WHat time I came into A­frica, (MAN­LIVS MANI­LIVS, beeing Consul) Com­mander in chiefe (as yee know) [Page 2] to the fourth Legion, there was nothing I more desired, then that I might meet MASSINIS­SA, a King most friendly to our Family for just causes. Whom when I repaired vnto the old King imbracing mee wept with­all, and soone after beholding the Heauens with cast vp eyes, vttered these words; O soue­raigne Sunne, I giue thee hum­ble thankes, and all the Coelesti­all creatures, that before I finish this transitory life, with these eyes I doe see, in mine owne Kingdome, and in mine owne house, PVBLIVS CORNELIVS SCIPIO, whose very name doth reuiue my spirits: Therefore the memory of that excellent and inuincible man shall neuer depart out of my mind.

When I had enquired the e­state [Page 3] of his Kingdome, and hee of our Common-wealth, much speech hauing passed on both sides, the day was spent, and af­terward being entertained with a Princely supper, wee prolon­ged our discourse the most part of the night: When the good old King would moue speech of nothing, but of AFRICANVS, who remembred not onely all his deeds, but also his words: This done, so soone as wee de­parted to bed, I being weary with my trauell, and because I had watched very late, a sleepe more heauy then vsuall seized on mee. Father to SCIPIO. AFRICANVS (I thinke out of that, which wee had spo­ken: for it commonly commeth to passe, that our cogitation and communication doe bring forth some such thing in our sleepe, as [Page 4] ENNIVS writeth of HOMER, of whom waking hee vsed often to thinke and speake,) I say, AFRICANVS in such a shape presented himselfe vnto mee, as I knew him better by his repre­sentation, then as hee was here­tofore liuing (or in his body.) Whom so soone as I perceiued, I trimbled with feare, but he said vnto mee, O SCIPIO, bee at­tentiue, feare not, and what I shall tell you, lay vp in your mind. Doe you see yonder Ci­ty, which being compelled by mee to obey the people of Rome, reneweth the old warre, nor can it rest in peace, (For he did point vnto me that ancient Ci­ty Carthage, from an high place, full of Starres, glistring, and bright) to which you now come to lay Seige, scarce yet dignified [Page 5] with military honour. Within these two yeares you shall Con­quer it, being Consull, and this surname which now you haue by inheritance, shall be your owne by purchase. And when you haue sacked the Towne, you shall be carryed in triumph, and be created Censor, and goe an Ambassadour to Egipt, Syria, Asia, and Grecia, and in your absence shall againe be elected Consul, you shall wage a great war, and you shall raze Numan­tia. Bur when in your Charyot you shall be carryed to the Ca­pitoll, you will find the common wealth disturbed by the coun­sailes of my Nephew. Heere SCIPIO surnamed AFRICA­NVS. AFRICANVS, you must shew to your Countrey, the luster of your spirit, wit, and wisedome. But at that time I perceiue a [Page 6] doubtfull course, as it were of the fates. For when you shall be seauen times eight yeares of age, and these two numbers, of which either is accounted a full num­ber, the one for one cause, the other for another, shall make vp the fatall account by a naturall reuolution. Vpon you alone, and vpon your name the whole City shall relye it selfe: the Se­nate, all good men, your Con­federates, and the Latines shall fixe their eyes vpon you: you shall be the onely man, on whose endeuors the safegard of the Ci­ty shall depend. To be short, it is expedient, that you being Dictator shall gouerne the com­mon-wealth, if you can escape the vngodly hands of your kinds­men. Heere when LELIVS gaue an out-cry, and the rest of [Page 7] them groaned; SCIPIO gently smiling, said, awake me not from my Dreame and let all be at peace. Heare the rest. But that you may be encouraged to de­fend the Common-wealth, O AFRICANVS, so perswade your selfe, that for all those, who haue preserued, succoured, and ayded their Country, there is a place de­creed and appointed in Heauen, where the blessed shall inioy E­ternity. For there is nothing, that on the earth can be done, more acceptable to that great God, who gouerneth this whole world, then Consultations, and Congregations assotiated vnder a Law, which are called Cities. The Gouernours and maintay­ners hereof descended from hence, and hither shall returne.

Heere, although I was af­frighted [Page 8] not so much with the dread of Death, as the Conspi­racies of mine owne kindred, yet I demanded, if hee liued, and Father Father to him, and Grandfather to SCIPIO. PAVLLVS, and others, whom wee thought ex­tinct: Yes truely, sayd hee, they liue, who haue fledde from the bonds of the Body, as if it were out of Prison; for that which is called your Life, is Death. But see, Father PAVLLVS is com­ming vnto you; whom so soone as I beheld, I powred out a streame of teares. But hee hol­ding mee in his armes, and kis­sing me, bid mee to bridle my passion: So soone as I could refraine from teares, and was a­ble to speake; I sayd, I beseech you most holy and happie Fa­ther, sith this is Life, as I heare AFRICANVS tell, why doe I [Page 9] abide on the earth, and hasten not rather to come thither to you? PAVLLVS. Hee replyed, things are not so ordered; For vnlesse GOD, euen hee, whose Tem­ple this Vniuerse is, which you behold, shall free you from those prisons of the Body, there can bee no entrance for you hi­ther. For this is the condition, vnder which they are borne, who inhabite that Globe you see in the middle of this Temple, which is called the Earth: And to these is Life giuen, out of those Eternall lights, which yee call Starres and Planets, who being round, and formed like a Ball, inlined with Diuine intelli­gences, doe runne their course and compasse with wonderfull swiftnesse. Wherefore, both you, [...] PVELIVS! and all god­ly [Page 10] men, must retayne your life within the custody of the Body. Neyther may wee passe from this transitory life, without his Command, from whom wee re­ceiued it. Least wee seeme to shun that humaine estate, which is ordayned for vs of GOD. AFRICA­NVS speech. But see, O SCIPIO! that you so loue Iustice and Godli­nesse, as this thy Granfather, and I thy Father who begat thee: which being so great in thy Pa­rents, and Allies, is also most excellent in thy Country: And that Life leadeth vnto Heauen, and into the society of those, who lately liued, and being de­liuered from the body, doe in­habit that place. (Now that was a circle glistring among the Stars with a resplendant bright­nes) which you call Orbis Lacte­us, [Page 11] or the milky Circle (as yee re­ceiued it from the Grecians.) From whence I deeply contem­plating all the rest did seeme passing excellent, and to be won­dered at. But these Starres were such as wee neuer beheld out of this place, and there magnitudes such as we neuer suspected, of whom that was the least, which being lowest in Heauen, the nea­rest to the Earth shined with a borrowed light. Luna citi­ma terris. And the globes of the Starres did exceed the greatnesse of the Earth. But now that Earth it selfe doth seeme so small, as I repine at our Empire, wherein we doe touch but as it were a point thereof. Which when I more earnestly beheld, AFRICANVS said, I pray you, how long will your mind be fastened on the Earth. [Page 12] Doe you not behold, what holy habitations you shall come into? All things are connexed to you by mine Orbes, or rather by nine Globes.

Whereof one is the heauenly vppermost, which inuolueth all the rest, that supreame D [...]us sum­mus. GOD mouing and containing the o­thers. In which are infixed those euer continewed courses of the Starres which runne round and returne to their first motion: Vnder which there are seauen others, that go backward with a contrary motion to the course of Heauen. Among which sea­uen, that within the Earth they call Saturne, Saturnus. doth possesse one Globe.

Next vnto that, is the bright Starre which is called Iupi­ter Iupiter. (in aspect) happie and [Page 13] prosperous vnto Man-kind.

Then the fiery and dreadfull Starre which yee call Mars. Mars.

Next almost vnder the mid­dle Region, Sol. the Sunne is pla­ced, beeing the guide, and cheife gouernour of all the o­ther Starres, the soule and tem­perature of the World, such in magnitude, as it lightneth, and replenisheth all things with the brightnesse thereof. The motion of Venus, Ʋenus. and the moti­on of Mercurius Mercurius. doe follow this Planet, as if they were his com­panions. And Luna Luna. increasing her light by the beames of the Sunne, doth make her Changes in the lowest Orbe. Below the Moone there is nothing, but what is subiect to Death and de­cay, excepting Soules bestowed on Mankind by the guift of the [Page 14] Gods. Tellus. For that which is the middle, and the ninth; to wit, the Earth is not moued, and is vnder the rest, and all weighty things are carryed downeward to it by their owne motion.

Which when with amazed­nesse I did view, as soone as I came to my selfe, what, Oh what sound! (said I) so shrill and sweet doth fill mine cares. Euen this, Coeli harmo­nia. said hee, which joy­ned with dislike distances, but yet according to their proporti­on distinguished in measure, is made by the vehement force and motion of those Orbes: and tempering sharpes with flats, keeping equall time maketh va­rious harmony. For neyther can so great motions arise out of silence: And beside, Nature so directeth it, that the outmost on [Page 15] the one part sound flats, but sharpes on the other part. For which cause the highest course of the starrified Heauen, whose conuersion is swifter, is moued with a sharpe and shrill sound: but this Orbe of the Moone be­ing lowest, hath his motion with a deepe flat. Terra noua. For the Earth be­ing the ninth, remayning im­moueable, alwayes subsisteth in the lowest place, contayning the middle of the world. But those eight motions, among which, two of them haue equall force, Ʋenus, & Mercurius. make seauen Sounds distingui­shed in their distances, which number is the perfection almost of all things. The which, learned men imitating with their musi­call Instruments and songs, haue gayned recourse for themselues to this place, as others, who with [Page 16] their rare wits in that corrupti­ble life, haue exercised Diuine studies.

With this sound your eares be­ing filled were made deafe: (ney­ther is any sence more dull in you) as whē Nilus powreth down water-floods headlong from the highest Mountaynes to those places, which yee call Catadupa, the Inhabitants of that place, are depriued of the sence of Hearing, by reason of the hide­ous sound. And this sound is so great by the most swift mo­tion of the world, as the eares of man cannot beare it; euen as no man can looke against the Sun, and as by the beames thereof your sight, and sence is mastered.

Being strooke with admira­tion of these things, yet I fa­stened [Page 17] mine eyes (thus astonish­ed) on the Earth. Then said A­FRICANVS, I perceiue, euen now you muse on the seate and house of man; which if it seeme so little to you, as indeed it is, euer cast vp your eyes to these Celestiall things, and dispise those Earthly. For what re­nowne can you obtayne from the mouth of Man, or what lookt for Glory can you enioy? you see men doe inhabit these streight and narrow places in the Earth, and in those spotts (as it were) vast wildernesses are interposed betweene their habitations: They also that dwell vpon the Earth are so interrupted that there can bee no traffique or intercourse from one to another, but some doe side you, some doe thwart [Page 18] you, and some are opposite to you, from whome indeed you can expect no glory. For you perceiue that same Earth to bee girded, Zonae. and inclosed about as if it were with certaine belts: Among which, you see two farre distant one from another, and vnderpropped on both sides with those poles of Heauen, are extreame cold in tempera­ture: but the middle one, and the greatest be scorched with the vehement heat of the Sunne: two are habitable: whereof that South-ward (in which the [...] that dwell, Antipodes. goe with their [...]eet aduerse to yours) belongeth not to that kind of men where­of of you are. But this Northren Zone, which yee inhabit, consi­der, how small a part of it be­longe [...]h vnto you. For all that [Page 19] earth, which yee dwell on, being narrow in the toppe, wider on the sides, is a certaine [...]ittle Iland inclosed about with the Sea, which yee (tha [...] liue on the Land) call the Athlantick Sea, the maine, a [...]d the Ocean. Which though it haue so great a name, you [...]ee how little it is. Of all [...]hese inhabited, and known [...] lands hath the fame of any of our Ancestors been a [...]e to transcend the Mount Caucasus, (now in your sight) or sayle ouer Ganges? who shall heare of your name in the far­thest parts of the East, or the vtmost parts of the West, the North, or South? which being cut off, you see assuredly, in how small compasse your Re­nowne is dilated. And they that speake of your Name, of [Page 20] what continuance will it bee? Beside, if the off-spring of those that shall succeed vs, haue a de­sire to tell to their Posterity our prayses, as they heard from their Ancestors, yet, for the De­luges, and Conflagrations of the world: which of necessitie must happen at the appointed time, wee can not obtaine not onely euerlasting, but no long last­ing glory. For what matters it, that they who shall bee borne hereafter, shall speake of thee, when there is none left, of whom they are de­scended: who neyther were fewer in number, and certain­ly were of better condition? Especially, when not one of them, by whome our Name (or glory) may bee heard of, can beare one Age in memo­ry; [Page 21] for men commonly rec­kon an Age by the recourse (or reuolution) of the Sunne which is of one Starre.

But when all the Starres shall reuolue to the same point, from whence they first moued, and shall bring about (or accomplish) the whole Heauens compasse (or circumference) with the long intercourses thereof, then that may bee truely called Annus vertens (or a perfit yeare) wherein I dare scarce tell, how many Ages of men are con­teined. For as in times past the Sunne seemed to men to bee lost and extinguished, what time the Soule of ROMVLVS penetrated these Temples: when both in the same point (of Heauen) and at the same [Page 22] season the Sunne shall againe bee lost; when all the Starres and Signes are brought backe to their first Originall, count that a perfit yeare.

But of this yeare, know, the twentieth part is not ac­complished. Therefore if you dispaire a re-entrance into this place, where Worthy and Ex­cellent men enioy all things, of how small a scantling is that glory of men, which can scarce attayne (or extend to) the small part of but one Age? If then you will enter into a higher consideration, and lift vp your eyes to this Mantion and Eternall habita­tion; you shall neither giue eare to the words of the com­mon people, nor repose the hope of your estate in any [Page 23] mans rewards. It best becom­meth you to bee led on by the allurements of Vertue to true Honour: Let others looke to it (or take heed) what they say of you (yet they will still bee tatling, and babling.) For all their talke is confined to the narrow streights of these Regions, which you behold, nor hath it beene durable of any; and is buryed in the Graues of men, and vtterly abolished by the obliuion of Posterity.

All which when hee had vt­tered, I replyed, O AFRICA­NVS! sith to these that are of good desert; there is, from their Country bounds and li­mits layd open for a passage into Heauen; though from my very Cradle (hauing tro­den [Page 24] the steps of my forefathers and your selfe, I haue not beene awanting to fill vp the measure of your Honour, yet now vpon the propounding of such ample reward, I will ap­ply my selfe with farre more vigilancy.

And hee reioyned, doe but your endeauour, and take this from mee, you your selfe are not mortall, but this bo­dy of yours; neither are you the same, which your out­ward shape doth personate: but the mind of euery man is his absolute selfe, not that figure, or forme, which may bee pointed to with the finger. Therefore know thou art a GOD, because hee is a GOD, who hath life, sence, memory, and foresight: who [Page 25] doth guide, gouerne, and moue that body ouer which hee hath rule or dominion, as well as that great GOD himselfe doth this whole world; And as that euerli­uing GOD doth moue this world which is in some part lyable to mortallity: so doth the neuer dying Soule, of the body, which is subiect to frailty. For that is Eternall, which is euer in motion. And that which bringeth motion to any thing is euer in motion: But that which is moued from some other thing, when the motion is ended it must of necessity haue end of liuing. That onely therefore, which moueth it selfe, bee­cause it is neuer forsaken of it selfe, doth in like sort neuer [Page 26] cease to moue. Moreouer that is the fountaine, that is the beginning to all the rest, which are moued.

Now to that, which is the beginning, there is no Origi­nall; for all things sprung (or are deriued) out of that which is the beginning; but it out of nothing. For that could not bee a beginning, which were begotten of another: And if it neuer haue be­ginning, nor can it at any time haue ending: for a be­ginning being ended or ex­tinct, can neuer it selfe from any other take a new be­ginning; nor of it selfe cre­ate another thing: because it is of necessity that all things should grow out of that which is the first beginning.

So as it commeth to passe, that the beginning of motion is from that which moueth it selfe, of, or by it selfe. And that can neither haue begin­ning nor ending. Else of necessi­ty the whole Heauens must de­cay or fall, and all Nature bee at a stand, nor can it obtaine any vigour (or power) where­by it may bee moued from the first mouer (or motion.)

Therefore sith it is manifest, That is Eternall, which hath its motion from its selfe: who is hee, that denyeth this Na­ture (or condition) to bee attributed to our Soules? For euery thing is without Soule, which is agitated with an ex­ternall motion: but that which is the Soule is stirred with an internall motion, and that [Page 28] of its owne, For this is the Na­ture and Power proper to the Soule.

Which if of all other things it bee the onely one thing that doth moue it selfe: certaine­ly it is not borne, but is Eter­nall.

Buisy this in the best cares. And the best cares are those, which consist in the safeguard of your Country, about which your mind being imployed and applyed, will more swift­ly mount into this Habi­tion, and Mantion, and that will sooner come to passe, if very now, while it is inclu­ded in the body, it shall trans­cend the world, and con­templating these things, which shall bee Eternall, retyre it selfe speedily from the body.

For the Soules of those, who haue giuen themselues to the pleasures of the body, and haue manifested themselues, as it were seruants to them, and by the prouocations of Lusts, subdued to those plea­sures, haue violated the lawes of GOD and Man; when they are lapsed out of the bo­dy, are tossed too and fro about the Earth, and neuer returne (or re-ascend) into this place, vntill they haue beene turmoyled many Ages.

So hee vanished, and I from my Dreame awaked.