th those thirty-three Maculae or Bourbonian planet, _circa Solem
saltantes Cytharedum_, saith Fromundus. Four Medicean stars dance about
Jupiter, two Austrian about Saturn, &c., and all (belike) to the music of
the spheres. Our greatest counsellors, and staid senators, at some times
dance, as David before the ark, 2 Sam. vi. 14. Miriam, Exod. xv. 20.
Judith, xv. 13. (though the devil hence perhaps hath brought in those bawdy
bacchanals), and well may they do it. The greatest soldiers, as [5160]
Quintilianus, [5161]Aemilius Probus, [5162]Coelius Rhodiginus, have proved
at large, still use it in Greece, Rome, and the most worthy senators,
_cantare, saltare_. Lucian, Macrobius, Libanus, Plutarch, Julius, Pollux,
Athenaeus, have written just tracts in commendation of it. In this our age
it is in much request in those countries, as in all civil commonwealths, as
Alexander ab Alexandro, _lib. 4. cap. 10. et lib. 2. cap. 25._ hath proved
at large, [5163]amongst the barbarians themselves none so precious; all the
world allows it.

[5164] "Divitias contemno tuas, rex Craese, tuamque
Vendo Asiam, unguentis, flore, mero, choreis."

[5165]Plato, in his Commonwealth, will have dancing-schools to be
maintained, "that young folks might meet, be acquainted, see one another,
and be seen;" nay more, he would have them dance naked; and scoffs at them
that laugh at it. But Eusebius _praepar. Evangel. lib. 1. cap. 11._ and
Theodoret _lib. 9. curat. graec. affect_. worthily lash him for it; and
well they might: for as one saith, [5166]"the very sight of naked parts
causeth enormous, exceeding concupiscences, and stirs up both men and women
to burning lust." There is a mean in all things: this is my censure in
brief; dancing is a pleasant recreation of body and mind, if sober and
modest (such as our Christian dances are); if tempestively used, a furious
motive to burning lust; if as by Pagans heretofore, unchastely abused. But
I proceed.

If these allurements do not take place, for [5167]Simierus, that great
master of dalliance, shall not behave himself better, the more effectually
to move others, and satisfy their lust, they will swear and lie, promise,
protest, forge, counterfeit, brag, bribe, flatter and dissemble of all
sides. 'Twas Lucretia's counsel in Aretine, _Si vis amica frui, promitte,
finge, jura, perjura, jacta, simula, mentire_; and they put it well in
practice, as Apollo to Daphne,

[5168] ------"mihi Delphica tellu