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Upon Act the third Scene the third.
Who Monsters by his strength subdu'd, broke Hells gates, returned thence] The Monsters were the hydra, a Snake with 7 heads, which as fast as he lopt off one, two sprung in the place of it. The Nemæan Lion, the Erymanthian Bore, the Cretian Bull, the Stymphalides vast Birds in Arcadia, the Hesperian Dragon, the three-bodied Geryon, the Centaures and divers others. He bound Cerberus the Dog of Hell. And as Ovid. Met. 7.
------ specus est tenebroso cæcus hiatu:Et via declivis, per quam Tyrinthius heros
Cerberon attraxit nexis adamante catenis.
There is a blind steep Cave with foggy jaws,
Through which the bold Tirinthian Hero's strain'd
Drag'd Cerberus with adamant inchain'd.
He brought from Hell Alceste the Wife of King Admetus.
True the place] Where Hector had shew'd so many noble exploits, and where he was ignominiously and cruelly drag'd by Achilles about after he was slain.
Greeks too have fall'n] Iphiginia as before; Palamedes an Enemy to Vlysses, and by him circumvented and falfly accused, was ston'd to death before Troy: Ajax who in contention with him for the Armour of Vlysses, being overcome by his subtilty, slew himself.
Ovid. Met. 13.Solemn Lustres] Which was every five year performed by the Romans, in purging their Armies by Sacrifices and the Censors registring at the just valuation of every Citizens estate, then they led about the Army a Bul, a Sow, and a Ram, and afterwards sacrificed them. At which times used to be performed the
Trojan Sport] Which also was yearly performed by all the choyce and noble Youths of Rome; it was the
Ascanius longam muris cum cingeret Albam,
Rettulit, & priscos docuit celebrata Latinos.
Ascanius when long Alba he did frame,
Did first appoint this Custome, and this Game,
And th'ancient Latines taught to celebrate.
Virg. Æneid. 5.
Nor with swift feet dance] This was a Dance in complete harness, invented by Pyrrhus, and therefore called Pyrrhica saltatio, or the Pyrrhic Dance. By this means the Romans trained up their Youth that they might be inured to Arms in their tender years, and that by this Military Exercise they might come to gain a perfect command of their bodies, the better and more nimbly to defend themselves and annoy their Enemies. In this Dance they were excited by the
Warlike Strains] Of Curve trumpets, that is, Phrygian, which excited to War, and inflamed the mind to Battail, and Heroick exploits. There were three other sorts of Musick, which were the Lydian, which was fitted to cheer and exhilarate those who were dejected through grief. Doric which was grave, and pacified the Disturbances of the mind. Ionian which sharpen'd the wit, and excited the mind to contemplation of Cœlestial things. And lastly, the Æolian, which was requisite for those who were about to go to rest, conducing to the setling of the mind.
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