out transversion, and by the union of right lines to make out a continual surface, which is beyond the common art of textury, and may still nettle Minerva,[A 1] the goddess of that mystery. And he that shall hatch the little seeds, either found in small webs, or white round eggs, carried under the bellies of some spiders, and behold how at their first production in boxes, they will presently fill the same with their webs, may observe the early, and untaught finger of nature, and how they are natively provided with a stock sufficient for such texture.
The rural charm against dodder, tetter, and strangling weeds, was contrived after this order, while they placed a chalked tile at the four corners, and one in the middle of their fields: which, though ridiculous in the intention, was rational in the contrivance, and a good way to diffuse the maffick through all parts of the area.
Somewhat after this manner they ordered the little stones in the old game of Pentalithismus, or casting up five stones to catch them on the back of their hand. And with some resemblance hereof, the proci or prodigal paramours disposed their men, when they played at Penelope.[A 2] For being themselves an hundred and eight, they set fifty four stones on either sides, and one in the middle, which they called Penelope; which he that hit was master of the game.
In chess boards and tables we yet find pyramids and squares. I wish we had their true and ancient description, far different from ours, or the chet mat of the Persians, which might continue some elegant remarkables, as being an invention as high as Hermes the secretary of Osyris, figuring the whole world, the motion of the planets, with eclipses of sun and moon.
Physicians are not without the use of this decussation in several operations, in ligatures and union of dissolved continuities. Mechanics make use hereof in forcipal organs, and instruments of incision; wherein who can but magnify the power of decussation, inservient to contrary ends, solution and consolidation, union and division, illustrable from Aristotle in the old nucifragium, or nutcracker, and the instru-
