THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. f),&amp;gt; 



withal, this be added and appropriated as to issue 

 out of his own head or brain, intimating, that out of 

 his own judgement, wisdom, and ordinance, it was 

 only invented and derived. 



THE SYRENS, OR PLEASURES. 



The fable of the Syrens seems rightly to have 

 been applied to the pernicious allurements of plea 

 sure, but in a very vulgar and gross manner. And, 

 therefore, to me it appears, that the wisdom of the 

 ancients have, with a farther reach or insight, 

 strained deeper matter out of them, not unlike the 

 grapes ill pressed ; 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 rashly entering into 

 contention with the muses, were by them vanquished 

 and deprived of their wings : of whose plucked out 

 feathers the muses made themselves coronets, so as 

 ever since that time all the muses have attired them 

 selves with plumed heads, except Terpsichore only, 

 that was mother to the Syrens. The habitation of 

 the Syrens was in certain pleasant islands, from 

 whence as soon as out of their watch-tower they dis 

 covered any ships approaching, with their sweet 

 tunes they would first entice and stay them, and 

 having them in their power would destroy them. 

 Neither was their song plain and single, but consist 

 ing of such variety of melodious tunes, so fitting and 

 delighting the ears that heard them,, as that it ra- 



