Htftorie ofthefnclics. lib . i. 



whereas they thinke the writings of Ptat* have no fhew 

 of truth, they fay,they are to be vnderftood myftically, 

 and in allegories. But to fay the truthj do not fo much 

 refped: the authoritie of Plato, (whom they caB ( DL 

 vine,) as I wilbdeeve he could write thefe things of 

 the Atlantike Hand for a true Hiflorie, the which arc 

 but rneere fables , feeing heeconfeflcththathee kar- 

 ned them of Critias, being a little child?, who (among 

 other fongs,)fung that of the Atlantike Hand. But whe 

 ther that Plato did write it for a true Hiftorie, or a fable, 

 for my part , I beleevethat all which he hath written 

 of this Hand, beginning at the Dialogue of Time, and 

 continuing to that ofCrtiiM, cannot be held for true, 

 but among children and old folkes. Who will not ac- 

 coumptita fable, to fay that Neptune fell in love with' 

 Clite^ and had ofher five paire of twinnesat one births 

 And that out of one mountaine, hce drew three found 

 balles of water,and two of earth , which did ib well re- 

 femble, as you would haveiudged them all one bow* 

 ell * What Ihall wee fay moreover of that Temple of a 

 thoufandpace long, and five hundred broade,whofe 

 wall'es without were all covered with filver, the feeling 

 of gold, and within ivorie, indented and inlaiedwith 

 gold,{ilver,and pearle ? In the end,fpeaking of the ru- 

 ine thereof, he concludes thus in his time , In one day, 

 and one night , came a great deluge ^ whereby attourfpuldurs 

 were fallowed by heafes within the earth ^ and in this fort 

 the Atlantike lland being drowned, it vanifiedin the Sea,, 

 Without doubt it fell out ^happily, that this Hand va- 

 nifhedfofuddenly, feeing it was bigger ^then Afia and 

 Affrih : and that it was made by enchantment. It is in 

 like (brt all one to fay, that the mines of this fo great 

 an Hand, are feene in the bottome of the fea - x and that 



the 



