[Sidenote: _An ancient Author who writ_ Περὶ ἀπίστων, sive de incredibilibus, _whereof some part is yet extant_.] [Sidenote: _The Fable of_ Orpheus _his Harp, etc. whence occasioned._] Fourthly, While we so eagerly adhere unto Antiquity, and the accounts of elder times, we are to consider the fabulous condition thereof. And that we shall not deny, if we call to mind the Mendacity of _Greece_, from whom we have received most relations, and that a considerable part of ancient Times, was by the _Greeks_ themselves termed μυθικόν, that is, made up or stuffed out with Fables. And surely the fabulous inclination of those days, was greater then any since; which swarmed so with Fables, and from such slender grounds, took hints for fictions, poysoning the World ever after; wherein how far they exceeded, may be exemplified from _Palephatus_, in his Book of _Fabulous Narrations_. That Fable of _Orpheus_ who by the melody of his Musick, made Woods and Trees to follow him, was raised upon a slender foundation; for there were a crew of mad women, retired unto a Mountain from whence being pacified by his Musick, they descended with boughs in their hands, which unto the fabulosity of those times proved a sufficient ground to celebrate unto all posterity the Magick of _Orpheus_ Harp, and its power to attract the senseless Trees about it. That _Medea_ the famous Sorceress could renew youth, and make old men young again, was nothing else, but that from the knowledge of Simples she had a Receit to make white hair black, and reduce old heads, into the tincture of youth again. The Fable of _Gerion_ and _Cerberus_ with three heads, was this: _Gerion_ was of the City _Tricarinia_, that is, of three heads, and _Cerberus_ of the same place was one of his Dogs, which running into a Cave upon pursuit of his Masters Oxen, _Hercules_ perforce drew him out of that place, from whence the conceits of those days affirmed no less, then that _Hercules_ descended into Hell, and brought up _Cerberus_ into the habitation of the living. Upon the like grounds was raised the figment of _Briareus_, who dwelling in a City called _Hecatonchiria_, the fansies of those times assigned him an hundred hands. 'Twas ground enough to fansie wings unto _Dædalus_, in that he stole out of a Window from _Minos_, and sailed away with his son _Icarus_: who steering his course wisely, escaped; but his son carrying too high a sail was drowned. That _Niobe_ weeping over her children, was turned into a Stone, was nothing else, but that during her life she erected over their Sepultures a Marble Tomb of her own. When _Acteon_ had undone himself with Dogs, and the prodigal attendants of hunting, they made a solemn story how he was devoured by his Hounds. And upon the like grounds was raised the Anthropophagie of _Diomedes_ his horses. [SN: Eating of Mans flesh.] Upon as slender foundation was built the Fable of the _Minotaure_; for one _Taurus_ a