The Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Divided into three parts, dialogue wiseThe Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Deuided into three partes, dialogue wise

Thomas. And if they had not wherewith to pay, should they be constrained to return to live again, and to continue and abide here for want of money?

Thomas. And if they had not wherewith to pay, should they be constrayned to retourne to lyue againe, and to continue and abide heere for want of money?

Hillarius. They had that opinion that they should continue in great torment, if they could not pass. For they could not be purged of their sins, nor enter into the fields Eliseas with the blessed, but that they must first pass the river: As men have made us to believe of the souls who have not ended their penance. They do also believe that if their bodies be not honestly buried according to their estate and degree, they cannot pass in an hundred years, but must be wandering here and there, until such time as their bodies be buried, or until the term of an hundred years, which was assigned unto them for their pain and punishment, be expired: the which things the Poet hath comprised altogether in one self place by his verses of which I will recite unto you one part of those that agree best to our matter. He speaketh in that place of the things that Aeneas hath seen, being descended into Hell with Sibilla, the which afterwards he expoundeth and showeth plainly wh•t they signify. He first describeth that which they have seen there practised, saying. ⟨p. 46⟩Here now the way doth lead to Limbo lake and filthy stood,¹ Whose channel choked is, with troublous grounds of miry mud. And belching boils a sand, which to the bakes it throws from deeps, A dreadful ferryman that stream, with visage loathsome keeps. In tattered wretched weed, and Charon he by name doth height His hoary bush and beard, both overgrown & foul undight., With scowling stemming eyes, & from his shoulders down his loins, His filthy mantel hangs, whom sluttish knot uncomely joins. Himself with piked pole his boat doth guide, & bears a charge, Transporting still the souls, in rusty dusty cankered barge. Well aged now, but sappy strength he keeps of greener years, To this place all the rout doth draw themselves with louring cheers, By numbers great, both men and women dead, nor long delayed, With Princes pressed boys and girls, that wedlock never said. And slouring youth, that in their parents time were laid in ground, And all that life had borne, about that bank they clustered round, As thick as leaves of trees among the woods in winter wind. When first to ground they fall, or like as fowls of water kind. Assembling flock themselves, when year of frost hath first begun, And over Ss they seek in warmer lands to take the Sun.