The living librarie, or meditations and observations historical, natural, moral, political, and poetical / Written in Latin by P. Camerarius. And done into English by John Molle.
- Philipp Camerarius
- Date:
- 1621
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The living librarie, or meditations and observations historical, natural, moral, political, and poetical / Written in Latin by P. Camerarius. And done into English by John Molle. Source: Wellcome Collection.
54/432 page 34
![| Eccef.s0.12. | Inhis booke | of Meditati- | ons.chap.3. Lib.3.de Ora- | Q0r6s | Infiin-lib.3o. | In the Trage. ——————————— Hiftoricall Meditations, Lib. back-bone thére were many Serpents: Vpon this, they caufed the fpe&tacle (fuch as they found it)to be cut in {tone : which is yet at this prefent to be feene among the armed Statues of the Anceftors of this yong gentleman. A nota- ble example of the fragilitie of mans bodie, how faire and goodly fo euer it be; and that all the fplendorand magnificall fhew that may be feene therein, is no- thing elfe but rottenneffe and wormes-meate : as the Author of Ecclefiafticus faith ; IVbena man dietb, he ss the heritage of Serpents, Beafts and Wormes. Which is confirmed by a certaine infcription grauen vpon a tombe at Rome in Saint Sauieurs church,where are two latin verfesto this effect : When iis my bodies prifon I was pent, Iwas compact of fhamefull filth and erdure: Now to this lower dungeon being [ent, To crawling Wormes 1 ferne for food and paftare. Saint Bernard aymed at the fame when he faid, That man was nothing but ftinking feed,a facke of excrements,and the food of Wormes. Of bodies dead ingender Wormes,of Wormes avotten fiinke, And then as horrible a [late as mind of mau can thinke : This is our very cafe,for all our pride and bie conceit, y Nor can we ftaythe firoake of death when be eur life doth threat. So then,nature ingendring of the carrion of our bodies, a Serpent,or a Dra- gon,it feemeth to fhew vnto vs (as it were with the fingar)the author of our ca- lamities and corruptions;as alfo the enemie that hath an vnreconcileable warre with vs : to wit, that old dragon and ferpent, who not onely laieth traps for the liming ; but befides neuer leaueth renting and deuowring thofe that be dead and buried. eO Hid Ber oETH: of the dowbtfull, vncertainesnconftant,and miferable condition of Mans tife. | 3] Jcero faith , That a Roman captaine although victorious, doth | ftate of worldly affaires is : of which thirig the Romans(exer- cifed afwell by profperitie as aduerfitie ) could well skill how : ll Affricanus to the Ambaffadors of king Antiochus who was ouer- throwne in à fet battell by the Romans, in thefe words : Jf tbe Romans be oner- come, their bearts for all that faile them not : neither doe they [well , if they beconquerors. Andas another faithin Titus Liuius, Noenan knoweth what the enening bringeth with it. For fuchisthe ftate of human affaires,that they are 1et;as a white,againftan infinit number of fhafts of aduerfitie : fo that no man fhould be hautie , ina ditat hereupon,as may be feenein one of Senecas Tragedies, where thisadmo- nition is inferted : | 8 | Ye Potentates,to whom the Lord of might Hath granted power mens linedtofane or fil ; Beware of Pride : For whatthe pooreft wight Doth feare from you, is cleane againfd Gods will, All high Effates depend of one more high, A mn may in the morning brauest out, That e're [un-[et may in the afbes lie : Sofuddenly doe all things rolle about,](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30334913_0054.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
