Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/12

Rh From heaven, and was inspyrde by God, as Moyses sheweth playne? And whereas of Prometheus he seemes to adde a vayne Devyce, as though he ment that he had formed man of clay, Although it bee a tale put in for pleasure by the way: Yit by th'interpretation of the name we well may gather, He did include a misterie and secret meening rather. This woord Prometheus signifies a person sage and wyse, Of great foresyght, who headily will nothing enterpryse. It was the name of one that first did images invent: Of whom the Poets doo report that hee to heaven up went, And there stole fyre, through which he made his images alyve: And therfore that he formed men the Paynims did contryve. Now when the Poet red perchaunce that God almyghty by His providence and by his woord (which everlastingly Is ay his wisdome) made the world, and also man to beare His image, and to bee the lord of all the things that were Erst made, and that he shaped him of earth or slymy clay: Hee tooke occasion in the way of fabling for to say That wyse Prometheus tempring earth with water of the spring, Did forme it lyke the Gods above that governe every thing. Thus may Prometheus seeme to bee th'eternall woord of God, His wisdom, and his providence which formed man of clod. "And where all other things behold the ground with groveling eye: He gave to man a stately looke replete with majesty: And willd him to behold the heaven with countnance cast on hye, To mark and understand what things are in the starrie skye." In theis same woordes, both parts of man the Poet dooth expresse As in a glasse, and giveth us instruction to addresse Our selves to know our owne estate: as that wee bee not borne To follow lust, or serve the paunch lyke brutish beasts forlorne, But for to lyft our eyes as well of body as of mynd To heaven as to our native soyle from whence wee have by kynd Our better part: and by the sight thereof to lerne to know And knowledge him that dwelleth there: and wholly to bestow Our care and travail to the prayse and glorie of his name Who for the sakes of mortall men created first the same. Moreover by the golden age what other thing is ment, Than Adams tyme in Paradyse, who beeing innocent Did lead a blist and happy lyfe untill that thurrough sin He fell from God? From which tyme foorth all sorrow did begin. The earth accursed for his sake, did never after more Yeeld foode without great toyle. Both heate and cold did vexe him sore. Disease of body, care of mynd, with hunger, thirst and neede, Feare, hope, joy, greefe, and trouble, fell on him and on his seede. And this is termd the silver age. Next which there did succeede The brazen age, when malice first in peoples harts did breede, Which never ceased growing till it did so farre outrage, That nothing but destruction could the heate thereof asswage For why mens stomackes wexing hard as steele ageinst their God, Pro-