When th' _Ancients_ made a solemne _League_ or _Vow_, Their Custome was to ratifie it, thus; Before their _Idoll-God_, they slew a _Sow_, And sayd aloud; _So be it unto us_. Implying, that, if otherwise they did Then had been vow’d; or, if within their Brest A _Fraudulent-Intention_ had beene hid, They merited such Vsage, as that _Beast_. For, by the _Swine_ that they had slaughtred so, (Which, during Life, was helpefull unto none) Of Life deprived by a sudden blow, And, then, cast out, that none might feed thereon; They, mystically did inferre; that, he Who falsify’d that _Oath_ which he had sworne, Deserv’d, by _Sudden-Death_, cut off to be; And, as a Beast uncleane, to lye forlorne. That Heathenish _Hieroglyphicke_, doth implye This _Christian-Doctrine_; that, we should in _Vowes_, In _Leagues_, and _Oathes_, assume no Liberty, But, what sincerest _Honesty_ allowes. By _Swine_, the babbling _Sophisters_ are meant, In _Hieroglyphicall_ Signification; Which wee doe _Sacrifice_, when our intent Is free from _Falsehood_, and _Æquivocation_. And, this, let ev’ry Man endeavour for, Who loves the Blessings, for just men prepar’d; Or, if the Sinne he doe not much abhorre, At least, the Danger let him well regard: For, to pursue him, _Vengeance_ never leaves, That _falsely Sweares_, or _willingly Deceives_. _Where strong =Desires= are entertain’d, The =Heart= 'twixt =Hope=, and =Feare=, is pain’d._ [Illustration: SPEQVE METVQVE PAVET ILLVSTR. XXXIX. _Book. 1._]