AEnigma
AEnigma a kind of Allegorie, differeing onely in obscuritie,
for AEnigma is a sentence or
forme of speech, which for the darknesse, the sense may hardly be
gathered.
Examples: I consume my mother that bare me I eat up my nurse that fed
me, then I die leaving them all blind that saw me. Meant of the
fleame of a candle, which when it hath consumed both ware and weeke,
goeth out, leaving them in the darke which saw by it.
Another: As long as I live I eate, but when I drinke I die, I
understood of the fire, which continueth so long as it hath matter to
burne upon, except it be quenched with fire, which may be tearmed the
death of that nature.
{Ten thousand children beautifull, of this my body bred,
{Both sonnes and daughters finely deckt, I live, & they are dead:
{My sonnes were put to extreme death by such as lov'd thee well,
{My daughters died in extreme age, but where I cannot tell.
Another.
{Anatomie of wonder great I speake, and yet am dead,
{Men sucke sweet juyce, from thse blacke veines, which mother wisdome bred.
3.Black veins the letters & lines. |
This figure although it be full of obscuritie, and darknesse yet it is
found in the sacred Scriptures both in speech and in visions, the
dreames of Pharaos chiefe Butler, and chief Baker, and also Pharaos
owne dreames were AEnigmatical, whose signification Joseph expounded.
Also the vision of Nabuchodonozor was AEnigmatical, & most aptly
proportioned in the similitudes, for under the forme of a goodly tree,
both him selfe and all the parts of his prosperitie are most
excellently described. By the place where it was planted, were
described his seate and kingdome: by the height, his dignitie: by the
ample aspect, his great glory, and dread of nations toward him: by the
strength of that tree, his great power: by the beautifull leaves, his
gorgeous apparell and glorious pompe: by the frute, his wonderfull
rents, tributes, and revenues: by the meate of that tree, the wealth
and prosperitie of his people: by the shadow, the safe protection of
his subjects: by the birds among the branches, his prudent
counsellers, and mightie princes: and by that, that it is said, that
all flesh did eate of it, is understood the great plentie of all
necessaries, hitherto is described the wonderfull felicitie and glorie
of this mightie Monarch.
And now in like manner, the overthrow and confusion of all this is
proclaimed by the Angel, saying as followeth, Hew down the tree,
breake off his brances, and scatter his frute abrode, that the beasts
may get them away from udner his, & the birds from his brancees,
nevertheless leave the stumpe in the earth, & c. The meaning whereof
Daniel by divine grace expounded.
The use of this figure.
This figure is more convenient to Poets then to Orators, and
more agreeable to high and
heavenly visions, that to the forme of familiar and proper speech.
For being a figure of deepe
2.Used in heavenly
visions. |
obscuritie, is is opposed to perspecuitie, the
principall vertue of an Orator.
3.Opposed to
perspicuitie. |
Sometime notwithstanding darknesse of speech causeth delectation, as
that which is wittily invented, and aptly applyed, and
4.Being wittie it delighteth. |
apt capacities, who
are best able to find out the sense of a similitude, and to uncover
the darked vaile of AEnigmatical speech. For
in deede this figure is like a
deepe mine, the obtaining of whose mettall requireth deepe digging, or
to a darke night, whose stars
he hid with thicke cloudes.
The Caution.
In this figure regard ought to be had, that the similitudes be
not
unfit, strange, or unchast. If
they be unfit, or unlike, they make
it absurd, if strange, they make it obscure and unpossible to be
interpreted, if unchast or uncleane, they
make it odious, by leading
of the
minde to undecent things, of which sort there be many of
our English riddles.
Lastly, that this figure be not used to seduce by obscure prophecie,
as of it hath bene to many a
mans destruction, nor amongst
5.Used among ignorant
person a vanitie. |
simple and silly persons, which are unapt and
unable to conceive the meaning of darke speech, and therefore a
vanitie.
