Book XIII / Sandys' Notes to the Commentary / All-Change Central--Text-Image Links
VPON THE THIRTEENTH BOOKE
OF OVID'S METAMORPHOSIS.
THAT our Poet was one of the best Orators of his times,  need not much the testimony of Seneca the elder,
his admiring auditor: it being abundantly confirmed by these his vnparallel'd Orations of Aiax and Vlysses for the armes of Achilles; feigned to haue beene forged by Vulcan, at the entreaty of his mother Thetis: and so admirably temperd as not by weapon to bee penetrated. By
which is to be vnderstood, how they continue vnuulnerable, maugre all the assaults of men, and malice of Fortune; who are inuested with the diuine protection.
His mysticall shield (here obiected to be too heauy for the one, and not vnderstood by the other) is rarely described by Homer. Of which to giue
only a touch. | He tinne, hard brasse, rich gold, and siluer, cast
Amidst the fire, then his huge anuill plac't
On the broad stock: his tongs in his left hand;
His right a massy hammer doth command.
First forged a strong and ample shield, of hew
Most rarely diuerse: round about he threw
Three radiant rings (a siluer lore behind
The shield charg'd with fiue files, in which his mind
Expressed in diuine variety
The fruitfull earth, blew seas, the figur'd sky,
The neuer-wearied Sun, the Moone vnhorn'd,
And heauen with all his sparkling fires adorn'd,
The Pleïa'ds, Hiades, Orion stout;
The Beare sur-nam'd the Waine, which wheeles about.
Heauens Axeltree, and still Orion eyes
Repulsed by the watry Deities.
Two goodly Citties he erected then;
Inhabited by diuers-languag'd men. &c.1 |
The one frolick in nuptials, distributing Iustice, & enioying the plenty & delights of peace: the other besieged; exercised with martiall stratagems and conflicts.
Another part presented the culture of the earth, with her haruests and vintages. Here, Heardsmen grased their Hoards : there shepheards their flocks, and solaced
themselues with their rurall pastimes: the confines of all was the Ocean. To conclude, it contained the whole world, expressed by the orbicular forme of the
shield: the foure mettals whereof it was made the foure Elements; Gold presenting fire; in regard of his purity; Brasse, Earth, in that hard and solid; Tinne, Water;
of its softness, and facilitie in melting; and Siluer, Ayre, in regard of the dulnesse & obscurity thereof, before it be refined. The three incircling rayes defiguring
the Zodiack, treble in respect of the breadth (comprehending six Degrees on either side of the Eclipticke, as is vsually computed for the latitude of the Planets,
although some expatiate farther, and others not so far) in which the twelue signer haue their motion; and shining, in that the way of the Sun. The siluer handle is
taken for the Axeltree, about which the heauens rowle: and by the fiue files the Aequator, the two Tropicks the Artick and Antartick Circles. How euer this may
be carpt at, as the meere coniecture of Eustathius, yet the figures in the shield informe the minds and erect it to no means contemplations. For here Vulcan had
formed the variety of the starres; the arts and imployments both of peace and warre; and whatsoeuer conduceth to a perfect gouernment. Neither commends he
vnto vs a slothfull and vnactiue Philosophy: but that which for knowledge and execution might comply with so great a spirit as Achilles.
In this contention for the Armor, that difference is arbitrated, how the courage of the mind, and strength of the body, is of Iesse vse in affaires of warre, then
councell and pollicy; the one personated in Aiax, and the other in Vlysses. Wherein our Poet hath admirably suted the words to the matter, and both to the
quality of the persons. Aiax Oration is souldier-like; vehement, disdainefull, boasting of his birth and glory of his actions: Vlysses, on the other side, composed,
rhetoricall, and preualent to his purpose; by which he obtaineth the Armour. Such is the power of Eloquence: agreeable to the answer of Thucidides to
Archidamus King of Sparta, asking him pleasantly who wrestled best, either He or Pericles: (they euer opposing one another in the Senate) When I throw him,
replied Thucidides, hee yet perswades the lookers on that I haue the fall. Aiax at this indignity growes distracted with wrath, and in his madnesse
slaughters whole flocks of sheepe, mistaking them for the Grecian Army; hanging vp two of an extraordinary size (whipping, & insulting ouer them with a
furious mirth) for his iudge and Competitour: When recouering his senses, through griefe and impatience, hee fell on that sword which Hector had formerly
giuen him. Fatall in that giuen by an enimy; as he complaineth in Sophocles: so was the Belt, which he gaue to the other, by which his body was dragged about
the walls of Troy at Achilles his Charriot. This selfe-slaughter of Aiax, exemplifies the frailty of humane virtue. He, whom no force could subdue, is vanquished
by sorrow. An act that deserues not the name of valour, but rather proceeding from a faintnesse of spirit, and disability to suffer. | The miserable easily life despise:
More valiant he who beares his miseries.2 |
And expects the resolution of fortune: as Iosephus, who constantly reiecting the aduice of selfe-slaughter, was deliuered beyond all humane apprehension: when
Cassius contrarily, fatally misinterpreting the gratulation of friends, euen within view and hearing, for the insultation of enimies; by a precipitate dispaire, both
lost himselfe, and the publique liberty. Yet the killing of a mans selfe was by the Stoick in some cases allowed of, and dignified by the practise of former ages. At
Marseiles in France, a citty, saith Tacitus, well tempered with the Grecian ciuility and Prouinciall frugality, they accustomed to keepe poyson for such as desired
to make themselues away; first hauing their reasons approued by the Senate. But ô deceitfull physick ! which by curing the short sorrowes of this life, transmits
vs to eternall ! where we vainely wish our former condition; and euer labour with a fruitlesse penitence. A truth not vnknowne to the ancient Pagans: vindicated
by the Poet from the tyranny of custome, and seducing Philosophy. | The next those pensiue wretches hold, which slew
Themselues, and cast away their soules, t' eschew
The hated light. How faine would they againe
Returne to want and toyle! but Fates restraine;
And the vnrenauigable Stygian sound,
Whose nine times winding streames their mansions bound.3 |
His blood is feigned to haue beene converted into an Hyacinth: either because that flower was after his death first discouered by the inhabitats of Salamina, which
was his citty; or that it presents the two first letters of his name, both the one and the other expressing lamentation. Of the Hyacinth enough hath beene spoken in the
fable of Hyacinthus. Aiax was intombed on the Promontory of Rhaeteum. The Aeolians, who inhabited reedified Ilium, reported how after the shipwrack of
Vlisses, the armes of Achilles were cast by the sea on the basis of his monument. | Achilles shield, which Hectors blood distain'd
By partiall sentence sly Vlisses gain'd:
Which wrackt, on Aiax tomb iust Neptune threw.
Though men with-hold, the Gods giue each their due.4 |
So their owne Apollo gaue the deserued Palme of wisdome to Socrates, whom they vniustly condemned of Atheisme. Vlysses after his victory, sets saile for
Lemnos: and brings backe Philoctetes, with the arrowes of Hercules: without which Troy could not be taken, as foretold by the Oracle; to declare how no great
matter can be atchieued without heroicall assistance.
Now Ilium flames in one funerall Pile and suffers whatsoeuer a remorselesse enimy could inflict. But no calamity was like that of Hecuba, to whom
old age became the worst of punishments. | Priam, Troy flourishing, in pompe had gone
To great Assaracus; then borne vpon
The necks of his braue sonnes amidst a throng
Of weeping Ilians; ere Cassandra sung
Neglected truths, or faire Polixena tore
Her golden fire; if he had dy'd before
Bold Paris built his ships. What did his age
Produce? He saw all ruind by the rage
Of sword and fire, the Asian Powers ore-throwne.
The feeble Souldier puts his armour on,
And at Ioues Altar falls: resembling now
An aged Oxe, worne by th' vngratefull plow:
Which his leane withered throte and vselesse life
Submits vnto his cruell Masters knife.
Yet men thus dy: but his suruiuing Queene
Barkt with fierce iawes. Old age too much had seen.5 |
Shee hauing lost by violent death so many of her valiant sonnes, seene her husband slaughtered before the Altar of Iupiter, Cassandra rauish't in the Temple of
Minerva, [Astianax] throwne from the top of a tower, Polixena sacrificed on the tombe of Achilles, fallen from the greatnesse of birth, and glory of Empire, to
that contempt and pouerty, that none would haue accepted her for a seruant, had shee not beene cast by lot vpon Vlisses: which affords a sad consideration of
humane instability, and may abate their pride and confidence who too-much insult in prosperity; high fortunes confining steepe praecipitations. Lastly: that
sorrow might proceed to distraction, poore Hecuba encounters with the corps of her young Polidorus, murdered by greedy Polymnestor, to whose charge he
was committed; who with the helpe of the Troian women pulls out the eyes of the Tyrant: when stoned by the Thracians, she became a bitch, and bit the stones
they threw at her. This feigned conversion, was not only deriued from her contemptible condition; but from the acerbity and fury of her sorrow, expressed in
reuilings and execrations: for which they threw so many stones at her, as buried her vnder their burden. On whom Ausonius bestowes this Epitaph; | A Queene, great Dima's daughter, Priams wife;
Who gaue the all illustrious Hector life.
Here lies, opprest with stones vpon me flung;
Yet f rst reueng'd with curses of my tongue.
Trust they to thrones, high birth, and glorious seed,
Who on the Bitches monument this read.6 |
In the Thracian Chersonesus there is a place called Cynosema, which signifies the tombe of the Bitch, renowned for her sepulcher.
The disasters of Hecuba were deplored by all the Coelestials: Aurora, onely excepted; confounded with a neerer sorrow for the death of Memnon,
lately slaine by Achilles. Her sonne by Tythonius the brother of Priamus, whom the inamoured Goddesse tooke to her husband, and obtained for him
immortality from Iupiter. Notwithstanding growing old and decrepit she loathed his bed; the cause why shee riseth so timely. Which fable signifieth pleasure: so
affected in the morning and prime of our youth, that we make it our only darling; desire a perpetuity thereof, and how to ingrosse it to ourselues: forgetfull of
that saciety & tediousnesse, which like to old age, ere we are aware, it begets by continuance. Memnon is said to haue led an army from Aethiopia vnto Troy in
succour of his vnkle. Perhaps supposed an Aethiopian in regard of his complexion. But as others write hee raigned in Susa a Citty of Persia: who in that he came
from the East, was said to bee the sonne of the morning. For Arianus reports that Alexander incountred with blacke men in those countries. And such I verily
beleeue were the Cussites, who inhabited thereabout (I knowe not by what naturall cause or supernaturall iudgement) who after remoued into Aethiopia. For it
can be neither the soyle nor feruor of the Sunne which produceth that colour: since it is well knowne that black men dwel on the one side the riuer Niger and
tawnie on the other. Neither are there any Negro's but of that race in the Vniuerse. Who though they change their clime, neuer change their complexions, if
vnmixed with others. Notwithstanding it is to bee supposed that Memnon extended his conquests as farre as Aethiopia; for it is written that hee vowed his haire
vnto Nilus, when he should returne from the Troian warre. And neere Aegyptian Thebes in the groue of Serapis, he had his miraculous statue; sitting and
consisting of a hard darke marble: made with such admirable art, that when the rising sun cast his beames thereon, it would render a mournfull sound, & salute
as it were his approaching mother: which Tacitus reporteth (as a wonder & no fable) to haue beene seene by Germanicus at his being in Aegypt. Neither is this
much to be doubted, if we but consider the wonderfull skill of the Aegyptians: Nor vnlike or lesse to be admired, is that experiment of Cornelius Dribles, who
without touching of a key, by the cooperating rayes of the Sun, will play on the Virginalls. Now Iupiter, in honour of Memnon, converts the sparkles into Fowle
which ascends from his funerall Pile; who fly ouer his ashes, and teare one another with miserable screeches: in the same sort yearely solemnizing his exequies.
The fable deriued from a kinde of birds, black of colour, with crooked beakes & hooked talons, who at a certaine season flocke to those parts that neighbour his
sepulcher; which stood by the riuer Belus in the valley of Acre, not farre from a Citty of that name; who thereupon were called Memnonides. This
Metamorphosis was likewise deuised to glorify their dead Prince, and flatter his successor. Alluding also to the custome of those Easterne Countries where the
neerest seruants and fauorites of Princes, hauing compassed the funerall Pile with howlings and lamentations, threw themselues into the fire, that they might bee
ready in another world to giue their attendance. So farther East, the wiues of the Indians would eagerly contend for the honour of burning themselues with their
dead husbands: performed with great alacrity and triumph: nor out of vse in those parts at this day, if wee may giue credit to Linscot and the relation of others.
The whole fable of Memnon perhaps expresseth the lamented ends of such hopefull youths, as had possest the world with high expectation. Who like the sons of
the Morning, elated with empty and externall apparances, attempt what is aboue their abilities: prouoking and incountring with those valiant Heroës, by whose
ods of strength they fall; and extinguish; whose deaths are accompanied with great commiseration. For nothing in humane destiny is more deplorable, or so
powerfully workes vpon our compassion, as when budding virtue is cropt by an vntimely accident. For the first age of man neither gluts with satiety, nor lasts to
bee enuied; which might lenify sorrow at their deaths, or moderate pitty. Wherefore griefe and lamentation, not onely like these funerall birds fly about their
Piles; but continue and propagate: especially when renued in our desires, as by the rayes of the morning Sun; through new occasions, motiues, and enterprises.
Yet Aeneas suruiuing, all the hopes of Troy were not ruinated with her walls: this prophesy of Homer confirm'd in his posterity; who dyed before they were of
any esteeme. | ---Fate doth his scape intend
For feare the stock of Dardanus should end:
Whom Ioue, (who now doth Priams race detest)
Of all begot on mortall dames lou'd best.
Aeneas and his childrens children, shall
The Troyans rule, and re-erect their fall.7 |
Who now by bearing away his house-hold Gods, and aged father on his shoulders (as his chiefest treasure) purchased the perpetuall attribute of Pious. Nor much
inferior was the piety of those women, when Conrade the third besieged the Duke of Bauaria; who hauing their liues granted them by the Conqueror, vpon the
surrender of their City, with as much of their goods as they could carrie about them, tooke vp their husbands and sons on their backs; and by that honest deceipt
preserued them from slaughter. The like liberty being giuen at the taking of Cales, by that victorious and noble Earle (desirous to secure the honour of the
women) a Spanish Lady, neglecting whatsoeuer was pretious, though young and beautifull, bore away her old and decrepit husband, whom before she had
hidden. This piety of Aeneas was rewarded in his posterity with the greatest, & longest continuing Empire, that euer virtue or fortune afforded. Nor shall the
fame of the Sicilian brethren, for the like preseruation of their parents from the Conflagration of Aetna, be euer forgotten, if statues of brasse, or the Muse of
Claudian, can promise eternity. | Lo! how they sweat beneath their reuerent loads!
Who merit equall honour with the Gods.
The furious flame in reuerence retires:
And wondring Aetna checks her wandring fires.
Their hands their parents on their shoulders stay,
And with erected lookes inforce their way &c.
O youths well taught in natures sacred lawes:
Of young and old the glory and applause.
Who slighting wealth, rush through the violent rage
Of fire; alone to rescue feeble age.
The virtue which in these triumphed thus,
Shut vp the iawes of feirce Enceladus,
Eu'n Vulcan, to preserue these monuments
Of piety, chokes Aetna's flaming vents.
The Elements had sense. Their father Aire
And mother Earth assists them with their care.
If the two Lacone's won immortall fame;
Or he who bore his father from Troys flame:
If glory the Argolian brethren crowne,
Why should not the Sicilians temples raise
T' Amphinomus, and bold Anapis praise.
Although Trinacria haue great things brought forth
Yet none that can compare with so great worth,
Nor should shee mourne her losse, her people burn'd,
Her feilds laid waist, her towres to cindars turn'd:
Else such a piety she had not showne;
Now by calamity renowned growne.8 |
Aeneas flying from Troy, tooke ship at Antandros, and sailed from thence vnto Delos, where Anius the Priest of Apollo, then raigned. The concurrence of those
two dignities in one person, declare that supreme authority should euer be accompanied with the care and protection of Religion. Of diuerse such wee read both
in sacred and prophane stories; Trismegistus taking his name (as obserued by Alexander ab Alexandro) from being a King, a Priest, and a Philosopher. And
Iulius Caesar, the High-Priest, obtaining the Empire; that office, with the other, was euer after vnited in the person of the Emperour; vntill Gratian cast off both
the name and attire as contrary to the profession of a Christian. Annius relates the change of his foure daughters, who could turne
whatsoeuer they handled into Corne, Wine or Oyle; and for that cause were surprised by Agamemnon to sustaine his Army, but by being converted into Doues,
they auoyded their durance. This Annius was a carefull and prouident Prince in prouiding for his family; and his daughters as frugall in disposing; whereupon it
was feigned, how all that they toucht converted into sustenance. Now the Graecians suffering much scarcety at the Siege of Troy; and hearing that Delos
abounded with all necessaries (the Ilands thereabouts prohibited to trade) they inforced Anius to furnish them with prouisions, and carried away his daughters in
hostage. When the plenty of the Ilands being vtterly exhausted and they sent back, they were said to haue beene converted into Doues, (as great deuourers of
Corne) because all was consumed. A hungry conceit: but Sabinus is my Author.
Anius presents Aeneas with a Goblet, whereon was ingrauen the story of Orions daughters who sacrificed themselues for their
Country: from whose funerall Pile, two youths ascend, who celebrate the obsequies of their mothers; The names of the virgins, Meliocha and Menippa: of those
who sprung from their ashes Coronae. And what were these, but the Crowning of their merits, and propagation of their glory to posterity? For Baeotia labouring
with a deadly drought, it was answered by the Oracle, that the anger of the Gods was onely to bee appeased by their sacrifising of two virgins. When these
Thebane Ladies, all other refusing, offered themselues for the publique safety. It is feigned how Pluto and Proserpina, commiserating their deaths, tooke away
their bodies, and raised two starrs in their roome, which forthwith ascended the Firmament. This may vnforcedly admit of the former interpretation. A temple
was dedicated vnto them in Orchomenus; whether the yong men and virgins of that Country brought presents yearely; and celebrated their memories.
Aeneas here consulting with Apollo, to know where he should plant himselfe and his Troyans, the Oracle replyed. | You Dardans, let that fruitfull Land, the Seat
Of your first fathers, harbor your retreat
Your ancient mother seeke.9 |
Which Anchises interprets for Creet, in that Teucer their ancestor came from thence into Phrygia: Thether they saile: where they began to build and manure the
earth; when a mortall pestilence caused them to suspect the mistaking of the Oracle: who were thus reformed by their Penates. | This Soyle is not design'd you; lanch your fleet:
Nor did Apollo bid you, plant in Creete.
There is an ancient Land, Hesperia nam'd
By men of Greece, for warre and plenty fam'd,
Till'd by th' Oenotrii; by their ofspring since
Call'd Italy of Italus their Prince:
There must we fix. From whence great Dardanus
And Iasus sprung: the roote of Troy and vs.10 |
Aeneas therefore departing from Creet in the search of Italy, is driuen by tempests on the Ilands of the Strophades; the seat of the Harpyes, of whom wee haue
spoken before, proceeding on their voyage they passe by Dulichium, Ithaca, Samos, and Neritus; all vnder the command of Vlisses. From thence to Ambracia, a
Citty of Epirus: where our Poet mentions the strife of the Gods, and a iudge converted into marble. A fable no where else to be read of. Vpon the top of the
Cliffe, ouer looking the Sea, stood the temple of Apollo; from whence by leaping into the Sea, it is said, that such, as vnfortunately loued, were cured of that
fury. To this the Poëtresse Sappho was thus aduised. | Hie to Ambracia, since vnequall fires
Consume thee. From a rock that there aspires;
Phoebus doth all the ample deepe suruay:
Men call't Actaeum and Leucadia.
Deucalion, mad for Pyrrha, griefe to ease,
Leapt downe from thence, and safely prest the seas.
Forth with chang'd loue fled from the carelesse brest
Of drencht Deucalion: and his fury ceast,
That place retaines this virtue: thether hast:
And feare not from on high thy selfe to cast 11 |
And so she did if wee may credit Menander. | Who with ambitious glory stung
And scorn'd loues fury, headlong flung
Herselfe from high Cliffs; after shee,
Phoebus, had made her vowes to thee.12 |
Artimesia, after the death of Mousolus, contemned by Dardanus, a youth of Abidos in reuenge thereof pulled out his eyes: notwithstanding still desperately
affecting, repaired to this rock for a remedy; who perished in the fall, and had here her sepulcher. Next came they to Dodona, a Citty of Chaonia: close by in a
groue of Oakes stood the temple of Iupiter: in which his oracle, of all among the Graecians the most ancient. It is reported (as here by our Author) that the
Oakes themselues gaue oracles; others that they were giuen from their boughs by Pigeons. Whom Herodotus interprets to bee certaine old women with beards,
transported thether from Aegyptian Thebes; appearing at the first to coo like Doues, in that their language was not vnderstood; and thereupon so called. Then
entred they the bay of Chaone, where our Poët tells of the Sons of a Molossian king, converted into birds, to auoid the flames that inuiron'd them, a fable
alltogether vnknowne. From hence they sailed vnto Phaeacia, (now called Corcyrae) an Iland famous for the Hortyards of Alcinoë, and wonderfull pregnancy of
the soyle (a fable deriued from the terrestriall Paradice) whose happy inhabitants, (beloued of the Gods for their hospitality) in that excellent sea-men, were
feigned to descend from Neptune. And now they arriue at Buthrotas; where amazed Aeneas meets with the Prophet Helenus, and Andromecha his wife, late
widow vnto Hector. These among the spoyles of Troy became slaues vnto Pirrhus the son of Achilles: who now solliciting the marriage of Hermione the
daughter of Menelaus, gaue Andromache to Helenus, who succeeded him in a part of his Kingdome, (Pyrrhus being murdered by his riuall Orestes before the
Altar of Apollo) which he called Chaonia of his brother Chaone, whom hee had formerly slaine accedentally: so called he the Citty Troy, and the riuer Simois, in
memoriall of his natiue Country. Aeneas informed by him of his future affaires, puts againe to Sea: and after a few days sailing, thrusts into the streights of
Zancle now called Messena. On the left hand lay Charibdis: once, as they fable, a rauenous woman, struck with lightning by Iupiter, and throwne into the Sea
for stealing Hercules Oxen. This whirlepit is said to belch vp her swallowed wracks as farre as Tauromenia.
But Scylla ariseth aloft neere the opposite shore: her wast hem'd around with barking doggs, yet retaining in her vpper part the face and proportion of a Virgin.
For such she formerly was: who making her many sutors the subiect of her scorne, accustomed to repaire to the Nymphs of those seas, and acquaint them with
the stories of her slighted louers. But Galatea could not so safely put off the pursuit of Polyphemus: whose hated affection, with the
tragicall end of her beloued Atis, she relates vnto Scylla. This Polyphemus was one of the Cyclops, and chosen Prince of the rest, in regard of his bodily strength,
and more then Gyantlike proportion; who inhabited that part of Sicilia which borders on Aetna. Yet is this monster, as well in mind as in body, mollifyed by loue;
if loue can harbor in so monstrous a bosome: rather a furious desire, and naturall impulsion to Venus, wherein the reasonable soule is no agent; and proper to
beasts as well as to men. | Fierce bulls, when Venus stings incite,
Lowd-bellowing, for their heifers fight.
The iealous heart, not then inclind
To feare, dares combate for his hind;
And ambient aire with braying teares.
The Indian then the Tyger feares.
Fell bores their wounding Tushes whet;
And froth'd with champed lauer fret.
Their manes then Lybian Lyons shake;
And with their hideous roarings make
The forrest grone. The Elephant,
Nor huger whale, these furies want,
All are oblig'd in natures band:
Not one exempt. At loues command
Hate sinks to hell, and wrath expires;
Consum'd to ashes in his fires.13 |
So Polyphemus puts off for a while his fierce disposition, and vents his amarous passions in songs which our Poet hath so suted to his person and character, as
not to be esteemed the worst of his master peices. At length espying vnhappy Acis, layd in the bosome of his Galatea, he quasheth him vnder a rock; whom the
compassionate Sea-Gods convert into a riuer. By the huge proportion of Polyphemus the Physiologists present wrath, violence, and dissolute appetite: by his
shaggy locks and skin all hairy, a cruell disposition: according to that of Iuuenall. | Rough limbs, all bristled o're with haire,
A sterne and saluage minde declare.14 |
He was faigned to haue had but one eye, of the round visor in the front of his helmet declaring how oppression and iniustice is euer armed to doe mischiefe, said
to be the sonne of Neptune, in regard of the rage and immanity of the sea; which is called the father of prodigies. His violent loue to Galatea, no other then
brutish concupiscence; of whom he is hated. For Galatea, begot by Nereus on Doris, to expresse her diuine originall, signifies beauty: and what sympathy hath
beauty with deformity, be it either in person or manners? who contrarily delights in her louing and beloued Acis: For loue is the ciment of loue; and beauty
affects her owne similitude in another. But by the iealousy and envy of Polyphemus their happy vnion is diuorced: yet now a Riuer makes hast (for Acis signifies
swift) to mingle his streame with Galatea; nor are they in their immortall parts to be separated. The phisicall construction of the fable of Polyphemus wee haue
formerly deliuered in that of the Cyclops: and of him more hereafter.
Scylla returning along the shore, is no sooner seene then affected by Glaucus, when frighted with his vncouth shape, he relates vnto her the story of
himselfe: how once a fisherman of Anthedon, a towne of Baeotia; transformed by the Marine Gods, and receiued into their society. But first they cleanse him
from his humane corruptions, since no impurity can partake of immortality; by spouting him with sea water; which the ancient held to haue a purifying virtue.
Philostratus describeth him to haue a mossy beard, of colour blew, his haire shaggy and disheuel'd; thick & arched eye-browes which touch one another, armes
formed to swim, his breast all furr'd with sea-weeds, his belly lank, the rest of his body like a fish, with a taile reuersed. On the Boeotian shore there is a
Promontory called the leap of Glaucus. He was said to haue his originall from the Genius of the sea, in that so excellent a swimmer: who often would swim from
the hauen of Anthedon, the Townesmen looking on, so farre into the sea, as they could no longer discerne him: when concealing himselfe in some desart place,
and swimming back a day or two after, he would make them belieue, that all the while he had feasted with the sea-Gods, and enioyed their conversations. But in
the end being lost in the sea (deuoured belike by some fish) they reported that he was changed into a Sea-God: and with all to be Nereus his Prophet; in that out
of long obseruation at sea, by the rising of the starres, and complexion of the sky, he could foretell what weather would follow. But the later age hath produced a
man more deseruing this honour; his name Colon, his Country Sicilia, of the Citty of Catane; who was called the Sea-fish, for his admirable swimming and
affection to that Element. Who abode in the water, more then on the land: not onely out of his inclination but a strong necessity; and would say how he neither
could breath nor liue, should he long forbeare it. From what fate or influence this sprung surpasseth all humane apprehension: which grew to such a habite, that
he would swim like a Dolphin about fiue hundred furlongs together, euen in a Tempest and against the rake of the billow, with incredible celerity. And what is as
strange to report, would ouertake a ship when vnder saile before a stiffe wind; hailing her, and calling the Marriners by their names: so well knowne to them all
thereabout, that as a lucky signe they would receiue him a boord, enquire from whence he came and whether he went, with the accidences which had befallen
him at sea; refreshing him with their best prouisions. Who after a while (hauing vndertaken to deliuer their seuerall messages, and to dispatch what they trusted
him withall) would leap from the Poope of the ship into the midst of the surges; now swimming to Caieta, now to the coasts of Salentina, Brutia, or Lucana, &
sometimes to his natiue Sicilia: performing faithfully his seuerall ingagements. This was his practice: when at a solemne festiuall in the Phare of Messena, the
King of Naples before a multitude of people caused a peice of Plate to be throwne into the Hauen a reward for him who should fetch it from the bottome, which
Colon attempted, but was neuer seene after. Either deuoured by a fish or ingaged in the concaues of the rock (whereof there are many) cast in, and choaked by
the violent eddies and turnings of the waters: where he found a concealed sepulcher. But by the deifying of Glaucus they declared, that there is none of so
humble and meane a condition; whom an extraordinary eminency in commendable arts cannot make immortall: as this of Glaucus may not improperly allude to
the skill of Nauigation; by which Barbarossa of a fisher mans sonne became King of Tunis; Andrew Doria was courted by Charles the fifth, and Francis the first;
steering as it were the fortunes of those powerfull Monarchs; and Columbus by his glorious discoueries more iustly deserued a place for his ship among the
Southerne Constellations, then euer the Argonautes did for their so celebrated Argo.
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