Hillarius. You ought yet to have added among y• Greek Poets Orpheus, and Homer and Virgil among the Latin Poets: who have so well described the Limb, hell, Purgatory, and the Popes paradise, that I think it is not possible to paint and set them out better. And I cannot believe but that he was inspired with the same spirit by 1which they have spoken who have forged and invented unto us those Limbs and Purgatories, and with which those were inspired, who did sit in the Councils in which such doctrine was allowed and confirmed: peradventure he may find some thing in the description of Virgil which may seem a little to differ from the Popes Theology: But notwithstanding if the matters are well examined and tried, one cannot find so great errors, that for therein he may be judged an heretic in the Popes church, nor yet repugnance which is not more easy to agree, then to make Scotus and Thomas Aquinas to agree together: the Reals 2and No••alls, the Sophists and Doctors questionaries that be among them.
But for to prove it, give ear what the Poet speaketh •n such sort as I may speak in our proper tongue: And for to begin in order I will recite unt• thee first the description of t•e ••mbe• •here the children are, saying. ⟨image 36⟩Anon were voices heard, and piteous cries, and wailings sh••ll 3Of souls of tender babes, and infants weeping void of skill. That pleasure sweet of life did never taste, but from their breast Untimely death them took, and Fortune grim hath down oppressed.
He giveth unto the little children their chamber apart, and appointeth their dwelling at the entering in of hell, the which he describeth more horrible and fearful, saying.
Yet sits a worse within, Than hell it self that sink-hole s•eepe,
Two times as broad descends, two times as headlong down right deep4
As heaven upright is high, if men thereto from thence might peep.
Over and besides these two places, he addeth yet two others, to wit, Purgatory, and the fields E•seas, of which we will speak off hereafter when his turn cometh. Now all these which are lodged in those divers chambers, are handled every one of them according to their merits, and punished after divers sorts. For the torments and pains are given unto them either more grievous and cruel, or else more tolerable & gentle, according to •uery ones merits and deserts.
Hillarius. You ought yet to haue added amonge y• Greeke Poets Orpheus, and Homere and Virgile among the Latine Poets: who haue so well described the Lymbe, hell, Purgatory, and the Popes paradise, that I thinke it is not possible to paynt and set them out better. And I cannot beléeue but that he was inspired with the same spirite by 1which they haue spoken who haue forged and inuented vnto vs those Lymbes and Purgatoryes, and with which those were inspired, who did sit in the Councells in which such doctrine was allowed and confirmed: peraduenture he may finde some thing in the discription of Virgile which may seeme a lyttle to differ from the Popes Theologie: But notwithstanding if the matters are wel examined and tryed, one cannot finde so great errours, that for thein hée may be iudged an hereticke in the Popes church, nor yet repugnance which is not more easie to agrée, then to make Scotus and Thomas Aquinas to agrée together: the Reals 2and No••alls, the Sophistes and Doctors questionaries that be among them.
But for to proue it, giue eare what the Poet speaketh •n such sort as I may speake in our propre tongue: And for to begin in order I wil recite vnt• thee first the •escription of t•e ••mbe• •here the children are, saying. ⟨image 36⟩Anone vvere voyces heard, and piteous cryes, and vvaylings sh••ll 3Of soules of tender babes, and infants vveeping voyde of skill. That plesure svveet of life did neuer tast, but from their brest Vntimely death them tooke, and Fortune grim hath down opprest.
He giueth vnto the lyttle children their chamber apart, and appoynteth their dwelling at the entring in of hell, the which he describeth more horrible and fearefull, saying.
Yet syts a vvorse v•ithin, Than hell it selfe that sinke-hole s•eepe,
Tvvo times as broad descēds, tvvo times as headlōg dovvn right deep
- 1The spirit, the Author of pgatory.The spirite, the Authour of pgatory.
- 2The Limb where the children areThe Limbe vvher the children are
- 3Virg. A••t. 6
- 4Hell. A••c. li 6
