partie-coloured garments : the rest intimates her Magick authoritie .

FINIS .

For the rest of his owne inuention , figures and ●●●iles , touching their aptnesse and noueltie he hath not laboured to iustifie them , because he hopes they will be proud enough to iustifie themselues , and proue sufficiently authenticall to such as vnderstand them ; for the rest , God helpe them , I can not ( do as others ) , make day seeme a lighter woman than she is , by painting her .

Hymnus in Cynthiam . 1 1

HE giues her that Periphrasis , viz. Natures bright eye sight , because that by her store of humors , issue is giuen to all birth : and thereof is she called Lucina , and Ilythyia , quia praeest parturientibus cum inuocaretur , and giues them helpe : which Orpheus in a Hymne of her prayse expresseth , and cals her besides Prothyrea , vt sequitur . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 &c. Audi m● veneranda Dea , cui nomina multa : Prag●antum adi●●rix , patientum dulce 〈◊〉 Sola puellarum sernatrix ▪ solaque prudens : Auxilium velox te●●ris Prothyrea puelli●● . And a little after , he shewes her plainlie to be Diana , Ilythyia , and Prothyrea , in these verses : Solam anim● requiem te clamant par●● ru●tes . Sola potes dir●● partus placare labores Diana , Ilythyia grauis , sumus & Prothyrea .

NAtures bright eye-sight , and the Nights faire soule , 2 2 He cals her the soule of the Night , since she is the purest part of her according to common conceipt . 3 3

Orpheus in these verses , in Argonauticis saith she is three headed , as she is Heccate , Luna , and Diana , vt sequitur . Cumque illis Hecate , properans horre●da cucurrit , Cui trinum caput est , ge●●is quam Tartarus olim .

The rest aboue will not be denied .

That with thy triple forehead dost controule Earth , seas , and hell : and art in dignitie The greatest , and swiftest Planet in the skie : Peacefull , and warlike , and the 4 4

That she is cald the powre of fate , read Hesiodus in Theogonia when he giues her more then this commendation ▪ in these verses : Iupiter ingentes illi largitur honores , Muneraque imperium terr●que marisque profundi : Cunctoru●que simul , quae coelum amplectitur altum , Admittitque preces facilis Dea , pro●pta , benigna : Diuitias pr●bet , quid ei concessa potest●● , Imperat haec cunctis , qui sunt è ●emi●e nati : Et terrae & Coeli , cunctorum fata gube●●●t .

powre of fate , In perfect circle of whose sacred state , The circles of our hopes are compassed : All wisedome , beautie , maiestie and dread , Wrought in the speaking pourtrait of thy face . Great Cynthia , rise out of thy 5 5

In Latmos she is supposed to sleepe with Endymion , vt Catullus . Vt tr●●iam furtim sub L●●mia saxa ●elegans , Dulcis amor Gyro de●oce● A●ri● .

Latmian pallace , 6 6

Homer with a maruailous Poeticall sweetnesse , saith she washes her before she apparells her selfe in th' Atlantick sea . And then shewes her apparell , as in th●se verses . In Ocean● Lauacri . Rursus Atlant●is , in lymphis membra lauata , Vestibus indut●● , & ●●●idis Dea Luna micantes : Curru iunxit equos celeres , quibus ardua colla .

Wash thy bright bodie , in th' Atlanticke streames , Put on those robes that are most rich in beames : And in thy All-ill-purging puritie , ( As if the shadie 7 7 Cytheron , as Menander saith was a most faire boy , and beloued of Tisiphone , who since she could not obtaine his loue , she teares from her head a Serpent , & threw it at him , which stinging him to death , the Gods in pittie turned him to a hill of that name , first cald A●t●rius , full of woods wherein all Poets haue affirmed wild beasts liue , and vse it often to expresse their haunts , or store of woods , whereupon he inuokes Cynthia , to rise in such brightnesse , as if it were all on fire . Cytheron did frie In sightfull furie of a solemne fire ) Ascend thy chariot , and make earth admire Thy old swist changes , made a yong fixt prime , O let thy beautie scorch the wings of time , That fluttering he may fall before thine eyes , And beate him selfe to death before he rise : And as heauens 8 8 This is expounded as followeth by Gyraldus Lil●●s . The application most 〈◊〉 made by this author . Geniall parts were cut away By Saturnes hands , with adamantine 9 9 Harpe should be written thus , not with a y , yet here he vseth it , lest some , not knowing what it meanes , read it for a Harp , hauing found this grossenesse in some schollers . It was the sword Perseus vsed to cut of Medusas head . Harpey , Onely to shew , that since it was composd Of vniuersall matter : it enclosd No powre to procreate another heauen . So since that adama●tine powre is gi●en To thy chast hands , to cut of all desire Of fleshly sports , and quench to ●upids fire : Let it approue : no change shall take thee hence , Nor thy throne beare another inference : For if the eu●ious forehead of the earth Lowre on thy age , and claime thee as her birth . Tapers , nor torches , nor the forrests b●rning , Soule-winging musicke , nor teare-stilling mourning , ( Vsd of old Romanes and rude Maced●ns In thy most sad , and blacke discessions ) We know can nothing further thy recall , When Nights darke r●bes ( whose obiects blind vs all ) Shall celebrate thy changes f●nerall . But as in that thrise dreadfull fo●ghten ●field Of ruthless● Cannas , whe● sweet Rule did yeeld , Her beauties strongest proofs , and h●gest loue : When men as many as the lamps aboue , Armd Earth in steele , and made her like the skies , That two Auroraes did in one day rise . Then with the terror of the tr●●pets call , The battels ioynd as if the world did fall : Continewd long in life-disdaining fight , Ioues thundring Eagles featherd like the night , Ho●'ring aboue them with i●different wings , Till Bloods sterne daughter , cruell 10 10

Fortune is cald Tyc●● , 〈◊〉 witnesseth Pausanias in Messeniacis , who affirmes her to b● one of the daughters likewise of Ocea●●● , which was playing with Pr●serpine , when Dis rauisht her . Vna omnes vario per prata co●●ntia ●●ore , Candida L●ucipp● , Ph●●●que , El●ctraque●ant ●e .

Melobosisque Tych● , Ocyrh●e pr●●gnis oc●llis . And Orpheus in a Hymne to Fortuna , saith she is the daughter of bloud , vt in his , sanguine prognat●● , Vi & inexpugnabile numen .

Tyc●e ●●ings The chiefe of one side , to the blushing gro●●d , And then his men ( whom griefs , and feares c●nfo●nd ) Turnd all their cheerfull hopes to grimme despaire , Some casting of their soules into the aire , Some taken prisners , some extreamely mai●d , And all ( as men accurst ) on fate exclaimd . So ( gracious Cy●thia ) in that sable day , When interposed earth takes thee away , ( Our sacred chiefe and soueraigne generall , As chrimsine a retrait , and sleepe a fall We feare to suffer from this peace , and height , Whose thancklesse sweet now cloies vs with receipt . 11 11 Plutarch writes thus of the Romanes , and Macedons , in Paulus Ae●ilius . The Romanes set sweet M●sicke to her charmes , To raise thy stoopings , with her ●yrie armes : Vsde loud resoundings with ●●spicious brasse : Held torches vp to heauen , and flaming glasse , Made a whole forrest but a burning eye , T● admire thy mournefull partings with the skye . The Macedonians were so stricken dead , With skillesse horrour of thy changes dread : They wanted harts , to lift vp sounds , or fires , Or eyes to heauen ; but vsd their funerall tyres , Trembld , and wept ; assur'd some mischiefs furie Would follow that afflicting Augurie . Nor shall our wisedomes be more arrogant ( O sacred Cynthia ) but beleeue thy want Hath cause to make vs now as much affraid : Nor shall Democrates who first is said , To reade in natures browes , thy cha●nges cause , Perswade our sorrowes to a vaine applause . Times motion , being like the reeling sun●es , Or as the sea reciprocallie ru●nes , Hath brought vs now to their opinions ; As in our garments , ancient fashions Are newlie worne ; and as sweet poesie Will not be clad in her supremacie With those straunge garments ( Romes Hexa●●ters ) As she is English : but in right prefers Our nati●e robes , ( put on with skilfull hands English heroicks ) to those antick garlands , Accounting it no meede but mockerie , When her steepe browes alreadie prop the skie , To put on startups , and yet let it fall . No otherwise ( O Queene celestiall ) Can we beleeue Ephesias state wil be But spoile with forreine grace , and change with thee 12 12 These ar● commonly knowne to be the properties of Cynthia . The purenesse of thy neuer-tainted life , Scorning the s●biect title of a ●ife , Thy bodie not composed in thy birth , Of such condensed matter as the earth , Thy sh●nning faithlesse mens societie , Betaking thee to hounds , and Archerie To deserts , and inaccessible hills , Abhorring pleasure in earths common ills , Commit most willing rapes on all o●r harts : And make vs tremble , lest thy so●eraigne parts ( The whole preseruers of our happinesse ) Should yeeld to change , Eclips , or hea●inesse . And as thy changes happen by the site , Neare , or farre distance , of thy * * 〈…〉 Phe●isses , cals her the daughter not sister of the Sunne , O 〈…〉 &c. fathers light , Who ( set in absolute remotion ) re●ues Thy face of light , and thee all darkned leaues : So for thy absence , to the shade of death Our soules fly mourning , winged with our breath . Then set thy Christall , and Imperiall throne , ( Girt in thy chast , and neuer-loosing 13 13

This Zone is said to be the girdle of Cynthia . And thereof when maids lost their maidenheads , amongst the Athenians , they vsed to p●t of their girdles . And ●●ter , custom● made it a phrase 〈…〉 , to lose their maidenheades , vt Apol● . lib. 1. 〈…〉

zone ) Gainst Europs Sunne directly opposit , And giue him darknesse , that doth threat thy light . O how accurst are they thy fauour scorne ? 14 14 These are the verses of 〈◊〉 translated to effect . O miseri , quib●● ipsa 〈…〉 &c. Diseases pine their flockes , tares spoile their corn● : Old men are blind of iss●e , and young wi●es Bring forth abortiue frute , that ne●er thriues . B●t then how blest are they thy fa●o●r grace● , Peace in their hearts , and youth raignes in their faces : Health strengths their bodies , to subdue the seas , And dare the Sunne , like Thebane Hercules To calme the furies , and to q●ench the fire : As at thy altars , in thy Persicke Empire , 15 15 This Strabo testifieth 〈…〉 Thy holy women walkt with naked soles Harmelesse , and confiden● , on burning coles : The vertue-temperd mind , euer preserues , Oyles , and exp●lsatorie Balme that serues To quench lusts fire , in all things it annoints , And steeles our feet to march on needles points : And mongst her armes , hath armour to repell The canon , and the firie darts of hell : She is the great enchantresse that commands Spirits of euery region , seas , and lands , Round heauen it selfe , and all his seuen-fold heights , Are bound to serue the strength of her conceipts : A perfect type of thy Almightie state , That holdst the thread , and rul'st the sword of fate . Then you that exercise the virgine Court Of peacefull Thespya , my muse consort , Making her drunkes with 16 16 Pegasus is cald 〈◊〉 since Po●ts fayne , that when Pers●●● smote of Medusas head , 〈◊〉 ●●ew from the wound : & therefore the Muses 〈◊〉 wh●●h he made with his hoofe , is cald G●rg●●● . Gorgonean Dews , And therewith , all your Extasies infuse , That she may reach the top-lesse starrie brows Of steepe Olympus , crownd with freshest bows Of Daphnean Laurell , and the praises sing Of mightie Cynthia : truely figuring , ( As she is Heccate ) her soueraigne kinde , And in her force , the forces of the mind : An argument to rauish and refine An earthly soule , and make it ●eere diuine . Sing then withall , her Pallace brightnesse bright , The dasle-sunne perfections of her light , Circkling her face with glories , sing the walkes , Where in her heaue●ly Magicke mood she stalkes . Her arbours , thickets , and her wondrous game , ( A huntesse , being neuer matcht in fame ) Presume not then ye flesh confounded soules , That cannot beare the full Castalian bowles , Which seuer mounting spirits from the sences , To looke in this deepe fount for thy pretenses : The iuice more cleare then day , yet shadows night , Where humor challengeth no drop of right : But iudgement shall displaie , to purest eyes With ease , the bowells of these misteries . Se● then this Planet of our lines discended To rich 17 17 Ortigia is the countrie where she was brought vp . Ortigia , gloriouslie attended , Not with hir fiftie Ocean Nimphs : nor yet Hir twentie forresters : but doth beget By powrefull charmes , delight some seruitors Of flowrs , and shadows , mists , and meteors : Her rare Elisian Pallace she did build With studied wishes , which sweet hope did guild With sunnie foyle , that lasted but a day : For night must needs , importune her away . The shapes of euerie wholesome flowre and tree She gaue those types of hir felicitie . And Forme her selfe , she mightelie coniurd Their priselesse values , might not be obscurd , With disposition baser then diuine , But make that blissful court of hers to shine With all accomplishment of Architect , That not the eye of Phebus ●●●ld detect . Forme then , twixt two superior pillers framd This tender building , Pax Imperij nam'd , Which cast a shadow , like a Pyramis Whose basis , in the plaine or back part is Of that queint worke : the top so high extended , That it the region of the Moone transcended : Without , within it , euerie corner fild By bewtious forme , as her great mistresse wild . 18 18 These are the verses of 〈◊〉 before . Here as she sits , the thunder-louing Ioue In honors past all others showes his loue , Proclaiming her in compleat Emperie , Of what soeuer the Olympick skie With tender circumuecture doth embrace The chiefest Planet , that doth heauen enchace : Deare Goddesse , prompt , benigne , and bounteous , That heares all prayers , from the least of vs Large riches giues , since she is largely giuen , And all that spring from seede of earth and heauen She doth commaund : and rules the fates of all , Old Hesiod sings her thus celestiall : And now to take the pleasures of the day , Because her night starre soone will call away , She frames of matter intimate before , ( ●o wit , a bright , and daseling meteor ) A goodlie Nimph , whose bewtie , bewtie staines Heau'ns with her iewells ; giues all the raines Of wished pleasance ; frames her golden wings , But them she bindes vp close with purple strings , Because she now will haue her run alone , And bid the base , to all affection . And Euthimya is her sacred name , Since she the cares and toyles of earth must tame : Then straight the flowrs , the shadowes a●d the mists , ( Fit matter for most pliant humorists ) She hunters makes : and of that substance hounds Whose mouths deafe heauen , & furrow earth with wounds , And maruaile not a Nimphe so rich in grace To hounds rude pursutes should be giuen in chase : For she could turne her selfe to euerie shape Of swiftest beasts , and at her pleasure scape , Wealth faunes on fooles ; vertues are meate for vices , Wisedome conformes her selfe to all earths guises , Good gifts are often giuen to men past good , And Noblesse stoops sometimes beneath his blood . The hounds that she created , vast , and fleete Were grimme Melampus , with th' Ethiops feete , White Leucon , all eating Pamphagus , Sharp-sighted Dorceus , wild Oribasus Storme-breathing Lelaps , and the sauage Theron , Wingd-footed Pterelas , and Hinde-like Ladon , Greedie Harpyia , and the painted Styct● , Fierce Trigis , and the thicket-searcher Agre , The blacke Melaneus , and the bristled Lachne , Leane lustfull Cyprius and big chested Aloe . These and such other now the forrest rang'd , And Euthimya to a Panther changd , Holds them sweet chase ; their mouths they freely spead , As if the earth in sunder they would rend . Which change of Musick likt the Goddesse so , That she before her formost Nimphe would go , And not a huntsman there was eagrer seene In that sports loue , ( yet all were wondrous keene ) Then was their swift , and windie-footed queene . But now this spotted game did thicke● take , Where not a hound could hungred passage make : Such proofe the couret was , all armd in thorne , With which in their attempts , the doggs were torne , And fell to howling in their happinesse : As when a flocke of schoole boys , whom their mistresse ( Held closelie to their bookes ) gets leaue to sport , And then like toyle-freed deare , in headlong sort With shoutes , and shrieks , they hurrey from the schoole . Some strow the woods , some swimme the siluer poole : All as they list to seuerall pastimes fall , To feede their famisht wantonnesse with all . When strait , within the woods some wolfe or beare , The heedlesse lyms of one doth peecemeale teare , Affrighteth other , sends some bleeding backe , And some in greedie whirle pitts suffer wracke . So did the bristled couert check with wounds The licorous hast of these game greedie hounds . In this vast thicket , ( whose descriptions task The penns of furies , and of feends would aske : So more then humane thoughted horrible ) The soules of such as liu'd implausible , In happie Empire of this Goddesse glories , And scornd to crowne hir Phanes with sacrifice Did ceaselesse walke ; exspiring fearefull grones , Curses , and threats for their confusions . Her darts , and arrowes , some of them had slaine , Others hir doggs eate , painting hir disdaine , After she had transformd them into beasts : Others her monsters carried to their nests , Rent them in peeces , and their spirits sent To this blind shade , to waile their banishment . The huntsmen hearing ( since they could not heare ) Their hounds at fault ; in eager chase drew neare , Mounted on Lyons , Vnicorns , and Bores , And saw their hounds lye licking of their sores , Some yerning at the shroud , as if they chid Her stinging toungs , that did their chase forbid : By which they knew the game was that way gone . Then ech man forst the beast he rode vpon , T' assault the thicket ; whose repulsiue thorns So gald the Lyons , Bores and Vnicorns , Dragons , and wolues ; that halfe their courages Were spent in rores , and sounds of heauines : Yet being the Princeliest , and hardiest beasts , That gaue chiefe fame to those Ortygian forests , And all their riders furious of their sport , A fresh assault they gaue , in desperate sort : And with their falchions made their wayes in wounds : The thicket opend , and let in the hounds . But from her bosome cast prodigious cries , Wrapt in her Stigian fumes of miseries : Which yet the breaths of those couragious steads Did still drinke up , and cleerd their ventrous heads : As when the fierie coursers of the sunne , Vp to the pallace of the morning runne , And from their nosthrills blow the spitefull day : So yet those foggie vapors , made them way . But preasing further , saw such cursed sights , Such Aetnas filld with strange tormented sprites , That now the vaprous obiect of the eye Out-pierst the intellect in facultie . Basenesse vas Nobler then Nobilitie : For ruth ( first shaken from the braine of Lo●e , Aud loue the soule of vertue ) now did moue , Not in their soules ( spheres meane enough for such ) But in their eyes : and thence did conscience touch Their harts with pitie : where her proper throne , Is in the minde , and there should first haue shone : Eyes should guide bodies and our soules our eyes , But now the world consistes on contraries : So sence brought terror , where the mindes presight Had sa●t that feare , and done but pittie right , But seruile feare , now forgd a wood of darts Within their eyes , and cast them through their harts : Then turnd they bridle , then halfe slaine with feare , Ech did the other backwardes ouerbeare , As when th' Italian Duke , a troupe of horse Sent out in hast against some English force , From statelie sited sconce-torne Nimigan , Vnder whose walles the 19 19 The Wall is ● most excellent riuer , in the Low countries parting with another riuer , cald the Ma●e , neare a towne in Holland , cald Gurckham , and runnes vp to Guelderland vnder the walls of Nimigen . And these like S●●iles , in my opinion drawne from the honorable deeds of our noble countrimen , clad in comely habit of Poesie , would become a Poeme as well as further-fetcht grounds , if such as be Poets now a dayes would vse them . wall most Cynthian , Stretcheth her siluer limms loded with wealth , Hearing our horse were marching downe by stealth . ( Who looking for them ) warres quicke Artizan Fame-thriuing Vere , that in those Countries wan More fame then guerdon ; ambus●ados laide Of certaine foote , and made full well appaide The hopefull enemie , in sending those The lo●g-expected subiects of their blowes To moue their charge ; which strait they giue amaine , When we retiring to our strength againe , The foe pursewes assured of our liues , And vs within our ambuscado driues , Who straight with thunder of the drums and shot , Tempest their wraths on them that wist it not . Then ( turning headlong ) some escapt vs so , Some left to ransome , some to ouerthrow , In such confusion did this troupe retire , And thought them cursed in that games desire : Out flew the houndes , that there could nothing finde , Of the slye Panther , that did beard the winde , Running into it full , to clog the chase , And tire her followers with too much solace . And but the superficies of the shade , Did onely sprinckle with the sent she made , As when the sunne beames on high billowes fall , And make their shadowes dance vpon a wall , That is the subiect of his faire reflectings : Sim●le ad ●andem explicat . Or else ; as when a man in summer euenings , Something before sunneset , when shadows bee Rackt with his stooping , to the highest degree , His shadow ●lymes the trees , and skales a hill , While he goes on the beaten passage still , So sleightlie toucht the Panther with her sent , This irksome couert , and away she went , Downe to a fruitfull Iland sited by , Full of all wealth , delight , and Emperie , Euer with child of curious Architect , Yet still deliuerd : pa●'d with Dames select , On whom rich feete , in fowlest bootes might treade , And neuer fowle them : for kinde Cupid spread● , Such perfect colours , on their pleasing faces , That their reflects clad fowlest weeds with graces , Bewtie strikes fancie blind ; pyed show deceau's vs , Sweet banquets tempt our healths , when temper leaues vs Inchastitie , is euer prostitute , Whose trees we loth , when we haue pluckt their fruite . Hith●r this Panther fled , now turnd a Bore More huge then that th' Aetolians plagud so sore , And led the chase through noblest mansions , Gardens and groues , exempt from Parragons , In all things ruinous , and slaughter some , As was that scourge to the Aetolian kingdome : After as if a whirlewind draue them one , Full crie , and close , as if they all were one The hounds pursew , and fright the earth with sound , Making her tremble ▪ , as when windes are bound In her cold bosome , fighting for euent : With whose fierce Ague all the world is rent . But dayes arme ( tir'd to hold her torch to them ) Now let it fall within the Ocean streame , The Goddesse blew retrait , and with her blast , Her morns creation did like vapours wast : The windes made wing , into the vpper light , And blew abroad the sparckles of the night . Then ●swift as thought ) the bright Titanides Guide and great soueraigne of the marble seas , With milkwhite Herffers , mounts into her Sphere , And leaues vs miserable creatures here , Thus nights , faire dayes : thus griefs do ioyes supplant : Thus glories grauen in steele and Adamant Neuer supposd to wast , but grow by wasting , ( Like snow in riuers falne ) consume by lasting . O then thou great 20 20 The Philosophers stone , or Philosophica Medicina is cald the great Elixer to which he here alludes . Elixer of all treasures , From whom we multiplie our world of pleasures , Dis●end againe , ah neuer leaue the earth , But 21 21 This of our birth , is explaned before . as thy plenteous humors gaue vs birth , So let them drowne the world in night , and death Before this ayre , leaue breaking with thy breath . Come Goddesse come , 22 22

The double-fathered sonne is Orion , so cald since he was the sunne of Ioue and Appollo , borne of their ●eede enclosed in a Bulls hide , which abhorreth not from Philosophie ( according to Poets intentions ) that one sonne should haue two fathers ▪ for in the generation of elements it is true , since omnia sint in omnibus . He offering violence , was stong of a Scorpion to death , for which : the Scorpions figure was made a signe in heauen , as Nicander in Theriacis affirmes . Grandine signatum Titanis at inde p●ella , Scorpion immisit qui cuspide surgat acuta : B●oto vt meditata n●cem fuit Orioni , Impuris ausus manibus q●ia prendere peplum : Ille D●● est ▪ 〈◊〉 percussit Scorpi●s illi , Sub paruo lap●●e occul●●● vestigia propter .

the double fatherd sonne , Shall dare no more amongst thy traine to runne , Nor with poluted handes to touch thy vaile : His death was darted from the Scorpions taile , For which her forme to endlesse memorie , With other lamps , doth lend the heauens an eye , And he that shewd such great presumption , Is hidden now , beneath a little sto●e . If proude 23 23 Alpheus taken with the loue of Cynthia ▪ not answered with many repuls●● pursued her to her companie of virgins , who mocking him , cast mire in his face , and draue him away . Some affirme him to be a flood , some the sonne of Parthenia , some the waggo●e● of Pelops , &c. Alpheus offer force againe , Because he could not once thy loue obtaine , Thou and thy Nimphs shall stop his mouth with mire , And mocke the fondling , for his mad aspire . Thy glorious temple 24 24 Lucifera is her titl● ▪ and Ignif●ra : giuen by Euripides , in Iphige●d in Ta●ris . ( great Lucifera ) That was the studie of all Asia , Two hunderd twentie sommers to erect , Built by Chersiphrone thy Architect , In which two hundred , twentie columns stood , Built by two hunderd twentie kings of blood , Of curious bewtie , and admired height , Pictures and statues , of as praysefull sleight , Conuenient for so chast a Goddesse phane , ( Burnt by Herostratus ) shall now againe , Be reexstruct , and this Ephesia be Thy countries happie name , come here with thee , As it was there so shall it now be framde , And thy faire virgine-chamber euer namde : And as in reconstruction of it there , There Ladies did no more their iewells weare , But franckly contribute them all to raise , A worke of such a chast Religious prayse : So will our Ladies ; for in them it lyes , To spare so much as would that worke suffice : Our Dames well set their iewels in their myndes , In-sight illustrates ; outward brauerie blindes , The minde hath in her selfe a Deitie , And in the stretching circle of her eye All things are compast , all things present still , Will framd to powre , doth make vs what we will , But keepe your iewels , make ye brauer yet , Elisian Ladies ; and ( in riches set , Vpon your foreheads ) , let vs see your harts : Build Cynthiaes Temple in your vertuous parts , Let euerie iewell be a vertues glasse : And no Herostratus shall euer race , Those holy monuments : but pillers stand , Where euery Grace , and Muse shall hang her garland . The minde in that we like , rules euery lim●e , Giues hands to bodies , makes them make them trimme : Why then in that the body doth dislike , Should not 25 25 T●e bewtie of the 〈◊〉 being sig●●fied in Ganemede , h● here by Pros●p●p●ia , gi●●s a mans shape vnto it . his sword as great a vennie strike ? The bit , and spurre that Monarcke ruleth still , To further good things , and to curb the ill , He is the Ganemede , the birde of Ioue , Rapt to her soueraignes bosome for his loue , His bewtie was it , not the bodies pride , That made him great Aquarius stellified : And that minde most is bewtifull and hye , And nearest comes to a Diuinitie , That furthest is from spot of earths delight , Pleasures that lose their substance with their sight , Such one , Saturnius rauisheth to loue , And fills the cup of all content to Ioue . If wisedome be the mindes true bewtie then , And that such bewtie shines in vertuous men , If those sweet Ganemedes shall onely finde , Loue of Olimpius , are those wizerds wise , That nought but gold , and his dyiections prise● This bewtie hath a fire vp●● her brow , That dimmes the Sunne of base desires in y●● , And as the cloudie bosome of the tree , Whose branches will not let the s●●mer see , His solemne shadows ; but do entertaine , Eternall winter : so thy sacred traine , Thrise mightie Cy●thia sho●ld be frozen dead , To all the lawlesse flames of Cupids Godhead , To this end let thy beames di●inities , For euer shine vpon their sparckling eyes , And be as quench to those pestiferent fires , That through their eyes , impoison their desires , Thou neuer yet wouldst stoope to base assa●lt , Therefore those Poetes did most highly fault , That fainde thee 26 26 Pausamas in Eliacis , affirmes it : others that she had but three , viz. P●●n , which Homer cals the Gods Phisition , Epeus , and Aetolus , &c. Cicero saith she had none , but onely for his loue to the studie of Astrologie , gaue him chast kisses . fiftie children by 〈◊〉 And they that write thou hadst but three alone , Thou neuer any hadst , but didst affect , Endimion for his studio●● intellect . Thy soule-chast kisses were for vert●es sake , And since his eyes were euerm●re awake , To search for knowledge of thy excellence , And all Astrologie : no negligence , Or female softnesse fede his learned trance , Nor was thy vaile once toucht with dalliance , Wise Poetes faine thy Godhead properlie , The thresholds of mens doores did fortifie , And therefore built they thankefull alters there , Seruing thy powre , in most religious feare . Deare precident for vs to imitate , Whose dores thou guardst against Imperious fate , Keeping our peacefull households safe from sack , And free'st our ships , when others suffer wracke . 27 27 Her temple in Ephesus was cald her virgin chamber . Thy virgin chamber then that sacred is , No more let hold , an idle Salmacis , Nor let more sleights , Cydippe iniurie : Nor let blacke Ioue possest in Scicilie , Rauish more maids , but maids subdue his might , With well-steeld lances of thy watchfull sight . 28 28 All these are proper to her as she is Heccate . Then in thy cleare , and Isie Pentacle , Now execute a Magicke miracle : Slip euerie sort of poisoned herbes , and plants , And bring thy rabid mastifs to these hants . Looke with thy fierce aspect , be terror-strong ; Assume thy wondrous shape of halfe a furlong : Put on thy feete of Serpents , viperous hayres , And act the fearefulst part of thy affaires : Conuert the violent courses of thy floods , Remoue whole fields of corne , and hugest woods , Cast hills into the sea , and make the starrs , Drop out of heauen , and lose thy Mariners . So shall the wonders of thy power be seene , And thou for euer liue the Planets Queene . Explicit Hymnus . Omnis vt vmbra .

Gloss.

1 HE giues her that Periphrasis , viz. Natures bright eye sight , because that by her store of humors , issue is giuen to all birth : and thereof is she called Lucina , and Ilythyia , quia praeest parturientibus cum inuocaretur , and giues them helpe : which Orpheus in a Hymne of her prayse expresseth , and cals her besides Prothyrea , vt sequitur . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 &c. Audi m● veneranda Dea , cui nomina multa : Prag●antum adi●●rix , patientum dulce 〈◊〉 Sola puellarum sernatrix ▪ solaque prudens : Auxilium velox te●●ris Prothyrea puelli●● . And a little after , he shewes her plainlie to be Diana , Ilythyia , and Prothyrea , in these verses : Solam anim● requiem te clamant par●● ru●tes . Sola potes dir●● partus placare labores Diana , Ilythyia grauis , sumus & Prothyrea .

2 He cals her the soule of the Night , since she is the purest part of her according to common conceipt .

3 Orpheus in these verses , in Argonauticis saith she is three headed , as she is Heccate , Luna , and Diana , vt sequitur . Cumque illis Hecate , properans horre●da cucurrit , Cui trinum caput est , ge●●is quam Tartarus olim .

The rest aboue will not be denied .

4 That she is cald the powre of fate , read Hesiodus in Theogonia when he giues her more then this commendation ▪ in these verses : Iupiter ingentes illi largitur honores , Muneraque imperium terr●que marisque profundi : Cunctoru●que simul , quae coelum amplectitur altum , Admittitque preces facilis Dea , pro●pta , benigna : Diuitias pr●bet , quid ei concessa potest●● , Imperat haec cunctis , qui sunt è ●emi●e nati : Et terrae & Coeli , cunctorum fata gube●●●t .

5 In Latmos she is supposed to sleepe with Endymion , vt Catullus . Vt tr●●iam furtim sub L●●mia saxa ●elegans , Dulcis amor Gyro de●oce● A●ri● .

6 Homer with a maruailous Poeticall sweetnesse , saith she washes her before she apparells her selfe in th' Atlantick sea . And then shewes her apparell , as in th●se verses . In Ocean● Lauacri . Rursus Atlant●is , in lymphis membra lauata , Vestibus indut●● , & ●●●idis Dea Luna micantes : Curru iunxit equos celeres , quibus ardua colla .

7 Cytheron , as Menander saith was a most faire boy , and beloued of Tisiphone , who since she could not obtaine his loue , she teares from her head a Serpent , & threw it at him , which stinging him to death , the Gods in pittie turned him to a hill of that name , first cald A●t●rius , full of woods wherein all Poets haue affirmed wild beasts liue , and vse it often to expresse their haunts , or store of woods , whereupon he inuokes Cynthia , to rise in such brightnesse , as if it were all on fire .

8 This is expounded as followeth by Gyraldus Lil●●s . The application most 〈◊〉 made by this author .

9 Harpe should be written thus , not with a y , yet here he vseth it , lest some , not knowing what it meanes , read it for a Harp , hauing found this grossenesse in some schollers . It was the sword Perseus vsed to cut of Medusas head .

10 Fortune is cald Tyc●● , 〈◊〉 witnesseth Pausanias in Messeniacis , who affirmes her to b● one of the daughters likewise of Ocea●●● , which was playing with Pr●serpine , when Dis rauisht her . Vna omnes vario per prata co●●ntia ●●ore , Candida L●ucipp● , Ph●●●que , El●ctraque●ant ●e .

Melobosisque Tych● , Ocyrh●e pr●●gnis oc●llis . And Orpheus in a Hymne to Fortuna , saith she is the daughter of bloud , vt in his , sanguine prognat●● , Vi & inexpugnabile numen .

11 Plutarch writes thus of the Romanes , and Macedons , in Paulus Ae●ilius .

12 These ar● commonly knowne to be the properties of Cynthia .

13 This Zone is said to be the girdle of Cynthia . And thereof when maids lost their maidenheads , amongst the Athenians , they vsed to p●t of their girdles . And ●●ter , custom● made it a phrase 〈…〉 , to lose their maidenheades , vt Apol● . lib. 1. 〈…〉

14 These are the verses of 〈◊〉 translated to effect . O miseri , quib●● ipsa 〈…〉 &c.

15 This Strabo testifieth 〈…〉

16 Pegasus is cald 〈◊〉 since Po●ts fayne , that when Pers●●● smote of Medusas head , 〈◊〉 ●●ew from the wound : & therefore the Muses 〈◊〉 wh●●h he made with his hoofe , is cald G●rg●●● .

17 Ortigia is the countrie where she was brought vp .

18 These are the verses of 〈◊〉 before .

19 The Wall is ● most excellent riuer , in the Low countries parting with another riuer , cald the Ma●e , neare a towne in Holland , cald Gurckham , and runnes vp to Guelderland vnder the walls of Nimigen . And these like S●●iles , in my opinion drawne from the honorable deeds of our noble countrimen , clad in comely habit of Poesie , would become a Poeme as well as further-fetcht grounds , if such as be Poets now a dayes would vse them .

20 The Philosophers stone , or Philosophica Medicina is cald the great Elixer to which he here alludes .

21 This of our birth , is explaned before .

22 The double-fathered sonne is Orion , so cald since he was the sunne of Ioue and Appollo , borne of their ●eede enclosed in a Bulls hide , which abhorreth not from Philosophie ( according to Poets intentions ) that one sonne should haue two fathers ▪ for in the generation of elements it is true , since omnia sint in omnibus . He offering violence , was stong of a Scorpion to death , for which : the Scorpions figure was made a signe in heauen , as Nicander in Theriacis affirmes . Grandine signatum Titanis at inde p●ella , Scorpion immisit qui cuspide surgat acuta : B●oto vt meditata n●cem fuit Orioni , Impuris ausus manibus q●ia prendere peplum : Ille D●● est ▪ 〈◊〉 percussit Scorpi●s illi , Sub paruo lap●●e occul●●● vestigia propter .

23 Alpheus taken with the loue of Cynthia ▪ not answered with many repuls●● pursued her to her companie of virgins , who mocking him , cast mire in his face , and draue him away . Some affirme him to be a flood , some the sonne of Parthenia , some the waggo●e● of Pelops , &c.

24 Lucifera is her titl● ▪ and Ignif●ra : giuen by Euripides , in Iphige●d in Ta●ris .

25 T●e bewtie of the 〈◊〉 being sig●●fied in Ganemede , h● here by Pros●p●p●ia , gi●●s a mans shape vnto it .

26 Pausamas in Eliacis , affirmes it : others that she had but three , viz. P●●n , which Homer cals the Gods Phisition , Epeus , and Aetolus , &c. Cicero saith she had none , but onely for his loue to the studie of Astrologie , gaue him chast kisses .

27 Her temple in Ephesus was cald her virgin chamber .

28 All these are proper to her as she is Heccate .

Explicit Coment . FINIS .

Notes, typically marginal, from the original text

Notes for div A18422-e340

Notes for div A18422-e5760