Of the Hieroglyphical Pictures of the
_Egyptians_.
Certainly of all men that suffered from the confusion of _Babel_, the
_Ægyptians_ found the best evasion; for, though words were confounded,
they invented a language of things, and spake unto each other by common
notions in Nature. Whereby they discoursed in silence, and were
intuitively understood from the theory of their Expresses. For they
assumed the shapes of animals common unto all eyes; and by their
conjunctions and compositions were able to communicate their
conceptions, unto any that co-apprehended the Syntaxis of their Natures.
This many conceive to have been the primitive way of writing, and of
greater antiquity than letters; and this indeed might _Adam_ well have
spoken, who understanding the nature of things, had the advantage of
natural expressions. Which the _Egyptians_ but taking upon trust, upon
their own or common opinion; from conceded mistakes they authentically
promoted errors; describing in their Hieroglyphicks creatures of their
own invention; or from known and conceded animals, erecting
significations not inferrible from their natures.
And first, Although there were more things in Nature than words which
did express them; yet even in these mute and silent discourses, to
express complexed significations, they took a liberty to compound and
piece together creatures of allowable forms into mixtures inexistent.
Thus began the descriptions of Griphins, Basilicks, Phœnix, and many
more; which Emblematists and Heralds have entertained with
significations answering their institutions; Hieroglyphically adding
Martegres, Wivernes, Lion fishes, with divers others. Pieces of good and
allowable invention unto the prudent Spectator, but are lookt on by
vulgar eyes as literal truths, or absurd impossibilities; whereas
indeed, they are commendable inventions, and of laudable significations.
Again, Beside these pieces fictitiously set down, and having no Copy in
Nature; they had many unquestionable drawn, of inconsequent
signification, nor naturally verifying their intention. We shall
instance but in few, as they stand recorded by _Orus_. The male sex they
expressed by a Vulture, because of Vultures all are females, and
impregnated by the wind; which authentically transmitted hath passed
many pens, and became the assertion of _Ælian_, _Ambrose_, _Basil_,
_Isidore_, _Tzetzes_, _Philes_, and others. Wherein notwithstanding what
injury is offered unto the Creation in this confinement of sex, and what
disturbance unto Philosophy in the concession of windy conceptions, we
shall not here declare. By two dragms they thought it sufficient to
signifie an heart; because the heart at one year weigheth two dragms,
that is, a quarter of an ounce, and unto fifty years annually encreaseth
the weight of one dragm, after which in the same proportion it yearly
decreaseth; so that the life of a man doth not naturally extend above an
hundred. And this was not only a popular conceit, but consentaneous unto
their Physical principles, as _Heurnius_ hath accounted it. [SN: _In
his_ Philosophia Barbarica.]
A Woman that hath but one Child, they express by a Lioness; for that
conceiveth but once. Fecundity they set forth by a Goat, because but
seven daies old, it beginneth to use coition. The abortion of a Woman
they describe by an Horse kicking a Wolf; because a Mare will cast her
foal if she tread in the track of that animal. Deformity they signifie
by a Bear; and an unstable Man by an Hyæna, because that animal yearly
exchangeth its sex. A Woman delivered of a female Child, they imply by a
Bull looking over his left shoulder; because if in coition a Bull part
from a Cow on that side, the Calf will prove a female.
All which, with many more, how far they consent with truth, we shall not
disparage our Reader to dispute; and though some way allowable unto
wiser conceits, who could distinctly receive their significations: yet
carrying the majesty of Hieroglyphicks, and so transmitted by Authors:
they crept into a belief with many, and favourable doubt with most. And
thus, I fear, it hath fared with the Hieroglyphical Symboles of
Scripture: which excellently intended in the species of things
sacrificed, in the prohibited meats, in the dreams of _Pharoah_,
_Joseph_, and many other passages: are oft-times wrackt beyond their
symbolizations, and inlarg'd into constructions disparaging their true
intentions.