Come, Truth, although in Swadling-clouts, I find, Informs the Judgment, rectifies the Mind, Pleases the Understanding, makes the Will Submit ; the Memory too it doth fill With what doth our Imagination please ; 6 Likewise it tends our troubles to appease. Sound words I know Timothy is to use, And old Wives' Fables he is to refuse ; But yet grave Paul him nowhere doth forbid The use of Parables ; in which lay hid 10 That Gold, those Pearls, and precious stones that were Worth digging for, and that with greatest care. Let me add one word more. O man of God, Art thou offended ? Dost thou wish I had Put forth my matter in another dress, 15 Or that I had in things been more express ? Three things let me propound, then I submit To those that are my betters, as is fit. 1. I find not that I am deny'd the use Of this my method, so I no abuse 20 Put on the Words, Things, Readers ; or be rude In handling Figure or Similitude, In application ; but, all that I may, Seek the advance of Truth this or that way. Denyed, did I say ? Nay, I have leave, 25 (Example too, and that from them that have God better pleased, by their words or ways, Than any man that breatheth now-a-days) Thus to express my mind, thus to declare Things unto thee, that excellentest are. 30 2. I find that men (as high as Trees) will write Dialogue-wise ; yet no man doth them slight
of the silver-smiths who made " silver shrines for Diana." Mr. Venables thinks the reference here is to those little models of the temple at Ephesus, which formed a common article of mer- chandise.
