Herself would have commended them unto thy
favour more particularly, but that she knows no commendation is
more available with thee, than that of proper virtue. Nevertheless
she willed them to present this crystal mound, a note of monarchy,
and symbol of perfection, to thy more worthy deity; which, as here
by me they most humbly do, so amongst the rarities thereof, that is
the chief, to shew whatsoever the world hath excellent, howsoever
remote and various. But your irradiate judgment will soon
discover the secrets of this little crystal world. Themselves,
to appear more plainly, because they know nothing more odious then
false pretexts, have chosen to express their several qualities
thus in several colours.
The first, in citron colour, is natural affection, which, given us
to procure our good, is sometime called Storge; and as every one is
nearest to himself, so this handmaid of reason, allowable
Self-love, as it is without harm, so are none without it: her
place in the court of Perfection was to quicken minds in the
pursuit of honour. Her device is a perpendicular level, upon a
cube or square; the word, "se suo modulo"; alluding to that true
measure of one's self, which as every one ought to make, so is it
most conspicuous in thy divine example.
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