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yet detract nothing from their own Majefty. But when any Matter comes to be cenfured or decreed (which is a Birth) there do they confine and reftrain the liberty of their Counsellors; left that which is done fhould feem to be hatched by their Wisdom and Judgement. So as at laft Kings (except it be in fuch Matters as are diftafteful and maligned, which they always will be fure to put off from themselves) do affume the Honour and Praise of all Matters that are ruminated in Council, and, as it were, formed in the Womb, whereby the Refolution and Execution (which because it proceeds from Power, and implies Neceffity, is elegantly shadowed under the Figure of Pallas Armed) shall seem to proceed wholly from themfelves. Neither fufficeth it, that it is done by the Authority of the King, by his mere Will and free Applaufe, except withal, this be added and appropriated as to iffue out of his own Head or Brain, intimating, that out of his own Judgement, Wifdom, and Ordinance, it was only invented and derived.

XXXI. The Syrens, or Pleasures.

HE Fable of the Syrens feems rightly to have been applied to the pernicious Allurements of Pleasure, but in a very vulgar and grofs manner. And there

fore to me it appears, that the Wisdom of the An

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cients have with a farther reach or infight strained deeper Matter out of them, not unlike the Grapes ill preffed; from which, though some Liquor were drawn, yet the best was left behind. These Syrens are said to be the Daughters of Achelous, and Terpsichore one of the Muses; who in their first being, were winged, but after rafhly entering into Contention with the Muses, were by them vanquished, and deprived of their Wings. Of whose plucked out Feathers the Mufes made themselves Coronets, fo as ever fince that time all the Muses have attired themselves with plumed heads, except Terpsichore only, that was Mother to the Syrens. The Habitation of the Syrens was in certain pleafant Islands, from whence as foon as out of their Watch-Tower they discovered any Ships approaching, with their sweet Tunes they would first entice and ftay them, and having them in their Power would destroy them. Neither was their Song plain and single, but consisting of such variety of melodious Tunes fo fitting and delighting the Ears that heard them, as that it ravished and betrayed all Paffengers. And fo great were the Mischiefs they did, that these Isles of the Syrens, even as far off as Man can ken them, appeared all over white with the Bones of unburied Carcaffes. For the remedying of this Mifery a double Means was at laft found out; the one by Ulyffes, the other by Orpheus. Ulyffes (to make experiment of his Device) caused all the Ears of his Company to be stopped with Wax, and made himself to be bound to the Main-Maft, with fpecial Commandment to his

Mariners not to be loofed, albeit himself should require them fo to do. But Orpheus neglected and difdained to be fo bound, and with a fhrill and fweet Voice, finging Praises of the Gods to his Harp, fuppreffed the Songs of the Syrens, and so freed himself from their Danger.

This Fable hath relation to Men's Manners, and contains in it a manifeft and most excellent Parable For Pleafures do for the most proceed out of the abundance and fuperfluity of all things, and also out of the Delights and jovial Contentments of the Mind; the which are wont fuddenly, as it were, with winged Inticements to ravish and rap Mortal Men: But Learning and Education brings it fo to pafs, as that it reftrains and bridles Man's Mind, making it fo to confider the ends and events of Things, as that it clips the Wings of Pleafure. And this was greatly to the Honour and Renown of the Muses; for after that by fome Examples, it was made manifeft, that by the Power of Philosophy, vain Pleasures might grow Contemptible; it presently grew to great esteem, as a thing that could raise, and elevate the Mind aloft, that seemed to be base, and fixed to the Earth; make the cogitations of the Men (which do ever reside in the Head,) to be ethereal, and as it were winged. But that the Mother of the Syrens was left to her Feet, and without Wings; that no doubt is no otherwise meant, than of light and fuperficial Learning, appropriated and defigned only to Pleasures, as were those which Petronius devoted himself unto, after he had received his fatal Sentence; and having

his Foot, as it were, upon the Threshold of Death, fought to give himself all delightful Contentments; infomuch, as when he had caused Confolatory Letters to be sent him, he would perufe none of them, (as Tacitus reports, that should give him Courage and Conftancy) but only read fantastical Verses, fuch as these are

Vivamus, Mea Lesbia, atque amemus,
Rumorefque Senum feveriorum,
Omnes unius aftimemus Affis.

My Lefbia, let us live and love;
Though wayward Dotards us reprove,
Weigh their Words light for our behove.

And this alfo :

Jura Senes norint, et quid fit fafque nefafque,
Inquirant triftes, Legumque examina fervent.
Let doting Grandfire know the Law,
And right and wrong observe with awe;
Let them in that strict Circle draw.

This kind of Doctrine would eafily perfuade to take these plumed Coronets from the Muses, and to restore the Wings again to the Syrens. These Syrens are faid to dwell in remote Ifles; for that Pleasures love Privacy, and retired Places, fhunning always too much Company of People. The Syren's Songs are so vulgarly understood, together with the Deceits and Danger of them, as that they need no Expofition. But that of the Bones appearing like white Cliffs, and descried afar off, hath

more Acutenefs in it; for thereby is fignified, that, albeit the Examples of Afflictions be manifeft, and eminent; yet do they not fufficiently deter us from the wicked Enticements of Pleasures.

As for the Remainder of this Parable, though it be not over-myftical, yet it is very grave, and excellent: For in it are fet out three Remedies for this violent, enticing Mischief; to wit, Two from Philofophy, and one from Religion. The first Means to fhun these inordinate Pleasures, is, to withstand, and refift them in their Beginnings, and seriously to fhun all Occafions that are offered, to debauch and entice the Mind, which is fignified in that stopping of the Ears; and that Remedy is properly used by the meaner and baser sort of People, as it were Ulyffes' Followers or Mariners; whereas more Heroick and Noble Spirits may boldly Converse even in the midst of these seducing Pleasures, if with a refolved Conftancy they stand upon their Guard, and fortify their Minds; and so take greater Contentment in the trial and experience of this their approved Virtue; learning rather thoroughly to underftand the Follies and Vanities of those Pleasures by Contemplation, than by Submiffion: Which Solomon avouched of himself, when he reckoned up the multitude of thofe Solaces and Pleasures wherein he Swam, doth conclude with this Sentence,

Sapientia quoque perfeverabat mecum.
Wisdom alfo continued with me.

Therefore these Heroes, and Spirits of this excellent Temper, even in the midst of these enticing

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