ANCIENT FABLES. 65 



but yet true. The other disciples of Plato, considering LlB - 

 that this discourse hath more shew of a fable then of a true 

 Historic, say that we must take it as an allegoric, and that 

 such was the intention of their divine Philosopher. Of this 

 opinion is Procles and Porphire, yea, and Origene, who so 

 much regardes the writings of Plato as when they speake 

 thereof they seeme to bee the bookes of Moses or of Esdras, 

 and whereas they thinke the writings of Plato have no shew 

 of truth they say they are to be vnderstood mystically, 

 and in allegories. But, to say the truth, I do not so much 

 respect the authoritie of Plato (whom they call Divine), as 

 I wil beleeve he could write these things of the Atlantis 

 Hand for a true Historie, the which are but meere fables, 

 seeing hee confesseth that hee learned them of Critias, being 

 a little childe, who, among other songs, sung that of the 

 Atlantis Hand. But whether that Plato did write it for a 

 true Historie or a fable, for my part I beleeve that all which 

 he hath written of this Hand, beginning at the Dialogue of 

 Timeus and continuing to that of Critias, cannot be held for 

 true but among children and old folkes. Who will not 

 accoumpt it a fable to say that Neptune fell in love with 

 Clite, and had of her five paire of twinnes at one birth. 

 And that out of one mountaine hee drew three round balles 

 of water and two of earth, w T hich did so well resemble as 

 you would have judged them all one bowell. What shall 

 wee say, moreover, of that Temple of a thousand paces long 

 and five hundred broade, whose walles without were all 

 covered with silver, the seeling of gold, and within ivorie 

 indented and inlaied with gold, silver, and pearle. In the 

 end, speaking of the mine thereof, he concludes thus in his 

 time : &quot; In one day and one night came a great delug e, 

 whereby all our souldiers were swallowed by heapes within 

 the earth, and in this sort the Atlantis Hand being drowned, 

 it vanished in the Sea.&quot; Without doubt it fell out happily 

 that this Hand vanished so suddenly, seeing- it was bigger 



