The Arcadian princesse; or, The triumph of iustice prescribing excellent rules of physicke, for a sicke iustice. Digested into fowre bookes, and faithfully rendered to the originall Italian copy, by Ri. Brathvvait Esq. Silesio, Mariano. 1635 Approx. 334 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 275 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-07 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A12245 STC 22553 ESTC S117416 99852630 99852630 17960 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A12245) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 17960) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 975:16) The Arcadian princesse; or, The triumph of iustice prescribing excellent rules of physicke, for a sicke iustice. Digested into fowre bookes, and faithfully rendered to the originall Italian copy, by Ri. Brathvvait Esq. Silesio, Mariano. Brathwaite, Richard, 1588?-1673. Marshall, William, fl. 1617-1650, engraver. [26], 192, 191-254, 250, [8] p. Printed by Th. Harper [and Eliot's Court Press], for Robert Bostocke, and are to bee sold at his shop in Pauls Churchyard, at the signe of the Kings Head, London : 1635. Probably a translation of an untraced Italian work by Mariano Silesio. Possibly an original work by Richard Brathwait. "Eliot's Court Press pr[inted]. quires Aa-Qq; Harper the rest"--STC. With an additional title page, engraved, signed: Will: Marshall. scul:. The first leaf bears verses "Vpon the frontispice". "The consuls charge" (caption title) begins new pagination on 2A1. The last four leaves contain a biography of the putative author. Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng 2003-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-04 Olivia Bottum Sampled and proofread 2003-04 Olivia Bottum Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Vpon the Frontispice . HEE that in words explaines a Frontispice , Betrayes the secret trust of his Device : Who cannot guesse , where Mott's and Embl●…mes be , The drift , may still bee ignorant for me . THE ARCADIAN PRINCESSE ; OR , THE TRIVMPH OF IVSTICE : Prescribing excellent rules of Physicke , for a sicke Iustice. Digested into fowre Bookes , And Faithfully rendred to the originall Italian Copy , By RI. BRATHVVAIT Esq. Uulnera clausa potius cruciant . Greg. LONDON , Printed by Th. Harper for Robert Bostocke , and are to bee sold at his shop in Pauls Church yard , at the signe of the Kings head . 1635. 〈◊〉 7. 1634. REc●…nsui hanc Versionem Operis Mariani Sile●…ii Florentcu●… 〈◊〉 , The Arcadian Princesse , or Physicke for a sicke Iustice , &c : unà cum vita author is annexa , quae continet folia 75. aut circa , in quibus nihil reperio sanae doctrin●… aut bonis ●…oribus contrarium quo 〈◊〉 cum p●…blica utilitate imprimatur , sub ea tamen conditione ut si non intra annū proxime sequentē typis mandetur , haec licētia ●…it omnino irrita . 〈◊〉 HAYWOOD . TO The excellent Modell of true Nobility ; the Right Honourable , Henry Somerset , Earle of Worcester , Baron Herbert , Lord of Chepstow , Ragland and Gower ; all correspondence to his recollected'st thoughts . SIR ; I Have heere sent you an Italian plant , translated to an English platte : whose flower will not appeare halfe so delightfull to your Smelling , as the fruit will become 〈◊〉 for preserving . You shall here meet with an Author walking in an unbeat path . One , who discurtains the vices of that Time so smoothly , though smartly , as his continued Allegorie pleads his Apologie . A right Italian wit shal your Honor find him , quick & spritely : & of eminent race and ranke in his Country . And it is my joy , to addresse a Worke so richly interveined with straines of wit and iudgement , to one , whom descent and desert have equally ennobled ; and who with so cleare and discerning a spirit can iudge of it . Now , if this new dresse doe not become him , all that I can say in mine owne defence is this , and no other ; there is great difference betwixt Taylor and Translator : Sure I am , that the Loome is the same , if not the Lustre ; the Stuffe the same , though not the Colour : wherein Hee freely appeales to your Censure , who hath profest himselfe Your Honours in duest observance , RI. BRATHWAIT . TO THE DESERVING READER . DEserving Reader ; every Author , as this scribbling age goes , may finde a Reader well worthy his Labour ; but very few Authors publish such Workes as deserve the labour of a discerning Reader . Like to some of our PorcupineTheatrall Pantomimes , who dare adventure in their spongie Labours , begot of a barmie spirit , and other no●…ious vapours , to display a Gentlewoman in her compleatest Nature ; though they erre egregiously in her favour , figure and feature . Peruse this , and returne me answer , if it be not worth thy Labour to bestow an houre or two in the Reading of this Author . Forraigne he is , and yet familiar ; choice and dainty his conceits , yet allayed with so sweet a temper , as they retaine in them the relish of a good nature . So free his invention , and so cleare from invection , as it admits no sinister inver●… nor intention . Whatsoever hee 〈◊〉 inserts , holds apt proportion and connexion with 〈◊〉 Subiect whereo●… hee treates . So as , being not onely a Stranger , but so discerning an Author , hee can expect no lesse than a Candid censure from so deserving a Reader . THE TESTIMONIE OF SABAEUS AMNIANUS , touching Mariano Silesio ; with his judgement of his Worke , entituled , The Arcadian Princesse ; or , The triumph of Iustice. WHat pregnancy of conceit , and gravity of judgement , that Learned Florentine Silesio expressed , may appeare by those excellent Labours of his : wherein hee addressed his Penne to Subjects of divers natures , according to those occasionall employments , wherein hee stood engaged . His youth hee bestowed in Poesy ; wherein he shewed that vivacity and quicknesse : as the Court of Florence resounded with the fame of his ●…imensions . In his riper yeares , hee became employed in affaires of high consequence : being twice elected by the vote and suffrage of the whole State for an Embassador to the Genueses : where hee demeaned himselfe in such sort , as hee was with no lesse cautious observance admired abroad , than with all honour entertained at his returne home . But growing old , and wearied with the mannagement of publique affayres : hee desired to retire , and in his retirement to addresse the remainder of his dayes to some profitable workes which might live in his death , and to posterity revivè the memory of his life . Amongst which , hee composed a worke ( in my iudgement ) of exquisite wit , entituled the Arcadian Princesse : wherin hoth language , and Invention discovered their Master-piece . He dyed An ▪ Dom. 1368. And interred with great solemnity in the Latmian arch . THE OP●…ION OF Corranus Amnensis touching Silesio : with his iudgement of his workes ; and of those , his high approvement of that Master-piece , entituled The Arcadian Princesse . WIth what pregnancy of wit , and solidity of judgement the ever-living Silesio , whom to silen●… were to detract from the fame of Florence , was indowed , may sufficiently appea●…e by his exq●…isite Labours . In which Art and Nature so sweetly contend●…d , as they erected such trophies in hi●… lines , which exceeded the bounds of Fate , or Time , to be by oblivion blemished ; or by neglect seazed . Hee was descended of a noble Family , which hee renowned by his owne actions , by making his own penne the surviving Annall of her memory . Hee was twice elected by the generall voyce and vote of the State , for Embassador to the Genue●…s : where he demeaned himselfe with such cautious reservance and judicious prudence , as hee became no lesse admired abroad where he stood interessed , than honoured at home when he returned . But wearied with affaires of State , and desiring much retirement , he privately withdrew himselfe into the Country ; where willing to publish some Workes , by leaving to the world , before he left the world , such legacies of his love , in his life , as might live in his death ; he composed div●…rs Subjects of infinite benefit and approvement to the State. Howbeit , in his yonger yeares hee stood much affected to Poesy ; wherein hee so excelled , as his Poems were held equall with those enlivened composures of Tasso's . His Invention was much employed in his youth , ( which time he bestowed in observance of the Court ) in Court-Maskes and other Theatrall presentments ; wherein none ever contended with him , who in the end did not ingenuously veile unto him . But growing to riper yeares , hee retired from these , and accommodated his stile to the maturity of his time . In which serious studies such accomplishment seconded his retirement , as his private recluse could not be free from concourse : so highly did such as perused him , lov●… him , as they desired nothing more than to live with him . Amongst others of his Labours , during his retire , hee wrote a Booke entitled the Arcadian Princesse , which hee caused to be transcribed and sent to Florence ; a Worke in my opinion , of incomparable worth , for Language and Invention . That Parthenius , of whom hee makes such honourable mention , was such a favourite of the Muses , as so many Poems of his as are extant , have equall'd , if not surpast those Moenian Measures of Petronius . Having thus flourished for many yeares , with much fame in Florence , and enjoyed the sweetnesse of many retired houres in his Countrey repose , He bad the world farewell with a smile . Anno Dom. 1368. And was interred with all solemnity in the Lemnian arch . THE TESTIMONIE OF Adrianus Barlandus , touching Silesio : in his Historicall observations on Florence . SIlent I should be touching Silesio ; but being daily vers'd in the perusall of his Labours , I might seeme conscious to my selfe of envying his worth , if I should seeke to obscur●… , what my judgement doth so highly admire . Truth is , he lived long before us , yet lives hee still with us . For though he dye , his Annals live . Now , to render him in his true effigies and expressive Character ; He was an Eloquent Orator , an Elegant Poet , and in the maturer close of his time , an eminent Patritian . In his writing , hee was witty without scurrilous lightnesse , serious without censor●…ous sowrenesse . Accurate without affectation ; passionately moving beyond imitation . Hee had the happin●…sse to gaine friends , and to retaine them : which facility in gaining , and felicity in retaining , may bee ascribed to his discretion , who in the whole passage of his life was never knowne to lose his friend for a jest : nor entertaine a jealous conceit of his trust without apparant cause . During his aboade at Court , he was much honoured ; in his retire , he was much frequented : in both generally loved . Many princely favours were showne him by the Duke , which with a native modesty he rejected . And being demanded by some of his friends , why hee accepted not such gracious tenders , being assured arguments of his future advancements ; hee was wont to answer them : That those glorious favours were golden fetters , which might endanger to restraine the liberty of his better part . Being on a time importuned in his youth by two complete Curtezans , to write a Poeme in the praise of beauty ; he made answer : That hee could goe neare to paint them out , but hee thought his Pensill might bee well spar'd , for they knew better how to paint themselves . He could never endure to comply with a light friend , saying , That he who entrusted himself with a Faune , brought his discretion in question . He was affable to his friends , reconcileable to his foes , affectionate to all . Abstenious in his dyet , civill in his habit , temperate in his delights . He lived to a ripe age ; and was intombed in a Monument of Thracian Marble , within the Lemnian arch . THE IVDGEMENT OF Conradus Minutius , touching Silesio : and the surviving memory of his Labours . SVfficiently wee cannot admire , much lesse imitate these exquisite composures of that Florentine Silesio . By so much more famous for his Learning , because borne in a time , almost ignorant of learning . He was of pregnant wit , present conceit , solid judgement and retentive memory . Hee scorned nothing more , than to impe his wings with others feathers ; for his usuall saying was this : He does himself dishonour , who makes himselfe witty by anothers Labour . In the time of his reside at Court , there were no Transcripts held so precious as his Poems . In his r●…per yeares , bidding adue to those trifles of youth , ( for so was hee pleased to style them ) he addressed his employments to more serious studies : for observing , how the State tooke especiall notice of him , he held it indiscretion to bestow his oyle on ought lesse , than what might redound to the benefit of the State. Albeit , in his latter yeares , being much addicted to privacy , He retired and withdrew himselfe from the grandeure of publique affaires : resolving to dedicate the remainder of his dayes to a contemplative life , which hee called his soules love : where hee breathed forth many divine fancies full of spirit and morall profit . Hee dyed , Anno Dom. 1368. and was honourably buried in the Lemnian arch , with a pyram●…dall Monument erected over him . A Summary of the Contents : WITH An Explanation of every distinct Subiect , and personall Name , contained in this Allegoricall discourse , entituled , THE ARCADIAN PRINCESSE , OR , THE TRIUMPH OF IUSTICE . Composed at first by that incomparable Ornament of Florence , MARIANO SILESIO , in the Italian tongue . THE MISTA the Arcadian Princesse , and Soveraignesse of Iustice , in her supposed descent from Heaven , and visit of Earth , makes a Survey or Scrutiny of her Pretorian ; which State in sixe distinct Persons , ingeniously presented , she findes miserably distempered . For the preservation of her judiciall Soveraignty , she addresseth her Care for their recovery : whence the Author properly entitles his first Booke , THEMISTA'S CARE . Shee findes METOXOS her first Consul in this representative Body , and personating Partiality , taken with a Squinancy . EPIMONOS , personating Pertinacy , with an Apoplexy . VPEREPHANOS , presenting vaine-glory , with a Phrensie . MEILIXOS , personating Pusillanimity , with an Epilepsie . VPOTOMOS presenting Severity , with a Plurisie . AMERIMNOS , personating Security , with a Lethargy : whence it is , that hee styleth his second Booke , THE STATE-SOARE . These severall distempers shee recommends to the Cure of AESCVLAPIVS ; who , after the discovery of their Griefes , applies proper Receits to the qualitie of their distempers , and restores them to their health : whence it is , that his third Booke beares the Title of THE CONS●…LS CVRE . THEMISTA transported with their unexpected recovery , seemes doubtfull at first of such good Newes : which to strengthen with more certainty , and enliven her depressed spirits with more alacrity ; ISOTES , personating Equity , inapt-composed measures becomes Relat●…r of METOXOS recovery . EPIEICES , personating Moderation , becomes Relator of EPIMONOS recovery . TAPEINOS , presenting Humility , becomes Relator of VPEREPHANOS recovery . ISCVROS , personating Fortitude or Constancy , becomes Relator of MEILIXOS recovery . ELECMON , presenting Mercy , becomes Relator of VPOTOMOS recovery . EPIMELES personating Industry , becomes Relator of AMERIMNOS recovery . And to second Her longing hopes , She causeth her ●…ate distempered Consuls to come before her to describe the manner of their Cure , the highest Object of her Care : This done , THEMISTA delivers her CHARGE to her restored and re-estated Consuls ; wherein shee recommends to them the love of Iustice and Equity : closing with a thankefull remonstrance to AESCVLAPIVS : 〈◊〉 to erect lasting Trophies of living memory , to gratifie his successive Care in her Consuls recovery . So as , from the expression of her Charge , and the apprehension of this universall joy , Silesio entitles his fourth and last Booke , THE CONSVLS CHARGE , with THEMISTA'S TRIVMPH . The Arcadian Princesse , OR , The triumph of Iustice ; Prescribing excellent rules of Physicke for a sicke IVSTICE . THEMISTA'S CARE . The first Book . Argument . THemista descends from heaven , purposely to revisit earth : expressing in apt measures , what desire the heavenly powers have to see Iustice executed . The Excellency of Iustice , properly styled the Epitome of all vertues . POESY I. THus long in heav'n ; now must we downe to Earth , To see what fruits that hopefull Soyle brings forth , How Iustice thrives , from whose divinest birth All sacred vertue doe derive their worth , W●…ose presence makes the earth resound with mirth : " Harsh is the accent of that melody , " Where Iustice doth not keepe her Iubily . Nor doe those glorious powers which shine above , And dart their beams upon th' inferiour spheare , On any Object fixe their eye of love , More than on that , where Iustice doth appeare ; Whose gracefull beauty like a golden grove , Adornes the Earth , and like a Conquerer , Empals their heads with wreaths that follow her . How heav'ns do smile , to see good men reputed ! How goodnesse shines , when Error is suppressed●… How earth revives , when Iustice's executed ! How Worth appears , when vertue is r●…freshed ! How ●…tate endeers , that 's with true honor su●…ted ! These beare no other Frontispiece than this , " the Excellence of Iustice what it is . Iustice ! a vertue styled properly By those which know the goodnesse of her n●…ture , " Vertues choice Abstract or Epitome , Who lives above the reach of any Satyre , And scornes a name that 's got by infamie . Blest is that State ; her Sciens heirs of honour , Who hath so bright a star to shine upon her . For to the L●…st of Iustice shee 's confin'd , " But such a Bird , I feare , is rare to find . Argument . Themista bewailes the corruption of the time ; what miseries befall that State , where Iustice is not administred ; She laments Arcady , ( where shee is supposed to descend ) for suffering the Seate of Iustice to be so defiled : the comely face of so promising a State disfigured . PROSE I. PItifully perplexed Themista , who can see thee , and not suffer with thee ? who can endure to take a view of thy griefe , and not afford thee the tribute of one poore teare for thy reliefe ? Shee , who was sometimes more beautifull than the Evening Starre ; more amiable than the curiousest and choysest feature upon earth ; how is she become darkened ? how is her beauty blemished ? her glory obscured ? her favour perished ? her feature blanched ? Observe but the corruption of the time , and then see if my sorrow be groundlesse ! Consider this universal contagion , & how should my sorrow but be endlesse ! Heare the mercenary guilded tongue , who stands not much upon the cause , so he may receive his coyne , how he coynes untruths , belyes his owne knowledge , inveighs against a subject of innocency , to delude the credulous Eare of his too easie Iudge : and all this to enrich his seldome-thriving posterity , with the injurious revenues of his partiality ! There , another seconds a great mans cause with a brazen face ; where the better cause must fare the worse , because the worser cause hath the better purse . So as justice becomes so perverted , as she may be compared to the Celedonie stone , which retaineth her vertue no longer , than while it is rubbed with gold . The precious stone Diocletes , though it have many rare and excellent soveraignties in it , yet it loseth them all , if it be put in a dead mans mouth : so Iustice , which is the sole ornament and accomplishment of State , that sacred-secret cement to knit up all breaches and divisions , though it have many rare and exquisite vertues in it , yet doth this soveraignesse of all princely vertues , loose them every one , when she is put into a corrupt mouth , or a deceitful heart ; who guilds Iustice over with pretences ; or assuming upon him some awfull command , bindes her to peace , purposely to cram his owne purse . And what is this but Worme-wood Iustice , making that bitter , which is sweetly relishing of its owne nature ? What excellent Hieroglyphicks were conceited by the antient Ethnicks , to designe ( amongst other expressions ) the right office of justice ? The Athenians erected images of Iudges without hands and eyes : implying , that Rulers and Magistrates should neither be infected with bribery , nor any other way drawn from that which was lawfull and right . Lame they should bee in receiving a fee , blinde in discerning friend from foe . But alas ! all ages could ever better prescribe , than observe : yet of all ages , none more irregular than * this , where Corruption becomes a custome , and no greater foe to a good cause , than poverty , or a powerfull adversary . Nor can that State be secure , where such iniustice raignes . Though the Night silence her , the wals encompasse her , the curtaines of 〈◊〉 shrowd her : there can be no darknesse so thick and palpable , ( were it like the Cimmerian shade ) that the p●…ercing eye of heaven cannot spye thorow it . Vain is thy hope , thou Scarlet peccant , by sinning secretly , to sinne securely . Impiety plays the sycophant with her selfe , when she promiseth her self impunity . That State cannot chuse but bee to misery engaged , where justice is not duely administred . Should shee pride it with the Babylonian , brave it with the Theban , trade it with the Tyrian , sport it with the Sydonian , or spell it with the Aegyptian ; her bravery shall turne to rags , her glory to contempt , her wealth to want , her sport to discontent , her knowledge to folly ; the whole fabricke of her state , to an universall misery . And this is thy miserable estate , poore Arcadia ! for how is thy former beauty blemished , the comely face of so promising a State disfigured , by suffering the seate of justice , ( Astraeas throne ) to be so defiled , the ornaments of vertue stained ? Shall wee bemoane thy disconsolate State , while thou senselesse of thine owne misery , perceives not that thou art wounded ? yes , thy want of sense aggravates our sense of sorrow . O that we were turned all a Niobe , and resolved into teares , so wee might but extract from thee one sigh , to argue thou hadst a sense of thy sinne ! Reflect , we pray thee , upon thy former beauty ; and what it was that thus hath blemished thee . Want of consideration makes thee thus senselesse of thy affliction . Let us wipe thine eyes , that thou maist see thy selfe , and seeing , loath that which hath made thee so unlike thy selfe . Hither are wee come to revisit thee , and hopefull were wee to have found thee in the same state , wherein wee did leave thee . But corruption hath seaz'd on thy Bench ; thy Scarlet hath got a staine ; this is thy state ; hence is our griefe . Argument ▪ Themista recollects her spirits ; comforts her selfe with the conceit of her owne innocency ; she bethinks her how she may take away this staine , and restore the light of Iustice to a disconsolate State. POESY II. BVt whence com these sloods of tears ? Ease they may , but cannot cure ; Free thy breast of fruitlesse feares , Joy thou mayst in being pure ; This corruption of the time , Js mans fault , it is not thine . Js not thine ! no , heav'n knowes ; Strive then to attemper griefe ; Doe not waste thy selfe with woes , Teares can tender ●…mall reliefe : They that nought but sorrow vent , Ne're can cure their Patient . Let it be thy care to heale , As thine art hath found the sore , And restore a Common-weale To that health it had before : So maist thou support that State Which lyes now disconsolate . Artists , when they search a wound , And doe finde th' incision deepe , Must not f ll into a sound , Nor like Babies pule and weepe : The distemper 's now descride , Let some physicke be applide . Argument . Themista directs a message by her servant Euphorbus to the Counsell of State. PROSE II. BVt present necessity of cure , admits no time of complaint . So as , calling forthwith of her servant Euphorbus , who was there attending her , she delivered to him her message in these words . Come hither Euphorbus , we have ever had sufficiēt proof of thy diligence , being at all times no lesse ready to discharge our trust , than we to impose our command . Nor are wee ignorant of thy approved care in performing whatsoever may either redound to our honour , or benefit of the Republique , wherein wee are highly interessed . Thou shalt therefore receive these directions from us ( as wee solely rely on thee ) the substance wherof wee shall deliver thee in these particulars . Thou art presently to repaire to our Counsell of State ; acquainting them with our command , that forthwith all frivolous delayes & unnecessary excuses set apart , they repaire to our Palace , and there attend our pleasure , in behalfe of the publique service . VVherein , if they become inquisitive what the businesse may be : Thou maist answer them in generall tearmes , that wee are to expect an account from them , in their affayres of Iudicature ; wherein , if any of them prove defective , they are for Example-sake to receive condigne censure . Some complaints wee have already heard against them , which how iustly exhibited , wee will as yet suspend , till more frequency of proofe evince them . Informe them likewise , since our descent to Earth , how we have visited their Pretorian , wherein wee found nothing but confusion : Their Comitiall Courts like Desarts , wilde and unexercised ; onely some surreptitious Proctors were there fishing , who knew no methodicall course of pleading , nor any Law-Intergatory , but the demand of their undeserved Fees ; whereof receiving no presét discharge , with a Stentors voyce , they re-eccho their vouchers and double vouchers in a clamorous Replication . Some decayed remnants , or uselesse instruments of discording Iustice , wee likewise found : who had got so much tongue , as Parachito-like , they could cry , Commit him , Commit him , before ever they had heard what hee had done . From whence wee gathered , that many had aspired to that place , before ever they knew what the definition of justice was : so as , they usually caused the nocent and innocent to cast lots whether of them should be punished . Innumerable such Objects of sorrow have we viewed , since wee descended ; the sad memory whereof renewes our griefe , and leaves us ever with a teare in our eye , a sigh in our heart : nor should we be comforted , but that the knowledge of our owne innocency hath so fortifide us , as no censure can deservedly touch us . Make haste Euphorbus , and deliver our Message with a courage : meane time , wee shall expect their attendance , with a due and formall account of all their actions . With this Message her faithful servant Euphorbus departed , while she taking her Lute in her hand , to expell melancholy with a straine of melody , and retaine a constant remembrance of her servants fidelity , chanted out the●…e Layes . Argument . Themista reioyceth in the enioying of so faithfull a servant ; Shee recounts the benefits redounding from such : and reproves the uniustnesse of unthankfull Masters , who come short in recompencing such . POESY III. WEll ! Euphorbus , thou art hee With thy service comforts't mee . When I am surpriz'd with griefe , Thine advice affords reliefe : Thou finds solace when I ioy , Suffers with me in annoy : Be it mirth or discontent , Thou art for that Element : So as I may well averre , Having such a comforter ; " There 's no Treasure may compare " With a faithfull Servants care : Who is early up and late To increase his Masters state . Hee 's a Crane for vigilance , An Emmet for his providence : Hee 's no Sea-Maw , that can show Any tempest in his brow : He is legall , loyall , iust , Sworne unto his Masters trust : Gracelesse are such thanklesse men , Who such servants can contemne , For they take farre more delight To receive than to requite : Curt'sies they retaine not long , Yet can recompence a wrong . Any one will cheere his Curre When he barks and makes a sturre , And gives warning to his house If he doe but heare a Mouse : What is he , pray tell me than , Cheeres his Curre , & checks his man ! Argument . Euphorbus returnes answer to Themista , that the whole body of her Councell of Sta●…e is become infirme , as they cannot without apparant danger of death , repaire to her Grace . Hee shadowingly delivers unto her , in what manner they are handled , and how long they have continued . PROSE III. NO sooner had Euphorbus dispatched his message , than he returned answer unto his Lady : humbly shewing to her Grace , that her whole Councell of State was growne so infirme , some through distempers , others through weaknesse of nature , as they could not without apparant danger of death , attend her Grace . What , is their infirmity so universall , ( answered Themista ) as none of all our Conscript Fathers , whose reverend judgements were sometimes held Oracular , can now tender us their Observance ? Pray thee relate , Euphorbus , how are they handled , or whether they pretend but this onely , to free them from attendance . Truely , ( answered Euphorbus ) so please your Grace , I thinke they doe not counterfeit . For I am perswaded , little did they expect my comming , yet found I some of them raving , as if taken with some dangerous phrensie : Others so melancholy and lumpish , as I could scarcely force one word from them in an houre ; and when it came , as good as no thing , for it was to no purpose . Others infinitely given to laughter ; but none so discreetly sober as might deserve admittance to your presence . Severall were the humors did surprize them , yet not one temperate humour among them . Some were altogether silent , and they the wisest , for they spoke nothing : Others too liberall and lavish of tongue , whose discourse was so disjoynted , as the Scene of one of their distracted sentences , lay in all the foure parts of the world . Heavens blesse me ( said Themista ) is Arcadia , once a seat of Justice , a Treasurie of prudence , and a fruitfull Nurcery of all liberall and free borne studies , become a Fatuano or Bedlam of distracted persons ? Be our hopes so quickly blasted ? But inveterate sores are hardest to be cured ; tell us then Euphorbus , how long may report give out , that these distempers have continued ? Not long , as I heare ( answered Euphorbus ) nor these neither continuate , for they admit intermissions . More dangerous are they ( replyed Themista ) these interspirations minister new matter to their distemper'd humour to worke on . But pray thee what times are held most violent . Some of them ( answered Euphorbus ) are in good temper till after noone ; their pulses beat moderately , their conceits full of quicknesse and pregnancy , their understandings poized with serious solidity ; They can walke , talke , and converse no lesse gravely than gracefully . But the Meridian hath no sooner overshadowed them , then they have quite lost their former alacri●…y . Talke they cannot without stammering , nor walke without supporting ; yea , they cleane forgot what they did i th morning ; and should your Grace aske them a question , they cannot answer you without sleeping . What a soporiferous humour is this ( replide Themista ? ) Sure they have drunke Oppium or Night-shade , or they could never be so heavy-headed : but how stand the rest affected ? Truely Madame ( said Euphorbus ) some of them are so fierce and violent , as their gates are ever kept bolted ; where , if you would bee admitted , you must pay the Porter . Vpon your admittance , if you desire to goe farther , you must liberally reward the Doore-keeper ; by whom being brought into their presence , you shall finde them like so many State-Idols reered up , beckning nothing but awfull reverence . Which made mee remember the saying of Cineas , That hee never came in presence of the Roman Senators , but he verily thought hee came before so many magnificent Emperour●… Bigge and boysterous are they in their salutes , as thus ; Fellow , approach nearer . Whereas poore Snakes , their affrighted Supplicant●… fearing to come within their reach , or draw neere the side of their grate , ( for it may be supposed , they have heard the description of a Caniball ) double their reward to that commodious Keeper of the Ward , to procure their escape . Yet are not these alwayes thus cruell and untractable . For there were divers mollifying playsters and other suppling oyles to allay their distemper , and b●…ing them ( as I heard after ) to a more pleasing and affable humour : but these were privately applied , and by their most intimate follower●… practised , or el●…e they could worke no cure . Trust mee ( quoth ●…hemista ) howsoever their Natures are to bee suppled , these distempers are worst to be cured : for they partake of two incorrigible humours ; immoderate inflammation of the heart , and insatiate extension of the hand ; their bloud therefore must be cooled , and the nerves of their palmes straitned , or they can never bee cured ; but how are the last disposed ? Cleare of an other humour ( answered Euphorbus ) for these seeme ind●…fferent how the world goe ; They are sparing in dispatch , but speedy in repast ; the height of their humour is a plenteous dinner : free they are from anger , or any passionate distemper : onely , they feed so liberally , as they g●…ow unwealdy : they hate nothing more than businesse , so as their judgements ever close with a reference : yet are they of good dispositions , but through discontinuance growne so useles●…e , as they cannot possibly give the Grace attendance . Well done , Euphorbus ; thou hast freely , though shadowingly , discovered their maladies : it rests , that amidst these discomforts wee conceive through their misery , wee comfort our selfe with the continuate remembrance of our owne integrity . Argument . Themista continues her comforts in dilated measures , upon reflexe had to her owne integrity ; She imagines her absence to be the greatest cause of these maladies : for whose Cure , she bestowes her whole Care. POESY IIII. GRieve may we wel , yet in our griefe may wee impart Some equall measure of reliefe unto our hart . Wee suffer in their misery , yet when we view Our well-approv'd integrity , we then renew Those comforts we conceiv'd before and still retaine ; " Such may sit safe and sing a shore have past the Maine . No treasure to a spotlesse mind , whose vertues are In an untainted heart enshrin'd , which cures all care . Yet was not Phoebus free from blame to make his Sonne A Coach-man ere he knew the same , proud Phaëton . Nor we to leave our Throne to these , who cannot keepe Their lips from Cup●… , their hands frō fees , nor eyes from sleep . Our absence was the cause , I feare , through want of us , Which made these Conscript fathers here distemper'd thus . It rests , that we partake a share , ( though wee 'r secure ) In their distresse , and have a Care upon their Cure. Argument . Themista resolves to goe visit her langu●…shing Iusticiaries : Euphorbus diswades her from it : shewing what danger she might incurre by such a visit : No plague more infectious to the body , than the corruption of vice to the mind . PROSE IV. BVt Cures of this nature ( said Themista , require present reliefe . There is more advan●…age in dispatch , than delay ; for by neglect of opportunity , we ever lose the benefit that accrues by it . It is not so hard to give comfortable counsell to the afflicted , as to finde a fit season when to give it . Expedition is the best season in extreames : lest by delaying of our Cure , wee dispatch our Patient . It shall be our first resolve then to goe visit our languishing Iusticiaries , and to employ our best Care for their Cure. It is their inward estate that we tender , for in that consists their highest honour . We are not affraid , ( to use the words of our sententious Petrarch ) to see the ●…uinous houses of their decaied bodies shaken ; for we know well their condition , with the necessity of their dissolution : so their soules , vessels of pur●…r substance , though guests of their bodies , farewell . We ever hold Critolaus ballance for our direction ; who poizing the Goods of Body and Fortune in one Scale ; and the Goods of the Minde in the other , found those pretious & inestimable Goods of the Minde so far to weigh downe the other , as the Heaven doth the Earth & Seas . Wee stand still for that rich and curious Cabbinet of the Soule ; which , so long as it is not rifled by that vitious Crue of inordinate affections , all is safe , all secure : but once soyled , hardly restored to her former beauty But alas for sorrow ! wee cannot chuse but sigh , to see old men so senselesse of their misery . Grieve they cannot for themselves , though they see themselves now descending to their Graves . Vncomfortable is that affliction , which conceives for it selfe no sensible Compassion : and such is these mens case . Their bodies are by age weakened , with rumerous infirmities enfeebled ; there is scarce a day but threatens ruine to their crazie Cottages . Yet are they as fresh and youthfully greene for vice , as if they but lately entred this Theatre of vanity , and might promise to their sparkling youth more yeares , than they can hours , by all possibility . On then , Euphorbus , wee will vi●…t them , lest they perish through our neglect . Desist Madame ( answered Euphorbus ) from a resolve of such infinite danger . I understand their disease to be infectious ; sure I am , their whole family seemes to have a spice of the same malady ; Be not then such an enemy to your selfe , as to expose your Honour to apparant danger , and so perish through your owne Errour . This , Madame , will turne your visiting of them , to a visitation in your selfe . VVho will goe into an infected house , or tempt the divine providence , by subjecting himselfe wittingly to inevitable perill ? And no plague more infectious to the Body , than the Corruption of vice●…o ●…o the minde . Of what strong Constitutions were some of these , who now lye mortally languishing ? Able they were to the sight of man to repell all crudities ; yet see how soone they were vanquished , and to the inbred corruption of their own vitious nature , miserably captivated . I know , Madame , that you partake of immortality ; yet is there something mortall in you ; that may bring you to stoop to that Lure , which , although you now loath , by consorting with them , you may hereafter love . And what then safe amongst us , if you should faile , or fall from us ? Good Madame then , intend your owne safety : Too much affection may bring you to an infection : Prevention is the life of Policy . He is an indiscreet Generall , who lyes his owne person open unto perill : for his fall makes an end of the battell . Secure your selfe by retiring to your Palace : Let Artists , whose Profession it is to intend these Cures , search their griefes , and expose their persons unto danger ; Be it your Care , our joy , to enjoy the safety of your Honour . Argument . Themista concludes , that a pious disposition ever carries with it a preservative against all vicious infection : Shee continues her purpose of visiting distempred S●…atists , and prepares a Confection against all Corruption . POESY V. THough vices like diseases runne in blood , A free-borne disposition that is good , May amongst vicious persons p●…rest live , And in her breast weare a preservative 'Gainst all infection . " Herepels all vice , " Who lookes to have God still before his eyes . The sighing Hart being wounded , straight doth flye By meere instinct , for cure to Ditany : So will the Beare , if she feele any griefe , Fly to the herbe Acanthus for reliefe : Balme-mint delights the Bee , to which amaine She makes recourse , to ease her of her paine : Right well her Celandine the Swallow knowes , Whereto , if ought distemper her , she goes . And shall these creatures , which have onely sense , Challenge above us a preeminence ? No ; wee 've the herbe of grace , whose sacred stem Affords such native vigour unto men , As where it is applide , they need not feare That any foule infection can come there . Surcease to move us then ; we must prepare To visit these who so distemper'd are : Weake Conscript-fathers ! Like 's that State to fal When such Night-Birds doe keepe the Capitall . But that we may our selfe the stronger make , Confection 'gainst infection wee will take●… Which shall be this : " a pure untainted brest , With oyle of Grace , the better to resist . The State-Soare . The second Book . Argument . Themista having visited and felt the pulses of her languishing Councell , bemoanes their desperate estate ; She adviseth for their recovery ; but findes the height of their distemper , to exceede the compasse of her Cure ; She resolves to send her servant Euphorbus for Aesculapius to procure their recovery , and prevent their relapse into the like infirmity . PROSE I. NO sooner had Themista felt the pulse of her diseased Statists , than she perceived their distemper to be of that nature , as being a desperate Soare , i●… required a desperate Cure. Some of their pulses beat faintly ; as if Nature were spent in them , & their wasted Lamps neare the snuffe . Others cleare of an other temper , for they beat so violently , as it might bee easily gathered , that their enraged humour rather laboured of fury and frenzy , than any other indisposed quality . Diversly found she her languishing Senate affected ; but none of them rightly tempered ; which drove her into these and such like perplexed resolves . Where ( said she ) shall we turne us , and see not some heavy Object or other to afflict us ? Every where doe we see a distempred State ; every where a growinggroaning malady . And what way may wee cast for their recovery ? Hee that visiting his friend , findes him sicke , and will not minister unto him ; heavy , and will not comfort him ; needy , and will not relieve him ; such an one may be rather said to mocke him than bemoane him , scoffe him than cheere him , scorne him than succour him . But alas ! we feare much that the nature of their disease far exceeds the measure of our art . Maladies of this quality require an experienc'd hand to afford them remedy . And so tenderly affected are wee to their persons , as wee shall not have the heart to search their wounds , as a pittilesse Artist should doe : for these griefes cannot be cured , unlesse they be to the bottome searched . Meane time , how worthily may wee bemoane this distracted Estate ; when those who should be the Guardidians of the Republique , are so besotted and benummed ; or otherwise with some exorbitant passion so transported , as they , who should guard the publique State , cannot guide their own persons : but like children , goe by holds , to keepe themselves from fals ? Where may the wronged finde redresse , when hee that doth the wrong , is exempted from censure ; either by Corruption , which seales up the mouth of Justice : or Ignorance , which knowes not how to distinguish of the quality of an offence ? Happy were those dayes wherein Ba●…il the Emperour of Constantinople lived : for so peacefull was his State in the gracious progresse of his time , that whensoever hee came to his Iudgement-Seat , hee neither found Party to accuse , nor Defendant to answer . But we , to live both in these factious & unpeaceable times ; and to bee distitu●…e of such as should censure these crimes , where connivence gives impunity to impiety , and greatnesse becomes a Subterfuge to guiltinesse ; who can justly blame us , to vye in teares with the Errours of the time ; and bemoane that State with a compassionate pitty ; which we cānot by our own Endevours remedy ! Now , should we leave them to théselves , how should they possibly cure their owne Soares , who are insensible of their effects ? True it is ; that as the Scorpion hath in her the remedy of her owne poyson ; so the Evill man carrieth alwayes with him the punishment of his owne wickednesse : which never leaves to torment and affli●…t his minde , both sle●…ping and waking ; as it fared with Apollodorus , Hipparchus , Pausanias and many others ; who were so conscious of their owne enormities , as they were ever in pursuit by their owne Furies . But what of all this ? Neither personall shame , nor apprehension of their owne guilt , nor any other subsequent effect , could afford to the publique State , a soveraigne Cure ; till these vicious ones were weeded , vertuous ones elected , and the whole forme or modell of the State changed . O my perplexed Spirit , how justly may wee take up the complaint of our divinely-morall Seneca ! who writing to his friend Lucilius , discovered the face of a corrupted State in this sort : Our newes from Rome are these ; the walls of Rome are ruined ; the Temples not visited ; the Priests fled ; the Treasure robbed ; old men are dead ; young men are mad ; and vices are Lords over all . O my good friend Luciliu●… , if these things seeme great faults , there be greater yet than these in Rome : and they are , that no man will confesse himselfe culpable of any of these things : but the Dictator layeth fault upō the Consul ; the Consul upon the Censor ; the Censor upon the Pretor ; the Pretor upon the Aedile ; and the Aedile upon the Questor : in so much as ; because no man will confesse his fault , we have no hope of amendment . But fruitlesse are these complaints ; our griefes require a speedy hand , and a resolved heart ; de●…terity in the one , and constancy in the other ; speedy in applying , and happy in performing . Wee shall doe well then in resolving to send our Servant Euphorbus for Aesculapius ; by whose incomparable skill , not onely means may be made for their recovery ; but directions had for preventing their relapse into the like infirmity . Haste then with winged speed , Eup●…orbus , to that prime Artist of Physicke ; present our Loue unto him ; the desire we have to see him ; how much we relye on him ; the necessity of his repair : which shall individually tye us to him . Argument . Themista descants on the birth and worth of Aesculapius , the admirable effects of Physicke ; with a just and judiciall reproofe of all Empiricks . POESY I. BEtwixt such men there is great ods Whose parents are immortall Gods and have their birth above ; And those who take their birth frō mē , Or from low Earth , derive their stem , as their owne acts approve . Great Aesculapius , who was bred Of heav'nly not of earthly ●…eed doth his rich gifts impart ; Nor is hee honoured in scorne By Pagans in a Serpents forme , But for his divine art . For as the Serpents watchfull care Exc●…eds all other Creatures farre In wit and polic●…e : So Aescu●…apius doth exceede All Artists sprung of mortall seed In his dexteritie . Thrice sacred Art ! which d●…st restore To life , what was decay'd before , And re-infusest breath To breathlesse souls , by giving health ' The rich & poor mans chiefest wealth ' To stay th' arrest of death . But haplesse they , who deadly ●…icke , Relye upon an Empiricke Whose physick makes them worse , For what ●…e doth apply to them Agrees not with the state of men But rather with his h●…rse . " You then , on whom distempers make surprize , " Be known to such , have practise and advice . Argument . Aesculapius offers his best service to Themista ; She discovers unto him the cause of her griefe ; Shee remembers the endeared name of her Parthenius ; His Poeme ; the many vertues which did enrich him : She intreats Aesculapius his best succour ; and hee promiseth his best art and assistance unto her . PROSE II. NO sooner had Euphorbus delivered his Ladies Message to Aesculapius , who was then engaged in sundry Cures of great difficulty , by meanes of Priapus and his dissolute followers , ( who had brought a dangerous d●…ease into that Province where he resided : ) then pre●…ently , this divine Artist repaired to Themista , offering to her his best service ; which was accepted by her with much thankfull entertainement and affectionate solace . And sitting together in a delightfull Arbour , without more delay , She discovered the cause of her griefe unto him , in this manner . Renowned Sir , to impart unto you , the grounds of our griefe in every particular , would require an ample volume of Iliads : Neither would time suffice , nor your numerous imployments admit , any such copious relations . In one word , if miserably-perplexed Hecuba , whose fortune in her time had no paralell , expressed such discon●…olate effects in the sad ashes of her ruin'd Troy , and her slaughterd Children ; We are sure the sorrowfull Scene of our Tragicke mishaps , may deserve some Annals to memotize them , lest continuance of time might burie in oblivion , the heavy issue of such dolefull occurrents . Wee well remember , how Polo the tragedian , acting the part of Electra upon the Stage ; and being mournefully to bring in the bones of her brother Orestes in a pot , hee brought in the bones of his owne Sonne lately buried , that the sight of them might wring forth true tears indeed ; and by their passionate presentment of them , act it more feelingly : for obj●…cts of Ocular passion cannot chuse but worke in the actors person . The same part may wee be truely said to personate : Nor may we possibly so display them to life , whom wee a●…e here to present , as our afflicted brest conceives : so that , as Pictures receive their life from shadowes , so are you Aesculapius to conceive them shadowed , when our tongue cannot reach so high as to have them fully expressed . For murdering wounds doe ever lose their tongue ; " Small griefes do speake , when greater griefes are dombe . But you will say , true passion admits no Rhetoricall introductiō ; 't is true ; yet fares it with us in this discovery of our fresh-bleeding woes , as it doth with such , on whom the judgement of death being now pronounced , and now come to that fatall place , where they are to satisfie the Law , and disburden their conscious souls of many secret facts , which till then , never came to light , nor admitted a discovery : many trifling delayes will they pretend , purposely to protract time , and enjoy the sweet society of an expiring life : But omitting these , wee will now descend to a free delivery of these our captiv'd and restrained griefes : in discovery whereof , pardon our effeminacy , if we drop some teares , to ease the surcharged relapse , of our afflicted heart . Know ( quoth she ) thou divine Artist , that we were sometimes styled the Soveraignesse of justice ; and in person , intended our care to the execution of it . During which time , our imparalel'd State flourished , Lawes were duely administred , good men were rewarded , the evill justly punished ; the State of ●…ustice so equally poized , as Saturns age seem'd to be revived . Having thus planted our State , we held our selves se : cure : but too much security gives vice opportunity to make her entry : for no sooner were wee removed ( recommending our government to such , whose fidelity we held so inviolably firme unto us , as nothing could divide them from us : ) then that blessed State , where before never corruption raigned , no Oily nor Sycophant tongue ever pleaded , no malady nor distemper raged ; became universally diseased . Not one sound Member left uninfected . Sundry vicious and malignant humours distilled srom the head to the body : which so distempered the whole State , as nothing could bee more ●…eared than an Epidemicall contagion . To give some wofull instances herein , that my griefe may appeare reall without dissembling ; truely passionate without faigning : what a number of Conscript-fathers lye now desperately languishing ; & what small hope have we of their recovering ? Sicke , & heart sicke they are ; yet like Children , rather would they have their Soares to rankle , corrupt , and putrifie , than have their wounds search'd , and so finde remedy . One wee had ( and onely one ) who was sound at heart , whose name ( and blest be the memoriall of so untainted a name ) was Parthenius : to them onely odious , who were vicious ; by them proscribed , who were contagious ; by all esteemed , who were truely vertuous . Him they banished in our absence , nor since could hee ever be admitted to our presence . Whose pregnancy may appeare by that Poeme which his nimble Notarie Ephepomenos in his person , ingeniously composed , and by a petitionary way in his Exile presented , to expresse the wrongs he had ●…uffered , and how injuriously the Censure of his proscription had beene pronounced ; nor shall it a little comfort us , to repeate it , now in his absence ( whose memory is so pretious to us ) who first address'd it : Exil'd ! sterne State , what was the cause ? Corruptiō , or neglect of lawes ? For th' first , I may be bold to sweare , I had least share in all the shere . Ten yeares & more I serv'd the State ; Yet all that time I nothing gat : And for the last , I never slept , While other Birds the Capitol kept . Speake Pig , Lamb , Chicken , Capon , Goose , If ere I wrong'd ASTRAEAS ho●…se , Or made it Errours Rendevous , Or ever minc'd a Mittimus ; Or e're was of that nasty Tribe To sleight a brawle , to take a Bribe ; Or sought a wrong cause to advance , Or e're supprest Recognizance : If any these against me call , I 'le loose Man , Cognizance and all . But trust me , State , while I cōplain , My losse , me thinks , becomes my gain : Now may I freely walke at large , And ne're be put to any charge : And view what weaklings cannot see , The secrets of Philosophy : Or with my Muse in private meete , Lest ●…ustice set us both by th'feet●… , While we bemone ASTRAEAS throne To see a stone sit on a stone . Thanks then not to my friend but foe , Whose loving hate hath freed m●… so . " Iust is my brethrens Bench I trust , " And I 've within a Brest as just . Nor was he more pregnant in wit , than rich in the supply of all vertues : for all that knew him , will give this testimony of him , that his constancy in opposing strong delinquents , did exile him . For like an impregnable Rocke , he stood stoutly against all Opposition ; or like a sweet cooling Spring in a desart , refreshed both himselfe , and others in their affliction , Or like green Bayes in hoary winter , flourished still in the most violent and tempestuous season . Such men have our corruptedst times brought forth , but those were rare , as Soranus and Cannius , Phocion and Socrates ; whose surviving vertues preserue their memory to posterity ; and whose steps our Parthenius hath so well trac'd in acts of justice and piety . But to you Aesculapius , must wee addresse our request ; it is your succour we intreate ; whose Experienc'd art hath wrought such admirable effects . Be it your Care to tender our Senates Cure. So shall you finde us just in our requitall ofso ample a benefit , whensoever opportunity shall so offer it selfe that we may show it . Whereto Aesculapius replied ; As pitty moves me to commiserate your Estate ( Noble Lady ) so shall it appeare , that my zeale to your Honour is unfaigned , by the expression of my Cure. Let it suffice , Madame , that I doe here promise my best art and assistance in the accomplishment of your desires : Meane time , comfort your selfe with expectance , till time come that wee present to your Honour some manifest tokens of successe , by the effects of your practise . Argument . Themista bemones Parthenius his banishment ; wishing him some rayes of comfort amidst those clowds of discontent : How meditation of others miseries , is a soveraigne Balme to attemper , if not to cure any ones affliction . POESY II. WHat age is this , when such are forc't Who liue the best , to fare the worst ? What better may a State befit Then wisedome , honesty and wit ? Which in Parthenius were compil'd , The onely cause hee was exil'd . Had he plaid Buffoun , Fawn or knave To Pandor , flatter or deceive , He had far more respected bin , Nor felt those perils he is in : For he by soothing great mens crimes Had beene a Minion for these times . But he still scornd such base extreams To gather wealth , by servile means : He rather did the Gods beseech Pure to live poor than basely rich . Well then , though thou an Exile be , Thou hast a brest to comfort thee : Choice vertues to thy Cell frequent , To cleare those clouds of discontent With sacred rayes , to crown my wish , " That Exile may become thy blisse . But while our dolefull Eare applies Her selfe to others miseries , A soveraign Balm they doe procure To temper ours , if not to cure : For when we others woes expresse , They heale our own , or make thē lesse . But so it fareth not with mine , For they 'r increas'd with thought of thine . Argument . Aesculapius delivers his opinion touching his Patients ; their wounds must be discovered , before they be cured ; Hee enjoynes them one by one to shew unto him how they are handled , that receits to the quality or distemper of the Patient may be seasonably ministred . PROSE III. THis exquisite Artist Aesculapius , having duely observed their distinct humours , passions , symptoms and dispositions ; freely in this manner delivered his opinion , touching his Patients . It is easie ( said he ) to collect by the outward Physnomy , that there is an inherent Malady : but there is some difficulty in discovering , the true nature or effects of that infirmity , by any conjecture derived externally . Wee of our profession receive especiall notions by the Patients urine , and by other practick meanes , whereof our experienc't Artists make singular use : yet may we erre in these , be our judgements never so cleare ; because the Water doth not ever discover the quality of the humour : yea , I my selfe have heard of one within these few years , who was esteemed an Eminent Professor in our art , and of excellent judgement in waters , to have returned his opinion , that such a water as was brought unto him , ( rather indeed to try him , than any necessity they had to employ him ) was the water of one who was deepely fallen into a Consumption , yet was it the Stale of a fat Palfrey , as appear'd afterwards upon discovery . I hold it then very needfull in the whole course of our Practice ( if the Patient be not altogether insensible of his owne griefe , by reason of the height or extension of his Malady , or incapably of any such discovery in respect of his infancy ) that he freely disclose the nature or condition of his owne griefe : by shewing in every particular how he is handled ; at what times most distemperd ; how in his Siedge , how in his stomacke affected : all which are ever by the Patient himselfe best discovered , and upon his relation , by Physicall directions best attempered . My Conclusion then shall be this ; forasmuch as no wound can be possibly cured , unlesse it be first discovered ; nor salued , unlesse to the bottome searched : I hold it not onely fi●… , but necessarily consequent , that one after another hee brought forth in a Chaire , and before they receive their meanes of Cure , disclo●…e truely how they feele themselves handled ▪ that a receit to the quality of the disease might be seasonably ministred . VVhereto , after Themista had condescended , her distemper'd Statists were brought forth one after another , according to their degree and order ; whom Aesculapius his Boy comforted with a musicall measure after this manner . Argument . Harmonious , Aesculapius his Boy , comforts the deiected Patients ; recounting what innumerable difficult Cures his Master had effected . POESY III. TAke courage to you Sirs , Of this you may be sure , Who has you now in hand Hath done as great a Cure. When Nonius that same scabbe Did of a Strume complaine , He cur'd th' impostume quite By opening of a vaine . Demosthenes was hoarse And could not raise a note , Yet cur'd he him , and pull'd An Oxe out of his throate . Stesichorus , whose veine Was fluent and divine , The onely Lyricke straine Reputed in his time , When he had lost his eyes Through Helena's disgrace , My Master them restor'd And set them in their place . Theotmius was choak't With Helleborian fume , Yet he his gullet swept , And brought his pipes in tune . Diaphanus as cleare As ever christ all was , That any one might view His guts as he did passe , Was by his art so clos'd With Cement that he made , That nought could be descride Within his solid shade . Stilpho a man of note , But fiercer than a Lyon , More wanton than a Goate , He made more chaste than Dian. Lime-twigs were Brusons hands , They were but touch and take , His pilfring was his Lands , Yet them so stench did make By oyles which he applide , As theft did him displease : Thus hath his art beene tride With thousands more than these . Take courage then ; that care Which he in these did shew , His wisedome will not spare To any one of you . Argument . Themista causeth Metoxos , the ancientst of her Senators to be brought forth ; Shee acquaints him with her Care for his Cure ; She wils him to declare unto Ae●…culapius , how he feeles himselfe handled , and to what distempers most subiect ; Metoxos discovers his griefe , with the effects of his distemper , in each particular . PROSE IV. NO sooner had that admirable Artist told Themista , what necessity and consequent utility there was in the discovery of a Patients griefes ; and how none , were he never of so quicke and piercing a judgement , could come so fully to the knowledge of their distemper , as when the Sufferer himselfe became the Relator ; then this equall Soveraignesse of Iustice ; Themista , caused Metoxos , the antientst of all her Senators to be brought forth , acquainting him with her Care for his Cure : Which done , after some comfortable exhortations to prepare his feeble and uncomposed minde , She wil'd him to declare there unto Aesculapius how he felt himselfe handled ; how in the state of his body disposed , and to what distempers most subject . Themista was not more ready to command , than Metoxos was to obey ; so as , raising himselfe a little in his Chaire , and borne up with pillowes to give him more ease , with the best voyce that his enfeebled spirits could afford , he begunne to discover his griefe , with the effects , in these particulars . Seeing Madame ▪ ( said he ) that it is your sacred pleasure , that I disclose mine owne griefes , which by con tinuance , are growne so habituate , as I solace my selfe in my sufferings , I will humbly observe your command . 1 First then , I must ingenuously confesse , there is such a secret sympathy betwixt my nature and the temper of that metall , as I can see no gold but my teeth water . 2 There is such an extension likewise of my sinewes , as mine hand is ever open , nor can I for a world shut it together , till some powder of the foresaid Minerall close it . 3 I feare too , a decay in my Lungs ; for I am become of late very asthmaticall : and am oft times troubled with a swelling in my throat ( when Saturne is predominant ) so as I cannot for the whole world speake for my Client . 4. I am a little troubled with the Migrim , which makes mee I cannot looke steadily upon a just Complainant . And albeit , I must confesse , that I am an old man , and that the very Lampe of my life is nearely spent , yet doe I 5 affect dalliance , and am infinitely taken with three Curtezans , Philia , Dusnoia , Aneleutheria : the immoderate haunting of whose company hath so weakned my spirits , as it hath driven mee into a Consumption . Argument . Themista laments the misery of their condition , who make gold their god ; or proportions Iustice by amity , Enmity , or commodity ; Nothing so pretious to a composed minde , as integrity . POESY IV. WRetched are worldlings , who their hopes dosettle On the base rubbish of an earthly mettall , Which like to bright glasse , though it shine , is brittle When it is used . Like Midas blinded with an endlesse hunger , They reare an Idoll to their Isis honour , Gold is their sole God , and they doate upon her Shamelesse abused . Yet worse are they far , who doe Justice measure By profit , hatred , or unequall favour , Where he that gives most , may respective have her As he desireth . Like to a fresh Rose in a Spinet closed , Nothing 's so pretious as a minde composed , Pure and untainted is her heav'nly Closet Where she retireth . Argument . Themista causeth Metoxos to withdraw ; Epimonos is called forth , who after some reluctancy ( sorting well with the pertinacy of his Spirit ) shewes after what manner hee is handled . PROSE V. MEtoxos having so freely discovered his distemper , Themista caused him to withdraw , and keepe apart from consorting with any ( being told first by Aesculapius , that his disease was very contagious ) and acquainting him withall , that Aesculapius would take course for h●…s recovery as well as the rest , after hee had heard a free and particular discovery of every ones distemper & infirmity . Which done , Epimonos was called forth , who discovering at his very first approach his refractorie nature , after some reluctancy , suiting well with the Pertinacy of his spirit , shewed after what manner he was handled , in this sort . Since I must perforce , ( said hee ) addresse my selfe to doe what mine owne nature will hardly incline un●…o ( though , I must confesse , I had farre rather labour still of my supposed distemper , than be put out of my humour ; ) I will for once , Madam , become mine owne Anatomist before your Honour , and this reverend Artist , whom you so highly tender . 1. I feele very usually such a stiffnesse or unpliablenesse in my selfe , as I would not willingly bee either led or driven . 2. The more I am mov'd , the lesse I feele . 3. I have got such a buzzing in mine head , as I can heare no mans opinion but mine owne . 4. And now of late , grown so insensible of my malady , as I greatly feare , ere long , to fall into an Apoplexy . Argument . Themista justly reproves such , as being wed●…ed to their owne opinion , will not incline to Reason , but preferre a precipitate wil●… before a deliberate Judgement . POESY V. LIke to a Top which runneth round , And never winneth any ground ; Or th' dying ●…cien of a Uine , That rather breaks than it will twine : Or th' Sight-lesse Moale , whose life is spent , Divided from her Element : Or Plants remov'd from Tagus shore , Who never bloome , nor blossome more : Or darke Cimmerians , who delight In shadie shroud of pitchie night : Or mopping Apes , who are possest Their Cubbes are ever prettiest : So hee , who makes his ow●…e opinion To be his one and onely M●…nion : Nor will incline in any season To th' weight of proofe or strength of rea●…on , But prefers will precipitate 'Fore judgement that 's deliberate : He nere shall lodge within my roofe , Till rectifide by due reproofe , Hee labour to reforme this ill , By giving way to others will. Argument . Themista causeth Vperephanos to be brought forth ; who after some arrogant passages , sprung from an insolent humour , is at last content to disclose the nature of his distemper . PROSE VI. SHortly after , upon Themista's especiall command , was Vperephanos brought forth ; who , after some arrogant passages distemperately uttered , in holding himselfe exempt from others command , was at last content ( with much seeming discontent ) to disclose the nature of his distemper . Although ( said he ) I know no Soveraignty whereto I am subject , unlesse my own disposition in meere curtsy , give way unto it ; or this absolute Soveraignesse of justice injoyne it , I will daigne to ranke my selfe with others , ( though much inferiour to my ranke ) in this naked discovery . So it is with me , 1. that I verily thinke my selfe ( especially at the full of the Moone , and when the Dogge — starre rageth ) to be Atlas , and that the weight of the whole world lyes upon my shoulders . 2. I feare much , that this life shall no sooner leave me , than the world will make an Idoll of me . 3. I feele a perpetuall tinckling and sowing in mine Eares ; and these I hold to be the tongues of the State , who are chanting my praises . 4. I wonder how the world was governed before I came into it . 5. I neither see nor heare any , but they admire me ; and were I Isis Palfrey , they would adore mee . 6. I finde a windy or flatuous matter neare to the Orifice of my stomack , which gathers like a purse , and fals into my bladder . 7. I am troubled with many humerous and fantasticke dreams , amongst which , that I have a shuttle-Cocke in my brain ; and am swallowing Gudgeons . 8. And when I awake and walke abroad , I am so taken up with favour and fancy , as when I am my selfe , and in good temper , I doubt verily I shall fall into a phren●…ie . Argument . Themista wonders how any one should bee so much transported with vaine-glory , as to bee wholly forget●…ull of their owne frailty . The onely way to humble man , is to con●…ider how many imperfections accompany him , and how short hee comes , in ought that may truely accomplish him . POESY VI. Why should man be transported with conceit Of fame , strength , beauty , excellency of wit ? Or catch himselfe with a vaineglorious bait ? Or make his soule a servile prey to it ? Why should hee th'ro●…e of frailty so forget ? Which like a mirrour or true chry stall glasse , Presents his native face wheres'ere he passe . Should hee conceive what imperfections are , In Check-roule his attendants ; which obscure Those glimmering vertues in him few and rare ; VVhat poore defence to keepe his fort secure ; How hee 's hemm'd in with danger ev'ry houre ; How hee exceeds in Complements of sin ; How short in that which should accomplish him . O then I know this painted Butterfly Would hang his wing , and yeeld himselfe a man ! A man ! the Embleme of mortality ; Who , if he would but imitate the Swan , And eye his feete , he would be humbler than ! Since his best vertues , if to life exprest , Are but resplendent vices at the best . Argument . Themista cals forth Meilixos ; who in all submissive manner shewes the weakenesse of his Constitution by nature . PROSE VII . NO sooner was that vaine glorious Statist remov'd , being to retire to a private Cell or recluse divided from the rest ; fearing , belike , his distemper , which was sometimes furious beyond measure ; than Themista ( whose Care was ever addressed for their Cure ) cals forth Meilixos ; who in all humble and submissive manner shewed ; 1 That from his very childhood , hee was of a weake constitution ; 2. Of an ea●…ie and facile nature ; 3 Ever cold & aguish ; 4. Subject to bleeding ; 5. And sinew-shrunk : 6. He●… was growne so feeble , as he could scarcely support himself : 7. He found a great decay in his sight , and could goe no way but as others led him . Hee would freely submit himselfe to any extremity , so hee might enjoy the least hope of recovery ; but hee greatly feared an hereditary Malady , descending to all his family , and that was an Epilep●…ie . Argument . Themista comforts Meilixos ; She assures him his disease is not desperate ; Cordials rather than Corrasives are to be applied : wherein shee submits her selfe to Aesculapius opinion . POESY VII . BE of good comfort , thy weake state Meilixos , is not desperate . Let thy dead spirits be reverst , By recollecting them disperst . Thou ha●…t a feeling of thy griefe , Which promiseth more quicke reliefe Than those , whom sharper fits assayle , And cannot tell us what they ayle . This Expert Man , thou maist be sure , By his Experienc't Care , and Cure , Will thy di●…temper take away , Or by his Art the griefe allay . " For such as have both skill and will , " Doe often Cure , but seldome kill . Now , my conceit is that these grieves Crave Cordials more thā Corrasives : ●…n which opinion I submit To Aesculapius , as is fit . Argument . Themista sends for Vpotomos ; Shee commands him to discover his griefe , which hee performes with much discontent . PROSE VIII . NOt a little was Meilixos comforted , by these sweet measures ; so as his very Countenance gave promising hopes of his recovery . But being commanded to retire , and with patience at●…end the opportunity of his Cure ; Themista forthwith sent for Vpotomos ; who presented himselfe with a sterne and rough Countenance : indifferent he seem'd who were pleas'd , who displeas'd : full of discontent was his visage : nothing but fire and fury sparkled from his eyes : small was the reverence he shewed in the presence of his Soveraignesse . In one word , hee seem'd as if he had falne at oddes with himselfe ; so cloudy was his Countenance , so distastfull his appearance . Being at last commanded to discover his griefe ( whereof hee retain'd an Index in his face ) and in what sort hee felt himselfe distempered ; as one incensed with that command , and fixing his Ferret eyes in a furious and dispassionate manner , with much avers●…nesse returned this answer . It is not my condition to thaw or resolve into teares , nor come with an Humble complaining , like that white-liver'd Senator , whose effeminate nature discovers the Babie to be of a poor & irresolute téper . I can disclose my griefe without a groane ; and my paine without a plaint : which , to satisfie my selfe , next your command , Lady ; to whom by our Officiall degrees we owe some Soveraignty , I shall briefly unfold . For my Constitution , it is strong and full of vigour , unlesse some violent fit of anger bring it to distemper . From whence some incident Maladies arise , which enfeeble the strength of nature ; and whereof I shall here returne a relation more punctually particular . 1. First then , I can justly complaine of nothing more than inflammation of mine eyes , and heat of stomacke . 2. And I verily thinke , that my too long familiarity with one Eris , a neare acquaintance of mine , hath so infected my bloud , as it is impossible to bring it to a right temper ; so as this exquisite Artist of yours ( Madame ) may save that labour . For I never yet saw that object , which gave mee delight ; nor that Subiect , wherein I tooke content . 3. I am subject to fearefull dreames , which so startle and distract me , that albeit I am but seldome drunke , yet am I never mine owne man , neither sleeping nor waking . 4. I am grievously troubled with stitches , and with that incessancy of passion , as they admit no intermission . All which together , heate my bloud so intemperately , as I much feare a dangerous Pluri●…ie . Argument . Themista condemns these fiery and furious Spirits , who ever labour to distemper : and before ever they heare the cause , pronounce their Censure . As wounds are to be searched , so are they with Oyle to be suppled , and with Balme healed . POESY VIII . YEE fiery furious spirits , sonnes of thunder , Who fil judiciall seats with nought but wonder ; Yee labour of distemper ; rack our Lawes , Pronouncing judgement ere you heare the cause ! Know yee shrill Bonargs , for to you we speak , Whose State-recov'ry is the goale we seek , Thunder spoiles fruits when they are in their setting , Sharp doomes indurate natures most relenting . The glorious Sunne works by divine reflex On sev'rall subjects , sev'rall effects ; For when hee 's pleas'd his tresses to display , " Same beames which soften wax , do harden clay . For howsoe're all of one masse be made , Yet equally all are not tempered . This then my counsell is , lest ●…ustice wither , Favour and rigour must be mixt together ; So wounds wel searcht , ( t is folly to conceale them ) There 's Oyle to supple , and a Balm to heale them . Argument . Themista sends for Amerimnos to come unto her , whom her faithfull servant Euphorbus findes sleeping in a corner ▪ Being asked the ground of his distemper , after a nod or two , hee returnes her t●…is answer . PROSE IX . THat sullen discontented Malevolo , had no sooner uppon Themista's command retired , being close pent up in a Cave , lest he should quarrell with the light ( a Consort much different to his unsociable humour ) for privacy was his Lawne , and discontent his Lure : then Themista sent her faithfull servant Euphorbus for Amerimnos , the very last of her Patricians , to come unto her ; whom hee tooke napping , for he found him sleepingin a corner . Long did he whup and hollow , but all in vaine ; * Endymion never slept soundlier on Latmus mount , than this State-crickit did in his Chimney nooke . Many wayes he used to awake him forth of that Lethaean slumber , by cramping , tickling under th' eare , applying fumes to his nose ; but fruitlesse was all Euphorbus practise : till at last , starting suddenly out of his dreame , hee called aloud Sympotio , Sympotio , ( for so was the Yeoman of his Cellar called ) bring me a lusty Cup of Frontineack , to cleare mine eye-sight this morning ; but hee was much mistaken both for the time o' th day , & his liquor ; for it was now drawing towards the Evening ; and for his Frontineack , there was none such in all his Cellar . Howsoever , Euphorbus had prevented his Carouse by his Message ; being then to deliver unto him his thanklesse errand . Long was it , after such time as Euphorbus had acquainted him with T●…emista's pleasure , before this dreaming man could call to minde what that Lady might be ; so much had sleep dull'd him , or his darling Sacke besotted him , as a mindlesse ▪ oblivion had seaz'd on him , and made him quite forget who first advanc'd him . At last , rubbing his over-steep'd noddle , & sounding a retrait to his wandring senses , who were gone a wooll-gathering , hee gave eare to Euphorbus message ; and with an indented pace ( with two Bonsocio's to support him ) addressed himselfe with best speed he could , towards Themista : by whom being asked the ground of his distemper , after a nod or two , he returned this drowsie answer . Madame , I tooke very good rest , before your Servant call'd mee , and should shortly doe so againe , if you would but dismisse mee . Truth is , I am neither greatly sicke nor well : for mine appetite to eate , drinke and sleepe , did never yet faile me ; but it fares with me as with them that are taken with an Atrophie , though I feed well ; 1. I thrive ill . In the afternoone , I am ever taken with a 2. dry Hecup : which makes mine head so heavy , as i 'm enforc'd to lay my Chin on my Breast : I know not what familiar hath throwne his Clubbe over me , but questionlesse , there is some Gipsie tricke in it , for I can never heare Iustice talkt of , but I must have a 3. nappe . I am ever 4. dreaming on the Bench , that I am shooting at rovers , which makes me to pronounce judgement at hap hazard : wherein ( like a just man ) I am ignorantly innocent whether it passe for Plaintiffe or Defendant . The greatest fault I finde with my self , is my 5. defect of memory ; so as I verily thinke , I shall play Messala Corvinus , and forget my owne name , and so by degrees fall into a Lethargy . Argument . Themista concludes , that there can bee no secure State , where Security fits at the Sterne . She solicites Aesculapius Care , and recommends them to his Cure. POESY IX . HOw can that State be secure , Or true freedome ever erne , Where Security hath power , To direct and guide the Sterne ? Haplesse-hopelesse is that Clime , Which is of this humour sicke , And in sleepe consumes her time , Ruine to States politicke . " States are ever most secure , " When they hold thēselves least sure . But you grave Artist , we sollicit Who daign'd our Patients to visit , Neither care nor cost to spare , So you cure them by your Care. " For we to that skill of yours Recommend our S●…natours : Praying Heav'ns your Cure to blesse , And to crowne it with successe . The CONSVLS Cure. The third Book . Argument . Aesculapius admires the difference of their distempers ; and after some discourse of his travaile and practise , préscribes Phy●…icall directions to Metoxos . PROSE I. WHen the Learned Aesculapius had heard this free delivery of their infirmities ; turning to Themista , Madam ( said hee ) I never found more different distempers in any State. Through most parts of the whole World have I travailed , and in my travaile practised either in my owne person or by mine Agents . Where in my Survey of this Vniverse , and the exercise of my Profession , I encountred with divers Maladies , which had made Fooles of the best Physitians : yet with Cures of more difficulty than these , have I seldome grappled . Personally stood I engaged for the service of Athens , when that great Plague so universally raged , as there sufficed not among the living to burie the dead . Even then , I say , when that flourishing Treopagus , where those jud●…cious Senators ( surnamed Areopagites ) exercised judgement was not onely left desolately unfrequented , but the very Seates of Iustice were with brambles over-shadowed ; the publique Market place where such Confluence of people from all Coasts and Countries resorted , with grasse covered ; those sumptuous buildings , wherein A●…t seem'd to contend with her selfe , utterly re●…inquished ; and those glorious Temples of the gods , by rea●…on of shady Coverts so obscured , as their magnificence could not be discerned . When ( I say ) nothing but an universall desolation had seaz'd on that disconsolate City , so as her very enemies , who sometimes maligned her happinesse , now melted into teares to see her glory so eclipsed , and to misery reduced . Even then did I happily arrive at Pylae , and by my art so purified the ayre ( which was then so infected , as the very Birds fell downe dead with corruption of it ) as in very short time , the City recovered , the Senators returned , the Citizens re-inhabited their relinquished Mansions . The like service I did to the flourishing State of Sparta , where they erected a Temple to mine honour ; and retaine to this day the memory of me in a sumptuous Statue , which they reared for me . Bizantium will acknowledge the like courtesie ; and so will all States , who have at any time beene surprized with any raging malady . But this I doe not speake of to set my selfe at Sale , or like our Mercenary Mountebanke , to erect a Stage for discovery of my Cures ; and by a Comick Enterlude with a servile Buffoun , foole my selfe into popular esteeme : or set up in some frequented place , a fictitious Catalogue of my incredible Cures ; Or hang up my Picture , to enforce a deeper impression in the taking eye of the vulgar ; Or with sophisticated oyles , delude the sight of a bleere-ey'd Spectator . No ; I doe value more the honour of my Profession , than to set it at so low a rate as to begge estimation : or by sordid means s●…rue my selfe into opinion . True worth can never admit of Ostentation . It shall be my glory to afford my best art to others necessity ; wherein their health shall be my highest gaine , their recovery my wished goale . And to you , Madam , doe I speake it , who●…e vertuous fame ●…hall ever endeere mee to your memory ( nor was I ever conscious of flattery ) that my Practise hereupon these your distempered Statists shall manifest to the world , that effects give the best approvement to all Professions . But delay ministers fuell to a growing disease ; this Preamble , Madam , was but to acquaint you with the method of our Profession , who must aggravate the difficulty of their Cure , to procure them the more credit . Whereat , Themista smiling , replied ; Renowned Sir , Leave that Method to such novice Artists , who stand in need of a publique Cryer of their Cures ; for your selfe , we dare avouch , that so much are you indebted to fame , or shee rather indeered to you , that you cannot be more highly possest of opinion than you are . That fame of Pergamus , your Scholler Galen , hath disperst your glory by the excellency of his art . That joynt name of Sixe renowned Physitians , Hippocrates hath with no lesse repute advanced you . That surviving glory of Anazarba , Dioscorides , whom the familiarity showne him by those princely but unhappy Amorists , Marke Antony , and Cleopatra , so highly raised ; hath with no lesse art improved your fame . The universall opinion which all Nations retaine of you , may be probably gathered , by those many Temples erected to your Honour , and entitled by your owne Name , the more to dilate your honour . What Statues have beene reared , what Shrines erected for you ? and how severely have punishments beene inflicted on such as have either detractively inveyed against you , or sacrilegiously dishonoured you ? Which might be instanced in the misfortunes of Dionysius ; who , though he made a jeast of Sacriledge , and gave easie reines to all prophanenesse , yet his exile from the flowry boundiers of his Empire , rewarded him for his impious designes towards the Gods : amongst which , for the dishonour hee did unto you , Aesculapius , in cutting off your beard , and clozing up his Sacriledge with a jeere , saying , it was unfit , for you the Sonne to have a beard , and your Father Apollo to have none . It is true , Lady , ( answered Aesculapius ) just was the censure inflicted on Dionysius ; but undeserved was his impiety towards mee , for those many favours which his Countrey had received from me . Howsoever , you shall know ( Madame ) that I was never ambitious after fame ; which , for the most part , is soonest procured , when it is least desired : for where vertue is the sole ground of our actions , it ever drawes to her some discerning Spectators to crown them with a deserving applause . Ever to doe good hath beene mine ayme without affectation ; for actions done for vaine-glory , lose their desert ; but protraction in Cures ; gives life to distempers . It is more than high time , that we now addresse our selfe to our Practise : wherein , though most of our surreptitious Empiricks , gaine them experience by the death of their Patients ; our Patients ( so heavens breath on our Endeavours ) shall suffer no such fatall prejudice by our Experience . Nor doe we feare it , Aesculapius , ( answered Themista , ) where Theory , Practise , and Honesty meete together in one Subject , the Cure cannot but promise successe ; proceed then happily to your succe●…ding fame , and your Patients cheerefull recovery . Aesculapius having thus received Themista's charge , for the Care and Cure of her Consuls ; prepares proper receits to be seasonably applyed to every Malady . Hee craves Eucrisius assistance ; whose presence assures him of successe in his Practise . And first , because first in order , and a distemper of infinite danger , and therefore requisite to have the expeditest Cure , he cals forth Metoxos , to whom he gives these directions . Metoxos , you have a foule body , full of vicious and malignant humours , my opinion therefore ( drawne from the seldome erring rule of judgement and practise ) is this ; that you first be purged , that your body may be better prepared . Secondly , you must be blooded , that all corrupt , clotted and congealed blood may bee removed . Thirdly , you must have a vomit , that all crudities which lye rotting about your stomacke , may bee exhaled . The necessity of which Experiments shall appeare ( said Aesculapius ) by the effects , which each of these produce . 1. For your Siege , the Lake Cocitus , or Stimphalus were odoriferous Bathes unto it . The whole History of Ajax cannot show the like : for the luscious't nutriment ever renders the loath somst excrement . 2. Secondly , for your blood , it is so thicke and corrupt , as Buls blood is of a pure , simple , and subtile quality in comparison of it : which may appeare by the standing colour , or Iewish tincture you have in your face , which being laid on with an Aurum technicum , cannot blush . 3. Thirdly , for the Crudities of your Stomacke ; they are so numerous , and those so onerous , as they that see your Eiectments , will hold them meere deceptions of the Sight : for sometimes , you shall cast up a whole Oxe ( equall for proportion to Milo's Bull ) which stucke so in your throat , as you could not speak , but brought you by meanes of this Obstruction , in great danger of a Squinancy ; other times , a Massie Basen and Eure , all partiall-guilt ; Now an hundred or two of Rixe dollors ; and in the end , when your stomacke is disgorged of these , you shall cast up a whole Covy of Partridge , Ducke and Mallard , Cram'd Capons , with much other both wilde fowle and tame ; all which lay fluttering on your queasie stomacke , unconcocted . And all this by the sorcery of your Curtezan Analeutheria . Having prescribed you these directions ; and prepared for you a Pectorall of Hearbe of Grace : with a Plaister of Liver-wort ; ( for I conceive all these distempers to proceed from an ill liver ) I must advise you to be patient in your Cure ; which if you doe , I make little doubt , but to work a rare Cure upon you . For this hath beene ever my positive Conclusion in the whole course of my Practise , that there is nothing , which makes diseases more incurable , than the negligence or impatience of the Patient : as might bee instanced in Sisambres ; which Story , Harmonius , it is my pleasure you relate in a Musicall straine , while I prepare his Physicall ingrediences . Argument . Harmonius relates how Sisambres one of King Cambyses iudges , and taken with like infirmity as Metoxos was , would not bee perswaded to take a purge , nor bee cured of those corrupt humours , wherewith hee was oppressed : which cost him his life , being by Cambyses Command flead , and his skinne nayled to the judiciall Seate , upon which his Sonne , succeeding him , was to sit , to put him in minde of his duty . POESY I. OFt would Cambyses that great Persian King Acquaint Sisambres with 's disease , And to his Couch his choice Physitians bring , Yet hee 'd incline to none of these . Purge , purge ( said one ) Sisambres , ●…r you dye , Looke to 't by time , you 'r one of note ; A vomit take ( said this ) for I descry A stall-fed Oxe sticke in your throat . You 'r ranke in blood , Sir , you must blooded be , An other Artist to him said , There is no Cure like to Phlebotomie , To have your humour right allai'd . But none of these could any way prevaile , Sisambres their opinions s●…eighted ; Knows any ( said he ) better what I ayle Than I my selfe ? that Art 's quick-sighted That sees more in us than our selves doe feele ; That wee 'r distemper'd thus or thus , Wherea●… our temper steeres the Common-weale ; " Physitians cure yourselves not us . Your purging pils , vomits , phlebotomie Shall worke no practick Cure on mee ; He that is well how can he better be ? Be gone , your art deserves no fee. " He that can feed and sleep , and take his ease , " He may be sicke , but 't is a sweet disease . But poor●… deluded Iudge , he could not finde That which most distemper'd him , Those ranke corrupting humours of his minde , Which caus'd him after loose his skinne . For when no Art nor Counsell could perswade , Cambyses held it very meete , Sisambres for example should be fleade , And 's skinne nail'd to the iudgement seate , That his succeeding Son might thence rememb●…r The duty was impos'd on him , To doe what 's iust to all , as he did tender The future safeguard of his skin . " His griefe , Metoxos , much resembled yours , " Purge then by time , & please Superiour powers . Argument Aesculapius prescribes directions to Epimonos ; diseases insensible are most incurable ; He is confident of his Cure , if hee freely submit himselfe to his Care : with the danger hee may incurre by declining from his prescriptions . Small griefes in an untoward patient , become in short time mortally desperate . This he instanceth in the misfortunes of M. Caelius , the relation whereof hee recommends to Harmonius . PROSE II. DIsposed had this judicious Artist no sooner of Metoxos , whose violent distemper required present reliefe ; than , leaning a little on his Elbow , as one deepely engaged to some serious contemplation , hee in the end burst out into these words . Madame ( quoth hee to Themista ) it is an usuall Proverbe in these parts , that the Ship had need be free from leakes , where the Pilot is drunke . What doe you meane by that ( answered ●…hemista ) Mary thus ( quoth Aesculapius : ) your Grace hath here a faire , ample , & flourishing estate ; of a large extent is your government ; but the members , wherof your State consists , had need bee well disposed , when their heads be so distempered . How doe you thinke of us ( answered ●…hemista ) we should be the Head ? doe you finde any such distemper in our affections ? Excuse me , Madame , ( replyed Aesculapius ) There is none that knowes you , but truely honours you ; your actions are rightly squared ; your affections sweetly tempered ; your Scale of Justice equally poized : but a sinister hand perverts it . The fountaine is not to be blamed , if any troubled or brackish water , partaking of the Earth , not of the Spring , corrupt it . Pure is her nature , and had so continued , had not some impurer mixture soil'd her ; which is meerely contingent , and no way inherent to her . And how ( said Themista ) might we restore these corrupted Conduits of ours to their former purity ? By preserving and reteining your owne ( answered Aesculapius : ) The Vnicornes horne being dipt in water , cleares and purifies it . In our applying Cures to Subjects of this nature , it must be our worke to imitate , but yours to perfect . Equall prejudice befals Iustice , either through your absence , or connivence . Where , if a fluxe of humors be not timely prevented , the whole body will become shortly endangered . Trust mee , Noble Lady , had my Patient Metoxos been begun with in time , he might have beene cured with lesser difficulty and danger : for there is nought that more hazards us , than giving way to an humour . VVhich I shall returne manifest proofe of in the Cure of my next Patient , ●…hose habituate infirmity will force me to the utmost of mine art ; in trying many conclusions , e're I shall bring him to a perfect recovery . The more are we tyed to your attendance ( answered Themista ) being so full of practise , and those so powerfull and eminent Patients , which remaine under your ●…ure , in all parts where you reside : but Themista knowes how to requite a Curtsie of such high consequence ; which shall appeare in a more reall and expressive recompence . Presents and ample promises are moving objects to mercenary Professants ( answered Aesculapius ) but as Nature hath enabled me with gifts of knowledge , so hath shee given me a contented minde , to confine my desires to my present fortune . To doe good shall bee my greatest gaine ; more than this I little need , and to obtaine this shall be mine highest ayme . And so turning him towards Epimonos , who all this while sate bolt upright in a chaire , without any sensible appearance of paine , hee freely imparted his minde unto him , in this manner . I am not ignorant , Epimonos , what danger you are in ; yet let not this amate you : the more danger in the Cure , the more shall be my Care. Be you confident in hope , as I constant with my best helpe . My directions shall be usefull , & withall , so experimentall , as being carefully observed , they shall in very short time , become ( in your particular ) soveraigne and healthfull . First then , forasmuch as I very well know the pertinacy of your humour to bee such , as it must be corrected , before any medicine can be properly applied , or usefully ministred : I am of necessity to take this course ( for milder receits might prove worse ) that Lenitive and mollifying plaisters be used to foften the 1. Stifnesse of your arteries ; to lay Cantarides to your necke , to sucke away those 2. Crude humours , which by concretion so benumme and stiffen your necke , as you cannot bow it . I am to apply likewise , Goats blood , to dissolve that 3 adamantine humour congealed within the Membrane or thinne skinne which incloseth your heart . And because , diseases insensible are most incurable , I must use a little s●…arifying , to bring you to a 4. feeling of your griefe , and perfecting my Cure Nor is this all , sundry other ingrediences are to be prepared , before a Cure of this difficulty can be possibly effected . I am therefore to prescribe you a diet drinke , strongly tempered with the juyce of Morphasmos and Aisthema , hearbs of soveraigne vertue for your Malady . These must be daily applyed , and as hot as you may suffer them : Wherin I intend to be personally employed , that nothing may be omitted , for the expediting of your Cure. Neither let the long continuance of your Physicke any way dishearten you ; it is a constant Maxime amongst us ; " No taske of difficulty can be effected speedily . Though our course bee slow , it will prove more sure . Our running Empirickes , who kill an hundred e're they come to so much experience as to cure one , would hold you in hand that this were but an easie Cure ; yet twenty to one , they would kill you before they cur'd you . For their art is to heale the wound , but never search the Cause : so the skinne be whole , they never thinke of rankling within : But to the honour of your Princesse , to whose service I have devoted my best art , and the benefit of my Patient whom I take in hand , you shall receive a more safe and soveraigne Cure from me . For I may assure you , out of my confiden●…e of art , and his assistance , who gives prosperous successe to all arts , that by observing my directions , you shall not onely prevent falling into an Apoplexy , ( a spice whereof you have already ) but Cure any o●…her infirmity that hath befalne you , through your owne opinionate pertinacy . For the Physitian conceives hope in Cures most difficult , where he hath to deale with a temperate Patient . Whereas , if you will not freely submit to my prescriptions , but with a violent swinge decline from my directions , looke upon the danger you incurre , and then thanke your owne opinionate error . Small griefes in an untoward Patient , become in short time mortally desperate : which might be instanced in the misfortunes of M. Caelius ; the relation wherof , that his fate may be your Caveat , I recommend to you Harmonius . Argument . Ha●…monius reports in these Musicall dimensions , how M. Caelius , because hee could not endure any one to speake but himselfe , nor heare any ones opinion but his owne , nor use his hand in the pleading of any ones cause but his friends , became dombe , deafe , and lame : And being advised before , hee fell into the height of this extremity , to seeke for remedy , refused all advice , a●…d so by being deprived of all sense , 〈◊〉 into an Apoplexy . POESY II. THose , who their opinion prize By their esteeme , not others eyes ; Those , who prefer their owne conceit , And hold all other judgements weake : Doe run their ship upon such shelves , They still bring ruine to themselves . So Caelius to opinion tide Could scorne all other men beside , And rudely interrupt their speech , And treat of things above his reach . None their disourse could so contrive , Nor their opinion freely give , Nor ought determine , but his wit Must newly forme and alter it . But see the issue of this man , And to what end he after came ! He , who himselfe would onely hear●… , And to another stoppe his Eare ; Who was to that perversenesse grown , He 'd sleight aliudgments but his own ; Who would no good mans cause intēd , Nor plead for any but his friend ; See heav'ns iust judgement ! he became By sacred doom , domb●… , deafe & lame . And being advis'd to looke betime Ere strength of Nature did decline , Still solely-wise he would despise Their wholesome councell and advice : Till at the last depriv'd of sence And Reasons sacred influence , An Apoplexy seaz'd each part , Till death besieg'd and tooke his hart . " The way to purchase wisedom●…s prize " Is never to be overwis●… , " And will appeare diviner still " By the resigning of our will. Argument . Aesculapius acquaints Vperephanos with the difficulty of his Cure ; the quality and variety of his receits ; He exhorts him to patience , or his griefe will grow to more violence : This hee instanceth in Py●…heas , whose heavy fate hee leaves to the quicke touch and descant of Harmonius . PROSE III. SVrely ( said Aesculapius to Harmonius ) thou hast deblazoned the Tragicke Scene of Caelius misfortunes in right colours : for he was ever said to have a good right hand , but an ill left hand , because he could plead against a man better than for him . Which procured him no lesse hate , than his mercenary Eloquence purchased him gaine . But our Cures are many , and the day runnes on : we must now addresse our best endeavours for your recovery ( quoth he to Vperephanos : ) wherein I must tell you freely ( nor would I have it to discourage you ) that your Cure is of greatest difficulty . Your very action , gesture , and discourse puts me in minde of Rhemnius Palaemon , that arrogant Grammarian , or rather Grammatist ; who vaine-gloriously boasted , that good Literature had first life by him , and should after dye with him . Or like Gorgias the Orator , who ever advanced himselfe to the highest place , and arrogated to himselfe the deservingst praise . You have hit his humour rightly ( answered Themista ) heavens grant you may fit him with as proper a remedy : but in good sadnesse , Sir , how doe you finde him affected ? Distracted , you would say , Madam , ( replied Aesculapius . ) The Oetean Hercules had never a more violent beating pulse , after hee had put on that empoisoned shirt of Nessus . Observe the madding motion of his Eyes ; how wildely hee lookes ! In what a disioynted Circuit his discourse runs on ! I can assure you , Madam , for all his silence , hee verily conceits at this instant , that the wisedome of all politicke States is confined within the empty circumference of his braine . A dangerous head-piece , trust me ! This I am sure of , were the government of the Vniverse left to the guidance of his Sconce , we should have a mad State. Yet I can tell you Sir , ( said Themista ) that since our unhappy absence from these parts , he was held the onely Oracle of our Court. Nothing was definitely decre●…d ; no Censure pronounced ; no judgement delivered ; nor any publique Act promulgated ; unlesse it were first by him approved : so universally was hee reputed . This it is , and onely this ( answered Aesculapius ) that hath madded him . Had he beene opposed in his will , we had never beene put to this worke . So dangerous it is to sooth or second some humours , as it fares with these , as the Ape dealt with her darling : They kill them , while they coll them . Shady honours are their beauties ; applause is their minion ; nor doe they care so much for desert , as opinion . This humour is long rankling before it come to burst out : but this Ery●…ipelas or wilde fire being once kindled , the flame is not so soon to be quenched . All this time , sate Vperephanos upright in his Chaire , shewing a Supercilious kind of State : and expressing a kinde of humorous action or apish formality , in wink●… , noddes , and other strange gesticulation : which ●…lapius well observing , and drawing near him ; ask't him how hee did ? Excellently well ( quoth Vperephanos ) for how is it possible I should doe otherwise ? The greedy eyes of the vulgar are fixt upon me ; The whole Counsell-Chamber relyes on me ; The publique State , hath recommended the helme of her government unto mee . If I faile , she fals ; her grandeure lyes on my shoulder ; in the wounding of whose honour I suffer equally . Goe to ( quoth Aesculapius ) you know not what you suffer : you are madded with an over-weening opinion of your owne wisedome . Assure your selfe , the State stands in no such neede of you ; should you perish , she would flourish . Shee hath other shoulders to support her ; other Lights to direct . her than your addle braine . Goe to Sir , would you have your selfe displayde in your owne native colour ? I must doe it , and roundly too , or I shall never bring you to a discovery of your selfe . I will tell you then what I feare , though you feele no such occasion of feare in your selfe . I finde as well by your Cra●…is as Chri●…is ( with the graduall courses of your Paroxysmes , Symptomes , and other concurring distempers ) that you have beene bit by a ma●… dogge ; so as you must 1. eate a piece of his Liver : which must bee stuffed with the leaves of the low shrub Tapeinotes . You are like wise for certaine dayes together to be 2. tyed Chinne-deepe in Lazarello's poole ; where you are to bee kept to a low dyet . Neither can I finde any meanes better to cure your distemper , than to 3. remain there , till all those Bedlam fooles laugh you out of your humour . Howsoever , you must bee patient , or your griefe will grow more violent , as it fell out with Pytheas ; whose heavy fate I leave to you Harmonius , to descant on in your wonted manner . Argument . Harmonius chants out the misfortune of the Athenian Pytheas ; who became so selfe-conceited , as hee was wont to lay his Eare to Cranies in wals and portells , to heare himselfe applauded : to weane him from this humour , hee was oft advised ; but being deafe to counsell , and growing as in yeeres , so ever higher blowne with the bladder of arrogancy , hee declined at last to a Frensie . POESY III. HOw blinde is he , who labours to be knowne To all mens imperfections but his owne ? How can he have an Eare to any cause , That is engag't to popular applause ? This , Pytheas found , who grew in time so strong Through selfe-conceit in Eloquence of tongue , As he suppos'd , each place that he came in , There was no other talke but praising him . To wals and portels would he lay his eare , Through creeks , & cranies too , that he might hear His much desir'd applause , which having done And heard his praise , he held his prize halfe-won . Many disswad't him from this madding course , But all in vaine , his humour still grew worse , Deafe was his Eare to counsell , all his art Was to gaine praise , no matter for desert . Ripe were his yeares and mellow , yet age-grown , With arrogancy was he bladder-blowne : So as , when neither reason could perswade , Nor he by wholesome counsell would be swaide , But so admir'd his selfe-conceited worth , As he had beene some Deity on Earth : He , as I 've heard some of his Nation tell , Into a fearefull frensy , after fell . Whence I conclude , " 't is better farre to want " Wit , and to know 't , than to be arrogant . Argument Aesculapius prescribes Meilixos cordiall and comfortable things , to restore Nature so much decay'd in him . Hee gives him assured hope of his recovery , for that he findes him of so tractable a nature , so pliable a quality . Hee wils him to keepe home , till hee be perfectly restored to his health ; And that those Epilepticke passions , to which he is subiect , might endanger him , by comming abroad , or walking neare any steepe place , as it fell out with Melotes , which Story hee commends to Harmonius . PROSE IV. MAdam ( said Ae●…culapius , turning himself to Themista ) this was a mad piece to make a Consul of ; but there was never any good wit without some egregious folly . They that would suffer themselves to be troubled at the sight of every mad Statist , would have some thing to thinke on . Wise men can never bee discovered , but by others folly . Venus never shewed more beauty , than when Nais sate by her , and shew'd her deformity . All this is true ( answered Themista ) but nothing troubles us so much , as to see one , whose judgement should have ministred advice to others , so bleered and blemished in his own . Surely , had you knowne this Vperephanos , when wee first knew him , you would have admir'd him for pregnancy of wit , solidity of judgement , and generality of worth . Nothing was spoke by him , but infinitely became him ; ripe hee was of conceit , and rich in fancy . And it was that ( said Aesculapius ) and nothing but that ( as I said before which brought him to this dangerous Frensy . I must tell you , Madame , for mine ancient experience hath found it true : That person had need of a composed spirit , and to have a constant and staid wit , who preserves it untainted , when hee is hugged in the Court , honoured by the State , and humoured with applause . The axiome is , " it is rare to bee great and good ; but no lesse authentique is this , rare it is to bee popular and wise . Many have beene thought fit to governe , before they came to governe ; wise they were in mannaging , constant in pursuing , and prosperous in atchieving , but all this , while they were private men . The Bowl●… chang'd her Byas , when it came to runne on more steepe grounds . Promotion is the Touchstone , which tryes every mans metall . These pregnant-piercing wits , have commonly dangerous diving conceits : which become subject to crackes or flawes , if they be either by competition opposed , or by arrogancy and applause too much tickled . I could instance you many eminent Personages here in Arcady , who became subject to this distemper , though during their time of privacy , most sober . The wise Ithacus had the hearbe Moli in store , for an antidote against such Sirenes . But let this nothing amate you ( Madame ; ) wee have so dispos'd of him ; as we hope to leave him in far better temper , than wee found him . He had no sooner spoken this , then Meilixos was presented to him , whom hee received with an affable entertaine ; and drawing neare him , and gently stroaking his temples with his hand ; Take heart of grace to you ( quoth hee to Meilixos ) my life for yours ; there is no such violence of distemper , but I shall quickly allay the decreasing heate of this humour . I could wish that my Patient , whom I had last in hand , were in no greater danger . Looke up man , bee not dejected ; within few dayes I doubt not , but to set you on your feete . Milde and moderate hath beene your humour , and I shall fit you with Receits of like nature . Alas , good man , how hee trembles before ever ought be applyed unto him ! These be Symptomes of a weake and pusillanimous spirit . I am verily perswaded , one might work strange conclusions on such a subject : So easily were he to be deluded , if any one would bestow so much time , as to practise upon his weakenesse : Such strong impressions may conceit worke upon a feeble Subject . It is not to bee doubted ( answered Themista ) but very many have been brought to their graves through conceit , before ever they came to be sicke : as might be instanced in that white-livet'd Emperour Dioclesian , one unworthy of so imperiall a title ; with other persons of inferiour quality . To confirme this ( said Aesculapius ) I have heard ( Madam ) of some rare conclusions tryed upon condemned persons : who were hoodwinckt , with their armes laid bare for incision , as if they had beene to bee blooded to death . Luke warme water was applyed and sprinckled upon their untoucht veines , by the supposed Chirurgion ; a strange kinde of whispering or muttering was used about him , as if the delinquent were even then expiring . Nothing left undone to delude him : Nor were their endeavours fruitlesse ; for conceiving this to be true , as they surmized , with an easie credulity vanquished , meekely but simply hee expired . Or like that Cobler of Mantua , who was brought to bee sicke by perswasion , when there was no distemper nor weaknesse at all in his constitution . As they were thus discoursing , Meilixos ( whether through conceit of his owne distemper , or long fasting , I know not ) became sensibly fainting ▪ which , Aesculapius quickly perceiving , runne to him : and ministring to him out of an Amethist boxe , which hee held in his hand , two or three small pellets of soveraigne vertue to breake winde , and give way to respiration ; used these words unto him . What 's the matter , Meilixos ; will you dye in despight of Physicke ? you should wrong Nature much , to enfeeble that by conceit , which shee hath so well strengthened and fortifide for your content . Will you dye , because you are not sicke ? Or , will you bee sicke , because a groundlesse feare tels you , you are not well ? Fye Sir , reflect upon your selfe , and tender your owne estate ! Children can play , till their heads ake ; and will you lye downe and dye , and feele nothing ? But admit you were subject to some exuberant humours , or dangerous distempers ( as all humane respiration passing through such earthen pipes , cannot but by their rubbish receive sometimes ▪ obstruction , or some mouldy , & earthly infection ) these being seasonably disclosed , may bee no lesse speedily prevented , than perfectly cured ; e●…pecially , to such easie Cures as yours , which are not grown indurate nor habituate , and consequently with more facility salved . Give good attention then to my directions , and hold your selfe for safe , if you observe them . My purpose is ( Meilixos ) to prescribe you cordiall and comfortable things ; to restore Nature , rather weakned than decayed in you . I perceive your sight likewise , by too much depression of the Op●…icke part , to bee much darkened , so as I must wash your eyes with Eye bright water , to 1. ●…ecover your sight . Bleeding you are ●…ubject to , which I must stench . 2. Annointed must your sinewes be with Nerveoyle , to 3. supple and strengthen them ; and all this , to bring you to a better feeling of your ●…elfe . I am likewise , to apply certaine 〈◊〉 to your temples , and other affected places , to 4. keepe you from cold faint sweats and swounings , to which I finde you naturally subject . Nor ( to your cōfort ) am I any way doubtfull of your recovery , for that I finde a tractablenesse in you , to follow my directions . Yet withall Sir , observe this Caveat , ( for declining from it may highly endanger you ; ) keep home , for these Epileptick passions , to which you are subject , might engage you to manifest perils by comming a broad , or walking neare any steepe place , as it fell out with Melotes ; the discovery of which Story I commend to Harmonius . Argument . Harmonius rehearseth , how Melotes one of Consul-order , of a weake constitution , weaker apprehension , but weakest in dispatch , became much subject to swounings , and in the end by a weakning or failing of the vitall spirits , to Epileptick passions . He was inioyned by his Physitian , to keepe himselfe close for aseason , for the ayre was too subtile , and piercing for his weake constitution : but especially , to avoide walking alone neare any steepe or precipitious place : but hee , either forgetting , or neglecting this direction , being one day walking on an high Mount in his Garden , untimely perished . POESY IV. HE that can instructions give , And will no directions take , Hee 's not worthy for to live , Nor himselfe a Censor make . Such an one Melotes was , To a Consul order rais'd , Who for weaknesse did surpasse , And for nothing truely prais'd . Of a constitution weake , Apprehension weaker too ; Nothing could he undertake But dispatch did weakenesse show . Subiect was he oft to Swo●…nes , Till his vitall spirits fail'd , And Epileptick passions Him incessantly assail'd . His Physitians , artists rare , Did injoyne him to keepe close For a season out o' th ayre , And a private Stove to chose : Subtile-piercing ( would they say ) Is the ayre , and it will make Strange impressions many way On a constitution weake . But you 'r specially to shunne , We advise in any case , To walke private or alone Neare a precipitious place . But how 's ere he was directed , By these rules of art to doe , He forgot or else neglected , Which procur'd Melotes woe . For h●…e walking on a day , ( As I 've heard it oft times sai●…d ) On a Mount ranke-set with Bay , He untimely perished . For deprived of all s●…nse , While th' vertigo tooke his braine , He fell headlong downe from thence , And did ne're revive againe . Well deserves that man , like fate , Who knowes to prevent all ill , In a steepe and slippery state , Leaves advice & loves selfe-will . " Such one may conceit him strong , " But his safety holds not long . Argument . Aesculapius causeth Vpotomos to be bound : Hee tels him , hee must use the art of Chirurgery as well as Physicke , in the dispatch of his Cure : He wils him by al means to avoid the company of Eris , whose familiarity had so infected him ; And the renewall of whose acquaintance , would bring him to a relapse , and make his disease desperate : ●…his he confirms with the Story of Aeacus , the relation wherof he leaves to Harmonius . PROSE V. YOu see , Madame , ( said Aesculapius to Themista ) what dangers hence occurre , by meanes of a remisse Patient . Who , albeit , hee holds nothing more pretious than health , and seemingly neglects all outward respects for purchasing of it : yet are directions of health no sooner given , than forgot , no sooner prescribed , than neglected . So apt is man to forget what most imports him , and entertaine that with delight , which fruitlesly delights him ; and in the end destroyes him . It is true ( said Themista ) present delights so captivate the Sense , as it will seldome or never suffer us to converse with Reason . We love nothing better than life , yet by living ill wee prevent all meanes of living long . Nature dictates this unto us ( answered Aesculapius ) that wee should tender nothing more than health , nor value any directions like those which tend to the conservation of it ; yea , the Poet himselfe could sing : Nor house , nor ground , nor any store of wealth , Can relish his distaste , that h 'as no health . What a miserable thing is a rich sicke man ? His gold ( which hee made his god ) cannot allay his distemper , nor afford him one minutes ease ●…or all his treasure . Yet see deluded soules ! How they prize the end , and slight the meanes ! How Selfe-will exposeth them to millions of extreames ! Live they would ; and to lengthen their hopes of living , they expresse their bounty to their Physician , by endowing him with an ample pension ; his Receits , so long as they relish their sickly appetite , they receive : but stricter Directions they utterly reject , at least , intermit , because they comply not with their humours . Much like that foole of Millain , who preferred a sugar pil before his life . These may be truely said ( answered Themista ) to have their whole understanding placed in their Sense . They preferre what may please , before what may ease ; their will before their weale . And such is the desperate state of your distempered Statists ( said Aesculapius . ) Infinitely credulous ( besides all this ) they are apt to bee deluded , by whatsoever shal be ( though never so improbable ) to their blinded affections suggested . So as they may wel seem to be ranked , and endenized amongst that credulous Plebeian Society of Margant ; who were made to beleeve , upon the ruines of a sumptuous and magnificent Abbey-spire , that the State intended their Spire ( though many miles distant ) should supply it : to divert which intendment , in all humble and petitionary manner , with joynt consent , according to their weak conceit , they beseeched the State ( with ample gratuities to some interceding favorites for their better successe ) to commiserate their case , and spare their Spire . To which the State , pretending them all favour , after much laughter , pleasantly condescended . Is it possible ( said Themista ) that any rationall Society should be so deluded ? Very easily ( answered Aesculapius ) as I could instance with many moderne examples : but ( Madame ) I must crave your patience a little ; for I have now to deale with a violent Patient : One , whose imperious ▪ disposition hath at all times made his will his law . Which Aesculapius had no sooner spoke , than hee forthwith caused Vpotomos to be call'd forth : full of fire and fury were his eyes ; fierce and revengefull were his threats ; bloudy and truculent were his hands ; rigid and relentlesse was his heart ; full of passionate distemper were his answers . VVhich Aesculapius well observing , willed Vpotomos to be bound ; for till such time as he were fast tyed , hee could neither practise upon him , nor the Patient suffer such experiments , as were to be practised on him . All which being done , according to his command , and taking him by his strong-beating pulse , hee used these words unto him . Sir , I must freely tell you , that such is the nature of your distemper , that I must use the art of Chirurgery as well as Physicke , in the performing of this Cure. For you must be 1. opened , and a Worme taken out of your gall ; the maine cause of your distemper . I am likewise to prepare Cupping-glasses to 2. coole and temper your braine . Then , make a drink well-mixt with the juyce of Metriot and Euchrasia , to 3. remove your Pluriticall stitches . Which done , I am to apply Oppian plaisters , with a certaine quantity of the juyce of Sunneidesis infused , to 4. repell those fearefull dreames which so startle and distract you . But what availeth it to minister these Receits , if you doe not observe them ? or to bring you to your feete , if you , through neglect of what is here prescribed you , make way to recidivation , and consequently to your owne undoing ? Though Physicians have the body in cure , if the Patient second not their Cure with his care , the Cure is lost , and all those Receits they so artfully prescrib'd , reduc'd to nothing . It is one of our Maximes ; Art is long in purchasing ; Life short in continuing ; and Experience subject to deceiving . But Art is never more lost , than when bestow'd on a carelesse Patient ; nor Life more short , than with a Recreant ; nor Experience more deceiving , than when exercis'd on him , who admits no government . For , to use the proverbe of that ignorant man , had you as many lives as Plutarch , all would be quickly lost , where directions are not observ'd . How many have we knowne fall backe irrecoverably ill , because they presumed they were well : saving their Physitian a labour , by their too speedy payment of their debt to Nature ! The onely meanes to preserve health recovered , is to avoid all occasiōs of incurring a relapse . I remember , there were two Philosophers of sev●…rall opinions in this kinde : the one irrefragably , though paradoxal●…y , held , and set his rest upon 't , That hee , who would shunne occasion , was lesse than a man : concluding , that he , who could not see Beauty without tempting , nor Honour without aspiring , nor Gold without coveting , came farre short of a Reasonable man ; because Sense was his guide , and the acquisition thereof his goale . Therefore would he expose himselfe to the liberty of all occasio●…s , that he might better soveraignize over Sense by the government of Reason . But the other was of a farre more cautelous nature , and ( perhaps ) of as resisting a temper : for hee would not presume too much upō his own strength , nor grapple with tentation in her height , but wisely standing on his own guard , prevent the meanes of being tempted , lest temptation might chance to give him the foile in the end . Playing too long with the Candle , ●…ver ends with a cinged wing . All this I meane to cloze up in one word , by way of application to your owne particular . Vpon your recovery ( as I cannot promise it , lest you become too secure in the purchase of it , yet shall my best art labour it ) I could wish you by all meanes to avoid the company of Eris , whose familiarity hath so infected you . For I must tell you , such acquaintance upon renewall , will bring you to a relapse , and make your disease desperately mortall . Which might be confirmed by the Story of Aeacus , the relation whereof I leave to Harmonius . Argument . Harmonius shewes , how Aeacus sonne to Iupiter and Europa , not onely for his own naturall severity , but through his ancient acquaintance and neare familiarity with Eris , was made one of the three Iudges in hell . POESY V. STerne Aeacus , Ioves and Europa's sonne , Who once as Iudge sat on an ear●…hly throne , In all his acts of justice did appeare So per●…mptory-rigid and severe , As all that he pronounc'd to th' worlds wonder , Resolv'd itself to nought but threats & thunder . One comes b●…fore him , and he was his hrother , Who had but stollne a judgement 'gainst another , And he was hang'd for 't ; and th' Atturney too , For stealing judgement 'fore th' Defendant knew . Celsus a theevish Poet brought to barre , And was arraign'd as other Felons are , Sans baile , without least hope of his r●…prive , For stealing Suckets from an others hive . Cacus an arrand Thiefe , was judg'd to dye , Which judgement suited well with equity ; Where Aeacus then sitting on the Bench Vttred these words , recorded ever since . " Sirrah , to you I speake , ere I have done , " I 'le cause all falshood to that period come , " That th' Grazer shall not need his Heards to keep , " A very bush shall serve to shield his sheepe . Yet f●…r all this , Cacus that theevish knave Broake out of Iayle , and hid him in his Cave , To which ●…arke r●…cluse there repair'd such restore , As there increa'st more Thieves , then e're before . ●…xions wheele , and Sisyphus his stone , Pro●…etheus Eagle , were the proper doome Of this rough Iudge ; with Tantalus his thirst , Who might not drink , although his gall should burst : For his degree of punishment was such , He might not tast●… that which h●… lips did touch . Nor was h●… on●…ly thus ●…y nature cruell , For he a Consort had , who plide fresh ●…uell To his enraged Splene ; Eris was she , One , who was full as furious as he : And in her House he lodg'd , and her he lov'd , Nor woul●… doe ought , unlesse by her approv'd . Till tax'd in th end for to this end it came ) Of being naught with that curst Curtezan , As much familiarity did show , ( Though I 'le not say if this be true or no ) He was depriv'd of honour and of favour , And made one of Hels Iudges for his labour . Thus 'cause he bore himselfe on earth so well , He became reft of Earth , and thrust to Hell : That as he had exprest his rigour here , He might continue th' practise of it there . Much good may 't do him ! but for all his raign , He might be mov'd , I thinke , to come againe . Argument . Aesculapius wils Amerimnos to rouse himselfe up . Hee compares him to the Ostridge , both for stomacke and action . Hee prescribes him a dyet . He paralels him to Messala Corvinus , and Margites ; the report of whose State he recommends to Harmonius . PROSE VI. NO doubt of that , an●…wered Aes culapius , in ●…eply to the last Stanza o●… Harmonius : but he is now in for all the weeke . These be the fruits of all severe Mammothrepts , who relish nothing but iustice , iustice ; but never supples it with oyle of mercy . Now , if I should be iudge , all these fiery incendiaries or Lawrackers should bee all made Readers of the Anat●…my Lecture in Pluto's Court. There might they finde subjects fit to worke on , and to exercise their relentlesse spirits withall . There might the Stage-scourger lash poore Roscius till he smoak't again , and hee himselfe choak't againe with the steame of sulphurous powder , to gratifie him for his thanklesse labour . There might hee spend his spirits in the survey and display of others miseries . Here , a slye Symonist poring through a window , impained with flaming Lights , and seering his nose with drops of scalding Cement . There , an ambitious fire-flye , catching at an empty clowd , which resolving it selfe into a flashing vapour , fals down , and cingeth his braving Mouchato's for his labour . Here , a frisking flesh-flye , leaping at a painted Legge of Mutton , and falling backe , drencheth himselfe over head and eares in a Cornelian tubbe , where he leaves all his hayre . There , a prodigall Land-gull playing at Ducke and Drake in Acheron with his imaginarie pieces ; till his fathers Ghost haunt him , and the Furies finde him , and so ends his pastime . Heere , an hydropicke Earthmoale , who being made Tankard-bearer to that forlorn family , is put to an endlesse taske , by filling Danaus tubs with water , wherein he consumes his endlesse-dying life to a fruitl●…sse labour . There , a light liquorish luscious Landresse , who set a bucking Pluto's and Proserpina's linnen , and found ▪ faulty with one of the Scullery , is injoyned this Pennance , by a judiciall ●…entence ; to be publiquely whipt with knotted rods of glowing steele in Phaëtons Cart , till she entred suerties to furnish with fresh and cleane Napery , all the infernall Court. Surely ( said Themista ) you have made such a free discovery of Pluto's family , and those proper penalties which are inflicted on the whole Livery , as they shall need no better survey for their society : yea , wee should verily thinke , but that we are better conceited of your temper , that you have now and then a moneths minde to play the Satyre : not that it complyes with your nature , but purposely to allay more serious studies with the pregnancy o●… so piercing an humour . No surely ( answered Aesculapius ) I could never much affect that Study : It was my desire rather ( Madame ) to intimate unto your Grace , the remorselesse natures of such , as my last Patient was : who ever mixed wormewood with Justice ; racking up your Lawes to the highest pinne : and in a word , preferring Execution before Iudgement . These I hold fittest for those Places , where there inhabits none but notorious Delinquents , and exquisite punishments . Nor doe I misse their humour farre : for one of this Rank , as I remember , stickt not publikely to professe , and confirme it too with a solemne protest , " That it was his Iubile to " hang many : & that a great Execution , was his Recreation . It was great pitty ( said Themista ) but he should make one of the number , seeing an action of that nature , afforded him such infinite pleasure . It is observed by our Physitians ( answered Aesculapius ) that none die of an ague , nor without an ague . But sure I am , that these fiery and furious Spirits are ever possest of an hot fever : and such an one , as partakes no intermissions . So as , in my opinion , these may be in some respect resembled to Aristides , ( though one more temperately just , and judiciously temperate ) who dying of the bite of a Weasell , exceedingly lamented it was not a Lyon. As their ambitious spirits are unbounded , and with fury ever distempered ; they can indure nothing worse than a contemptible affront , nor receive ought better than a foile from an imperious foe . With what a braving domine●…ing command , have I observed some of these beare themselves , amongst their Inferiours ! How prompt were these to command ; and how ready those to obey ? So highly had their purple transported them , as they assumed more than could become them . Whereas , no sooner had they put off their Lyons case , and adjourn'd the Court , then they would daigne to embrace those , whom before they contemned ; & communicate themselves to such , as before they sleighted . Especially , where either private ends , or some other particular respects wrought upon the coppy of their countenance . But admit , these were to their inferiours never so soveraignizing , they knew well when to bee supple , and how to veile to the shadow of Greatnesse . No surly looke , nor clowdy aspect ; no bended brow , nor contracted front , were then to be seene . Low Congies , humble Salutes , Earth-touching ducks , gave these powerfull Magnifico's all promising entertaine . Now , what poore Protean Patriots are these ! Meere slaves to the time , and staines to the face of Iustice. How easie were these to bee wrought to any impression ! And these V●…cers must bee launced , or the whole Body must bee necessarily distempered . It is most true ( said Themista ! ) and hence a●…e our tears ! For , when a precious or gorgeous Case alters the equity of the Cause , what a case are we in ? These were not the directions which we gave them , when wee last left them . Nor were these , those Conscript fathers wee left sitting , when wee tooke leave of Earth , to mount to Heaven . For what a sweet union of mindes ; what fixt resolves for advancing Iustice ; what a discreet temper in the whole current of all their actions , appear'd then amongst them ? No powerfull adversarie could over-beare our Sage and impartiall Senate . Blinde was shee in respect of person ; lame in respect of Bribes . Constant was she in executing what was right ; resolute in suppressing what was unjust . Choice was that harmony , where neither affection could draw , nor power over-awe , nor any sinister respect deprave . Would your Grace ( answered Aesculapius ) have your IVSTIARIES blinde and lame ? you need not wish it , Madame , for you shall finde variety of defects among them . For some of these grave Senatours , your Grace shall perceive to be so blind , as they can hardly find the right way to the Bench , during all your Sessions . Others so lame , as they will vouchsafe to goe hand in hand with their Constables , and both goe downe of one side , and hal●… in their office . You make your self pleasant ( said Themista ) with our Cr●…pples : but all this applies no salve to our soare ; no Cure to our Care. But in convenient time , doubt it not , Madam ( answered Aesculapius ) but my art shall produce some soveraigne effect : I have hitherto gone through all your distēpred Statists , One onely excepted ; to whom , as I have done to the rest , I shall apply such Receits , with such usefull directions for preserving health , as the Cure may every way answer your Expectance , and restore them to their former temper , to your honour , and the advancement of Iustice. Which Aesculapius had no sooner spoken , than he bids Amerimnos ( the last , though not least of all this distemperd Tribe ) to rowse himself up for shame . And the sooner to awake that drowsie & remisse spirit of his , wherewith he was so much depressed , as nothing sounded well in his eare , that might put his body to any toile ; hee caused one to play upon a Iew Trumpe , and to apply the instrument close to his eare , purposely to keepe him awake : which done , hee used these words unto him . Sir , I must tell you , I can cōpare you to no one thing more fi●…ly , than to the Ostridge , both for stomack and action . For the Ostridge can digest ought , yet neither fatter nor fuller : and for action , though he seeme to have the wings of an Eagle , yet hee never flyes up . This is just your condition , whose long habituate sloth hath made you the very Embleme of a Snayle , who leaves no other print nor impression of pace nor place , but a little slime . But to prevent all growing occasions of a further malady , & apply a seasonable Cure to your stupid and insensible infirmity , I must prescribe you this diet . Your broath every morning before you goe to Hall , must be made of Spinage , Day-nettles , and Burdocks , to 1. sharpen your intellect . And to 2. keepe you after noone awaking , I will prepare for you an Antiopian plaister , with an Epimeleian julip , to lay warm unto your temples . I must enjoyne you at all hands to 3. abstaine from all strong drinks ; and never to drinke betwixt meales , but with your teeth shut . I meane to provide you a Night-cap strongly chafed with the perfume of Cornu-copia ; purposely to 4. make your sleeps shorter , and your conceit sharper . And because I finde by your Vrine , and other soporiferous symptomes , that your kidneys are over-larded with oyle of Dormise , I meane by sweatings and suffumigations to 5. extract all those viscid & oily humors ; for these , by arising from the stomack , and fuming up into the braine , caused Messala Corvinus , by acquainting himselfe with Amnestes , to forget his owne name ; And Margites , through a carelesse security , to fall by degrees into a curelesse Lethargy . The report of whose state , I recommend to Harmonius straine . Argument . Harmonius , after he hath touch'd a little upon Corvinus his want of memory , with the supposed occa●…ion of his infirmity , displayes the retchlesse condition of Margites ; whose discourse was fruitlesse , life uselesse , end ruthlesse . Hee slept till he eate , and eate till hee slept ; till such time , as falling asleep with meat in his mouth , hee was choak't . POESY VI. COrvinus was a Roman borne , And to the Consul order sworne , One of such fame , as onely hee Had then the art of memorie . Each Signe from th'mount Capitoline Vnto the mountaine Exquiline , Hee could their names distinctly tell , With what occurrents as befell ; No Table-booke he us'd at all , His Braine was his Memoriall : So as to style him , some did please , The Ages Ephemerides . But note th'Catastrophe of this , All 's fraile what●… ever humane is●… Walking alone upon a time Neare to the Mountaine Aventine , Where Choughs and Fuskites bui●… their nest , Hee there repos'd to take his rest ; One of these Birds at this same time Gath'ring leaves , sticks , stones , moss●… and lime With other like materials , To build her nest ; a stone let fals From her injurious haplesse claw , Which gave Corvinus such a blow , As one day when the Censor came , With others to enroll his name , Corvinus had his na me forgot , And did confesse he knew it not . But some say , his infirmity Came by Amnestes company , With whom he was acquainted long ; " But I must not forget my Song . More retchlesse was Margites st ate , His came by sloth , but this by fate : His forenoon questions were these two ; 1. First , whar's a clock , I faine would know . 2. Next , what provision ? I would dine . Then would he sleep till supper time . So as , that character of his , In my opinion , might be this : " A fruitlesse tongue , a●… uselesse life , " A ruthlesse end , a tearelesse wife . Cambletes that loose Lydian King , Who spent his time ●…n ryoting , Was sober , if compar'd to him , A very slave unto his skinne ; 〈◊〉 , hee , of whom'tis s'ed That lying with his wife in bed , He in a dreame devour'●… his Bride , While she poor soule , slept by his side ; But waking from his ravenous sloth , Finding his wives hand in his mouth , And nought of all but that left on her , Hee slew himselfe to shun dishonour . But This was worser farre than hee , Devouring wife and familie ; So as two such would cause a dearth , To glut thēselves , & starve the earth . Ericthous bowels they were vast , Yet were they far by Him surpast ; His would be fi●…'d , these could be neuer ; From such ●… Gulph the State deliver . But see ! hee who no measure kept , But sle●…ing a●…e , and eating slept , A●…●…naw ●…res was ●…apping t'ane , And 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 worlds gaine : " For eat●…ng-sleeping ( this is troth ) " He was found choak't with meat in 's mouth . Far'd Lollards in each Country so , I wote well how the world would go . Argument . Themista returns Aesculapius thankes for his care , with a confident expectance of his cure : to whose diligence and successe she vowes ( as she is iust ) an ample recompence : Shee exhorts them to have patience in their Cure : Meane time , shee resolves , with her owne presence , to discharge the place of Iustice , till their recovery shall better enable them for that service . PROSE VII . REndring of thankes is but a naked tribute ( said Themista ) for so ample and extended a curtsie , as you have offered us ; for your knowne Experience hath laid on us so confident an Expectance , that nothing lesse than a faire and promising Cure may be expected from one of such exquisite art , seconded with such constant care . Yet shall not thanks be all ; we have a minde as ready to requite , as to receive : So that we vow , as we are just , ( for so our title and actions shall ever render us ) to returne an ample recompence to your successive diligence . Arts deserve their rewards : for else should their edge be rebaited , and their spirits amated , who doe professe them . Madame ( answered Aesculapius ) I am neither so weake in fortunes , nor servile in my thoughts , nor remisse in my desire of doing good , as to make reward my Object : for my part , I never yet reared a Stage to vaunt my selfe , or vent my stuffe . Doing good shall bee ever my goale ; and the health of my Patient , my gaine . Neither is that fame deservingly purchased , which is got by meere Ostentation , or desire of popular praise ; Nor that gaine well grounded , nor that art well employed , which exposeth it selfe to a price . O that we had many Professants of your art and of your minde ( said Themista to Aesculapius ! ) Then should not mercenary Artists so delude the State , nor asperse upon the Republike so foule a stain . Where Experiments generally take life from the death of their Patients . But wee must withdraw our selfe , and addresse our discourse to these our distempred Statists ; whose present infirmity , as it requires your helpe , so it rests that wee use our exhortation to move them to patience in their Cure , with hope of recovery by submitting themselves to your Care. Wherewith , shee presently caused her sicke-languishing Consuls to be brought forth ; and being disposed in severall Couches , according to their degrees , imparted her selfe unto them in this sort . Servants , and you our sometimes Deputed Assistants in the Execution of Iustice : Even of that Justice , which is the Summarie & absolute beauty of all Cardinall vertues . But alas ! how much have you detracted from the glory of so divine a Soveraigne ? How farre have you runne astray ? yea , how foulely have you abused our Commission ? When the wronged Widow with teare swolne eyes cride for reliefe ; you either slept and could not heare ; or were Corrupt and would not heare ; or sensel●…sse of an higher judgment , and did not feare ; what your ●…isguided course had given you just occasion to feare . But see the fruits of your labour ! Observe what you suffer ! A fearefull distemper for your precipitate Error ! Now are you falne into the hand of the Physitian , by making so cōtinued a league with ▪ your transgression : But farre be it from us to insult upon distresse , or enliven your griefes with fresh repetition of your crimes . As we have hitherto intended our best Care for your Cure , so it rests that wee exhort you to suffer with patience the hand of so experienc't an Artist , that he may the better perfect his Cure. The resigned will of a Morigerous Patient makes that Cure easie , which to a perverse Patient would become desperate . Your Physician , whose dispersed fame ha●…h made him admir'd , where he was never kno●…ne , gives us good hope of your recovery ; albeit your distempers are of severall quality ; which implyes , that some of your Cures will be more easie , others of more difficuly . Now as our Exhortation tends to this purpose , to move you to patience , so our desire shall be that upon your recovery , you redeeme your lost time with redoubled diligence . For should you become remisse in your Care , upon the perfecting of your Cure , it had beene much better that you had continued still in your distemper , than to recover health to your more dishonour . Plutarch reports ▪ that Antigonus had in his Armie a valiant Souldier , but of a sickly body . Antigonus observing his valour , and grieving that so stout a resolution should bee seconded by so weake a constitution , procured his Physicians to take him in hand ; and he was healed . Now , being sound , he began to fight in some feare , to keepe himselfe a good distance from danger , no more venturing into the Vanne or forlorne place of the battell . Antigonus noting and wondring at this alteration , asked him the cause of this new cowardize . Hee answers , O Antigonus , thou art the cause . Before , I ventured nothing but a diseased corps , and then I choose rather to dye quickly , than to live sickly : I invited death to doe me a kindnesse : Now it is otherwise with mee , for I have somewhat to loose . Be not you , like this recreant Souldier ; upon recovery of your health : improve it to the publique wealth . You have lost much time ; bewaile that losse with numerous teares ; the most pretious and propitious tribute for misspent houres . Feede not on a diseased State ; neither reare your foundation on others ruines . It hath beene the condition of many of your Profession ( with griefe wee speake it ) so they fatned themselves , they car'd little how leane their starv'd Clients were . Which moov'd that Country Boor , far more wittily , than could bee well expected from one of his breeding , to answer one of your ranke , yet of far more integrity , in this manner . It hapned that this Boore driving a Teame of Horses upon the high way , was encountred by a pregnant Practitioner in your Profession : who observing his foremost Horse fatte and faire , and bravely Caparison'd , with a garland in his topping , the more to beautifie him ; demanded of this conceited Boore , why his fore-horse was so gaily deckt , and so fatte , and those that came behinde , so poore and leane ? O Sir , ( answered the Boore ! ) my fore-horse is a Lawyer , & these leane jades that follow him , his Clients . But such difference of feeding brings a flourishing State to ruine . Bee it your care to neglect no meanes for recovery of your enfe●…bled health ; nor to omit no time , wherin you may benefit the State by your health . Meane time , it shall be our resolutiō , with our own presence to discharge the place of Iustice , till your recovery shall better enable you for that service . So every one of you to his Couch , we to our Iudiciall Seate : where wee must first play Alcides part , by purging that Augean Stable of the State. Prune the luxurious Vine , that it may thrive the better , and vendicate Arcadia's late blemished honour . THE CONSVLS CHARGE The fourth Booke . Argument . Harmonius brings tidings to Themista of her Consuls recovery ; the sundry symptomes and effects of every malady ; the rare experiments used by Aesculapius in the cure of their infirmity ; closing with a triumphant Paean in the honour of his memory . POESY I. HEalth to Themista , solace and content ! To whom I am by Aesculapius sent , In humble manner briefly to relate Her late distemper'd Consuls good estate . A timely salve's applied to their wound , Their braines recover'd , and their senses sound ; What they admir'd before , they now despise , In each point grave , judicious and wise . They solely prize what gaines them just esteeme , All else they hold a meere deluding dreame . O heav'ns to see , what I might oft-times see , What strange effects sprung from each maladye ! What various symptomes from one Patient ! Now was he jocund , streight-way disc●…ntent . Now fierce as any Lion , strait would hee Become as tame as any Lambe could bee . With what an appetite Metoxos would Gape , if he chanc'd to see a peece of gold ? And as 't had sympathized with his nature , He ne're could eye it but his teeth would water . His hand stretcht out he used still to have , Ne're shut but open , hopefull to receive . Short was his breath , his Lungs decaid and wasted , Swolne was his necke , his corrupt breath distasted . A Migrim seiz'd his braine , no cure was found , Where e're he went , the world turned round . Yet though this Chrone could neither sleepe nor feed , He had a wanton Colts-tooth in his head : And where some youths with one contented bee , This uselesse Trunke was still in fee withthree . * Three famous Curtezaus , where he resorted , And more than age could promise , nimbly sported . Yet loe ! what divine art can bring to passe ! You would not know him for the man he was . Such choice receits my famous Master us'd , As now he is unto himselfe reduc'd . His wandring eye is fixt , his fancie cleare , No roving passion●… in his minde appeare : Yea , his composed temper it is such , Nought can be spoke in 's praise , may seeme too much . But now it may be you desire to heare The manner of his cure ! Lend but your eare , And I le acquaint your Grace ; though men of art Be oft-times loth such secrets to impart : But Aesculapius is not such an one , What he professeth , he would have it knowne . To weane this Consul from desire of gold , He first contriv'd a curious antique mold , Wherein was pe●…sonate a man of note , With golden Laddles haling downe hi●… throat ; Which sight so terrifi'd this Peere of State , A●… the meere object bred in gold an hate . Next , artfull pills of gold , which gave delight Farre lesse unto the palate than the sight : For though the golden colour made him taste i●… , The bitter paste within did make him cast it : So as within short time , he could behold Nothing lesse pleasing to his eyes than gold . Can we then too much glory attribute To HIM , who having heard your Graces sute , Emploid his art , ( an art which heav'ns affect ) And to his art conferr'd such rare effect ? I know not , I , for I am but a Boy , What may impart to Mortals highest joy ; But sure I am , if benefit of health Preferred be 'fore honour , pleasure , wealth , " All Sacred Paeans we are bound to give " To HIM , by whom we love , by whom we live . NEXT him , Epimonos , one of such awe , Hee ever us'd to make his Will his Law ; Inopposition both with Earth and Heav'n , Hee ever stood , nor would be led nor driven . Stiffe and unpliant were his Arteries , His acts to others meere Antipodes . The more you mov'd him , lesser did hee feele , And wisht his head had stood upon his heele . Such a strange buzzing in his eares was growne , Hee 'd heare no mans opinion but his owne . Nay , now and then he would not stand upon 't , But to call Nature to a strict account , And tax her too for some supposed crime , Which was not Natures , but the fault of time . " I muse ( quoth he ) what Wood-cocke could prevaile " With Nature so , to decke the Peacocks taile " With such a various lustre , beauteous pall , " And to the Ostritch give no taile at all . " And why the Oxes hornes so bravely spread , " Should not stand on his shoulders bu●… his head , " Being the stronger part , as all may see ; " Farre sitter then his armour there should be●… . N●…r could hee e're this Criticke humour smother , But still finde fault with one thing or another . But this rare Artist , when hee had discride This strange distemper , and receits applide To cure his malady , resolv ▪ d to frame A Shrine , t' enforce Epimonos to shame . And his device was this : One Demophon , Who us'd to sweat i th' shade , to shake it h' Sunne ; Was in an artfull Modell featured , And in each part so nearely shadowed To this Epimonos , so like was hee , As he himselfe unto himselfe could bee . The more he ey'd this modell wrought so fit , The more he saw himselfe displaid in it ; All jeer'd him to his face , to heare him hold Opinions which reason had control'd : So as to chastice this Opinionate , He was adjudg'd by censure of the State , Till he his perverse humour should disclaime , T' expose his person to a publike shame . Which censure past , like birds about an Owle , The rabble rout enclose this humorous foole ; Some strip him nak'd , some twitch him by the nose , Others doe crampe him by the thighs or toes ; Each has an hand in his just punishment , As if they had beene by the Furies sent . All this Epimonos no sooner eyes , Than to himselfe with winged speed he flies . " Art sleepe or wake , Epimonos , said hee ? " Or seeing , not observ'st what thou dost see ? " Canst thou forget thy selfe , and see this shape ? " Or to thy selfe thy selfe a stranger make ? " Thy forme and feature are ( with this ) the same , " Thy actions too doe merit equall shame . " Who ever wedded more to his opinion ? " Who to himselfe a more deluded Minion ? " Who more averse from that which others thought ? " Who more esteeme from disesteeme e're sought ? " Who lesse conceiving and perversly vaine ? " Who lesse admir'd , and higher hopes retaine ? " Who lives to be lesse lov'd , and more selfe-priz'd ? " Who ever lesse affected , more dispis'd ? " Fie then recant ; he has the happi●…st wit , " Who has discretion to attemper it . " And of all others , those the least doe erre , " Who in opinion are least singular . " Let Stoicks be to opposition given , " Who to extreames in arguments are driven ; " Submit thy judgement to anothers will " Ifit begood ; oppose it mildly , ill . " Discreetest tempers passion will forbeare , " And make good use of what they see or heare . " These , strifes compose , but diff'rence seldome stirre , " Nor by rash answers , censurings incurre . " Be thou the same , so maist thou ever bee , " While others suffer , from all censure free . Such rare effects this Modell in him wrought , As affability did steere his thought ; All his desires were how to give content , And frame his actions to another bent Than what he er'st affected ; as in fine , He was the choicest mirrour in his time . If then t ▪ extoll their Patrons , many please , Wh●… store them with inferiour gifts to these ; " All Sacred Poeans we are bound to give " To HIM , by whom we love , by whom we live . NEXT , vaine Uperephanos , who still thought That th' world without him would be brought tonought ; For whe●… the Dogge-starre rag'd , he us'd to cry , " No other Atlas ha's the world but I. " I am that onely Hee supports the State ; " Cements division , shut●… up Ja●…us gate ; " Improves the publike f●…me , chalks out the way " How Princ●…s sh●…uld command , Subj●…cts ob●…y . " I am that Lesbian rule directs each action , " And rectifies thé crooked line of faction . " Nought passeth my discovery , for my sense " Exten●…s it selfe to all intelligence . " Yea , I mperswaded , whensoe're I die , " ( As wisest men cope with mortalitie ) " The greatest Statists that s●…rvivors b●…e " Will make an Idoll-D●…ity of m●…e . " For quickly would 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fabri●…ke quaile , " If my Atlanticke shoulder●… sh●…uld ●…ut f●…ile " To give 't supportance : this 's the very cause " They s●…ile me the Lycurgus of just lawès ; " Fame my renowne , consume whole Summer-d●…yes " In the relation of my Consul-praise . This Aesculapius finds , and streight applies Receits unto his temples and his eyes ; A flatuous humour forthwith hee extracts From his enflamed stomacke , which distracts His intellect : and to recall ●…is wit , ( For by a mad Dogge hee was lately bit ) He makes the Liver of the Dogge be min●…'d , And in a silver-valley-fountaine rin●…'d ; Which he prescribes him drinke from day to day , So by degrees his fury to allay . This done , exactly done , he causeth one * To paint the plot of Tarquin and his Sonne ; When hee in hidden Characters did show How hee should act the Gabian overthrow . Where th' highest Poppies in his Garden stood He politikely pruned with his rod : Implying th' ablest States-men that had watcht O're th' State the m●…st ▪ should soonest be dispatcht . But for such Poppies as did under-g●…ow , Those Poppies were but Puppies , let them goe . Under this Story hee an Embleme made Of Atlas by the world overlaide ; Who bore it up , but being out of breath , The world and her Supporter fell therewith . This Story having read , with th'Embleme too , He found himselfe displaid , but knew not how . Yet more he read , the more he might perceive Himselfe so form'd , no Artist could engrave His Sculpture to more life ; which to discusse , He with himselfe in priuate argued thus . " What might this Story meane by Poppy flowers ? " Or by those High-ones lopt by higher powers ? " By Poppies , Consuls ( sure ) implied bee , " And those prun'd first , are highest in degree . " These tender-rising flowers which lowest are , " Imperious Tarquin bids his Sextus spare , " They are below his censure ; those who were " Great in the worlds esteeme , and popular , " Must hop without an head , and learne to trie " The fate of greatnesse being doom'd to die . " Againe , peruse this Embleme , and in it " The ruine of an over-weening wit. " These , who presume in others disesteeme , " To bring to passe whats'ere they vainly dreame ; " Or to partake with others hold a scorne , " Boasting that th' State is on their shoulders borne ; " Are heere by Atlas lively shadowed , " And in them thy vain-glory censured . " See , see Uperephanos , thy condition " Debl●…zon'd in this Embleme of ambition ! " Thou held thy shoulders onely fit to beare " The State , and her declining body reare , " Thou deem'd no action meriting applause , " Wherein thou wert not stil'd the moving cause . " Thou thought the publike State could not subsist , " Unlesse it did on thy supportance rest . " Thus to thy selfe thy selfe an Idoll was , " And more ador'd than Ifis golden Asse : " Whereas Themista well perceiv'd by thee , " Thy private crimes were not from censure free . So well this Story and this Embleme wrought , Uperephanos was so humble brought , As he on Earth disvalu'd nothing more Than what his vainest humour priz'd before . More wise , but lesse conceited of his wit ; More pregnant , but lesse apt to humour it ; More worthy , ' canse he could agnize his want ; More eminent , because lesse arrogant . In briefe , so humbly-morally-divine , He was esteem'd the Non-such of his time . If then for him who doth us outward good , We will not sticke to hazard state and blood , " All Sacred Paeans we are bound to give " To HIM , by whom we love , by whom we live . Next him Meilixos , such a starved one , As he had nothing left but skinne and bone . The shady substance of aliving man , Or object of contempt where er'e he came . Yet had hee able parts , and could discourse , Presse moving reasons , arguments enforce , Expr●…sse his readings with a comely grace , And prove himselfe a Consul in his place . But weake he was , though for his judgement strong , And would not hold in any reason long : For though hee could to secret'st notions dive , Hee held himselfe the simplest man alive . So as in arguments hee still would yeeld , And to one meane in judgement leave the field . Weake was his constitution , small his feature , Ofeasie-pliant temper , facile nature ; Cold , aguish , and subject unto bleeding , His radicall humour dri'd with too much reading ; Yea , his weake health runne on that dang'rous shelfe , His fe●…ble corps could scarce support it selfe . And for his eyes , they did so ill bested him , He could goe no way but as others led him . So as , oft privately he would complaine , And tax his weaknesse too , but all in vaine , Why his desires in action fell so short , Which to himselfe hee question'd in this s●…rt . " How is 't Meilixos ? must thou ever fall " From worse to worse by being Physicall ? " Is there no hope of Cure , no helpe to Care , " But still be rank'd 'mongst those who weakest are ? " Must thou in silence live , retired die , " And cloze thy dayes with this infirmitie ? " Others can walke , discourse and reason too , " And other noble actions bravely doe : " Thou none of all these Offices retaines , " But sitt'st Bench-mute with thy decayed braines . " Where 's that Delinquent thou e're censur'd yet , " That thou by Justice might opinion get ? " Nay , wherein hath thy doome made defference " 'Twixt deepe-dyde guilt , and spotlesse innocence ? " Put out thy lamp then ▪ which her light so smothers , " It gives no lustre to thy selfe nor others . Great Aesculapius forthwith to prevent Occasion of ensuing detriment , Prepares his choice receits to cheare his blood , Extracts what 's ill , and renovates the good . Nought hee omits to expedite his cure , Whereof such may despaire , are most s●…cure . All which perform'd ( what cannot art effect ? ) H●…e shewes himselfe a curious Architect : Structures hee frames , and in them Statues too Of Inus , Iphiclus and many mo ; Where hee deviseth Iphiclus to stand On Inus shoulders ; and at his command To steere the Pinnace of a troubled State ; Meilixos looks , and laughs at this conceit ; Consults with reason , questions ev'ry doubt , And longs to sift this Statue-morall out . At last he finds the morall's meant by him , And represents the state that he is in . Which found , he makes a morall application Unto himselfe , discoursing in this fashion . " What 's meant , Meilixos , by this Statue here , " Where dwarfish Inus doth a Giant beare , " The nervie Iphiclus ? O be not blinde ! " Thy feature in this Picture thou shalt finde . " Each Consul is an Iphiclus of State , " Who , when by weaknesse he will derrogate " From th' honour ●…e retaines ; or judgement wave " What his owne mouth definitively gave ; " Or bend the modell of impartiall law , " To the imperious frowne of feare or awe ; " Or to Plebeian censure , ever rude , " Give way , because there is a multitude : " Then , then a Pigmeis shoulders him support , " Because he fals in estimation short " Of what the State expected at his hands , " By giving way to popular commands . " Lay off this weaknesse then ; know thine owne place ; " Let thine owne actions give degree a grace . " Preferre the just mans cause ; advance his right ; " And censure favourites in Caesars sight . " Poize thy opinion ; if 't with justice stand , " Maintain't against the Chieftaines of the Land ; " But if it want in weight , incline to his " Whose scale more equall and impartiall is . " For as great weaknesse in that man appeares , " Who credulous , beleeves whats'ere he heares : " So doe wee hold him too opiniona●…e , " Who deemes all wisdome treasur'd in his pate . " Be humbly modest , and discreetly wise , " Nor foolish , nor too prudent in thine eyes . " For ●…s the former strengthens ignorance , " So doth the latter taste of arrogance . T were rare now to imagine how this wrought Upon Meilixos , and how soone it brought His weak-inclining spirit to aspire To reputation , and with strong desire To feed more noble thoughts than he e'●…e knew , Before this Artist his presentment drew . If we hi●… praises then so much display , Who gives us health , or addes to life a day , Or helps decayed beauty , or repaires Our chop-falne cheeks , or Winter-molted haires : " All Sacred Paeans we are bound ●…o give " To HIM , by whom we love , by whom we live . NEXT him Upotomos , one more severe , Ne're purple wore in this inferiour sphere ; Rough and distastefull was his nature still , His life unsociable , as was his will. Eris and Enio his two Pages were , His traine sterne Apuneia us'd to beare . Terrour and thunder E●…eho'd from his tongue , Though weake in judgement , in opinion strong . A fiery inflammation seiz'd his eyes , Which could not well be temper'd any wise : For they were bloud-shot , and so prone to ill , As Basiliske-like , where e're they lookt , they kill . No Lawes but Draco's with his humour stood , For they were writ in Characters of bloud . His stomacke was distemper'd in such sort , Nought would digest ; nor could he relish sport . His dreames were full of melancholy feare , Bolts , Halters , Gibbets hallow'd in his Eare : Fury fed nature with a little food , Which ill concocted did him lesser good . " I le purge these Augean stables of the state , " ( Thus would he say ) and make these Locusts shake " Who hold themselves secure : where if our lawes " Cannot detect them , I shall mint some cause " To bring them within lash of punishment ; " Admit they be sincerely innocent . " If none should but Delinquents censur'd bee , " Good would turne bad through much impunitie . " Beside●… , that witty fable of the Cranes " Implies no lesse than what our purpose aimes : " " If good be found in bad mens company , " " The good with bad must suffer equally . " For pregnant proofes , presumptions I will take , " And open guilt of meere suspition make . " For trembling captives who are doom'd to die , " I meane to triumph o're their miserie . " No word of comfort from my mouth shall come , " But domineering language to their doome . " For why ! old age with new infirmities " Upon my crazie joynts so strongly seize , " As long I cannot live : lose then no time , " But of an errour m●…ke an hainous crime : " That these Decoys who hope to trample o're thee , " May by thy rigid judgement goe before thee . " I muse at his relenting spirit sheds teares , " When he the doome of any felon heares : " My brest 's of stronger temper ; I would see " A subject worke so strange effects on mee . " No , no ; my flaming eyes delighted are " To see a troope of Rake-hels stand at barre " Accus'd for odious facts , and heare them frame " Fruitlesse excuses to their dying shame . " Wherefinde I none through th' circuit where I go " Or in those Counties I 'm deputed to , " Want of employment doth me much displease , " Which makes me tax these supine Justices " Of their remisnesse ; or to their disgrace , " They know not what belongs unto their place . " Or , as I 'm wont t' interpret actions still , " People be there too simple to doe ill . " For loth would I bee attributes to give " Of doing good to th' purest men that live . " Nor be they worthy of those roabs they weare , " Who in their office will not be severe . This our experien'st Herbist having found , And search'd his strong distemper to the ground ; Salves he applies to cure his rankling wound , And cleare those vitious humours which abound . 'Mongst which , the rar'st experiment of all , Was taking of a red-worme from his gall , Which fretted with such fury night and day , As no receit this passion could allay , Till hee h dop'ned him , and wrought his cure , While he impatient , would no art endure . No Parthian Tigre , mountaine Lionesse Who hunts for him , who made her issulesse , Could shew more boundlesse fury ; but in vaine Did this enchained Patient complaine : For to be cur'd although he did refuse , Being fast bound , hee could not will nor chuse . This done , and his distemper well allaid , Hee caus'd a curious Orbell to be made , Where Syracusan tyrants were portrai'd And all their cruelties to life displai'd . Next this , Argestes in a frame lay under , By divine justice strucke from heav'n with thunder ; One , who was thunder all , and ne're could give Hope to an humhle penitent to live : But held this irrelenting Tenet still , " The way to cure a corrupt State s to kill . In curious artfull manner these were drawne , And to Upotomos awaking showne : Whos 's now more piercing eye streight apprehends Both what the Story and the Shrine intends ; Which to himselfe appli'd , hee thus began To tax himselfe , cleane l ke another man. " Heav'ns blesse me ! I have had a fearfull dreame , " For I was swimming in a p●…rple sterame " Of bloud which I have shed , and s●…ill mee thought , " The more I sunke , the more I upward sought . " Peering at last a shore , from th'curled Maine , " A flash of fire streight pasht ●…ee downe againe . " And now awake , what see I but the same , " My selfe displ●…yed in Argestes , frame ! " Here Syracusan tyrants shew to mee " What they affected , brutish crueltie . " There , sterne Argestes tels me by his fate , " That cruelty's the object of Joves hate . " O then Upotomos , in time repent , " * And grieve thou art not throughly penitent ! " Drench thy dry soule in rivolets of teares , " Enhearse thy sable soule in lasting feares , " Embathe thy panting heart in flouds of griefe , " Enroll thy selfe amongst all mourners , chiefe ; " Water thy bed with penitentiall showres , " And for wilde weeds , bring forth delicious flowe●… " For never did the Sunne yet shine upon " That wretch , who sinned more than thou hast do●… " " Thus for each drop of bloud unjustly shed , " " Let sighs for sins with sands be numbered . Such were the fruits these choice receits produc'●… He holds himselfe by Eris much abus'd : Her th●…refore he discards , and vowes to bee A p●…sident of affabilitie . A milde-sweet presence forth with he puts on , And with that presence a delightfull to●…gue ; A melting heart , a moist distilling eye , An open eare to heare a Plaintiffes crye . If a Physitian then such bounties have , From whom we hope we may some health receive ; That if his purges doe us any good , He meanes to purge our purse as well as bloud : " All Sacred Paeans we are bound to give " To HIM , by whom we purely love , and live . NEXT Amerimnos , not the least , though last , Amongst these active spirits slept fo f●…st , As th' drowsie Dormouse in her shady cave Could more secure retirement never have . Two holes in 's siege the Hedge-hogge reareth forth , One to the South , the other to the North : Now when the South-wind blowes he stops that hole , And turnes him Northward , to the Northerne pole ; Againe , when th' North-wind blowes , he leaves his booth , Steps up that hole , and turns him to the South . And such an Urchin Amerimnos was , Who littl●… car'd how precious time did passe , So he might sleepe secure , his palate please , And for his Honour get a Writ of ease . But so addicted was he unto sloth , Hee 'd fall sometimes a sleepe with meat in 's mouth . His driveling chin did with his bosome meet , With beard to belly , belly to his feet : Which was stretcht forth to that extensive breed , His two Supporters did no Pent-house need . So as , none would have ta'ne him at that time F●…r any other than a Porcupine . Wise Aesculapius caus'd his man to shake him , But no exte●…nall motion could awake him ; So as he found all such enticements vaine , For if he wak'd , ●…e fell asleepe againe . An Ep●…meilian Julip he applies Unto his breasts , his temples , and his eyes , With cheerfull perfumes , wrought by choicest art , To re-dispose the intellectuall part . All viscid humours he extracted quite , To give his understanding cleerer light . And that his practice more successe might have , He form'd Silenus sleeping in a Cave ; Fruits and delicious Liquours toucht his lip , Yet would he not bow downe his necke to sip . Neare to Cave a speckled Aspicke came With poys'nous sting to wound the sleeping man , But an industrious Emmet did prevent The envious Aspicks venomous intent : For she awak'd him with a chearfull charme , So as the Aspicke did him little harme . This Amerimnos eyes ; which makes him see Into himselfe and his stupidity . This he finds meant by him , for now his sense Had shaken off her former drousinesse : Thus to himselfe then his discourse hee fits By recollecting his dispersed wits . " Silenus and an As●…icke ! pray thee eye " This quaint device , and see what't may imply . " Slothfull Silenus while he sleeps in sinne , " Becom●…s assaulted by an Aspicks sting . " But th' Emmet , by which diligence is meant , " Awakes Silenus , foiles the Asps intent . " Apply this to thy selfe , let industry " Be still thine Harbinger to Usher thee ; " Hate what thouer'st affected , barraine sloth , " Take no delight in a delicious tooth ; " Let State-employment reave thee of thy rest , " That thou with honour maist repaire thy nest ; " Thinke thy selfe richest when thou livest best , " So shall this conscience be a cheerfull guest . And his resolves hee brought to such successe , As all his actions fam'd his worthinesse : Rich was the treasure of his well-spent time , Wherein no day without a vertuous line . Pure the composure of his well wrought minde , To publike works of piety confin'd . What Trophies are wee then for HIM to reare , Whose care hath cur'd these Statists we have here : And of distemper'd men brought them to feele Both their owne griefes , and of the Common-weale ? For if we them reward who have a care T' intend our bodies , or our States repaire ; Farre ampler bounties wee ▪ re to render HIM , Who gives repaire unto our state within . " T●…iumphant Paeans then wee 're bound to give " To HIM , by whom we love , subsist , and live . Argument . Themista seemes at first not to bee perswaded that Cures of such difficulty could so expeditely be effected ; She fals into an admiration of her owne happinesse , with a resolved tender of thankfulnesse , if Harmonius relation become seconded by successe ; She gives especiall direction , that her Consuls bee admitted to her presence , to expresse by their discourse , apparent arguments of their Cure ; Metoxos , the ancientest of her Consuls , is called forth , and declares the manner of his Cure , which hee ascribes to Aesculapius incessant Care ; He disclaimes his former folly , and appeales to Isotes , whose company he onely admits to relate his recovery . PROSE I. DOe I sleep ? or waking , am I deluded ? Is it possible that our Metoxos should bee recovered ? Is that Sacred thirst of gold in him so soone quenched ? Surely , cures so difficult and habitually inveterate , cannot so speedily bee effected . Wee say , " No taske of importance may admit a speedy dispatch : Yet this , of all others , most intricate , is to a short limit confined . That hee , who could distinguish of no other colour but gold ; and held no other colour worthy use in Heraldry ; should now hold it adulterate for abusing the State. Rare experiments , trust me , so they be ●…eall , and not delude mee . Wee know not what to thinke of it , lest wee should perplex our thoughts too much by embarking our selfe upon it . Yet , wee have heard , if any one infected with the Iaundise , shall but looke upon the bird Icterus , he forthwith recovers and regaines his former beauty and colour ; why should I then doubt , but upon these experiments , which the sacred secrecie of art hath discovered , that my long distempered Consul Metoxos should despaire of recovery ? Why may not these terrible Presentments worke so much upon his fancie , as the impression of them may avert him from what he most affected ; and adhere to tha●… which before hee least relished ? which effect , should wee see produced , to what height of admiration might wee bee raised ? Nor should we close our receit of happinesse , without a resolved tender of thankfulnesse ; could Harmonius relation ( seconded with such native action ) become seconded by an answerable succes●…e . But fit it were , that what wee heare confirmed by report , wee see made good by entercourse to those , with whom wee are to addresse our discourse . Wee purpose therefore to give especiall direction , that these our Consuls bee admitted to our presence , to expresse by their discourse , apparent arguments of their Cure , and soveraigne effects of our Care. And that this may bee done the better , wee will call each of our Consuls personally in their order . Having said thus , shee gave especiall directions , tha●… Metoxos , the ancien●…est of all her Consuls , should be called forth ; whom shee no sooner saw approaching , than shee i●…agined how it was with him . For his very outward posture expressed an alteration in his temper . And al●…●…he better to try conclusions on her recovered Patritian ; shee caused sundry peeces of gold to bee scattered in the way as hee ascended up to their Iudiciall Throne ; purposely to see whether that metall , wherewith his captived af●…ections were ●…ormerly so much ; not onely restrained , but enchained , would take his eye or no ; but all these were too inferiour baits for so rectified a spirit . These hee valued equally as dust ; and with a noble command , or princely contempt of all despicable objects , advancing himselfe with a gracefull presence towards Themista , applied himselfe to her command . Who desirous to gather by his discourse , what shee had collected by his presence , willed him to declare the manner of his cure , to the e●…d ●…he migh●… render a more ample requitall of Aesculapius care . Madam ( quoth Metoxos ) to relate every particular ingredience used by this divine Artist , would so enlarge the extent of my discourse , as the relation would appeare no lesse uselesse to the Hearer , than tedious to the Relator . To avoid then all frivolous and fruitlesse ambages , which are usually so far from dir●…cting or enlightning the understandi●…g , as they are made rather for distracting or burthening our apprehension , I shall 〈◊〉 returne u●…to your Grace●… ●… just account of the benefits I have received , the incomparable comforts I have conceived ; all which may bee easily gathered by those many infirmities whereto before I stood engaged , and whereof , ( thanks to the Supreame Deity ) I am now perfectly cured . It is not unknowne unto my Soveraigness●… , with what distempers I was seized ; insomuch as , I never came to the Bench of Iustice , but I shewed some apparent argument or other of my weaknes : Which caused some of my nearest to imagine , that I was surely either bewitched or possessed . Your Sacred Medall ( the exquisitest Master-peece of art that ever Arcady produced ) being moulded of pure gold did so sympathize with my partiall-gilt nature , as I could never looke upon the Statue , but my teeth did water : No other Object could take me , so much was I devoted to that Plebeian Idolatry . As for my hands , I could never shut them , so much had hope of gaine enlarged them : for I imagined , if they were shut , how could they partake in any booty , or receive any competible share in a Clients enforced bounty . For my Lungs , they were so decayed , as an Asthmaticall Apnaea had surprized them . Besides , a dangerous swelling in my throat , when Saturne had predominance over the Clientall regiment ; with a desperate Migrim , which averted mine Eare from the Suit of a just , but poore Complainant , daily threatned a dissolution to this my weake earthly Structure . Yet could these cōstant Nuntio's of my frailty , little weane mee from mine accustomed folly . For though age had wrought many deep furrowes in my face ; and sundry growing infirmities incident to age , had enfeebled nature , and engaged mee to a continuate distemper : ye●… in this my decrepit doting ag●… , was I infinitely taken with three impudent Curtezans ; whose wooing-winning enticements had so far prevailed with mee , as that day seemed tedious , which I spent not in Philia's , Du●…noia's , or Analeutheria's company . Which , though some thought I did purposely to improve and enrich my state ; sure I am , their amorous embraces , and incessant attendance , much weakned and impaired my strength . Now observe the rare effects of this divine art ! By the benefit I received from Aesculapius , to whose especiall Care your Grace recommended our Cure , I loath nothing more than what I did formerly love ; my thirst , which before was onely for Gold , now extends solely to the publike good . Now , would your Ladiship know the meanes which brought mee first to an hate of this fury ! Bee pleased ●…o heare mee , and you shall receive a true relation from mee . After such time , as this divine Artist Aesculapius had prepared my body , and applied divers soveraigne receits for my more speedy recovery ; and amongst others , certaine gilded pils , which procured in mee so violent a vomit , as I could not for long time aft●…r looke upon that Object , but I did highly distaste it : He bethought himselfe by what meanes hee might worke the deepest impression upon my imagination ; which he observed to bee so clouded and troubled , as nothing came from me , but distractedly and indisposedly uttered . Hee observed , as the Eyes were the members of the body , so they were the windowes of the minde ; nay , that the Eye was a living glasse , or such a representative mirrour , as by reflexion of conceit , the Delinquent might soonest come to the knowledge , acknowledgement & amendment of his errour . For this end he d●…vised and artfully contrived certaine curious Emblemes presented to life ; which were discovered unto mee in an Ovall ; where I might apparently see a Picture , as neare resembling mine owne person , in favour and feature , as could bee imitated by art , or first initiated by nature . No part of all mine habit undisplayed ; no action or gesture by mee used , but there presented . So as , in very truth , I either thought that there was some other Metoxos besides ▪ mee ; or else that some had assumed Metoxos habit and person , purposely to delude mee . But how doe you thinke was the posture of this picture framed ? In what manner disposed ? This Metoxos , as hee was thus portrayed and personated , seemed to mee bound to a flaming stake ; and those three Curtezans , on which I so much doated while I was distempered , standing there like distracted Furies , haled downe whole Laddles of moulten Gold downe his throat ; ever and annon bellowing forth these words with a fearful voice ; Quench thy thirst Metoxos ; here is gold for thee ; partiality deserves such a partiall-gilt bounty . This Presentment did not a little startle mee ; so as comparing this feature with mine owne ; his action gesture and posture with mine owne ; those three Curtezans , which I tendred as mine owne , with those exquisitest torments inflicted upon that Image which resembled mine , as nearly as I mine owne ; I begunne to recollect my discatered senses , and in this manner to expostulate with my selfe . Metoxos so fully to life portrayed ! And my whole life in this image of Metoxos so lively displayed ? Sure there is something in it , which , as yet , I little dreame of . There is , questionlesse , some secret mysterious Morall cov●…rtly shadowed in this Presentment : well , I purpo●…e to dive farther yet into the depth of this Aenigmaticall Riddle . Discusse then each particular , to the end thou maist become the more authenticke Expositor . What may seeme to bee meant by these three Curtezans , and those Laddles of moulten gold , which they are incessantly powring downe the throat of this personated Metoxos ? Are not these the reall personages of those amorous Curtezans , which thou sometimes so miserably affected ? Yet , are these they , by whom Metoxos becomes wofully tormented . But whence the cause ? Eye the impreze , and it will informe thee : FOR PARTIALITY . Examine then every circumstance , and see if the shadow agree not with the substance . Reflect upon thy selfe , Metoxos , and observe well if these have not proper allusion to thee ! Thine owne forme thou here seest undistinguishably cōcurring ; thy three amorous Dalilahs attending and tormenting ; with Partiality , the cause producing , why these torments are inflicting . Consider likewise , how torments are ever inflicted , by that subject whereon wee stand most affected . And what was it Metoxos , that in the whole course of thy distempered justice , thou most affected ? What was it wherto thou stood most engaged ? Was it not Gold , Metoxos ? yes sure ; that was the bait which did only take mee : It was my use to poise the worth of the cause , by the weight of the purse . Gold was the Cement , which souldred Partiality with Iudgement . O divine Embleme ! This shall worke more rare effects upon my corrupted sen●…e , than any other Physicall ingredience . It shall bee my constant resolve to loath , what I did so miserably love ; that I may fall in love , with what I did so desperately loath . Discretion shall give direction to my affection ; I purpose henceforth never so intentively to fix upon the bye , as to become forgetfull of the maine . These presentments tendred mee by so judicious and exquisite an Artist , shall by the power of him that made mee , worke such impr●…srons in mee , as no time shall raze out the memory of so impressive a character ; nor decline mee from being just , for either lucre , feare or favour . Nor was this Embleme onely there expressed ; but Midas likewise , with his Asses eares , to life presented ; who desiring whatsoever he touched , might to Gold bee turned , received his wish in his dish , and so for want of naturall nourishment , became famished . But this wrought no such effect upon my conceit , as did the former : for so strangely was I unnaturalized , or estranged rather from my na●…ive and in-bred disposition , as nothing appeared more distastfull to my sight , than the Object of Gold ▪ euer dreaming of those fearefull torments , which those my darling Dalilahs , complete Curtezans , inflicted upon tha●… Picture , which so nearly re●…embled Metoxos feature . These soveraigne effects partly derived from those precedent Receits , partly from these impressive Emblemes ; made mee remember that Physicall Maxime so often delivered , by Aesculapius our great Professor : When a man bleeds at the nose , and through abundance of bloud , is brought in danger of his life , the Physitian lets him bloud in his arme , to turne the course of the bloud another way : If love issue out in too violent a streame , it is to be cooled by a temperate expostulation with fancie : or else , by fixing our eye upon some more at●…ractive Object , divert the course of that madding Passion . Now Madam , such shall ever bee my constant humility , as I must solely ascribe this incomparable benefit of my Cure , to Aeculapius incessant Care : Whose exquisite art produced this incredible worke . It rests then , that howsoever my Soveraignesse bee pleased to dispose of mee , i●… shall bee my fixt intention , utterly to di●…claime my former folly : While I appeale to Isotes whose company I onely admit to rela●…e my discovery . Argument . Isotes in musicall ayres relates the incredible effects of Metoxos Cure ; the modera●…i on or attemperature of his desires ; his distaste of all such meats as bred in him any distemper ; And how much The mista might improve her owne , by advancing his honour . POESY II. SEE , Lady , see , Metoxos state Transform'd from what it was of late ! That J●…undise eye , wh●…ch could behold No object but refined gold ; That hand , which like a thirsty grave , Was ever open to receive ; That heart , whose native tincture spilt , Was chang'd into a partiall-gilt ; That tongue , which knew not how to speake , Till chinke made way the string to breake : Can looke , touch , like , and make discourse , With free and unconstrained force . Such rare effects your Grace shall find●… In cure of your Me●…oxos minde . Vertue his spotlesse brest inspires With moderation of desires ; Poore though in state , his minde is pu●…e , Stor'd with the sweet attemp'rature Of choice st graces that can sute A man to make him absolute . What meats in him distemper bred , His taste hath quite dis-relished . Naught hee affects but what may give Meanes to direct him how to live . Receive him then into your grace , His vertues will deserve his place . Nor can you ever more improve Your honour , than by good mens love : For when your grace to these is showne , You give improvement to your owne . Advance him then ; it is not chance But choice which merit should advance . Argument . Themista , sufficiently perswaded by what shee heares , joyes much in M●…toxos recovery ; Shee causeth Epimo●…os , her second Consul , to advance himselfe before her ; hee returnes an ample testimonie of Aescul●…pius divine Theorie ; in a sensible and passionate manner , hee discovers the effects of his former infirmity , with pregn●…nt demonstrances of his recovery ; and appeales to Epieices , whose society hee onely affects , to returne his opinion . PROSE II. NO more , Isotes , ( said Themista ) wee are now altogether confident of Metoxos successive Cure ; whom to adva●…ce , ( if his infirmity admit no relapse ) shall bee our especiall Care. Nor can wee joy in any melody comparable to this of Metoxos recovery . But we will see ( quoth shee ) whether this happy effect hath befallen the rest of our Consuls ; and with that , causing Epimonos , her Secondary , to advance himselfe before her ; Shee willed him to returne the manner of his recovery ; with what especiall receits were applied to cure his Malady . Epimonos , whose long ▪ grounded pertinacy , hade made most of his friends despaire of remedy ; in an affable and generous manner , making three low Congies before hee approached Themista's presence , addressed himselfe in this discourse unto his Soveraignnesse . Doe not ( imparalleld Princesse ) take mee now for that peevish & perverse Epimonos , whom I did once too actually personate ; which Presentment made me most unfortunate . I have now put off that habit ; nor will I ever ( by divine assistance ) reassume it . I confesse , Madam ; nor shall it repent mee to confesse it , so I repent mee of it , and resolve never to incurre it , that my long habituate infirmity , by continuance , had brought mee to a meere insensiblity . Such a stiffnesse , or unpliablenesse I found in every part : that though I felt my selfe unwealdly ; every faculty most averse from performing her proper duty : yet in ●…his case ( see my prevaricate misery ! ) would not I either be led or driven by any . The more I was moved , the lesse I felt ; so insensible grew I of my present estate . An incessant buzzing I had got in my head , which barrocadoed mine Eare from inclining to any ones opinion but mine owne . This t●…at ever-living Artist , to whose divine Cure wee were all recommended , had no sooner observed , than hee prescribed such choice Physicall directions to cure my growing infirmity , that I became within short space to have some little feeling of my selfe , from which I was before so estranged , as I held my selfe most healthfull , when most distempered ; best resolved , when most distracted ; and seemingly in my perplexed estate most happy , when most distressed . My Morning draughts , which used to bee F●…ntineake , were resolved into Diet-drinks , strongly tempered with the cooling juyce of Eucampes , with other simples immixed ●…o allay the distempered heat of my bloud ; and to restore nature so much weakned . Having made this introduction to his Cure , and now set mee on my feet , by the continuance of his diligence and care ; to the end I might come to a more full survey and discovery of mine owne folly , he framed this device : That one Demophon , who was naturally of an humour different to all others , should bee in a Shrine portrayed , and in a window presented , where I made my Prospect . But so nearely resembling mine owne Person , was this featu●…e , as I should disclaime mine owne P●…ysiognomy , to confesse any resemblance liker . Long a●…d intentively did I eye the Picture . Nothing could I find in it , but might personate my selfe ; nor ought in my selfe , which might not allude to it . So as , not able to containe my selfe any longer ; nor to conceale my thoughts from my picture ; like another Narcissus , not doating but doubting , or perplexedly discoursing with his shadow , I addresse my demands in this manner . How 's this ? One sweating in ashade , and shaking in the Sunne ! This sure , is meant by Demophon , yet doth the Embleme beare the figure of Epimonos . And rightly so it may ; for who ever , being man , was more averse from the nature , more contrary to the humour of man ? What was it that eve●… yet plea●… thy conceit , which thou saw pleasing to another ? Or what ever afforded thee delight , and complide wi●…h anothers conceit ? Nay , un rivet the secret Cabine●… of thy retired'st thoughts , and observe how much thou hast abused the State , depraved thy Consul-sea●… by adhering too much to thy sel●…e , and perverting justice , by opposing others to please thy selfe ? What Edict didst thou ever heare published ? What Direction for State government ever divulged ? What Iudgement upon a convicted Delinquent pronounced ? Or what Act soever publikely concluded , which thou traduced not , because by others more wise , but lesse opinionate , approved ? What a strange Mould , Epimonos , was this , wherein thou wer●… casten , thus to dislike , what others liked ; thus to affect , what others hated ? was thy wit either so quicke and pregnant ? or thy judgement so strong and constant ? Or thine experience so transcendent ? Or thy p●…rson so precedent , as all others 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 to thin●… 〈◊〉 ? No , this was not it , but thine own●… 〈◊〉 - will which made th●…thus opion●…te . O how harshis his condition , whose sole delight is Opposition ! What can h●… 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 give content ; when nothing but his owne dev●…e pleaseth his con●…it ? O the folly of a poore wo●…mlin ? Who , i●…●…ise , can ●…teeme thee fo●… more wise , in seeing thee so desi●…ous to oppose ? Womans strength consists in Tongue ; should a mans consist in Will ? Protogenes could never hold his hand from the Picture ; nor thou an envious eye from anothers labour . Is it wisdome enough to traduce , or to oppose what others approve ? Bee the Antipodes in this only happier than we , because they walke in an opposite course against us ? Say , say , Epimonos , how many poore Delinquents ; nay , meere innocents , hath thy pertinacy doomed to death ; for no other cause , but that thy Colleague●… lenity 〈◊〉 life ? Againe , to how many hath thy aversnesse breathed life , to whom Consuls vote , Commons voice , and the mouth of Iustice had doomed deat●… ? It is the saying of a Philopher , that every one should have a f●…iend , and an enemie ; that his friend may tell him the truth ; and hi●… enemie make him mor●… observant of his wayes . Yea , that his friend might seasonably correct him ; and his enemie by his indig●…ities exercise him . Bu●… how ●…arre became I e●…tranged from this Philosophicall Tenet ! for as he●… could not possibly bee my friend , who applied not himselfe to my opinion ; so could hee bee no lesse than mine enemie , who sought to mould mee to his instruction . My friend and Monitor hee could not bee ; how might he then correct mee ? My Enemie and improver hee could not bee ; how might hee then exercise mee ? It is true , that th●… Prienean Sage wished rather to be a Iudge amongst ●…is ●…oes 〈◊〉 his friends : and his reason was , that the affection , and intimacy , hee bore to his friends , might incline him to connivence ; whereas , the jealousie h●…e had of his foes , would cause him to bee more cautious in the ex●…cution of Iustice. But what power had these respects with mee ? It was neither friend that I esteemed , nor foe that I feared , but my darling Will , whereto I beoame solely wedded ; and which to second , my best endevours were ever addressed . I have oftentimes wondred at the patience of an indulgent Magistrate , to give such 〈◊〉 of speech even to a pretended Delinquent : or to suffer himselfe to bee opposed by way os reason ; as if his place were not of sufficient strength to exercise his power without farther reason . And as children are tied to rules in their arguing ; so I held th●…m childish Consuls , who stood confined to these restrictions in their judging . But now , ( thanks to Aesculapius d●…vinest Theorie ! ) my outward conformity closing so sweetly wi●…h inward unity , may assure my Soveraignesse of an infallible recovery . I am taught now , how to sweat in the Sunne , and shake in the shade ; to submit my opinion to others judgement ; to disclaime mine owne for insufficient ; to desist from standing too long in argument , and to encline to reason , whensoever produced . All which , as ample testimonies of Aescul●…pius Care , and pregnant demonstrances of my Cu●… ; I have here no lesse briefly , than plainly returned ▪ to you , divine Lady , with the manner of my recovery , the benefit whereof I freely ascribe to your furtherance and bounty . Nor shall you ever have cause to tax mee ( if so you please to imploy mee ) either of pertinacy , or of any il●…egality ; for by all my hopes I vow , since these incredible effects were wrought on me ; I have disvalued mine owne opinion ; beene so jealous of mine owne weaknesse ; as I ●…ave applied my selfe to nothing more , than a seeming privacie or retirednesse ●…rom businesse . Howbeit , as I am not borne for my selfe , but for her honour , by whose meanes I am now come to myselfe , Madam ingage me , wherein , if you shall conceit that my employments may fall short from perfecting ought which may redound to your reputation : I shall here become silent , by a modest restraint of selfeapprovement , and ingeniously appeale to Epieices opinion . Argument . Epieices reports how much Epimonos is altered ; how his unsociable nature is attempered ; how observant hee is to all , and how desirous to improve the good of all ; and admiring how Art could possibly season pertinacy with so much Lenity : Hee assures Themista , that shee may rest confident in the affiance of so constant a servant . POESIE III. MAdam observe , if you can finde a purer minde ! Or with selecter graces fill'd or lesse selfe-will'd ! How much hee 's altered in state from that of late ! Harsh was his nature , now as milde as any childe ; Unsociable once was hee as one could bee ; Now hee 's full of sweet remorse and choice discourse , And of such a temper too as I may vow ; None would take him , to see him passe , for th' man hee was . Observant is hee unto all that deigne to call , Nought here on Earth more wins his love than to improve The good of all , which if be gaine h●… h' 〈◊〉 his aime . Much I admire how Art could season want of reason , Or that pertinatious spirit should inheris Such a true Candor by meere art as to impart Such rich rayes to mortall man as hee now can . Accept him then , dread Soveraignesse , for Countreye blesse , F●… now you may affi●…ce have nought can dep●…ave This constant confidence in him , who wean'd from sinne , " His noble temp'●…ature will shew " His service to the State and You. Argument . Themista over-joyed to heare such a successive change ; and wishing the like effect in the rest of her patient Consuls , wi●…s Vperephanos to appeare in publike presence ; whose humble obeisance infinitely takes her . Hee is so farre from preferring himselfe before others , as hee esteemes himselfe the unworthiest of all others . Hee blusheth at his former impertinences , and strengthens his intentions with Divine resolves ; Hee vowes to admit none but Tapeinos into his company , to whose judgement hee appeales in his recovery . PROSE III. A Maxime there is ( said Th●…mista ) and wee finde it now fitly closing with our conceit : " what wee affect , exceeds all estimate ; Now , what was it on Earth wee more affected , than to see this our selfe●…pinionate and distempered Epinomos so rectified . as to conforme his will to anothers bent ? What might comparably so overjoy us as to become an ocular witn●…sse of such a successive , but unexpected change ? Never did teeming moth●…r conceive more comfort in the view of ●…er long laboured birth ; nor the hazardou●… Merchant in his safe arrivall to land ; nor the industrious Husbandman , who is frui●…full in hope , before hee partake the benefit or fruit of his Crop , than wee in the apprehension of this so much desired change . It is most true ▪ that without the influence of divine grace , we can doe nothing , no more than the bird can flie without wings , the ship saile withou●… wind or tide , the body move withou●… the soule . From which ▪ how much is hee estranged , whose opinionate pertinacy him confident of his owne makes strength , and consequently a dangerous Pione●… to his owne estate . We know right well , that it is one thing to fall into light sins through occasion onely , or human●… frailty : and another thing ●…o fall through affected negligence and security : bu●… worst of all to fall through a precipitate will , and malltious obstinacie . Needs then must it over-joy us , to ●…ee one ( and one whom wee held so tender ) after so perillous a fall to recover , and in his recovery , quite to shake off his distemper . And may heaven so propitiously smile on our wishes , that the like effect my bee produced from the rest of these our patientConsuls ; whose late infirmities , as they did much afflict us , so shall the visible arguments of their recovery , no lesse entrance us . This said , shee willed Vperephanos , ( whose Cure was conceived to be of greatest difficulty ) to appeare in publike presence , and shew some apparant effects of his attempered malady . Whose humble Obeisance , at the very first blush , infinitely tooke her : Wondring more at his lowly carriage , affable countenance , and winning observance , than at any of all her recovered Patients . But being againe required by his Soveraignesse to relate the mediate or effectuall meanes for cure of his distemper ; with a composed gravity , and well-seasoned humility , hee proceeded in this manner . It is not unknowne ( Madam ) to any personage o●… quality within your whole State , how that my distemper was not naturall but accidentall ; for a long time did I sit in the seat of Iustice ; du●…ing which time I appeale to such as then knew mee , whether I discharged not my Place with all integrity and uprightnesse . Vertue I ever cherished ; Vice I chastised ; the good I encouraged ; the evill I disheartned , and the publike good secured . But being in that populous State where I was , retaining that name which I had , and transported with that applause I heard ; one morning walking forth to take the ayre , ( no common ayre , but the breath of popular applause ) it chanced that I was bit by a mad Dog , ( a pricke ear'd Cur of Phro●…ema's Litter ) whose poysonous fang begun so to rankle , as the venome dispersed it selfe thorow every part , till at last it seized on my very braine ; and so drove mee into a miserable distraction . " I thought every shady-tufted branch , forced by a pleasing gale , bowed it selfe with a low salute to give mee a Congie . Those ayerie Quiristers , the Birds , chanted and chirped out my praise . In a word , so terribly was I madded , so highly distempered , as my fellow-Consuls forbore to sit with mee ; my intimately-professed friends withdrew themselves from mee , after such time as they had laboured to winne and weane mee , but could not prevaile with mee . Onely some Alleyes of Thopeias , meer●… insinuating Foists , ( as I afterwards well perceived ) clunge neare mee , feeding , like Horseleaches , on my distemper ; and raising themselves by my ruine and dishonour . Yet were these my friends on which I fawned ; the shadowes which I followed ; the Snakes I fostered : all which found fresh fuell to my furie ; new matter to my humour , to feed my distemper . Thus did I rove ; thus did I range ; no constant nor setled thought lodged in mee . I was so blowne up with the bladder of Alazoneuma , as I mounted aloft with the wings of selfe-conceit ; imagining this inferior Orbe to be a Spheere too low for my unconfined spirit . What others ( were it never so usefull to State , or conducing to publike good ) propounded , my irreiragable opinion sleighted . For that deare Minion whom I so religiously served , and to whose observance I had endeered my nearest resolves , had so bewitched mee , as no power could countermand the power of my will ; or encroach so farre on the bounds of my irresistable authority ; as those whose better tempered thoughts well deserved priority in opinion , were disesteemed by the precipitate torrent of my ambition . Being thus carried on the wings of the wind , I became so hardned through the habit of mine infirmity , as nothing better relished mee , than to feed my distemper with whatsoev●…r might best agree with the quality of mine indisposed humour . But this had our exquisite , and fame-eternized . Artist no sooner discovered in me , than according to your directions ( most divine Soveraignesse ) hee addressed himselfe to my Cure. Which to effect the better , hee first sought out the cause of my distemper : this found , hee applied such soveraigne receits to my long exulcerate sore , as the expeditenesse of his Cure , expressed the infinitenesse of his Care : all which ( to observe in my discourse some methodicall decencie or order ) was performed in this manner . Hee first applied to mee certaine medicines of a corrading quality , to bring mee to a more sensible feeling of my selfe ; for all that time , wherein I laboured of my distemper , I had no feeling at all of my infirmity , and therefore indifferent , or rather secure for any remedy . For being bit ( as I said before ) by a mad Dogge , whose rancorous and envenomed tooth had spred a dangerous malignant humour thorow every veine of mine infected body ; that uncomparable Artist caused the Dogges liver to bee smally minced , and with the prime leaves of the low shrub Tapeinotes , to bee mixt : which was my break-fast for many Mornings together , till I begunne to have some little feeling of my distemper . But subject I was ever and anon to fearefull relapses and recidivations : Which my Physitian soone perceiving , caused mee for certaine dayes together to bee tied chi●…ne deepe in Lazarllio's Poole , where I was kept to a low Diet , purposely to coole my inflamed bloud , and qualifie my violent distemper , occasioned by the infection of my Liver . For I must freely confesse , that an ill Liver was the onely occasion o●… all my distemper . By this time had I suffered many a cold Bath : so as my bloud became cooled ; my inflammation ceased , my corrupt Liver restored ; while one day , in a private Arbour where I usually reposed , after my time of recovery , I might behold a curious Tablet , purposely devised by Aesculapius especiall direction , as I afterwards perceived . Wherein was engraven Tarquinius Superbus , to his full body ; in his posture walking , and with a little rod lopping the tops of Poppies : while on the other side of this Tablet , stood Atlas supporting the world ; but under his burden , at the first seemingly fainting , and afterwards utterly failing and falling . Having seriously fixed mine eye on these Statues , I begun to reflect upon my selfe , and to examine mine owne thoughts , whether there were not something that might have proper relation to my selfe in the delineature of those features : And thus I privately conversed with mine owne affections . Say , Vperephanos , is there nothing here presented to thine eye , which thou maist not u●…efully convey to thine heart ! Is not this very Tablet , a mirrour of thy late distempered humour ? Canst thou eye this Tablet , and not discerne thy selfe in it ? Or observe this Embleme , and peruse it without a blush , seeing it displayes thine own shame ? Canst thou eye these mounting Poppies , whose height surpasse others , how soone they are pruned ; and can thy boundlesse ambi●…ion or selfe-admiring hold it selfe secured ? By these Poppies were shadowed eminent Peeres , whose rising height was Tarquins eternall hate ; so as , their height was the sole occasion of their sinister fate . Inferiours were secure , while these ●…uffered ; exempt from danger , while these perished . Had their heads never mounted above others , they had been as safe from perill as others . Apply this Embleme to thy selfe ; for Narcissus never had a fuller view of his owne beauty in the Fount , by which hee perished ; than thou hast here of thine owne deformity , by which thou maist bee truly cautioned . For say , Vperephanos , who ever mounted higher in selfe-conceit ? Who more selfe-admiring , or others lesse esteeming ? yet in this thou fell short of their goodnesse and happinesse , whom thou observest in this Embleme shadowed . For the●…e Pe●…res whom Tarquin gave direction to his Sextus , in so covert and darke a manner to cut off , were not onely great , but good . Their glory was their Countreyes honour , which they ever laboured to advance by their owne danger . Their desires had a more glorious Object , than popular praise : so as , with a sweet , though a sad Evening , they closed their dayes . Whereas , they delight was not to be really good , nor improve the State , but to bee great , though it were to the ruine and subversion of the State. O the misery of an hot and high spirit ! Where our owne aimes are meerly titular , affecting nothing more than to bee popular . Reflect then , unhappy Vperephanos upon thine owne disposition , and in this Embleme , eye the discovery of thine owne person . Desire rather to bee ranked amongst those low Tamrisks , than rising Poplars . But if this Embl●…me , or historicall allusion can worke no deepe impression on thee ; observe that por●…raiture of Atlas , and then see if thy life bee not personated in that Fable . Atlas is heere shrinking under his burden : and to whom may this allude more properly than thy selfe ? For how long , ( miserably-deluded soule ) hast thou supposed out of thine arrogant , and selfe-admiring conceit , that the whole Fabricke of this Vniverse solely leaned on thy shoulders ; and that it could not subsist without thy supportance ? Resolve then into teares ; Pride not thy selfe in thy distemper , seeing fooles and mad-men laugh at thine humour . Be so farre now from preferring thy selfe before ot●…rs , that thou esteeme thy selfe the worst of all others . Blush at thy former folly ; and those friends which thou hast lost by pride , regaine by humility . Strengthen thy intentions with divine resolves ; that nothing may worke more on thy minde , than redeeming of time : which , by how much more precious , by so much more carefully employed . In a word , seeme not to be good , unlesse thou beest that which thou ●…eemest : for semblance of goodnesse , howsoever it deceive the eye of the beholder , it ever asper seth most blemish on the owner , when Policy hat●… lost her vizard , hypocrisie her colour . Thus , Madam , to my selfe I discoursed ; and thus eve●… since have I resolved . Nor is it my desire , that your Grace should only rely on my relation ; or give such easie credit to my pretended conversion , as to receive no other approvement : for I shall no lesse humbly than f●…eely appeale to Tapeinos his judgement , whom I religiously vow , onely to admit into my company , to deliver his opinion touching my recovery . Argument Tapeinos proves how happy it is to be humbled , that they may more sensibly feele the maladies to which they are affected ; None more unhappy than hee who never felt adversity ; The way to weale , is ingeniously to acknowledge our owne want ; Cedars will never remember that they were once Shrubbes ; Promotion declares what men bee , and humility informes them what they should bee . Hee concludes Vperephanos happy by his fall : being thereby made apt to supply wherein before hee did most faile . Hee admires his temper , and commends him to Themista's service , as one deserving honour . POESY IV. HOw happy is his fate Who humbled , becomes wise , Contented with his state , He seeks no more to rise ? His fall hath made him feele Those maladies hee , had , And sensibly to ●…eale Those humours which were bad : Else would they ne're correct Those humours they affect . More haplesse none 〈◊〉 he , Who Swims in worldly blisse , And holds adversity Estrang'd from him and his ; The way to weale , is then In plenty and in scant By curbing Selfe-esteeme T' acknowledge our owne want ▪ But Cedars brooke the worst To heare thei'r Shrubs at first . Promotion is the glasse Declares what mortals bee , But how they hence should p●…sse Informes humility . Then rightly may I call Uperephanos State More happy by his fall Than he appear'd of late ; Made apter to reforme What others held in s●…rne . It rests then I admire His temper , and commend His service to your Quir●… That 's stiled Vertues friend . And take this of my Word , His m●…re deserving parts Will such content afford They 'l winne the knowing'st hearts , And thinke him worthy too Of th' Honour you bestow . Argument . Themista commands Meilixos to bee brought forth into the Presence-Chamber ; where hee relates the manner of his Cure ; Hee repents him of his time so remissely lost , and resolves to regaine , what his Security had lost by neglect ; Hee appeales to Iscuros , to deliver his opinion to his Soveraignesse touching his Cure : and intends to redeeme his many mispent houres with a redoubled Care. PROSE IV. PERPLEXED , and 'twixt hope and feare devided , stood all this time Themistâ , as one ●…earefull whether these so pleasing Objects were not meere Phantasies and deceptions of sight : but no one of all these inforced in her so impressive a motive of wonder and amazement as the strangely altered and me●…amorphos'd Condition of Vperephanos : the more she●… observed him , the lesse shee beleeved what shee saw in him : for shee thought , how the Wolfe might probably change his haire , but hardly his condition : especially , having beene so strengthened by custome , and an in nate malevolency of disposition , as it promised lesse hope of recovery , by reason of the continuance of his infirmity . Wonder she could not sufficiently at his lowly Carriage , assable Countenance , and winning observance ; wherewith shee was more taken than with any of all her recovered Patients . For to see one , whose ambition had mounted the Clowdes , and whose Selfe-conceit exceeded the confidence of Mortals , fall so farre off from preferring himselfe before others , as to esteeme himselfe the unworthiest of all others ; Nay , to avert his Eare from his owne praise , and make Humility his onely prize ; to knit his discourse so firmely with the Cement of discretion ; and so sweetly sea●…on it with Moderation , as in a wise diffidence , to submit himselfe ever to others Opinion ; to blush at his former impertinences , and strengthen his well-disposed intentions with divine re●…olves ; Briefely , to relinquish all such infectious Consorts , as fed him most in his humour , and with the b●…llowes of Sycophancy , kindled th●… Flame of his distemper ; and to supply them with the vertuous society of Tapeinos ; one , whole humility well deserved esteeme in the eminenst Family . I say , to see all these concurring in One , and one of whom there was least hope , could not chuse but much transport her , and so much the more over joy her , as it was least expected by her . Desirous then to heare the happy iss●…e of this generall Cure , after shee had infinitely rejoyced in this unexpected recovery of her Consul Vperephano●… , which Cure shee held to bee of greatest difficulty , shee forthwith commanded that Melixos should bee brought into the Presence-Chamber ; Who , upon his Princesse command , related the issue of his Cure , after this mann●…r . How weake I was of constitution ; how unconstant in my resolves ; how desperately-diffident of mine owne abilities ; how flexiblyyeelding to any ones proposition , were it never so averse nor devious from reason , your Gr●…ce cannot be ignorant . Meagre , lea●…e and exhausted was my consumed body ; no Faculty but desisted from preforming her due office , because in each of them I had a diffid●…nce . Goe upon mine owne legs I could not , for they would not support mee ; nor direct my course any way , but as others led me , I would not , so much had distrust wroght on mee . Bleede I would , if I should but see any Spectacle of griefe , for a whole day together : and with an effeminate effluence o●… teares , d●…cover my childish nature . This our Fame-crowned Artist , Aesculapius observed , and with Receits duely applied , laboured by all means to effect , what his divine art hath now perfitted . Cordiall and Comfortable things he prescribed , to restore Nature so much decayed ; mine Eies with Eye-bright water hee daily washed , to recover my Sight almost perished ; Hee stanched my incessant bleeding ; strengthened my sinues weake and declining ; And applyed certaine Fomentations to keepe me from cold Sweats and Swouning . Nought was wanting to b●…ing my Cure to perfection . Patient I was of idlenesse , impatient of businesse . Nothing so relished me , so distempered was my Palat ; nothing digested with me , so raw was my Stomach . But having now at last by his especiall Care , beene brought to a Sense of my griefe , and probable expectance of Cure ; I was permitted , at certaine seasons , to walke abroad and take the ayre ; but never without a Guide , who still attended mee , lest by being left unto my selfe , some disaster might befall me . One day , as I was walking in an open Gallery , my Keeper shewed mee an excellent piece in Porphyrite Marble ; wherein was portrayed the dwarfe Inus , bearing the Gyant Iphiclus on his shoulders . Which Statue as I intentively eyed , so I personally applyed , for I found my selfe presented in it : being purposely invented and erected by my Physitian , that in it , as in a Mirror , I might see mine owne Condition . Requesting therefore my Guardian to retire a little , and to leave mee to my selfe : in a private & familiar discourse , after this sort I uttered mine owne thoughts , wishing no Eare but the subtle Ayre to partake my complaints . A Picture ! yes Meilixos ; and in it thine owne feature . How ! Inus supporting Iphiclus ! a weake Columne for such a Colosse . The Morall without inversion may be thus applied . When a Statist suffers himselfe to be overswayed by a Pleibeian ; or out of a setled jealousie of his owne Weaknesse , inclines to every vulgar opinion ; or out of a various wandring Conceit what he now decrees , hee presently revokes ; or out of a disesteeme of his owne judgement , will not maintaine what he usefully propounds ; hee in his owne person presents this Embleme . Now reply to thine owne thoughts , Meilixos , and observe , if thou be not the Person here shadowed ! How much hast thou ever relyed on others opinions , were their judgements never so shallow nor defective ; their Conditions never so obscure nor Plebeian ? What judgement didst thou ever pronounce , which thine owne Weakenesse did not make thee repent ; or some inferiour opposition did not cause thee recant ? Tell mee then , if thou see not here the Gyant Iphiclus borne a loft on the dwarfish Inus his shoulders ? Who ever more confident of anothers opinion , or more diffident of his owne ? Who ever depended more on others Supportance , or trusted lesse his owne strength ; occasioned meerely by his owne remissenesse ? Who ever mannaged a State with more coldnesse , or censured Delinquents with more indulgence ? Who ever suffered himselfe to be more deluded by the advice of weakenesse , or misguided by simple directions ? And what else was this , but to bee borne on dwarfish shoulders ? Irresolute was I ever in my designes ; nothing could I doe which seemed not better undone than done . For , whatsoever the preceeding day effected , the following day ever distasted . In competition for offices , I stood ever divided , which to adhere to . Such a Newter among the Romans , was that famous , but various Orator , who could not resolve , whether hee should take Caesars or Pompeies part . Such among the Grecians , was Titides , who could not determine whether he shuld joyn himselfe with Achilles or Hector . Thus like a Top which alwayes rnnnes round , and never goes forward unlesse it be whipt , traversed I my ground in a doubtfull Circuit : never lesse resolved then when I had least occasion to doubt . But lest I , should become too tedious to your Grace , by too much enlarging my discourse , you may understand by the effects , the proficience of his care . For as his Receits , had prepared me , so these moving Emblemes wrought such deepe impression on mee , as I now hate nothing more than Pusillanimity , to which I was formerly engaged , ●…steeming resolution and constancy the highest honour of a Consul . I neither approve of Draeco's Lawes , writ in bloud , nor Theano's writ in Sand. In all Politique States , I shall ever hold Law to be the Line , Execution the Life : but Law without Execution a Leaden sword in a Golden sheath . It now repents me of my time so remissely lost ; nor shall the remainder of my time be wanting in resolves , to regaine by some industrious act , what my Security or Childish Lenity hath lost by neglect . But what are golden promises , but faire flourishes , being coldly seconded by actuall performance ? It shall bee my constant taske rather to practise than to talke . As your Graces Care hath brought mee to partake in the benefit of this Cure ; it shall be my continued Endevourto addresse my employments wholy to your Honour . The infirmity of mine age may make mee ●…aint , but my integrity shall never faile . Now to strenthen your conceit in my recovery ; I shall willingly disclaime my selfe , and ingenuously appeale to Iscuros , to deliver his opinion to you my Soveraignesse , touching my Cure ; with an immutable resolve to redeeme my many mispent houres with a redoubled Care. Argument . Iscuros imparts himselfe to Themista ; He on firms her in the opinion of Meilixos conversion ; hee perswades her to encourage him in his vertuous designes ; Good dispositions are rather to bee cheered than checked , cherished than chastised ; A sweet and well-disposed temper allayes the sharpenesse of a rigid censure : Hee assures Themista with much confidence of Meilixos fidelity and diligence : and that his late alteration well deserves both her affection and estimation . POESIE V. MAdam know Meilixos Cure is not in show ; Then begin , Sweetly to encourage him With these times In hi●… vertuous de●…ignes . Good dispositions ●…heer'd , n●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Cherish'd not chastic'd , for pro●…ciencie . A sweete temper Sweet●…ns sharpeness●… of rough 〈◊〉 . Rest assur'd Of Meilixos safely cur'd , That his care Will supply th●…se ●…ants that were ; And with fidelity and diligence Regaine his honour and your confidence . For of late Choice receits have cur'd his state ; Do●… not then Feare but hee 'l deserve esteeme , Andrestore What deprav'd his life before . " Such d●…serve best who knowing good and ill , " Shunn●… ill , doe good with a resolved will. Adverbs crowne all our actions , which excell When we performe good acts , and act them wel . Argument . Themista becomes infinitely taken with the ●…opefull recovery of her late distempered Consuls ; Shee causeth Vpotomos to bee called forth ; who discovers himselfe by sundry arguments , to be much chang'd from what hee was ; He disclaimes all familiarity with Eris , whose malitious nature had corrupted his bloud ; After much importunity hee prevailes with Elecmon , who attended on him during his infirmity , to relate to Themista the manner of his distemper , & grounds of his recovery . PROSE V. REceits , said Themista ! yes ; these are choice receits indeed , and such as minister no lesse comfort to the Agent than Patient . What exquisite Cures are effected , where art is by discretion seasoned ? How variously were these our Languihing Consuls distempered ? ●…d by what 〈◊〉 Experiments recovered ? I●…alous wee were ( and Love it ●…as that made us jealous ) of their recovery : wherein Art hath performed more than our hopes could expect ; by making wisemen of Fooles , and such as were utterly lost in an overweening Concei●… of their owne wit , to becom●… sensible of their own●… want Sundry effects were produced from these distempers , and no lesse sundry recei●…s applyed to cure their distempered humou●…s . Some were wise enough , had they no●… hrough too much arrogance , knowne it too well ; others ●…oo were wise enough , but through too much diffidence , they knew it not well . Some so selfe-opinionate , as they could never brooke opposi●…ion ; others so selfe-diffident , as they ever appeal'd from their owne opinion . Some were conceited of ●…aving what they had not ; others of not-having what they had . Some contemned all dangers , and death it selfe , with more courage , than judgement ; others trembled at the shaking of a Reede , preferring the shadow of an opinionate fear●… before all judgement . But to what ●…nd doe we spend th●… time in repetition of thei●… distempers ? That darke Cloude of our Sorrow i ▪ now dispelled , those duski●… vapours of ●…ur discomfor●… dispersed . Now may wee cheerefully breath , when wee live in th●…m , in whom the State may prosperously breath . All other are bu●… Secondaries to these comforts . Yet , howbeit we are perswaded of the recovery of some , we are not altogether confident of all . Wee are yet to take Survey of other two ; the one whereof , for Severity , the other for Security , may equall if not surpasse the Examples of any . Vpon which words , turning her Eye aside , shee caused Vpotom●…s to bee celled forth : whom at his first approch , shee thus encountred . Now Vpotomos , how goes the world with you ? is your boundlesse fury ought attempered ? your dispassi●…nate violence allayed ? Can you converse with patience ; or teach your unconfined spirit obedience ? Can you suffer in anothers woe ; or rejoyce in a●…others weale ? Can you drop a teare with a sorrowfull deli●…quent ; or wi●…h that a poore arraig●…ed Captive may prove innocent ? Can you favour life with a candide censure ; and take no felicity in denouncing a sentence of rigour . Are you so farre from insulting o're a dejected offender , as you can partake in compassion with such a sufferer ? Can you cheerefully brea●…h on the face of innocency ▪ and with an attentive Ea●…e ▪ heare a wronged Planti●…e without roughnesse ? Can you put off the dresse of an imperious presence ; and enterteine your Equals with mildnesse ? Could you wish ; while you sit on your judicia●…l Bench , to your prisoners a solemne Iubile ; so the State might not suffer ●…hrough such impunity ? Could you finde in your heart , personally to suffer for the State ; so the State might not suffer for impiety ? In one word , could you wish rather to bee private and retired ; than to prejudice the State by being eminent or publike ? Could you forgoe all honour , to improve your Countries fame by your dishonour ? If so , then happy is Themista in her Vpotomos ; if otherwise , shee must cheerefully content herselfe with the hopefull recovery of the rest of her Patients . Vpotomos all this while with a grave and well-composed behaviour , gave all attention to his Soveraignesse ; and now with a low andre verend Salute , kneeling on his knee , as became the Majesty of such a Person , befo●…e w●…om hee was to 〈◊〉 his discourse , he begun to relate the happy disposure and attemperature of his distem pered humour , after this manner . It is most true , Madam , that never any who sate a●… the helme , or st●…r'd the rudder of so ●…lourishing an estate 〈◊〉 a ever subject to more un●…uff rable enormities than I have beene . Never I say , was Stat●…sman more distempered ●…nd in his distemper mor●… domineered , for what wa●… it I more affected , than t●… have mine owne humour satisfied : which to effect , how much hath the line and level of justice beene made crooked . The course of equity perverted ? Hence proceed my tears ! Hence my feares ! Teares , in a sensible remorse of my guilt ; feares , lest the remainder of mine houres should no●… regaine what my former foliies have lost . Nor is the remembrance , Madam , of mine actions to any on●… more distastefull , than they are to me hatefull . Worthy was that answer of the invincible Alexander to his Mother ; who desirous to execute an innocent-harmelesse man , the better to prevaile with him , remembred him that herselfe for the space of nine moneths had carried him in her wombe , nourished him with her owne bloud , and painfully laboured in his birth ; and for these reasons hee must not say her nay . Aske ( saith hee ) good mother , some other gift of mee , and I will grant it : for the life of a man can by no benefit be recompenced . But how farre was this sentence of just compassion from me estranged ; when I desired nothing more than to inflict punishment equally upon the innocent as on the delinquent ? Iulian the Apostata once answered very wittily touching the liberty given accusers ; If onely to accuse , it were sufficient , who could be innocent ? But wha●… a free ●…are have I ever given to accusers ? What liberty to their suggestions ? An●… how easily have I credited their improbable surmises ? Nothing relished better than thunder and torture . Nor did I read any discourse with more delight , than the ex●… inventions o●… those Tyrants , who bestowed the●…r time , or allo●…ted large Pensions on others in their time , for contriving rare and unheard-of torments , for their supposed Delinquents . Phereclus , and Perillus were ●…y Minions ; thei●… projects were my parternes Dennis the ●…yrant ( as Plutarch witnesseth ) gave his Enemies no other torme●…t , but salt meat to eat , and no drinke ro drinke ; and made them labour hard and not sleepe . And these relations were my choicest Recreations at retired houres : When either businesse , or State gave way ; or mine owne desires affected repose . Yet see ! Whatsoever affected mee most by day , ever affrighted mee most by night . Those two severe and cruell sentences which my fury had pronounced , were ever to mee in my sleepe in bloudy Characters presented . Not withstanding all this , Demadis I ever taxed , for finding faul●… with Draco's lawes , for being writ in bloud : For ( said I ) if Offenders cover their foule actions with inke , why should not justice colour them with bloud ? But as the Scorpion hath in her the remedy of her owne poyson , by natures secret infusion ; so the evill man carrieth alwayes with him the punishment of his owne wickednesse , which never leaves to torment and afflict his surprized minde , both sleeping and waking : all which in numerous instances occurred to mee ( if I could have made use of what was presented to mee ) in the tragicke stories of Appollodorus , Hipparohus , Pausanias , and many others , recommended to the memory of approved Historians . Night ●…y night was I startled with fearfull visio●…s ; presenting the persons of such as had received any cruell censure from mee . Yet did I fleight all these visions , as children dreames ; th●… next day begot a new doom ; the Scene wherein I acted , was ever tragicall to the Delinquent . Thus I raigned , ranged and raged , till mine eyes grew inflamed , my stomacke swolne up and puffed ; my bloud , by too much familiarity with Eris , a waspish Sorceresse , infected . All out of temper ; thus I continued for many moneths together : till your fame-spred Artist , to whose especiall care , and effectuall cure , wee were all commended , sought out the grounds of my distemper . Intollerable paine I suffered , yet was I scarce sensible of the causelesse which I suffered . All which time , hee omitted no opportunity to restore me to my selfe ; who , howsoever I was seldome drunke , yet was I never mine owne man. Nor did hee professe lesse Art i●… Chyrurgery than Physicke : for having by way of incision opened mee , hee tooke a worme out of my gall ; the mainest cause of my distemper . Then hee applied Cupping-glafses ●…o coole and temper my braine ; the heat whereof had so enraged mee , as no object , were it never so pleasi●…g no●… eye-taking , could delight mee . A Diet-drinke too , hee prepared mee , well mixt with ●…he Soveraigne ju●…ce of Me triot and Euchrasia , to remove those Pluriticall stitches , wherewith I was incessantly annoyed : ●…pplying withall , Oppian Plaist●…rs , with a proportionable quan●…ity of the juyce of Sunneidesis infused to my stomacke , to repell those fearefull dreames , which so migh●…ly start●…ed and affrighted mee , as not one houres rest could secure mee , one minutes quiet solace mee . These receits by degrees brought mee to some little conceit or apprehension of mine owne distemper ; So as , in short time I was suffered to walke abroad , and to refresh my crazie-co●…sumed body with moderate recreation ; of which I was before debarred , being fast tied , and t●… such strict restraint confined ▪ as I was neither permitte●… to take the benefit of the fresh ayre , nor to enjoy the society of any ; so intollerable was my rage , so boundlesse my fury . And being now in good hope of recovery , which enlarged my late restraint to more liberty ; it hapned one day as I walked in a private Garden , purposely a●…lotted mee ( for each of us had ou●… distinct walks , lest our distracted and distempere●…●…umours , upon our encoun●…ring one another , might beget some fearefull inconvenience ) that in the lowest border of the Garden , I might see a curious Orbell , all of Touch , wherein the Sy racusan tyrants were no lesse artfully portrayed , than their severall cruelties to life dsi played : Nothing was omitted , to discover Tyranny in her owne naked feature ; nor expresse cruelty in her truest nature . Diamater-wis●… on the other side of the Columne stood Argestes strucke with thunder , just as hee was pronouncing his bloudy censure . Twice had I path'd my border-walke , when this Statue first presented it selfe unto mee ; yet with a slight and carelesse eye I passed by it , as if the act of mine owne li●… had no relation at all unto it . But in the end , being alwayes in mine eye , which could not chuse but convey some impressive conceit to mine heart ; I beganne t●… discusse , by way of conjecture , the allusive meaning of these Emblemes : which , a●…er some more serious expostulation with mine owne thoughts , I returned in these words . What should this meane Vpotomos ? Dost thou feele any shaking or shuddering in thine owne flesh , that it should intend any relation to thy s●…lfe ? Eye thine owne nature , and compare it with the feature . Say , say , Vpotomos , what were these Syracusan tyrants ? Cruell to their foes , and scarce constant to their friends . Exquisite for inventing torments to sate their 〈◊〉 , but unapt to incline their eare to a sui●… of mercy . Prone to sp●…ll , but slow to spare . Such , as never joyed but in a bloudy banquet . The Stage , where these acted their inhumane parts , was ever hung about with Blacks ; their very private Arbours stucke with Ebon sprigges , to put them in minde of their blacke designes . But what are all these to thee ? yes , Vpotomos , reflect upon thine owne inhumanity , and in these thou shalt finde thine owne A●…atomie . Then actions , with change only of time and person , were thine . Indeed , they were more eminent , because advanced to an higher Orbe of gov●…rnment . But this leffeneth nothing thy guil●… , but ra●…her aggravates thy shame . The higher these werein honour , the more they had to follow their humour . The body o●… greatnesse never walkes without an extensive shadow . But thy command had no such boundier . Thy power was confined yet to the highe●…t pin o●… extremity screwed . Read then thy selfe in this Syracusan piece . But if this worke not effectually with thee , nor enforce those bloud-shot eyes to view thy insatiate cruelty ; then looke on that Statue of Argestes . Wherein observe his quality and vocation ; and thou shalt finde it to side with thine ; his Ca●…astrophe and utter ruine , and beware it be not seconded by thine . Polo the Tragedian ( whose living memory breaths yet to posterity ) acting the part of Electra upon the Stage , and being mournfully to bring in the bones of her brother Orestes in a Pot , he brought in the bones of his owne son lately buried , that the sight of them might wring forth true tears indeed , and by the passionate presentment of them , act it more famously . For objects of ocular passion , cannot chuse but work in the Actors person . Apply this , Vpotomos , and that impartially ; here thou seest thine owne life acted in an Embleme . Let it worke so much true passion in thee , as the fore-past memory of thy selfe may make thee hatefull to thy selfe . Let that which thou here seest occularly presented , and to thy selfe properly applied , become a motive to d●…terre thee f●…om what thou formerly so much affected , an inducement to allure thee to what thou lately so much distasted ; a wile to weane thee from what thou so dearly loved ; a Lure to win thee to what thou so deeply loathed . Delay may b●…get dang●…r ; take hold then of opportunity to prevent this danger . Nor did I remit what my resolution had fixt : for so well had Physicke corrected mine h●…mour ; and so strongly had these Emblemes wrought on my conceit , as I forth with disclaimed all familiarity with Eris , from whom arose the very first ground of mine unhappinesse . For her malitious nature it was , had corrupted my bloud , infected my vitall parts , and wholly estra●…ged mee from the sensible ●…eeling or compassionating the infirmities of man. Since the sleighting of whose favour , meerely proceeding ●…rom ●…he correction of mine humour , I feele my selfe cleare changed , and quite of another temper : for I am turned all Niobe , so as my la●…e relentles spirit is now resolved into teares ; I can wish unto others as to my selfe : Commiserate others griefs , as if they had relation unto my selfe : truly imagining , that as I see ●…he image of every man in my selfe , so I am to partake i●… their affections , as if they were presented in my selfe . 〈◊〉 I conceit , nor shall any pleasing pride , sprung from the knowledge of mine owne weaknesse , make mee lesse cautious in shunning all occasion of falling into like infirmities . Now Elecmon , to you I appeale , with whom friendly importunity is hopefull to prevaile ; that as you are best acquainted with these passages by mee delivered , ( seeing you attended on mee during my infirmity ) so to relate to Themista the manner of my distemper , and grounds of my recovery . To which Elecmon at the first seemed altogether unwilling , till long importunity had so wonne him , as addressing himselfe to Themista , in Aesc●…lapius honour , hee related the circumstances of Vpotomos recovery , in this manner . Argument . Elecmon reports what apparant danger hee incurred , so long as Vpotomos was distempered : and in his recove ry how much hee was comforted ; Hee holds the time bestowed on his attendance , to be a taske of incomparable happinesse : and his absolutest solace , to live and die in his service , Hee much feares his desire of retirement from affaires of State ; Hee could wish theref●…re Themista , as shee tenders the fame and honour of her Court , to re-advance him to his former charge , which might conduce to the strength of the State , and her recovery . POESY VI. Iust like Sea-tossed Port-encountred men , Recount those dangers which secured them , The n●…m'rous She●…ves , and fate-divining sands , Their strange delivery from Pyrats hands ; So I now fr●…ed from danger , may relate Those perils which environ'd mee of l●…te . See HIM , whose boundlesse fury once as strong As any Tigresse robbed of her young ; Or like a raving Dogge , if any vext him , Without distinction bit at him stood next him , Till quite bereftof reason , sense and braines , Depriv'd of Liberty , confin'd to Chaines , Hee might not feed of commonaire , nor eye That glorious Sunne which cheeres mortal●…ty ! I brought him still to bed , and up againe , And to afford him ease , refus'd no paine . The ranke distemper of his strong disease I strove to curbe , hi●… fury to appease : Thus grapled I with danger , to allay What Art and Physicke now hath ta'ne away . Nor am I l●…sse cheer'd in 's recovery , Than griefe enthrall'd through his infirmitie . ' The darker that our Criticke dayes appeare , " Whe●… Sunne shuts out , doe ever ●…hine most cleare . For n●…w I hold the time which I bestow'd On ●…is attendance ( for so mu●…h I ow'd ) To be a taske of higher happinesse , Than I in outward accents may expresse . Nor can there be more solace , still ●…ay I , Then in his service both to live and die . For loe ! how his affections are dispos'd ? How sweetly temper'd , and how well compos'd ! His boundlesse fury now h 'as lost her sting , Triumphing in a glorious suffering Of injuries ; which his conceiving heart Beares for improvement of his better pa●…t . His sole desires on goodnesse grounded are ; His patience crown'd ; none in his wrongs must share ; While he disvalues with a smiling please The pressing burden of his injuries . How sensibly it grieves him to retaine The mem'ry of Delinquents hee hath slaine By tyrannizing c●…usure ! which appe●…res By this , " No minute but affords some teares . No walks but private solitary Groves Shut from frequent ; his Contempl●…tion loves ; No Treatise nor discourse so sweetly please As sacred-secret soule Soliloquies . No other resolution h●…e retaines Then what proceeds f●…om firme and setl●…d braines ; Nor is there ought w●…ich can distaste him more Than to affect what he admir'd before . ( temp●…sts send " Th' Even crownes the d●…y ; cl●…re M●…rnes may " And Comick showes may have a Tragicke end : But th' sentence is inverted quite with him , Whose blosso●…s ever were lesse promising In 's youth , which his distemper'd bound●…esse rage Brings to mature perfection in his age . Those choice chiefe v●…rtues which adorne a State , Should I with M●…rallistse numerate , I might conclude Upotomos hi●… brest The Cabbinet , where rarest vertues rest : Confirm'd by his av●…sion from those Who stile them vices friends , but vertues foes . But much I feare hee ha's a fixt desire From State-affaires in private to retire ; Which to prevent , Themista , as you tender Your fa●…'d-Courts honour , ●…nd h●…r ancient splendor , So re-advance him to his former place , And cheere his griefe with p●…offer of your grace : Which may conduce to make the w●…rld knowne Unto your trophies , triumphs and renowne : For a more knowing Sage you cannot crave , To store a State with what a State should have . Argument . Themista in this discourse of Vpotomos , conceiveth no small pleasure ; She wonders at the strange alteration of his temper ; Shee cals Amerimnos to come before her : Whom her servant Euphorbus found sometime sleeping in a corner ; Hee acquaints her , how his decayed memory is restored ; his dull and unactive spirits revived . Hee appeales to Epimedes , to deliver his opinion to his So veraignesse Themista , personally , and po●…itively ▪ touching his nature , temper and recovery PROSE V. QVestionlesse ( said Themista ) under favour , this is not Vpotomos , whom you describe after this manner . Can a relentlesse disposition bee so soone tamed , as to affect what hee before so mortally hated ? Who would not conceive infinit pleasure in the alteration of such a temper ? What a glorious liberty that infranchised mind enjoyes , who puts off man to converse more freely with heaven ? But if wee must beleeve Vpotomos nature to bee th●…s altered , wee would faine know where his old condition is now seated . Sure , if that ancient Pythagorean opinion hold firme , that there is a transmigration of soules into other bodies , there is some body much distempered with his humour : having either left what hee had unto another , or made an exchange with anothers nature . But happy is such a losse , which brings the Los●…r gaine ! Precious such a change , which admits no change , but to the Republike a constant choice ! Redoubled is our joy , to re-possesse what our conceit had utterly lost : and to finde in him whom wee held for lost , what wee b●…fore all others incomparably prize . But let us not forget our last Consul , though ( perchance ) security hath made him to forget himselfe . Which said , shee cals Amerimnos to come be●…ore her , whom her servant Euphorbus had sometimes found sleeping in a corner : whom shee no soo●…er beheld approaching towards her presence , then shee thus accoasted him . Amerimnos , wee should willingly addresse our discourse unto you , all the better to satisfie our selves how those artfull experiments have wrought with you ; which have already produced such admirable effects in the rest of our Consuls , who laboured of no lesse dangerous distemper than your selfe . But much wee doubt your drousie attention would dampe our discourse with a sleepie conclusion . Much like that over-watcht Epicureall 〈◊〉 , who being to give his opinion in a businesse of high consequence , betwixt Plaintiffe and Defendant , but slept all the time it was in pleading ; as one suddenly awakt , but unprepared of a discreeter answer ; return'd his opinion in the selfe-same Element , whereof hee had probably dreamed , in this manner : All Cumaea ha's not a piece of sounder Ra●…ie wine . This smooth , but smart conceit , caused all such as were there present to bite the lip , but with a secret silent smile to passe the j●…st over , for the reverence of their Soveraignnesse , and civill feare , lest they might dash Amerimnos out of countenance . But hee little amated , though conscious enough of the quicknesse of the conceit , with a decent and well-composed gesture , after three low Congies made to her Honour , delivered his minde in these expressions unto her . It is said of the silk-worme ( Madam ) that shee surceaseth from spinning for certaine dayes together , that she might after so retired a rest , spinne the better . And Charity will judge that I have slept all this time , purposely to watch the longer . Though Endimion kissed Luna on Latmos Mount , and for a long time together slept in her lap , yet did this sleepy Swaine at last returne to his flocke , and redeeme the time by redoubling his care , which his security had lost . I confesse , Madam , the whole Progresse of my life , hath been a continued sleepe . Nothing was ever more opposite to my nature , than to impose my selfe a taske , or some diurnall ●…abour . Long Epicur●…all feasts were my onely delightfull repasts ; my sole taske was to please my taste ; which made mee ofttimes sleep , when I should have watched for the publike State : So as , those very Geese , who with their gagling preserved the Capitoll , were more praise worthy in their generation , than the security of my remisse and state retired condition . In cases of Iudicature , such as were of necessity to make repaire to my Bench , sticked not to say that they came thither as to a Lottery ; ●…or causes were there determined at haphazzard , not by equity . For as Lawyers pleaded , while I slept and heard not ; so awaking I gave sentence in what I understood not . In a word , the whole State both of my minde and body was grievously distempered . For though mine appetite increased , my digestion failed ; my judgement became weakned ; my memory decayed ; and the whole fabrike of this little man fearefully languished . All which Aesculapius , that inimitable Artist no lesse observed , and by your Graces direction , seasonably prevented . For first , h●…e regulates mee to a prescript diet , with Elixir'd broaths every morning to sharpen mine understanding ; Hee prepares me next , Antiopian plaisters to keepe mee the afternoone awaking ; After these , Epimeleian julips laid warme to my temples ; whieh with fumes of strong liquor , were ever aching . These applied , hee injoyned me to abstaine from all strong drinkes , and ( what was most averse from mine hydropick nature ) never to drinke betwixt meales , b●… with my Teeth shut . Whic●… prescription I no lesse cu●… ningly eluded than evaded , for I practised with a profe●… Tooth-drawer , to pull m●… out two of my broadest teeth : by meanes whereof , and the benefit of a Can●… though my teeth were shu●… ▪ to observe his direction , I plenteously flowed in mine afternoones potation . Hee provides too a Night Cappe strongly chafed with the Lemnian powder of Cornu copia ; purposely to make my sleepes shorter , and my conceit stronger . And because hee found by my Vrine , and other soporiferous symp●…omes , that my kidneye were overlarded with oyle of Dormise ( whose society I ever so much affected , as I admired their condition ) by meanes of Sweatings and Suffumigations , hee extracted all those viscid and oyly humours . By meanes of these receits so physically applied , I begun to have some little feeling of my selfe ; and to hold up my head , which before , like a perpetuall Penthouse , hung drilling and dropping o're my brest , leaving ever some asper●…ions on my venerable skirts . My Physitian , who never tyrannized over his Patients , but upon their recovery , enlarged their restraint , to solace their weakned spirits with a discreet liberty ; gave directions to my Keeper , that I should take the aire , and refresh mine over-wasted , and wearied body with some temperate recreation . This granted me , and walking one day in a delightfull Spinet , beautified with shady Poplars , I might se●… a curious peece of antique worke , seemingly cut out of a naturall rocke , and over-growne with Ivie , to prove her antiquity . The Device was this ; An aged man , bearing the name of Silenus , sleeping in a Cave , matted round with Mosse ; round about him were shadowed fruits of all kinds ; and below him silver springs flowing with delicious liquours ; yet still so desirous seemed hee of rest , and so infinitely addicted to sleepe , as hee would not so much as heave up his head either to those luscious fruits , tha●… grew so delightfully dangling above him , nor inclin●… it to those delicious liquours that flowed so plentcously playing under him . Neare to this Cave was por●…rayed a speckled Aspick , with a winding-circling pace , creeping towards him , and shooting out his venomous sting to wound him ; which an industrious Emmet obse●…ving , seeks to prevent , by awaking him with a gentle touch , to preserve him from the Aspicks mortall sting . Long I mused on the depth of this Embleme ; wherein I fou●…d such intricacy , the more I dived into it , the shorter I came of it . Till one morning ( whom wee no lesse truly than properly cal●… the Muses Minion , the conceits pregnantest Da●…ling ) expostula●…ing with my selfe no lesse seriously than secretly , what this might meane ; I fell into a parley with mine owne thoughts , which I digested and dilivered in this sort . Awake , Amerimnos , for thou seest here Silenus ( and in him thine owne Embleme ) long since awaked . How ! Silenus ! in a Cave sleeping , with fruits growing above him ▪ Fountaines flowing under him ; an Aspick creeping towards him ; and a wary Emmet with a friendly smart awaking him ! What may all this meane ? Thou canst not see thy selfe , Amerimnos , but thou must needs understand it . Silenus , that mirrour o●… Security , whose whole life was an incessant sleepe ; whose Cave was his Commonweale ; and whose sole delight was in a senslesse sur●…er . Silenus , who neither thought of combustions abroad , nor factions at home ; desiring nothing more than to fare well without care taking ; reape without labouring ; live wi●…hout loathing ; enjoy without ●…uffering . Now reflect upon thy selfe , Am●…rimnos , and see what affinity thou hast with Silenus ! What hast thou done but spent thy time in a car●…lesse slumber ? how remisse in thy charge ? how respectlesse of thine honour ? Didst thou ever ( to unrivet this Embleme ) partake of those rich fruits growing ab●…ve thee ; State-affaires , employments o●… publike safety ? Or sip o●… those Chrystall-gliding Rivolets flowing under thee , those Low Rils , humble soules , objects of compassion and pity ? No ; thes were estranged from thee ; thy onely taske was fruitlesse security . Thus thou slept , while the subtill Aspick takes advantage on thy mis-employed privacy . For loe ! with a snakie pace hee drawes towards thee , purposely to sting thee , and that mortally : did not the Emmet ( that native Embleme of industry ) with a friendly remembrance raise and rouze thee . Make use of this then to thy benefit , lest by neglecting the opportunity offered , thou become irreparably lost and ruined . Which , the better to effect , make industry thine Harbinger ; Temperance thy Caterer ; Moderation thy Monitor : so shalt thou not onely redeeme the time thou hast lost ; but bestow the remainder that is left , to the benefit of the State , and improvement of thine honour . Nor did the impression of this Embleme work on mee , as other Presentments usually doe ; which , as in eying objects in a glasse , are no sooner left than lost : for as by those Receits formerly applyed , my decayed memory became restored ; my dull and unactive spirits revived ; my love to employment inflamed : so the sight of tha●… ●…bleme hath so powerfully wrought on my thoughts , as I am rosolved ( nor doe I feare but Heaven will ever breath on such divine resolves ) with this small remainder of dayes that are left , to redeeme the time I have lost . For I hold nothing lesse seemely than one who is ancient in yeares , and hath no other argument to shew for his age , but his yeares . This then , seeing practise is the lise of knowledge , shall be my Position . " No day without a line ; no line wi●…hout a rule . This my couclusion : " I could wish , that as I spent my former time in sleepe , I might now addresse mee to continuate action without sleepe : if it might stand with the conservation of natu●…e , without rest to endure labour . But modesty bids mee to bee spare in mine owne approvement , being to r●…ceive life and light , not from ours but others judgement . I appeale then ●…o Epimeles , to d●…liver his opinion to you my Soveraignesse , personally , positively , and impartially , touching my nature , temper , and recovery . Argument . Epimeles appointed Amerimnos K●…eeper , declares what long sleeps hee had before hee could bee awakt , during his distemper ; how shortly after his recov●…ry , hee was a Cocke to all the family ; Lastly , in all submission upon reflex had to his diligence and discretion , hee holds Amerimnos service not any way derogating from Themista's reputation . POESIE VII . NAture bids us sleepe and wake , Amerimnos did not thi●… , Hee a lasting nap would take , And to sleep●… confine his blisse : Long coutinued were his dreames , " Uices ever hunt extreames . In a silent shadie Bower , Usually would hee repose , Clad with sweet-breath'd Sycomour , Chaf'd with buds of Damaske Rose : Where secure , hee quite forgate Both his owne and publike State. Till of late by secret art And inimitable skill , His Physitian did impart Such a prom●…tnesse to his will ; As 't is rare what hee attempts By his rich experements . For rest●…r'd security From all businesse estrang'd , Ranking now with industry Is to vigilancie chang'd : Crane nor Hinde can either bee Watchfuller in Launes , than hee . Resty and unactive once Was his body Earth-opprest , Clotted was his aged sconce , For employment now addres●… : For since his rec●…very , Hee 's a Cocke to th'family . Lastly , lowly with submission ▪ And reflex to diligence , I doe hold that h●… discretion , Constance service , vigilance Shall no way detract but sut●… With Themista's high repute . Argument . Themista with a Princely affectionate grace receives her late distempered , but now recovered Consuls into her favour : and recalling Parthenius from exile , creates him prime Consul . Shee gives the CHARGE ; wherein she declares what the State requires at their hands ; and how they may advance their Countreyes glory by this their restauratio●… and recovery ; Closing , shee vowes to erect a lasting Trophy to Aesculapius memory . An Epitome of the whole . This Section trencheth mainly upon these two Subjects ; The CONSVLS CHARGE , With THEMISTA'S TRIVMPH ; In the expression of her Consuls recovery and restauration . With PARTH●…NIVS his reduction from exile and reauguration . PROSE VII . CLouds so clearly dispersed ; distempers ▪ so soundly cured joyes so unexpectedly tendred ( said Themista ) cannot not chuse but worke strange effects upon our conceit . For as griefes before thought lessen their burden ; so 〈◊〉 reduced to joyes , 〈◊〉 our affection . To finde what probability tels us wee may finde , can never over-joy us ; but to finde what all possibili●…y discourageth us to finde , must needs infinitely in●…rance us . Which spoke , with a Princely affectionate grace , shee received her late distempered , but now recovered Consuls into her favour : conferring upon them , according to their distinct qualities , distinct honours . Which conferred , making a sudden stop , as if somewhat had beene left undone , which she intended , shee unfolded her resolves in this sort . Wee have read ( quoth she ) that an experienced Generall is worth a whole Army ; an expert Mariner the succour of a Navie ; a discreet Master the honour of his Family . Yea , that an Army of Harts with a Lion to their Leader , is better than an Army of Lions with an Hart to their Commander . Lest therfore , you my revived Consuls , should like the Bird Ibis , receive the excrement you have egested , by returning to the vomit you have relinquished , our purpose is to recall our trusty and welbeloved Parthenius from exile , where hee hath beene too long de●…ained ; and to create him Prime-Consul , as his actions have ever merited : seeing his defence of goodnesse was the onely cause hee became proscribed . Which directions given , that hee should bee forthwith called home , to the end , her late-reformed Senators might bee better informed , and in their good resolves confirmed ; with a gracefull reverend aspect mounting her judiciall Throne ( having first commanded Cletor the Pretorian Cryer , with three O's Ace to command silence ) shee addressed herselfe to a publike prepared CHARGE , in the assembly of her Consuls , with an huge confluence of other Plebeians , after this manner . It is not unknowne ( grave Iusticiaries ) how upon our especiall trust reposed in you , wee did sometimes make choice of you to bee of our Commission , to execute justice , and to doe your Country & us all faithfull service . But how remisse you were in your Care , how neglectfull of your Charge , wee will not here relate : for it shall bee our glory to see our perishing hopes revive in your recovery . But what is it to suffer incision , corroding powders , or experiments above humane sufferings ; and through distemper to make all these receits uselesse , by giving free issue to those rancorous wounds , which before were closed . If Statues bee not daily wiped , they will with dust become blemished : so , if those impressures of manly vertues , which you now seemingly retaine , bee not afresh revived , and by all industrious meanes preserved , your glory will become darkned , your memory obscured . You hold it unseemly to stampe your Princes image in base mettall : And what lesse doe you , when you staine our purest robes of justice , with your impurest actions ? O my Patritians ; should you but consider how much wee tender our honour , which receives not her beauty from any outward lustre , but from the inward purity of her divinest nature ; no doubt but you would suffer the worst of all extreames , before you would incline by the crooked line of your actions , to blemish so royall and reall a beauty . Yea , should you but thinke in what neare obligements you stand engaged to ou●… bounty , 〈◊〉 whence , after your first-being , you ●…ave received your well-being ; no doubt but you would ing nuously agnize ( if thankfulnesse retained the least touch or tincture in you ) that you stood more bound ●…o our Grace for your breeding , than to your naturall 〈◊〉 for your first-being . For if any one love his carnall father , from ●…hom hee onely had a mortall body , how much ought hee to love such an one , from whom hee shall receive immortall glory ? If so much a mother , who brought him a man full of miseries into this world ; how much more one , who shall conduct him full of joyes into another world ? If so much your carnall brethren , who by partaking with you in an earthly inheritance , make you poorer ; how much more on●… , who by conferring on you a●… heavenly inheritance , shall make you richer ? If so much a sonne , for whom you so much labour , not knowing whe●…her you may perfect ought in him that may deserve your favour ; or whether hee will hereafter reverence you as a father ; or whether he will oppose you , or render evill unto you for the good hee hath received from you ; how much more one , who will eternally reward & recompence you , for a few houres service received from you ? If so much a Wife , who ( perchance ) loves another better than you ; how much more such an one , who will never estrange her from that love shee beares you ? For us , you are especially to love , without whom no civill society can either subsist or live . All which may bee easily proved by this necessary consequence . For if you love him so much , who bestoweth a portion of his estate on you ; how much more such an one , who could finde in his heart to leave friends and kinsfolks , and to goe into a strange Countrey ; yea , to engage their owne body to gaine you liberty ? Now have not wee expressed our love amply in arguments of this ●…ature ? Have wee not left our owne native Countrey ( those beauteous Mansions of Astraeas glory ) for your succo●…r , sa●…ety and security ? Have you not recovered through us , what you had once lost ; to the end you might become happy through that , which you valued least ? But wee will not upbraid you with our courtesies ; bee it your care now after the dispatch of your cure , that this judiciall place , whereto you are now restored , may bee by your actions dignified ; the pulike State , where you are deputed , rectified ; and your many neglected houres , with a numerous supply of vertues , carefully redeemed , which the better to effect , two things bee solely necessary : an unspotted conscience towards your selves ; and an untainted fame in respect of others . By which meanes , you may not onely redeem●… time , but improve your own fame , to the imitable example of others . Nothing , you know , more precious than time ; ye●… what more disvalued ? No thing more perillous than neglect of opportunity ; yet how easily incurred ? Bee the expence then of your houres , your constantest cares . And because medicines ever worke best by their contraries ; and vices are ever best cured by their contrary vertues : Whatsoever you shall finde in you irregular , prevent the growth by a seasonable remover . Vices can never possibly bee cured , unlesse they bee curbed : nor ever supplanted , unlesse they bee timely weeded . Which the better to effect , it shall be now ou●… task briefly and plainly to addresse our discourse to each of you in particular ; that by a more free survey or discovery of your nature , you may become Masters of your owne passions , and better rectifi●…rs of your errours . And to you first , Metoxos , ( to observe order ) whose very name renders partiality , a vice whereto you have been addicted naturally . Lysanders saying was this , C●…ildren must bee deceived by Dice and Blanks , men by oaths . Now Sir , open your owne naked bosome , and there examine your selfe , how your behaviour hath beene in the management of your place ! How many have you deluded with promises ; nay , seconded those bare promises with bold oaths , that you would stand for them in the justnesse of their cause , by defending them against the enmitie of powerfull Opponents ? But how soone were those golden promises dissolved , when apparent hope of reward was presented ? So prevalent was the power of gaine , as it caused innocencie to give place to guilt . Now reflect upon this , Metoxos , with your cleare eyes ; for before they were bleared with rewards : and stretch out your hand to th●… releefe of the poore , but draw it in from receit of bribes . And take ever along with you those two sayings o●… two grave Sages ; Doe no thing for love of money : and , Staine not justice with partiality . What untimely , but deserving fates , some , even of your Profession have encountred , whose tongues wer●…●…ipt with gold , and mad●… gaine their goale ; might be●… instanced in sundry Personages of eminent ranke , bu●… ignominious life . Some whereof have b●…ene suddenly stabbed ; others privat●…ly strangl●…d ; others openly pistoled by their injured Plaintiffes , whose unredressed wrongs winged their enraged fury with too speedy revenge . Nor were these scarce bemoaned while they perished . And of these our Roman Annals are plenteous in examples . Amongst which , nothing more bloudy than that slaughter which was made by the Germans upon ●…heir revolt from the Roman Empire , through the Woods a●…d Marishes ; nothing more intollerable than the insultings of the barbarous , speci ally ( to instance the evenging aimes of popular fury ) against the Pleaders at the Barre , plucking out the eyes of some , and lopping off the hands of othersome ; one had his mouth stitcht up , after his tongue was first cut out , which the savag●… Actor grasping in his hand , said to it ; Thou Viper , at last give over hissing . So implacable was the fury of a barbarous Nation , upon innovation of government , against persons of your profession . Which , as it is an honour to that State , where justice is equally administred ; so it detracts from her , where partiality is priviledged . But admit , these forraine instances should not worke strongly enough upon your conceit , Metoxos ; Draw homeward , by recalling to mi●…de that tragicke Story of Sisambres , so m●…sically descanted by Harmonius : with those pleasing Paeans of thankfulnesse delivered by Isotes . Now to you , Epimonos , whose very name displayes your pertinacious nature ; be never so tied to your owne opinion , as to avert your ●…are from reason . How can hee ever possibly improve himselfe , who shuts his attention from all but himselfe ? To what purpose were Counsels or Assemblies of State , if one mans private opinion should bee onely delivered , and all others silenced ? Learne then ( for this lesson will infinitely profit you ) to submit your selfe to others judgement , to humble your selfe in others approvement ; for so by hearing others , you may become enabled in that wherein you are naturally most defici●…nt . Nor will it bee amisse , while others read Books , for you to read Men ; even that unhappiest of men , M Caelius , so passinately described by Harmoniu●… : with those soule-reviving Epods of your Epieicies . For you , Vperephanos , whose Name suted well with your thoughts ; as your cure seemed to us of greatest difficulty , so you give us no lesse occasion to joy in your recovery . The foolish are ever taken most with arrogance and applause ; and such was your condition . Whose unconfined greatnesse could not want his parallel shadowes to follow it . But these deceitfull Sycophants , who make pretences Employers of all their senses , are not unlike the Herbe Sardonius , of which Solinus reports , that it maketh th●… eaters thereof to looke as if they laughed , but in laughing die . Properly may wee stile them Brokers of old stuffe , or Barterers of contemptible ware : who sell their Masters at any rare for their owne advantage . Antisthenes said truly of them , that it was better to fall into the clawes of Ravens , than such ●…ame Rooks : for Ravens feed onely upon dead Carkasses , but flatterers upon living men . Alexander Severus ( a great enemy to these ) caused his corrupt Courtier Turinus in the open Market to be fastned to a stake , and and stifled with smoke ; the Cryer thus crying to the people , Let him perish with that hee sold to the Parish . So dealt Dionysius with his Damocles , by ever putting him in perill of his life ; lest his perillous practises should endanger the State. But a kinde Physitian ever contends with the disease , but never contests with his Patient ; beware of these , Vperephanos ; you are now set againe on your feet : for inclining to them may bring you to an untimely fate . " Deere are ever most fearfull in their best Laires : doe not in the fatnesse of your estate feed them , lest they feed on you , whose immeriting favour did first raise them . Lay aside the presence of contempt and disdaine ; put on an affable and humble countenance ; bee full of comfort to an oppressed Client : So shall these honours re-conferred on you , become permanent . Envie , the soules impostume , eating up the heart and marrow of her Master , let it never nestle in your bosome : Rejoyce ever in others risings ; so may princely compassion steere your course , and shield you from ruine . In a word , demeane your selfe thus , and good men will love you ; the evill stand in feare o●… you ; and the whole State , upon acknowledgement of your integrity , honour you . Meane time , bee not forgetfull of the heavie fate of Pytheas , so pithily chanted by Harmonius : which , if it taste of too much heavinesse , allay it with those divine aires of your Tap●…inos . For you , Meilixos , whose very name resolves it selfe into Pusillanimity , the onely ground of your infirmity , raise your selfe from earth , and eye the place to which you are advanced . The Quaile ( a bird on whose nature reflect sundry mysterious Emblemes ) as hee flies over the Sea , feeling himselfe beginne to bee weary , lights by the way into the Sea : then lying at one ▪ side , hee layes downe one wing upon the water , and holds up the other wing towards Heaven : lest hee should presume to take too long a flight at the first , hee wets one wing : lest hee should despaire of taking a new flight afterwards , hee keepes the other wing drie . Apply the morall to your selfe ; so shall you neither faint too much , by distrusting your weaknesse : nor pride your selfe too much in the discharge of this publike service . Which done , as wee are confident of you , so shall you finde us none of those unthankfull ones , to sucke your milke like Mules , and then to kicke you with our heeles . Wee know well how to bestow our favour to the proportionable merit of every ones labour . Looke up cheerfully then Meilixos ! Let not an imperious Grande , who sets his face in his ruffe ; knits his browes ; and with winks and nods deciphers his command , over-awe you ; nor make your tongue falter in pronouncing his distastefull censure . For in any Cause wherein you desire to please us , you are not to feare evill men ; whose course hath beene ever opposite unto us . Thales compared Lawes to Spider-webs : but such are ever to bee spunne in a corrup●… State. Ours are * Speaking Lawes , that dare tax a Delinquent , bee hee never so potent ▪ And herein shew you●… resolution : that our State may see you truly changed , and worthy the supportance of that charge wherein you are entrusted . But especially retaine in minde the sad Story of Melotes , sung so lately to you in such apt measures by Harmonius : whose pensive straines you may sweeten with tho●…e musicall measures , of Iscuros . Now , for you , Vpotomos , in whose very Name was portrayed the rough Scene of your life ; and whose steeled heart could sometimes , like a Spring-locke , shut it selfe , but never open to the least thought of compassion : as you have go●… a Niobe in your eye , and a Philomels thorne to your brest : So addresse your selfe to mercy , and never hereafter give receit to cruelty . Demosthenes being demanded what men had , that most resembled God ? He answered , To be charitable , and embrace the truth . Retaine in you this resemblance , so shall your place receive more honour from you , than you from it . For as justice is ( as all other vertues be ) a meane betwixt two extreames ; Lenity & Severity : So we rather incline to his censure , who mixeth justic●… with favour , than his , who thundreth nothing but Iudgement & Rigo●… . O how hatefull hath the very name of Cruelty bin in all ages ! Which , howsoever som●… Parasites , for the Tyrants sake , have sometimes applauded , they as soon cōdemned ? Antiochus was at one time saluted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a glorious Prince , and a furious Tyrant . And Plutarch reporteth , that when Dionysius the Tyrant , asked the Wise men of his Court which Copper was the best ; Antiphon answered very readily , that in his opinion that was the most excellent , whereof the Athenians had made the Pictures of the two Tyrants , * Armodius and Aristogiton : implying , that their Statues were to bee preferred before their Persons ; their Buriall before their Government . There is nothing that may more highly content us , than to see the members of our * family , affably pleasing , seasonably thriving , prosperously succeeding , mildly reproving . Yea , know Vpotomos , that it is the part of a good man , to bee able to say , that hee hath rather spared , where he might have spilled ; than to have spilled , where he might have spared . Especially , where good natures are brought on the Stage , who are commonly wonne more by clemency , than severity ; by affabilit y and favour , than extr●…mity and rigour . Put on then a more lovely looke ; ●…uit your selfe with a more lightsome dresse . Shew l●…sse fire in your eye ; lesse fury in your heart . Estrange your selfe from the company of Eris ; Inure your memory to the censorious fate of Aeacus , so lively chanted by Harmonius : Ever now and then refreshing your rectified disposition with those ●…ree and friendly expressions of Elecmon . Lastly , to you Amerimnos , a drowsie name for a watchfull Centinell ; whose secure sleepe would have ruined the most flourishing State. After so long a sleepe , you must now prepare your selfe for as long a Watch. Better w●…re it never to enjoy life , than to make life a continued image of death . Now sleepe & death are termed two sisters ; and Night the Mother of them both . The Poet called one of the sonnes of sleep , 〈◊〉 , a terrifier of men . What then might you bestiled , Amerimnos , whose ●…ole felicity was security ; and in a lasting dreame , summed up the dayes of your mortality ? What was this else , but to make a trifle of time ; and to bestow the precious oyl●… of your life , on the 〈◊〉 delights of Sloth ? Much better it were not to be , than fruitlesly to bee . But where the Evening can make no good account of the day , Youth must needs runne in great arrerages with Age. Now , such an one may more properly be said to have slept a long sleepe , than to have led a long life . For what should life bee but a continued day-taske ? Where , as eternity depends on a moment ; so should this moment of time ever addresse it selfe to eternity . For know , howsoever this temporall Sunne which you here see with your eyes ; and directs you in your journals and wayes , after it hath set , may rise againe : yet when the Sunne of your life shall once set , never looke for a rising of it here againe : being once closed , it becomes for ever to this life darkned and benighted . Time lost cannot then bee redeemed ; nor the fruitlesse ex●…nce of your profuser houres regained . It is said of Demonax , a Philosopher who flourished in the time of Adrian , that he naturally eschewed money and solitarinesse : which wee never remember , but wee wish that Metoxos our first Consul , and you Amerimnos the last in order , had equally partaked of his nature : that as disesteeme of the one might have begotten in him an hate to cove●…ousnesse : so your dislike of the other might sharpen your desires to a love of businesse . But as in him an●…●…he rest , so in you , Amerimnos , bee our wishes crowned ; for wee see your desires how much they are to employment enflamed ; and how your lateunactive spirits become now quickned . Nor doe wee doubt , but that these good re●…olves by your constant endeavours , will grow so richly improved , as wee shall have cause to apply the saying o●… that famous Athe●…ian to you ; You had perished , had you not perished . For as his youth was exposed to all sensuality , wantonnesse and lib●…rtie , so hee excelled in the maturitie of his time , in policie , martiall prowesse and vertue . Bee it then your honour ●…o shunne whatsoever may redound to your dishonour . Neglect no opportunitie , whereby you may any way benefit the state . Apply you●… selfe to that publike service ; the discharge whereof may produce in you incomparable solace . Make choice onely of such for your acquaintance , where you have hope either to better them , or to be bettered by them . A●…d be not too familiarly versed in the works of Aristom●…chus : they treat too much of Wine , but too little of wit. Lastly , remember that fearefull distemper of Messala Corvinus , with the dishonour of lazie Margites , rendred in that dainty Canto of Harmonius : which you may discreetly temper with those industri ous dimensions of Epimel●…s . Now , as out of our Princely and affectionate grace , we have received you our late distempered , but now recovered Consuls , into our favour : and here given you in CHARGE , how you are to demeane your selves in affaires of State ; with a free declaration of what the State requires at your hands : and justified ●…ithall , upon all and every such particular defects , whereto you were formerly subject : so now our exhortation shall bee , that you bee cautious of a relapse . And to the end you may lesse erre in your affaires , ever submit your selves to the discreet advice of Parth●…nius ; whom I have purposely placed over you , not onely in matters of doubt and difficulty to resolve you , but in all your deportments of State , to informe you . Experience is a good Mistresse ; and so anciently and irreproveably hath hee borne 〈◊〉 in businesse of State , wherin we have ever employed him ( till in our absence some Libertines of our time had exiled him ) to his honour , and our improvement ; as none ever yet knew him , were they never such rigid Censors of others actions , who could justly tax him , eithe●… of partiality to friend , or pas sion towards his foe . Receiv●… him then ; for it shall not derogate from your wisdomes to have embraced such a Patriot , who makes the publike good his highest object . Now , whereas wee have here set you as Beacons or Watch-to●…ers to foresee danger from a farre , and timely ●…o prevent it before it come to our doores , you are hence to understand , how all mens eyes are on you ; and how light errours in you are most irregular , because exemplar . Drops are but small things , yet joyned together , they will in time rise to a River . Graines of Sand are but small bodies , yet if much Sand bee heaped together , it not onely presseth , but oppresseth the under-lyer . Y●…e say , you have a voided grand crimes ; take heed yee be no●… overwhelmed with small Sands . Time is precious unto all , but most unto age : for where few houres are allotted , fit it were that they were well bestowed . Bee yee then men of that setled ▪ seasoned , and well-composed temper , as to fix and terminate your thoughts on that sole-Soveraigne good , which may fully close , s●…ale and sate your desires . For tell us , good fathers , what can be a more contemptible thing than man , if hee erect not his thoughts above man ! So , as the very Locust or Grashopper ( creatures of emptinesse and feare ) are no greater slaves to the wind than man. How varying in his resolves ; how delaying in his performance ; being oft-times prevented by death , before hee beginne what hee so long resolved ? But of all ages , most varying is hee in age : which we may properly illustrate by this similitude : when the Sunne is in the Meridian , and the beames of it perpendicular to our bodies , shadowes change not suddenly ; but when it beginnes to decline to the fall , every moment almost , they vary . Mans life is a spanne ; a narrow spanne , which hee shall n●…ither fall short off , nor exceed ; no , not one little or point of it ; not the br●…adth of the smallest haire , or atome ; no , not the 〈◊〉 Gothsimere ▪ or any other extenuate or imaginary thi●…nesse whatsoever . Now , how should any man , if endued with naturall capacity , think but this vapour of Smoke , this light-vading breath , may promise to it selfe any long continuance ; especially , when the threed of life is not onely spunne thinne , but worne small ? When Age goes poring on the ground , as if hee were looking for some place where he should lie ? But hope of living long is that universall Antidote , that makes many a Mithridates venture on poyson . Of this both Age and Youth doe equally surfet . For no decrepit groundling is so old , but hee hopes hee may live one yeare longer . But higher bee our hopes in you , who hold that life to bee most blessed , wherein whatsoever is best , is both loved and injoyed . These , as most deluded Mor●…alls commonly bee , being fed with a deceiving hope of living long , become altogether secure of living well : whereas you , who preferre a good life before a long life , and esteeme nothing worthy prizing here , but what may highly conduce to your safe conduct elsewhere : make no other aestimate of life , then as of a Scene ; which being wel and bravely performed , crownes th●… Exit with an applause . The best and principallest Blessing confirmed by the authority of Herodotus in Cleobulus and Biton , Trophonius and Agamedes ? and that pithy conclusion of Silenus , who being taken Prisoner by King Midas , pai●…d this ransome , teaching the King the best thing , that might chance any man , was never to bee borne , the next to die as soone as might bee . What are we then to think of you , who being borne to the State , live to support it , love to advance it , and rejoyce to see it ? implying an auspicious birth , a gracious life , ever expiring with a glorious cloze . Bee your lives then long or short , they cannot redound to your shame , because employed to the improvement of the State. Live you would not , but for it ; and dye you would willingly to secure it . The most potent Princes that ever breathed , have showne but weake prerogatives against fate ; Nought but vanitie was to bee attributed to them , retained they never so much earthly glory on them , who dwelled in houses of clay , whose foundation was in the dust , which are crushed before the Moath . Were they never so numerously attended ; with the bankes and barres of the Sea surrounded ; at home and abroad secured ; yet could they not from mortality be●… exempted . Which no sooner seazed on them , than they were soonest left by those , who seemingly clove the closest to them . Now , what were these temporizing Fawnes , but such as made Dialls of their Masters ? So long as the Sunne shone on them , and could afford them a shadow , they lookt on them ; but no sooner had the Sun left them , than they were left by them . So quickly they past by them with a carelesse neglect , from whom they expected no further benefit . But vertues are your attendants , which will survive the memory of all monumentall structures . Thus you have heard ( to draw in our Sailes , and apply our Oares to the shore ) how the reputation of a State is preserved by a wise Councel ; and how you may advance your Countreyes glory by this your restauration & recovery : be it then your task to put in practise what you have heard . Never was their fairer opportunity offered : nor an ampler reward for a shorter service , t●…ndred . Now then , in this your Evening send out some beamelins of your deserving . That as Iustice , whom you serve , is compared in beauty to the Evening starre , so you may show your selves beautifull starres in the Evening . Short is your labour , perpetuall shall be your honor . Cheerefully then entertaine the one that you may more happily enjoy the other . Now to cloze with thankfulnesse ( for ungratefull are they who will not ingenuously acknowledg such ample curtesies ) wee vow by Themista's Throne , to erect a lasting Trophie to Aesculapius memory ; that succeeding ages may record how ready wee were to requite . So wee leave you , but never leave to love you , so you love the State , for whose Service and Solace wee have re-advanced you . So Themista ascended ; her Senators descended ; where their Office of Iustice became so well discharged , as it was well for the State that her Consuls madded , being ever after better mannaged , than before such time as they fel first distempered . FINIS . Oper●… de nobis testantur nostra , etiamsi taceant nostri . The life of MARIANO SILESIO , the approved Author of this Worke. EXcellence of spirit is best exprest when most opposed ; nor is there any better exercise than opposition , to set a true edge on resolution . This might bee instanced to life in the life of MARIANO SILESIO ; who ever armed himselfe with the smoothest brow against the roughest braves of fortune . A Florentine borne ; generously descended ; and gracefully endowed . Seasoned he was with the elements of all Learning ; wherein he became so highly improved , as his rare expressions , relishing of no inferiour spiri●… , rendred ●…im both admired and loved . Yet in that affluence of friendly observe●…s , He●… wanted not some priva●…e detractours ; wh●… the mor●… they laboured to dirk●…n his lustre , the more they lost their labour : and ( what they least expected ) gave spreading wings to hi●… fame and honour . Much of his youth hee spent in Court-attendince ; where he bestowed more pretiou●… houres in usefull observance , than youthfull dalliance . So as that very place , which commonly becomes an effeminatour of o●…hers , bec●…me an improver and rectifier of his manner●… . Complie hee could not with corruption ; nor affect that , which in the eye of vertue deserved not approbation . Insomuch as , being one day in the Court of Florence , and hearing a Lady of suspected fame m●…ch admired for her agility and quicknesse in dan●…ing , replied , my admiration shall cloze in this ; O that a Soule so heavie , should present so light a body ! An inimit able faculty hee had for elegance of Phrase in prose and an incomparable facillity for neateness●… of invention and ●…weetnesse of dimen●…onin v●…rse . Both which with such a free-streaming Current naturally flowed , as with a pleasing disdaine they scorned to be forced . W●…ich caused him to he●… much imployed in hi●… yo●…nger yeares , in the invention and setting forth of Court-maskes and other Princely presentments ( impressiv●… obiects of i●…finite d●…light to refined Spirit●… ) all which hee perf●…rmed with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Art ; as no place but hold it selfe honoured by his person ; nor , no 〈◊〉 too amply extended , to ●…nlarge hi●… pe●…sion . Albeit , o●…t of the freedome and largenesse of his mind , He would ever re●…urne this ans●…r ●…o such liberall b●…stowers : It will d●…raact from the Muses to bee Mercinari●…s : And , Liberall Art●… should have lib●…all Hearts ▪ and slow re●…eivers . Hee could never 〈◊〉 vulgar prais●… , nor titular applause , drawne from selfe-●…ffectation or that ambiti●…us gro●…nd of g●…ining opinion . Th●… he styl'd Opini●…e Idol●…try , ●…hich transformed selfe ▪ ●…y into a desperate Frenzie . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 w●…nt t●… say of Poggius and Pierus , two reputed Wits in those dayes ; that hee could not endure Poggius conceit , because it made too bold with Heaven ; nor Pierus , because he ●…sted to much of Earth . So●…ne after his retire from Court , Hee matcht himselfe in a Noble family . A Consort so exquisitely accomodated , and richly adorned with all gracefull perfections , as her Name , like some precious perfume , still preserves her memory in Florence . But see the mut●…bility of humane happinesse ! Shortly made death an exchange with his choice : to whose vertuo●…s memory hee addressed his continuate Anniversaries . Poems of an high and enlivened Spirit : where every Stanza reteines his owne native weight ; and expresseth its own th●…ught without an enforced state . With such obs●…quious teares , and choice funerall composures , Hee discharged that ex●…quiall office , which Hee , devoted to her memory , was owing , and of whose divine vertues hee was so much enamoured , living : as h●… expressed ( nor were his expressions feag●…d ) in these lines by him addressed to her , during his remove from ●…er : Health crowne mine hop●…s in thee , for in thine health , Mine health , helpe , hope consist ; my weale , my wealth . After her death , hee became a Recluse neare to the Cliffs of Arpina , North-west from Corcyra ; where his friends resorted to him , in hope to weine him from that course , by propo●…ing to him many eminent favourites in Court , and to bring him backe to Florence : but his fixt resolves on retirement , returned them this answer : Diswade me not ; for nee'r could I bestow Such freedome on my better part as now ; Where th' Duke himselfe , were hee not th' man hee is , Would wish in 's heart but to enjoy my blisse : Whose choice content affords me so much power , As I may vye with greatest Emperour . But fearing the solicitous importunity of such prevalent friends , ( powerfull Advocates to a relenting Nature ) with much secrecy , ●…ee removed into a part more desert and remote , wherewith a selfe-contenting privacy , hee bestowed the remainder of his daies in Contemplation : s●…ling his portell with this inscription : INVISVS VIDEO . To describe him , ●…ee was of a middle stature ; plea●…ing Countenance ; gratefull pres●…nce ; present discourse ; pregnant wit ; rich fancy ; rare memory ; an affable disposition , though naturally a little subject to passion ; which hee ever so sweetly tempered with discretion , as it never overmastered reason . To such an excellent Soveraingty in the Command of his affections had hee aspired , as his inner-house to no disquiets stood engaged . Sundry workes ▪ during the time of his retire ; Hee composed ; wherein were expressed such height of wit and clearenesse of judgement , as they received the Character of divers tongues . Amongst which , Hee tooke especiall care , that this Worke should bee fairely transcribed , and sent to Florence ; where it was entertained with such esteeme , as it received a double honour , both for its owne Worth , and memory of the Author . His last dying words , or invitation of Death ( as is reported ) were these : I have got my-Selfe , as much out of the world as I could , though not so much as I would ; Come then my friendly Messenger , and take me out of this Creeke , where I have hitherto retired , that after so long bondage , I may be freed . Hee lived to a ripe age ; being both in yeares and vertues numerous . Vpon the Errata's . THe genuine Translator of this ingenio●… Author , was wholly absent from this . 〈◊〉 . For Themista's Court , whereof this Subject tr●…ats , excluded thes●… Errors f●…om all cure . This may serve for his excuse . Besides , it was divided upon severall Presses ; no marva●…le if ●…e suffer in the one or 〈◊〉 . Be it your Cand●…r to cleare it ; upon this ingenious condition , that the next Impression shall redeeme it . Praelia militibus constant , & prela figuris ; Hinc indispositis Error vbique lo●…is . Errata . IN ter . Test. Auth. in some Coppies , for Fam●… . read Fawne . Lib. 1. pag. 35. lin . vlt. for the r. your . ib. p. 42. ●… ▪ p●…nult . for rumerous r. numerous . Lib 2. p 84. l. 15. for incapably r. incapable . ib. p. 86. l. 1. for hee , r. bee . ib. p. 88 for Theotmius , r. Th●…otimus . ib. p. 117 l. 8 for to , r. of . ib. p. 124. & 125. figures misplaced . Lib. 3. p. 130 l. 14 for Treopagus , r. Are●…pagus . ib. p. 135. l. 10. a word undivided . ib p. 159. & 160. figures misplaced . Lib 4. p 78. l. 10. for Epimomos , r. Epimonos , ib. p. 80. l. ●… . a line transposed . ib. p. 97. l. 12. for they , r. thy . ib p. 126. Stanza's undivided . ib. p. 144. l. 11. for causelesse , r. cause for ( a meere inversion of Sense . ) ib. p. 162. letters in sundry lines disjoynted . ib. p. 214. l. 21. for Epieicies , r. Epieices . ib. p. 211. l. 3 : for . evenging , r. revenging . ib. 235. l. 15. for iustified , r. insisted . For the litterall errors , I leave them to the penne of the Candide Reader to amend them . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A12245-e850 This Aut●…or differs from the f●…rmer 〈◊〉 th●… 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Notes for div A12245-e1400 This Summary was by the 〈◊〉 ●…refixed , that these Names●…uiting ●…uiting with the Natures of these Persons heere pres●…nted , might be explaned . H●… displaye●… these nu●… distempers , by branching them into d●…stinct fi gure , as may appe●…re in the second Booke . Notes for div A12245-e2020 * Here the Originall transcribed Ann. Dom. 1368. fr●…ely g●…anceth at the corruptions of that pres●…nt state : which by a long cessation f●…ō Arms with the Cilic●…ans abroad , and Genueses at home , was growne to that fulnesor surfet , rather , of peace ; as plenty the fostermother of Security , had begot in thē with their affluence of wealth , a confluence of vi●…e . Vid. vit . Mar. Sil. No greater argument of ●… corrupt State , ●…han 〈◊〉 of M●…rit . * Endymion vero si fabulas audire volumus , n●…sclo quando in Latm●… obdormivit , nondum ut opinor experrectus . Cicero lib. 1. Tuscul ▪ quaest . As Sergius Galba . Chi ha bianco ●…avallo , & bella moglie No viue mai sansa doglie . Diocl●…siā Dalmata . ☜ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hominem fragilem non faciu●…t , sed qualis si●… , ostendunt . Kemp. * Philia . Dusnoia . Aneleuteria . * This Story is raised to his full height and postu●…e , in that Historicall discourse , entituled , The Politike Leader . * Ista liquescens pluvia , lavet peccati diluvia . Doleat reus , ut deleat Deus . ☞ Sicut pro●… probitas ipsa est prae●…ium : ita impro●… nequitia ipsa est supplici●…m . 〈◊〉 . de Con●…ol Philos . Hee made recourse to the M●…one , to kn●…w the course of the Moone . Eò N oganti fi●… p ▪ r●…us 〈◊〉 , quò tractas maris 〈◊〉 . Niobis effi●…ies . 8. Periand . Se●…c . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * Others report , that two Statues were erected in honour of these two Persons , for doing their Countrey such good service , as ridding her from the unsufferable tyranny of Pisistratus . * Nostra sit familia candide ●…ucunda , conditè secunda , prosperè faecunda , modicè irácunda , Crit●…l Oeconom . It is the highest glory of a flourishing State , to reward a deserving Patriot . Pacis olivam , Palladis palmam Parthenopis lauream quas omnes fluctuantis Status Hyems decerpserat , amae , niore cultu sereniore conditione , Aestus restituerit Hyacinth . Notes for div A12245-e40790 As may likewise appea●…e by ●…is free reproofe of Madam AlisiaLensona for her incontine●…t l●…fe : though at that time a Mistris to the Dukes especiall favorite .