Hillarius. Thou understandest not the cause, and how the Paynims did excuse the Goddess. Thou oughtest to understand, that the very same night that 1Herostratus did set the Temple of Diana on fire, Olympias the mother of great Alexander, was in havayle with child, & because that Diana was gone thither for to help her travail to bring forth Alexander, she could not defend her Temple. For thou doest very well know that women did call upon her in their travail. And therefore she being absent, and busied about Olympias and her son Alexander, she could not help her Temple nor resist the God of the Persians, no more then the Gods of our Priests can at this day resist it. For that cause the Chaldeans did marvellously beast themselves against all other Patyons, saying, that there were none that had such a God as theirs, which consumeth all other. Yet nevertheless if the tale or history be true which Suidas 2did tell of a Priest of Canopus, he played or showed them a fine feat, of whom he hath written that the Priest of god Canopus which was adored and worshipped of some in Egypt, seeing the arrogance and pride of the ⟨p. 157⟩Chaldeans, fearing also to loose his good theere and fare, 3if the majesty of his God were diminished, devised this craft and deceit. In Egypt they used to make water pots of earth, having many holes for to distil the water and to make it more pure, because that the waters of Egypt are much troubled and full of mud and slime that Priest did take one of those water pots, and stopped subtly with ware all the holes thereof, afterwards painted it with diverse colours, so that one could not perceive it. That being done, filled it with water, afterwards did cut of the head of an old Image, the which he set upon that great water pol, so cunningly that it was like to his god Canopus. After that, the Chaldeans came, who would prove the power of yt fire of their God, against the God Canopus. The fire then being kindled, and Canopus being cast into it, after that manner and sort as he was trimmed and apparelled by his Priest. Now whilst that on either sides men did behold which of those two Gods should have the victory, the wax with which the holes were stopped, feeling the heat of the fire, did begin to melt, & the water to drop out, which quenched the fire.
Hillarius. Thou vnderstandest not the cause, and howe the Panims dyd excuse the Goddesse. Thou oughtest to vnderstande, that the verye same night that 1Herostratus dyd sette the Temple of Diana on fire, Olympias the mother of greate Alexander, was in hauayle wyth child, & bicause that Diana was gone thether for to helpe hir trauaile to bringe foorth Alexander, shée coulde not defende hir Temple. For thou doest very well know that woemen dyd call vppon hir in their trauayle. And therefore shée béeinge absent, and busied aboute Olympias and hir sonne Alexander, shée coulde not helpe hir Temple nor resist the God of the Persians, no more then the Gods of our Priestes can at this daye resist it. For that cause the Chaldeans dyd meruaylously beast themselues against all other Patyons, sayinge, that there were none that had suche a God as theirs, which consumeth all other. Yet neuerthelesss if the tale or historye bée true whiche Suidas 2dyd tell of a Prieste of Canopus, hée played or shewed them a fine feate, of whome hée hath written that the Priest of god Canopus which was adored and worshipped of some in Aegypt, seeing the arrogancie and pride of the ⟨p. 157⟩Chaldeans, fearing also to loose his good théere and fare, 3if the maiesty of his God were diminished, deuised this crafte and discepte. In Aegypt they vsed to make waterpottes of earth, hauing many holes for to distill the water and to make it more pure, bicause that the waters of Aegypt are much troubled and full of mudde and slime that Priest did take one of those water pottes, and stopped subtilly with ware all the holes thereof, afterwardes painted it with diuerse coloures, so that one could not perceiue it. That béeing done, filled it with water, afterwards did cut of the head of an olde Image, the which hée set vpō that great water pol, so cunningly that it was like to his god Canopus. After that, the Chaldeans came, who would proue the power of yt fire of their God, against the God Canopus. The fire thē béeing kindled, and Canopus béeing cast into it, after that manner and sorte as he was trimmed and apparayled by his Priest. Nowe whilest that on either sides men did behold which of those two Gods should haue the victory, the wax with whiche the holes were stopped, féeling the heat of the fire, did beginne to melt, & the water to droppe out, which quēched the fire.
- 1The nativitle cf Alexander Olympiss.The natiuitle cf Alexander Olympiss.
- 2Suiadas in dict Canop. God Canopus.
- 3The craft and deceit of the Priest of Canopus. Call. Rho. lec. aut. li. 15. c. 15.The crafte and disceite of the Priest of Canopus. Cal. Rho. lec. aut. li. 15. c. 15.
