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Souls the Bodies buried live?] Seneca according to the opinion of the Epicures, brings in the Chorus questioning the Immortality of the Soul, and making as if the Soul perishes with the Body, an impious and unwarrantable tenent.

When the next of kin shall close the Eyes] It was the custom of the Ancients, when any body was dying, for the next or neerest of kin to receive the last breath of the dying party into his mouth, and also to close his eyes being dead. Thus Anna did to the dying Dido her Sister.

------ Extremus si quis super halitus errat
Ore legam ------
Virg. Æneid. 4. And if that any breath be wandering found
My lips shall gather it.

The Funeral Fire] The Ancients did not inter the bodies of the dead, but burned them, because they were thereby made secure from the malice of their Enemies, who had formerly used to dig the humated bodies out of their graves, that they might revenge themselves upon the dead Corps. This Pile was called Pyra, built always in form of a Tabernacle.

Pegasean motion] That is, Swift, from Pegasus the winged Horse of Perseus, who arose out of the blood of Medusa by him slain; who when he took his flight to Heaven from Helicon rais'd the Rock with his foot, from whence sprung the Muses fountain Hippocrene.

Hecate] The Moon: from Εκατος, from shouting

or darting down her rayes. She was called also Dea triformis, Three form'd Goddess; because she was call'd in Hell Hecate, on the Earth Diana, in Heaven Luna; signifying the several Aspects of the Moon: Luna when she is full of light said to be in Heaven; Hecate when she is in the Change, that she affords us no light at all, then said to be in Hell; Diana when it is between the full and the new, then said to be on Earth.

The Stygian Lake] Hell on the region of Pluto. From Styx (which signifies Hateful) a river of Hell, had in great veneration by the gods themselves; and to swear by Styx was an inviolable oath, for whosoever of the gods brake it, was devested of Immortality, and kept from Nectar and Ambrosia a hundred yeers.

Boreas] The North-wind, whose nature is to dissipate clouds.

Time us and Chaos] They held that all things at the appointed time, the world and all, should be chang'd and turn'd into that confused mass it was at first, from whence it should spring again; and thus it should do vicissively for ever. This was the Stoicks Eternity.

Realm of Dis] Hell the Habitation of Pluto.

Tænarus] A Promontory of Laconia, where the Poets feign'd to be an entrance into Hell.

Cerberus] The three-headed Dog of Hell, who was the Porter at Pluto's Palace: He was drawn hence by Hercules, who no sooner saw light but he spu'd, from which vomit sprung the deadly Aconite, or Wolfe-bane.