LVIII.
[There is a monstrous hill in Sicill soyle]
Aetna, called in times past Inesia, as Volaterranus witnesseth, is
a hollow hill in Sicilia, whose toppe burneth continuallie,
the fire being maintained with a vaine of brimstone, and
other such like Mineralles, which are within the said Mountaine.
Which notwithstanding, the bottome of the hill is
verie pleasant, as well for the aboundance of sweete fruites
and flowers, as for the number of freshe springes and fountaines.
The Poetes faine, that when Iuppiter had with
his thunderboltes beaten downe the Gyantes of the earth,
which rebelled against heauen, he did forthwith couer and
oppresse them all with the weight of this hill Aetna. These
thinges being well considered, together with the verse of
Horace;
(Deus immortalis haberi
Dum cupit Empedocles, ardentem frigidus Ætnam Insiluit)
It may easily appeare, why the Author in this passion compareth
his heart vnto the hill.
There
is a monstrous hill in Sicill soyle,
Where workes that limping God, which Vulcan hight,
And rebell Gyantes lurke, whome Ioue did foyle,
When gainst the heau'ns they durst presume to fight;
The toppe thereof breathes out a burning flame,
And Flora sittes at bottome of the same.
My swelling heart is such an other hill,
Wherein a blinded God beares all the swaye.
And rebell thoughtes resisting reasons skill
Are bound by will from starting thence awaye;
The toppe thereof doth smoake with scalding smart,
And seldome ioyes obtaine the lowest parte.
Yet learne herewith the diffrence of the twaine:
Empedocles consum'd with Aetnaes fire
When godheade there he sought, but all in vaine:
But this my heart, all flaming with desire,
Embraceth in it selfe an Angels face,
Which beareth rule as Goddesse of the place.
