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Spærchius, a River whose banks were round beset with Poplar trees, and therefore called Popuifer, Enipœus, Apidanus, Amphisus, and Æas, &c. only the names of Rivers, whose currents and chanels were famous in those parts of Greece: for your better satisfaction, I refer you to Ovid his Metamorph. lib 1. upon the same argument.
Hemonian Tempe. Tempe was a pleasant valley flourishing with trees, herbes, and flowers, scituate in Thessaly at the foot of the hill Hemus. It was much celebrated by the Muses, as lying betwixt Ossa and Olympus. The River Peneus, Larisa, and the Ægean Sea, &c.
Pierides, were the Muses, so called from Pierus, or else a mountaine in Greece of that name: this Pierus had nine daughters, who contended with the Muses in singing, and being vanquished by them, were transformed into chattering Pyes: in glory of which victory the Muses would be called by their names.
Syrinx, an Arcadian Nymph, who flying from the embraces of Pan, the god of the Shepheards, at her intercession to the gods changed into a Reed, her prayer being to preserve her virginity.
Styx, a certaine well in Arcadia, the water of which is so cold and venemous, that whosoever drinketh thereof, immediatly dyeth. It eateth and wasteth yron or brasse, neither can it be contained in any thing, but the hoof of a Mule; some say Alexander the Great was poisoned with the water of this river, by Antipater, at the persuasion of Aristotle, the great Philosopher, and Tutor to Alexander. The Poets feigne it to be a river in hell, and so sacred to the gods, that if any of them sweare by it, and breake his oath, he shall be deprived of his godhead, and drinke no Nectar for an hundred yeares after.
Gargarus , so called of Gargarus, the son of Iupiter, it is commonly taken for the top or Apex of the high hill Ida, where the said god had an Altar consecrateunto him, it is situate betwixt the Propontis Abidos, and the Hellespont in Greece, in longitude 55. in latitude 42. It is also a towne under the hill so called.
Alcmena , the wife of Amphytrio the Theban, in whose absence Iupiter came in the shape of her husband, comprest her and begot Hercules.
Semele, the mother of Bacchus, begot on her by Iupiter, from whence he tooke the denomination of Semeleius.
Maia, the daughter of Atlas, and Pleiones, and therefore Atlantiades, of whom Iupiter begot Mercury.
Moericus , Aristæus, Thrasicles, &c. are names of men whome the Author aimed at (living in those times) according to his fancy.
Iapygium , or Iapyges, these derived their names from Iapyx the sonne of Dedalus, and were said to be Cretenses by their originall, and wandring abroad to seeke Colaurus, sonne of Minois, came unto the same place, where after they inhabited, these in time grew to such a profuse riotise, intemperance and wantonnes, that forgetting their Country modesty and honesty, they painted their faces, and wore other folkes haire, and were never seene abroade but sumptuously, and richly appareld; their houses were as beautifull as the Temples of the gods. At length they came to such a height of pride and insolence, that they cast off all religion, entring and seasing on the ornaments, revenues and donaries of the Churches. And at length were all consumed by firy globes falling from heaven, &c.
Evphorbus , was a noble Trojane, the sonne of Panthus, who wounded Patroclus, and was after slaine by Achilles, being hurt in the thigh; he was said to have one made him of gold. Pythagoras said, that his soule was in him in that time of the Troian warre, that hee might better perswade his Scholars. Concerning the opinion which he held concerning the transmigration of mens soules, from one body to another.
What other difficulties you shall finde in these short Dialogues, you shall find in some or other fully explicated.
Cimmerians , were people dwelling in Italy, betweene the Baiæ and Cumæ, so invironed with hills, that the Sunne never appeared unto them, hence came the Proverb Tenebræ Cimmeriæ, the Cimmerian darknesse.
Erix, Promontory: Erix was the sonne of Venus, slaine by Hercules, and buried in a mountaine of Cicilia, so called after him, in which place Venus had a Temple erected unto her, and from that she had the denomination of Eriana, &c.
Python, was a mighty huge Serpent, which Iuno sent unto Latona when she was with child by Iupiter, to devoure her, but she went to her sister Astrea, who protected her, and she was after delivered of two twins, Apollo and Diana.
Endymion, was beloved by the Moone, who courted him upon Latmus hill; and therefore said to looke pale by reason of the great affection which she bore unto him.
Tithon, or Tithonus, was the sonne of Laomedon, who desiring long life, was so wasted with old age, that the Poets faigned him to be turned into a Grashopper: he was also said to be beloved of Aurora, the morning; because he used to rise early, which was thought to be the reason why he preserved his life so long.
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