232 SYLVA BOOK iv 



Canterbury) boldly pronounced on it, to reduce them 

 to obedience, is most elegantly described in Latin, 

 and in a style little inferior to the ancients, by our 

 country-man Alexander Nevyll, in his Kettus, sive de 

 fur or thus Norfolciensium Ketto duce. * But to return ; 

 the Athenians were wont to consult of their gravest 

 matters, and publick concernments in groves : Famous 

 for these assemblies were the Ceraunian, and at Rome 

 the Lucus Petilinus, the Farentinus, and others, in 

 which there was held that renowned Parliament after 

 the defeat of the Gauls by M. Popilius : For it was 

 supposed that in places so sacred, they would faith- 

 fully and religiously observe what was concluded 

 amongst them. 



In such green palaces the first kings reign'd, 

 Slept in their shades, and angels entertain'd : 

 With such old counsellors they did advise, 

 And by frequenting sacred groves, grew wise ; 

 Free from th' impediments of light and noise, 

 Man thus retir'd, his nobler thoughts employs. 



Mr. Waller. 



As our excellent poet has described it : And amongst 

 other weighty matters, they treated of matches for 

 their children, and the young people made love in 

 the cooler shades, and ingraved their mistresses names 

 upon the bark, 2 tituli aereis literis insculpti, as Pliny 

 speaks of that ancient Vatican ilex, and Euripides in 

 HippolytO) where he shews us how they made the 

 incision, whisper their soft complaints like that of 

 Aristaenetus, Tota & $e & Se'vSpa, &c. and wish that it 

 had but a soul and voice to tell Cydippe, the fair 

 Cydippe, 3 how she was beloved : And doubtless this 



1 Edit. 8vo. Lond. 1582. 



2 L. 16. E 44. Arist. 1. Ep. 10. 



3 Vide Symmach. 1. 4. Ep. 28. 



