The PRAISE of OWLS. 59
an immortal Honour in contending with
the Spaniards*, one of the most potent
Monarchies of the Universe. Had the
Strength of Spain been left, Holland had
lost much of its Renown. So, as much as
you detract from the Raven's Strength, so
much you take away of the OWL's Com-
mendation. For true is that Saying of
Terence, That no Action can be great and
memorable which is not accompanied with
Danger. Neither does his Renown stand
only upon this single Basis, nor is his
Fortitude tried by one Adversary only,
for Pliny tells us, that the OWL is af-
faulted by the Bees, Wasps, and Hornets;
nor is this indeed to be wondered at, since
these Insects with their pointed Stings are
often very troublesome to Mankind: Hence
arose the old Proverb, Thrust not your
Hand into a Hornet's Neft, by which Means
they will be provoked to do great Mif-
chief; for their Sting is very sharp and
pestilent, and frequently caues a Fever;
and the fore-mentioned Author speaks of
a Man's being killed with the Stings of
twenty seven Hornets. The Poet who
wrote || Archilochus's Epitaph alludes to

* Strada, de Bell. Belg.

† Lib. 29. cap. 4.

|| Lib. II. cap. 22.

this,

60 The PRAISE of OWLS.

this, (it seems the Deceased had been a
very contentious Person,)

Ne fors crabrones, qui buic infedere sepulchro
Irrites, tacitum carpe viator Iter.

In encountering with these troublesome
Creatures, the OWL shows a Fortitude
more than human: For who of Mankind
can spurn with Disdain at the Stings of
these Furies? Who dare with an undaunted
Mind to hold up his Head against them,
and courageously stand the Battle? On
the contrary, every Body is apt to run
from them,

—Nam illos

Defendit numerus junct&g3 umbone Phalanges.

Nay, I have known some so delicate (even
in your Society, Fathers) as call upon
Heaven for Aid when disturbed but with
the Biting of a Flea;

Scilicet is superis Labor eſt, &c.

But your Bird is not afraid courageously
to attack and destroy these pernicious
Animals. If, therefore, Nature had not
before given him a beautiful Crown of Fea-
thers, he ought to have the victorious
Laurel bestowed upon him for his Mag-
nanimity

The PRAISE of OWLS. 61

nanimity. I have read of a Peafant, who
threw a Hive full of Bees into the River,
becaufe they had ftung him; and burfting
into a Paflion faid, Lie there thou mischie-
vous Swarm, ſhall any Thing which I poſſeſs
have Dominion over me? Hitherto I have
been Lord over my own Goods, and aſted as
Superior, and I am resolved to aſt up to the
Height of that Character as long as I live.
A great Reputation indeed, joined with
much Damage! For the fame Reaſon he
might alſo have drowned his Cows, becauſe
they made Uſe of their Horns. Perhaps
the Ruſtick had heard of that abſolute Do-
minion, which the firſt Man once had over
the Beaſts, and ſo was willing to attribute
fuch an Authority to himſelf. There is,
indeed, nothing sweeter than the Words
Lordſhip and Dominion; though Auguſtus,
who was ſo great a Ruler, would not per-
mit his Children or Kinſmen to call him
Lord, either feriouſly or in Jeſt*. But
now the Humours of Mankind are diffe-
rent, when Politicians (as well Eccleſiaſti-
cal as Civil) greedily catch at ſwelling
Titles of Dominion: Hence the Emper-
or Maximilian, uſed pleafantly and truly
to ſay, There are three remarkable Kings
at this Time; One is a King of Men, the

* Sueton. in August. cap. 53.

G

Other

62 The PRAISE of OWLS.

Other of Affes, and the Third is a King of Kings: The King of Men is the King of Spain, who hitherto has ruled with great Moderation, confidering that he is a Gover-nour of Men; the King of Affes is the King of Arabia, whose Subjects like Affes, patient-ly submit to all the unreasonable Burdens he impofes on them: And I am my self a King of Kings, for every one of my Sub-jects will be Lord and King. But I digrefls too far.

Our Bird is also a great Enemy to Horse-Leeches: For Pliny truly aflerts, that he is a great Foe to Blood-fuckers; not that hereby I would infinuate he has any Quar-rel with the Physicians, who in divers Diftempers preſcribe the Opening of a Vein. This is certain, the cruel Horse-Leech is an Enemy to our OWL, and is perpetually crying Give, Give, and from his forked Tongue the Blood flows as from a Spout, as Pliny obſerves*. Since, there-for, this Creature thus unfatiably thirfts after Blood, and the Blood is the Life of every Animal, it is but juſt it ſhould Experience the Fortitude of our OWL, and not only be defervedly ſlain by him, but alſo thrown into a Baſon full of Blood with an Inſult of this Nature, Satiate thy

* Lib. 34. cap. 10.

ſelf

The PRAISE of OWLS. 63

felf with Blood, which thou haft so much
defired. Having thus furveyed the various
Battles wherein our OWL is engaged a-
broad, which are all but so many Tro-
phies of his Courage; we fhall now touch
upon a civil and domeftick One, which is
commonly reckoned moſt dangerous. Now,
this Bird is daily obliged to combate with
thofe Lice, which he feeds and nourifhes
(as the Pelican does her young) with his
own Blood: But neither can theſe con-
quer him, for he always comes off victo-
rious, and gives them proper Punifhment
with his Beak. Who ever heard of an
OWL's being eaten up by Lice; and yet
feveral Men have undergone that ignomi-
nious Death*: Theſe Vermin then can ne-
ver infult over him. Now, tho' it be a
Difgrace to be devoured by Lice, yet it
is none to be troubled with them, for this
is common as well to Men as OWLS; and
it was a Saying of one of the Kings of
France, that a Louſe was a Man's Compa-
nion, but a Flea was more proper to be a
Dog's Affociate. Therefore, as you are
Men, you ought not to think your ſelves
above any Accident belonging to Humani-
ty: But ſhould you be beſet with any of
theſe Vermin, after the Example of the

* Lenthall, Speaker of the Rump-Parliament, &c.

G 2

OWL,

64 The PRAISE of OWLS.

OWL, arm your felves for the Combate,
and move your Fingers and Nails about
with Nimbleofity; and imitate not the
Superftition of the *Jews*, who reckoned it un-
lucky to kill a Louſe on the Sabbath-Day;
but brifkly defend your felves at all Times,
for this is truly OWL-like and *noble*. Con-
fider, therefore, with how many and great
Enemies our *Bird* is every Way furrounded,
and yet he obtains the Victory. It is an
old and true Proverb, *Ne Hercules Qui-
dem contra duos; tho' his twelve Labours
are famous through the World*. And yet
our Bird is forced to contend with the
*Raven*, with the *Bees*, with the *Wafps*, and
*Hornets*, with the Blood fucking *Horfe-
Leeches*, and with his own *Lice*, and ap-
pears ſtronger than them all. And what
ſhould hinder alſo, but that he is ſtronger
than *Herod King of the Jews*, and *Philip
King of Spain*, who were vanquifhed by
*Lice*; whereas our Bird triumphs over
them. But what is ſtill more ſurprizing,
the OWL has as much *Patience*, as he has
*Fortitude*; which two Virtues are ſeldom
joined together; very rarely do they meet
even in Mankind: For a valiant Man is
more properly ſtiled daring, than Patient,
and intrepidly rufhes upon Danger. Now
Patience does not feek Danger, but bears
Calamities (when they arrive) with De-
cency,

The PRAISE of OWLS. 65
cency, as Seneca observes*. Now, our
Bird gives undeniable Tokens of his Pa-
tience while he is exposèd to the Hatred of
all other Birds, and made their laughing
Stock: They fly round him in Troops
when he appears in the Day Time, and
beat him with their Beaks and Wings; they
hiss at him, and deride him all Manner
of Ways: Yet all these Infults (provoking
as they are) he patiently bears with an
unshaken Conftancy, and a Mind undisturbed.
Seneca tells us, It is the Mark of a great
Soul to despise Injuries†. Our OWL there-
fore is to be admired, because he overcomes
this intolerable Petulence of the Birds with
peculiar Patience. So remarkable is this,
that the afflicted Church (as we read in the
102 Psalm,) draws a Simile from our Bird,
with reference to Affliction and Meeknefs:
I am, says David, like a Pelican in the
Wilderneſs, and like an Owl in the Desart:
Though I must confefs Interpreters and
Expofitors very much vary concerning the
proper Translation of these Words. Rabbi
Solomon will have it to be the Hawk, and
others the Night-Raven: But the usual
Reading has the greatest Authorities, as
well as Reafon on its Side. In a Word, I am
very defirous of fetting our Bird's Excel.

* Epif. 99.

† Lib. 2. de Ira.

G 3

lencies

66 The PRAISE of OWLS.

lencies in a due Light, yet I am almost
tired with recounting his Grief and Vexa-
tions: But I confider, my Friends, that
there have been even among your Selves,
Examples of this Kind in every Age; for
who does not know how patient an OWL
Claudius the Emperor was, who, although,
(as Augustus observes) he showed to others a
Nobleness of Mind, was himself so obnoxi-
ous to Contempt, that if he went a little
after the appointed Hour to any Supper or
Entertainment, he was not received into the
Parlour without great Reluctance and Delay*.
Now, I believe the OWL never yet met
with such a Reception at a Banquet made
among the Birds: Again, when he slept after
Meals, he composed himself to Rest on the Stones
and Husks of Olives, Dates, and other Fruits,
and sometimes was rouzed with Stripes by
way of Sport and Diversion; which I can-
not remember ever happened to our Bird
when he was sleeping; and yet this great
Prince of the Universe patiently endured it:
But why do I here mention Cæsar? as tho'
there were not under him another OWL,
viz. Bibulus the Conful, who took every
Thing in good Part from his Colleague, and
at last retiring to his own House, was no
otherwise known than by setting his Hand

* Sueton. in ejus vita.

now

The PRAISE of OWLS. 67

now and then to an Edict; whence his Pa-
tience was magnificently celebrated;

(geſtum eſt ;

Non Bibulo quicquam nuper, ſed Cæſare

Nam Bibulo fieri Confule nil memini. *

In ſhort, there was an OWL to be met
with, formerly in all Affemblies, whether
Festival, or Political: And I may, I hope,
without Offence, make the fame Obfer-
vation concerning our Times. Is it not
cuſtomary in the Univerſities, and other
Schools of Learning in Europe; at cer-
tain Times, for the Students to divert
themselves with ſome ludicrous Perſons
of their own Society; who then ſupply
the Place of OWLS? And as for the
Court, who ever frequents that Place, with
a Deſign of being preferred, muſt laugh
at the fame Time that he is beaten, and
patiently bear a thouſand Indignities. There
are OWLS alſo among Mechanicks, who
when they are not able to prove their
Performances to be good, dare not defend
them: In a Word, (conſcript Fathers) are
not there OWLS to be met with at Court,
in the Market, in the Schools, and espe-
cially, at Festival-Entertainments, who are
endowed with ſo much Patience, that one

* Suidas in Cæf. Jul.

would

68 The PRAISE of OWLS.

would wonder that this single Vertue, should
have so many Followers, infomuch that
four Persons can scarcely meet, but there
will appear a fifth to act the Part of an
OWL, who, the more he refrifts and strives
to defend himself, becomes the greater
Laughing flock, and so renders himself un-
worthy of the OWL's Affinity, in not be-
ing able to take a Jeft: Nay, even in
the smallest Society that can possibly be,
that is Wedlock, there is sometimes an
OWL to be met with: For when Xantippe
threw the Chamber Pot upon her Hus-
band, what was Socrates but a great OWL,
tamely to bear such an Indignity, and
put it up with a jeft? What shall I say
concerning those Cuckolds, who, accord-
ing to the Platonical System, are very
communicative of their Wives: Surely
those are the greatest OWLS under the
Sun, while they grofsly delude themselves,
and readily believe all the Stories they
hear from there Help-mates, and look up-
pon all their Tales as Oracles, fearing a
female Frown, more than the sharpest
Reproaches of Mankind: Nay, if they
surprize their Wives in the very Act, will
easily pardon them if the Adulterer be
but rich or noble, and so sufficiently im-
itate the Patience of the OWL; what
shall we now say?

Per-

The PRAISE of OWLS. 69

Pergite porro pati, patiendo Palma paratur.

But to proceed, our Bird is not only famous for his Patience, but also for his Conftancy; with reference to which, we may observe, that he does not like the Swallow, and some other Birds, leave us at certain Seasons of the Year, but he stays continually with us, as well in the Winter as Summer: Now Pliny tells us, * that the OWL lies close for sixty Days in the Winter, and consequently he does not leave us, but takes his Rest, though he should tarry all Winter with those Birds, whom he is faid to conduct beyond Sea, he must then wholly forfake you for that Season, and you could neither see nor hear him: But, since Experience makes the contrary evident, you have thereby a singular Proof of his Conftancy: The Sum of the Matter is this, the OWL continues with us, and therefore he is contant, he lies close for sixty Days, therefore he is Quiet and Calm: Yet we do not pretend to praise him upon account of his Indolence or Sleeping, or raife a Panegyrick to Endymion, instead of Praising our Bird; but only mention it as it is an

* Lib. 10. 29.

Ar-

70 The PRAISE of OWLS.

Argument of Security and Happineſs; for
if this his Conſtancy be joined with Pleaſure,
I beſeech you envy him not upon that Ac-
count.

Were he always to be intent upon his
Prey, he would be a very wandering and
reſtleſs Creature; but now, by taking ſo
long and undiſturbed a Sleep his Days are
Halcyon; and he avoids the busy Con-
course of the Market, the Noife of Cities,
and the tedious Formality of Palaces: Be-
fides, How great is the Pleaſure of Sleep?

Somne quies rerum, placidiſſime Somne Deorum,
Pax animi, quemu cra fugit, qui corpora duris
Feſſa minifteria mulces, reparaſſo labori.*

Now, if there was not greater Pleasure in
Reſt than in Motion, (according to the Ob-
fervation of the Prince of Philosophers†) cer-
tainly our Bird would not be so much ad-
dicted to Sleep, neither would he be so
happy; for while the Mind and Body are
thus compoſed, the Animal muſt needs grow
plump and fat; ſince ‖Ariftotle obſerves,
that Animals thrive more in their Sleep than
when they are awake: So that our OWL

* Ovid. Metam. Lib. II.

† Arift. Ethic. Lib. 7. cap. 14.

|| Lib. de Somn. et Vigil.

is

The PRAISE of OWLS. 71
is truly happy, which we will prove by a
logical Argument.

I. He, that lies down well, sleeps well.
II. He, that sleeps well, commits no Fault.
III. He, that commits no Fault, is happy.
IV. Therefore, he that lies down well,
is happy.

Since we are now discouraging of Conftancy,
particularly with reference to Sleep; per-
mit me (Fathers) to give you an Instance
of such Conftancy in a certain Student, who
desired all the Family to call him up so precife-
ly before Seven a Clock, that he might go out
exactly as the Clock struck that Hour, neither
a Moment before, nor after; for if he was
called before, he must lose some of his Sleep,
and if after, he was in danger of being dis-
appointed in his Journey: The Maid came
in the Morning about half an hour after
Six, and called him; he supposing it was just
upon the Point of Seven, in all Haste put on
his Cloaths and set forward: Just as he came
upon the Threshold the little Bell gave warning
that it wanted a Quarter of Seven, he imme-
diately was very angry and chid the Servant
because she had deprived him of a Quarter
of an Hour's Rest; and so, without any more
ado he very methodically undresses himself
and goes to Bed again, crying out, that it
was unreasonable to lose so considerable a
Portion

72 The PRAISE of OWLS.

Portion of Time in Watching, which might
be spent in Sleep in a much more agree-
able Manner: In the mean Time, he was
so overcome with Sleep, that he did not
wake till long after Seven, which you
know must have been very prejudicial to
his Affairs. But,

Jufsum et tenacem propofiti virum, &c. *

You gueſs the reſt.

Eſteem ſuch then, according to their
Worth, and particularly honour our Bird,
who continually remains with us, both
in Storms and Sunſhine, when Fortune
ſmiles and when ſhe frowns; herein ex-
celling thofe of whom the Poet writes;

—diffugiunt Cadis
Cum Face ficcatis amici
Ferre Fugum pariter dolofi.

Moreover, as the wife Epictetus reduced
all his Precepts of Philosophy and Ver-
tue, to theſe two, Suftain and Abſtain;
ſo our Bird, conforms his Life agreeably
thereunto : As for the firſt Branch of
thefe, which confifts in Fortitude, we
have already demonſtrated that the OWL

* Horat Lib. 3. Ode 3.

is

The PRAISE of OWLS. 73

is poſſeſed of it in a very great Degree : And as for the latter Precept Abſtain, we ſhall preſently ſhew how well our Bird obſerves it. And here it ought not to seem wonderful to any, that we aſcribe Temperance to the OWL, which ſeems a Virtue confined to Men only: For, if Ælian praifes the voracious Eagle, becauſe he endures Thirſt, and will not roll in the Dirt like other Birds*; why ſhould we not remark the like Virtues in the OWL? The fame Author alſo, praifes the Bees for their Temperance, becauſe they hate thofe who are juſt come from Scenes of Luxury and Debauchery†; why then ſhould we not be at Liberty to pro- duce greater Specimens of Temperance in the O W L? For our Bird derived this Vertue from the very Egg; and though || Ariſtotle very gravely aſſerts, that there is no ſuch Thing as natural and innate Vertue, yet this Egg demonſtrates the Contrary, which as we have before ſhewn (out of Philoſtratus and other good Authors) is a preſent Remedy againſt Intemperance: Now, if this Egg has ſuch a great Influen- ce on Men, whoſe Nature is different,

* Lib 2. de Nat. Anim. cap 11.

† Lib 5. cap 11.

|| H. A. Lib 8. cap 18.

H

much

74 The PRAISE of OWLS.

much more will it conduce to the OWL's
Temperance, of whom it is the Author and
Parent: For according to the old philoso-
phical Maxim, Such as the Cause is, such
will the Effects prove. Pliny tells us*, that
our Bird will faſt nine Days together, which
certainly is no vulgar Token of Abſtinence.
Ariſtotle indeed affirms, that all Sorts of
Birds drink but very ſparingly, and if at
any Time they exceed, it is to their great De-
triment †; which indeed, I judge probable
enough, ſince they never make Water, hav-
ing neither Reins nor Bladders, and there-
fore want no Water-Caſters when they are
out of order. And Vespasian could have
had no Tribute from them. For Heat be-
ing predominant in them, all ſuperflu-
ous Moisture is eafily fucked up; indeed
it muſt be owned, that few among the
Four-footed Caſters, will eat or drink more
than Nature requires: Yet this Modera-
tion of theirs, does not come up to that
of the OWL; for his Temperance is ſo
exquifite, that it was born in him and
with him. For which Reaſon, our Bird
was ſo dear to Minerva, that Eubulus the
comick Poet, ſtyles him the Chicken of Pal-
las; as tho' that unmarried Goddeſs, had

* Lib 10. cap 17.

† H. A. cap 8. 18.

pro-

The PRAISE of OWLS. 75
produced him from an Egg. And so much
did the Athenians efteem our Bird, as to
make him their Example of Continence and
Temperance: And Eubulus has left us this
Teftimony of them, that the Athenians
were very eloquent and abftemious, but
the Thebans were Lovers of their Bel-
lies: And farther he tells us, that their
very Wives and Children, were inured to
fuffer Hunger and feed upon Hopes. On
the contrary, too many bring the Vices
of Gluttony and of Drunkennesfs from their
very Cradles; who do not eat and drink
for the Prefervation of their Lives, but
live only that they may eat and drink,
according to the Opinion of the Poet, *
What is it to live? Why I fay to Drink,
which Definition, the Fifees in the Sea
(could they ſpeak) would mightily applaud.
This is living like Boneſus, of whom Au-
relian ufed to fay, that he was not born to
live, but to drink. And yet he was in
great Efteem for a long Time, upon a
political Account; for when Embaffadors
were ſent from all Parts, Boneſus ufed to
entertain them with Drinking, and when
he had ſufficiently warmed their Heads,
eaſily made himſelf Mafter of their ſe-
cret Deſigns; whilft he himſelf could

* Vivere quæfo quid eſt, bibere inquam Ego.

H 2

drink

VL's
and
loſo-
fuch
that
which
eſence.
ts of
eſ if at
t De-
bable
hav-
ere-
y are
have
at be-
erflu-
indeed
g the
more
o that
is so
n and
Bird
us the
of Pal-
s, had

pro-

76 The PRAISE of OWLS.

drink as long as he pleased without being
disguised; so far from it, that every Glafs
made him more subtle; besides, he had
this Advantage, that his Drink ran thro'
him without any Diminution. Claudius
Tiberius Nero had arrived to such a Pitch
of drinking, that they altered his Name
thus, Caldius Biberius Mero: And even in
our Times (O conscript Fathers,) there is
a wretched Degeneracy from the OWL's
Temperance; and it is become a common
Thing to contend for Victory in drinking.

Pocula pota placent, decieſſa epota placebunt.

Are not these the Times which the wife
Roman foretold long ago. Drunkenneſſs
(fays he) will come to be a great Honour,
and it will be reckoned a Vertue to Swallow
large Draughts: You see here the Prophecy,
and the Accomplishment is visible enough;
for who at present are more honoured than
those?

*Et potare pares et respondere Parati.*

Which Quality is deemed vaftly to tran-
ſcend unfaſhionable Temperance; without
which, religious Persons are reckoned fu-
perſtitious, the Valiant auſtere, and the
Patient called ſtupid; so that no outward
Sweat can any longer pretend to ſtrive
with

The PRAISE of OWLS. 77
with this inward Liquor. O rare Times !
and admirable Manners ! We seem as if
our Thirst had been inflamed in our Infan-
cy, and from fucking then we had contracted
a perpetual Habit of drinking ; and every
Draught leaves some Relicks behind, which
must be washed off with a new One :
Hence comes such a Pleasure, that Men
spend whole Nights in this Employment,
and view the Morning's Approach without
any Drowsiness. But is our Bird thus
educated ? Or how is it, that since you
are resolved to drink, any of you should
presume to drink out of those Cups which
have the Figure of our Bird imprinted on
them, thus making the Master of Sobriety
an Instrument of Drunkenness ? I was
lately at a very jovial Banquet, where a
very beautiful and shining silver Cup was
brought out, which had been wrought by
the curious Artift into the exact Shape of
an OWL ; yet could not divert us with
his pleafant Note, because his Belly and
Mouth was full of Wine, which we were
forced to fuck out through his Beak. I
turned then to the Master of the Feaft,
asking him why he put the Wine about so
briskly, as though it had been OWL's Milk.
Sir (says he) upon my Word there is no-
thing wholeromer than Wine ; yet I must
confess, it ought to be used with Tempe-
rance ; and knowing no Animal so proper

H 3

to

78 The PRAISE of OWLS.

to give Men an Example of this Virtue as
the OWL, therefore I have produced this
Cup. Very good (says I) but how comes
he to fly round us so often? don't you think
he must by this Time be tired, being so
thoroughly wet both within and without ?

*Generosum et lene requirat*—

*Quod curas abigat, quod cum Spe divite manet
In venas animum, suum, quod verba miniftret,
Quod se Lucan& Juvenem commendet Amic&.*

Certainly, if the Story be true of Archy-
tas of Tarentum, that he made a wooden
Pidgeon which could fly, it were much to
be wifhed that our filver Bird had the
fame Ability, and would fly out of the
Parlour with all the Wine. But I think
we have sufficiently bewailed the Preva-
lency of this Vice: And yet I am afraid
moft of you are more taken up in debating
whether you ſhall drink Wine or fat Ale,
than in fearching to diſplay his particular
and uncommon Virtues, not that I want
Matter. Can the Ignorant now rafhly af-
firm, that our Bird is not good, ſince he has
all the Qualifications which the celebrated
* Philofopher thought neceſſary in the
Character of a virtuous Man. But farther,

* Aristotle Lib. 10. cap. 9. Ethic.

to

The PRAISE of OWLS. 79

to make his Commendation perfect, we
shall observe, that he is not only good to
himself, but also beneficial to others: For
you know very well, that the ancient Phi-
lophers reckoned those Virtues most excel-
lent which were most profitable. The OWL
is undoubtedly very serviceable to Man-
kind in this Respect, in that he helps them
to distinguishing Times and Seasons. We
know very well, what an incomparable
Favour was granted to Mankind when the
Sun, Moon, and Stars were appointed for
the Observation and Distinction of Times.
Hence that beautiful Apoſtrophe of the
Prince of Poets,

—Vos, O clarissima Mundi
Lumina labentem cælo quæ ducitis Annum.

Now, our Bird in the Abfence of theſe
Luminaries ſupplies their Places; ſo that
Point of Time which immediately follows
Twilight, is diſtinguifhed by his flying a-
broad, and called OWL-light*. And un-
leſs he afforded us this Benefit, that Period
of Time would want a Name; for the Poet's
Description of it is too loose and uncertain.

* From hence, no doubt, it is, that our Sea-Coast
Robbers, who commit their Depredations by this Light
are called OWLERS.

Qualia

80 The PRAISE of OWLS.

Qualia sublucent Fugiente crepuscula Phæbo,
Aut ubi nox abiit, nec tamen orta Dies.

The OWL determines it more exacely, who,
as soon as Day light is departed, flies abroad;
which I fuppofe to be the true Reafon,
why the Athenians (as Pliny informs us,)
* numbered their Days, from the fetting
Sun, beginning the Day from the Time,
in which the OWL begins to fly abroad :
Now, have we not many among us, who
imitate the OWL in this Respect, and at
this Time begin their Scene of Pleafures,
and unlawful Enjoysments, performing no-
thing good or laudable, but turn the Day
into Night, and the Night into Day; put-
ting Darkneſs for Light, and Light for
Darkneſſ, which in them is againſt Na-
ture, but our Bird acts with greater Re-
gularity. Another confiderable Benefit
which accrues to Mankind from the OWL
is, that he deſtroys Mice, and ſuch like
Vermin; for which Reafon, ſeveral Gen-
tlemen, as well as Farmers, prefer an OWL
to a CAT for this Purpofe. Every Body
knows what troublousome Animals Mice are
to the Countryman, spoiling and eating up

* Lib 2. cap 77.

† Isaiah 20.

his

The PRAISE of OWLS. 81

his Corn, and that so suddenly and unexpectedly, that in a short Time, they will leave but little in a Granary*: They are like-wife, very inconvenient to the House, the Barn, and the Cellars. I may add also, sometimes in the Bed Chambers, while they demolish the gilded Roofs of princely Apartments, tear Books in Libraries, and gnaw fine Linnen: Nay, in the Island of Cyprus, they have gnawed Iron, and in other Places Gold, and in Italy, they left the Marks of their Teeth, in Silver Bucklest. Farther, this Animal is very restlefs and unquiet, and oftentimes disturbs the Repofe of Men in Bed; and not only so, but Pliny tells us, that once they came in such Multitudes to Troy, that the Inhabitants were forced to fly from the City||. And to compleat their Tyranny, they have sometimes devoured even Men themselves; thus they served a Polish Duke, and an Italian Bishop¶.

When

* Plin. Lib 8. cap 57.

|| Ibid. Lib 10. c. 65.

¶ Popielum Poloniæ Ducem, & Widerolphum Argentinenfium Epifcopum. Vid. Lycoſthen. de Prodigiis.

Thus Sung by Mr. Butler.

A Saxon Duke did grow so fat,
That Mice, as Histories relate,
Eat Grots and Labyrinths to dwell in
His postique Parts, without his feeling.

† Ibid.

Hud. Pt. II. Can. I.

82 The PRAISE of OWLS.

When I confider theſe Things, I cannot
help crying out

*Damnoſi quid Non imminuunt Mures?*

However by this, you may the more rea-
dily perceive, the great Service which
the OWL does, in freeing Mankind from
fuch peſtilent Creatures: He purfues them,
overtakes them, kills them, and rends
them in Pieces; like as *Hounds* purſue a
wild Beaſt, and for that Reaſon are ſtiled
generous, though the Generofity of theſe
Dogs generally exceeds the Profit they
bring to Mankind, whilſt they leave Rab-
bets, Hares, and Boars, whole fleſh is
good Food, and run after Bears and Pan-
thers, Lions and Elephants, which are more
for Oſtentation on the Theatre, than for
Benefit in the Kitchen. But our Bird is
both generous and profitable, in deſtroying
*Mice* who are Enemies to the Elephant, and
dare even attack ſo formidable a Creature,
ſo very bold are theſe little Animals: And
what is ſtill more wonderful, a *Mouse*
sometimes overcomes an *Elephant* who
dreads his Approach, and trembling, refuscs
to touch any Provender, which the *Mouse*
has touched; if therefore the *Elephant* be
a generous Creature, he that ſubdues him
muſt be more generous, and our Bird,
who is the victor's Conqueror, muſt be
ge-

The PRAISE of OWLS, 83

generous in the superlative Degree. Be-
fides the OWL, is not prevented, even
by old Age, from purfuing Mice, and need
not, like the Weasel, hide himself in the
meal Tub. *

Neither, would I have any reflect up-
on our Bird, becaufe in this Matter, he
does not exacfly keep within the Bounds
of Decency, in reference to Confanguini-
ty: But for this he has Precedents en-
ough, among the heathen Deities : Saturn
and Jupiter &c. all married their own
Sifters. But who, I beſeech you, is able to
enumerate the Virtues of the OWL? He
is eminent alſo for Friendship, concerning
which the Philofophers have made ſuch
a mighty Stir; and the Lineage of OWLS,
have always maintained an inviolable Con-
cord among themſelves, for who ever
heard of a Battle, among the OWLS?
But Men are often engaged in moſt furious
Quarrels: Hence Lucan ſings †.

Emathian Plains, with Slaughter cover'd o'er,
And Rage unknown to Civil Wars before;
Eſtablish'd violence, and lawleſs Might,
Avow'd and hallow'd by the Name of Right:
A Race renown'd, the World's victorious Lords,
Turn'd on themſelves, with their own hoſtile
(Swords;

* Phædri Fab.

† See Mr. Hew's *Transflation*.

Piles

84 The PRAISE of OWLS.

Piles againft Piles, oppos'd in Impious Fight,
And Eagles againft Eagles bending Flight.

ROWE.

How much more friendly, then, are the
OWLS one to another, than the Romans
were. As for Justice, which contains in
it all Virtues, the OWL has a very good
Claim to it, for he hurts no Body, but
gives every one their Due. And for his
Truth and Sincerity, we need not doubt of
them, since he is a very harmleſs and
well meaning Bird, and I am fure no
one could ever yet prove him guilty
of a Lie. We may alſo, by the way,
obſerve his Modeſty, in that he eſteems
other Birds to be more excellent than
himſelf; and having but a mean Opinion
of his own Worth, hangs down his Head
and Eye-brows: Now, Ariftotle obſerves,
that to gaze with open Eyes, is a Sign of
Confidence*. Laſtly, I muſt take notice
of his Silence; for tho' a Parrot pleafes
us by his Loquacity, yet the OWL is
the more acceptable for holding his Peace:
Nay, ſo great is the OWL's Taciturnity,
that he maintains it at the Point of Death.
How different was the Behaviour of Pri-
amus King of Troy†?

* Physiol. cap. 33.

† Virg. Æn. 2.

Hic

The PRAISE of OWLS. 85

(tenetur,
Hic Priamus quanquam media jam in Morte
Non tamen abſtinuit, nec voci iræque peper-
cit*.

Now, if a Fool is counted wif[e] when
he holds his Peace, how much ought our
fagacious Bird to be eſteemed, who crowns
all his Virtues, with a philofophical Si-
lence. I remember to have seen an an-
cient Picture, in which were drawn A-
lexander, Haphſefion, and an Owl; on one
Side ſtood Alexander, on the other Hæ-
pheſion, upon whose Lips, the King clapt
a Seal in token of Silence; and in the
Midſt there was an Owl, with this in-
fcription, SILENTIA i. e. Silence. Now,
fome may perhaps think it ſtrange, that
the Painter ſhould thus compliment the
Owl, with the Character of being Silent
above all other Birds; the Reaſon whereof,
I ſuppofe, may be this, we read in ancient
Hiftories, that diverse Birds and Bcaſts,
have pronounced ſeveral Words clear and
diſtinct: But concerning the OWL, we
find no ſuch Matter recorded, not ſo
much as the leaſt Tittle; whence he
may well be deemed a great example
of Taciturnity, and therefore I ſhall now
ceafe. After proper Remedies for Intem-

* Virg. Æn. 2.

I


perance

86 The PRAISE of OWLS.

perance, certainly if I may freely speak
my Mind, I believe you had rather be
sprinkled with the palatable Liquors of
Bacchus, than with Holy Water. However,
if you would not forfeit all Right and
Title to the excellent Lineage of the
OWLS, I defire you would vigorously
endeavour to obtain some Meaure of their
Temperance; and since all sudden Alter-
ations are dangerous, it will be proper
for you to break your felves of this Ha-
bit of Drunkennefs by degrees, and for
the future, drink Wine out of OWLS
Eggs, and Ale out of their Sculls; by
this means, as the Soldier once pulled
off his Horfe's Tail by little and little,
so may you in Time forget you ever were
Sots*. But to proceed, our Bird is famous
as well for Chafity as Temperance, in that
he uſes the Act of Coition with his Mate
only in the Night, and in this he agrees
with Mankind; for thofe Cynick Philoſo-
phers are not properly ftiled Men but
Dogs, who, as St. Austin tells us†, were
the Broachers of this brutal Maxim, That
because a Man's Copulation with his Wife
was lawful, therefore it might as well be

* See more upon this Subject, in a very Polite Treatise intituled, Ebrietatis Encomium: Or, the Praise of Drunkennefs. Printed for E. CURLL.

† De Civitate Dei Lib 14. cap 20.

done

The PRAISE of OWLS. 89
into his Nets; and his Method is this:
He takes the OWL and puts him upon
some fine Stock of a Tree, where he is
no sooner placed, but a vaft Company of
Birds fly round him, wondering at fuch
an unuſual Sight, and while their Eyes
are fixed upon our OWL,

Illa solo Fixos oculos averſa retorquet

their Feet ſtick faſt in the Birdlime, or
the Net is thrown over them; then the
Fowler runs, and condenning the reſt,
lets the OWL free, and according to the
Laws of Juitice, cheriſhes and rewards
him for his Service*. Indeed I muſt con-
fefs, our Bird is not ſo uſeful to the An-
gler, as ſome Water Fowls are, becauſe he
loves his own proper Element: And Quin-
tilian rightly afferts, that it is eaſier to
live according to Nature than againſt it;
and the OWL having been used to the
Air, and the pure Region of Attica, can-
not well bear ſo barbarous an Element;
which (according to the Opinion of ſome
Grecian Smatterers in Philofophy) extin-
guifheth the Soul, together with the Body.

Altho' our Bird be ſo happy, as ſcarce
ever to have any Occafion of ſhedding

* See the Frontispiece.

I 3

Tears

90 *The PRAISE of OWLS.*

Tears, for what should make so excel-
lent a Creature weep?

—Neque enim Cæleftia tingi
Ora Licet Lachrymis—*

Yet if the OWL should chance to weep,
in compassion to the Misfortunes of others,
they report that his Tears are very Medicinal; and some farther affert, that whoever anoints himsself with them, will be able to see, as well in the Night, as in the Day. Besides, the OWL is not only useful when Living, but also after he is Dead: (I am sorry that in this respect he resembles Swine, but then I am glad to confider, that they are never useful before.) Pliny writes, that his Gall is good for all manner of Diftempers in the Eyes, and that the Fat of him, is a great Clearer of the Sight: A Remedy, fure beyond all the quackish Medicines of ftrolling Mountebanks. If his Wing or Foot be cut off after he is Dead, and hung in a Granary window, it will drive away the Pidgeons, from eating the Corn: I know the fame Thing is faid of a Cat's Foot, but the Owl's foot is more efficacious. Let now the Despifers of OWLS, go on

* Ovid Metam. Lib. 2.

The PRAISE of OWLS. 91

if they please, to contemn our Bird; we
have, I think, sufficiently demonstrated
his Usefulneſs both Living and Dead: One
Thing yet remains, (worthy Fathers) which
muſt give a Reliſh and Smartneſs to all
the Reſt, and that is the Pleaſantneſs of
the OWL; and this (like a Pyramid of
Sweetmeats) we have to crown the Feaſt.

Omne ferat punctum, qui miscuit utile dulci.

Now Pleaſantneſs, is the Life and Soul
of all his Actions, which deſerve true
Praife. A ſweet Affeſion of the Mind, as
Cicero teſtifies, bringing an honeſt Delight,
without which a Person can hardly be ſaid
to live. Antalcidas the Lacedemonian was
ſenſible of this, who being ask'd by what
Method a Man might gain the moſt Favour?
He anſwered, by performing profitable Ac-
tions, and ſpeaking pleafant Things. For,
ſuppoſing a Man to be of the nobleft
Extraction, of the moſt confummate Wi-
dom, of the moſt unblemiſhed Probity;
yet if he wants a Pleaſantneſs of Con-
verſation, the Brightneſs of his Charac-
ter is entirely ſullied.

Cato was Noble, Wife and Sedate, and
a great Friend to Rome; but wanting this
Facetiouſneſs, and not being able to lay
aſide the Gravity of a Cenſor, went out
of the Theatre, when ſome unlucky Part
was

92 The PRAISE of OWLS.

was to be represented; according to the
Poet. *

Noffes jucunda dulce cum Sacrum Floræ
Festifque Lufus, et Licentiam vulgi,
Cur in Theatrum Cato severe venifli?
An ideo tantum veneras, ut exires? †

Now, such Persons cannot be pleafant
if they would, without putting a great
Force upon Nature: For we find it re-
ported, that Cato never laughed but once,
and once he played at Tennis, at a very
improper Time; namely, when he was
repuſled by the Roman Citizens. But
our OWL is not only pleafant, but
pleafantneſs it ſelf; for which Reaſon,
he is very much eſteemed in great Men's
Houſes. I will not diſcufs this Point
gravely, but manage it agreeable to its
Nature in a ſportive Manner: Do but
view well the amiable Countenance of
our Bird, it is round like that of a Cat.

* *Martial.*

† Thus rendered by Mr. Addison,
Why doſt Thou come, great Cenſor of this Age,
To ſee the loose Divertions of the Stage?
With awful Countenance and Brow ſevere,
What in the Name of Goodneſs doſt thou here?
See the mixt Crowd! how Giddy, Lewd, and Vain!
Did'ſt thou come in, but to go out again?

Do

The PRAISE of OWLS. 93

Do but observe how he reclines his Head,
f sometimes to the Right, and f sometimes to
the Left : Take notice of the pretty Motion
of his grey Eyes, how dexterously he rolls
them about, and winks after a very par-
ticular Manner ; now raising his Eye-brows,
and then presently letting them fall a-
gain, and like the wife Ulysses

— Oculos pulum tellure moratos
Ad Proceres tollit —

as tho' he were in some profound Contemplation. Confider his Bill, how nicely and regularly it is shaped? observe his downy Belly, diffended as it were with a Grove of Feathers: In a Word, the Structure of his whole Body is compleatly elegant, which renders his Prefence de-lightful. Certainly, you will never then (according to the Opinion of some injudicious people) reckon him among the Monfters and Bugbears, with which Children are frightened to Bed; — the Laughing-stock of Nature.

Quæ genuit, quoties voluit Natura jocari.

But in him, you have a finifhed Model
of Beauty, in which is fupplied, what-
ever is wanting in gaudy Peacocks, gilded
Parrots, spotlefs Doves, or generous Ea-
gles

94 The PRAISE of OWLS.

gles: Than which, what can be more de-
lightful! * Tully fays, that the Beauty
of the Body, moves and delights, when all
the Parts are harmoniouſly joined together.
Now Men would not care one Figg for
the Virtue of our Bird, (so depraved is
common Judgement) unless he was alſo
extremely handsome; but now

Gratior eſt Pulchro veniens è Corpore virtus.

So that the OWL seems formed by Na-
ture, for Mirth and Feltivity. Let me
then keep my Eyes fixed upon ſo delicious
an Object: But why do I ſpeak of my
Self? None of his Patrons ever yet ſaw
him, but deſired ſtill to gaze more at him,
till they had formed his lively Image in
their Minds. Farther we may obſerve
that in Books, when the Printers want
a Picture to adorn a Title-page, you ſhall
meet with none more frequent than the
Effigies of Madge-Howlet; and conſequent-
ly, he makes no ſmall Figure in the learn-
ed World: Nay, oftentimes you ſhall see
his Head, engraven in ſeveral initial Let-
ters; and there were Printers at Geneva,
of the Family of the Chouets, who al-
ways adorned the Title-pages of their

* Offic. Lib. i.

Books

The PRAISE of OWLS. 95

Books with the Effigies of our Bird, accompanied with this Motto, In Nocte Confilium. — If now we inspect Men’s Houses, we shall find the Picture of OWLS glittering in the Windows: And moreover, we may see our Bird’s Head upon stately Columns, and noble Statues, which can be placed there with no other View, than that of giving Delight. Unless happily, the Birds may be drawn thither by it, and the Batts effectually kept off.

In a Word, all fine Pieces of Painting, or Sculpture, or Embroidery are of little Value, unless embellished with the Figure of OWLS. But here arises a difficult Question, whether the Pictures of OWLS were to be met with among any of the Ornaments of the Jews, and if not whence it proceeded? I must confess, I never yet could find any Reason for this in the Misnaioth, nor Gemara, or old GlosSES of the ancient Rabbies; yet methinks, it may easily be found out; for since the Jewish Religion was very awful, such a sweet and pleasant Bird would have been a very improper Symbol, to have been made use of by the Israelites. He is reckoned among the unclean Birds in the old Testament; but in our Days, such ceremonial distinctions are vanished, and our Bird is now made the clean and pleasant Emblem of Purity, and may be seen painted in Church

96 The PRAISE of OWLS.

Church windows. I must confess, we may
often find him drawn in ludicrous Pieces,
and I remember to have seen a very an-
cient and curious Picture, wherein the
OWL was drawn working at a Spinning
Wheel, after the Manner of Women, and
pulling out his Thread very dexterously;
there ftood by him a Man holding a Can-
dle in one hand, and pointing to a Mouſe
with the other, and reclining his Head,
ſaluted the OWL with a Verſe: I ftood
for a confiderable Time, and viewed this
Piece with Pleaſure, and could ſcarce for-
bear wifhing for a Shirt of his Spinning,
which would have been dearer to me, than
that which Sardanapalus Spun among his
Company of Mifſes; or Hercules to pleafe
Omphale. Neither would I have you think
it ſtrange, that an OWL ſhould ſpin, for
he is Minerva's Bird; whoever therefore,
ſhall in Time to come behold him ſpin-
ning, either in reality, or in repreſentation,

Sive levi terentem verſantis Pollice ſuſum,
Seu pingentis acu, ſciat hanc à Pallade doſtam,

Which our Bird (like Arachne) will never
deny. Had he not been a wonderful fa-
cetious and pretty Creature, the Athenians
would never have depicted him upon all
their Money-Bags: The fame Reaton, has
induced me to have this ENCOMIUM
U-

The PRAISE of OWLS. 97

ULULÆ, printed in a Pocket Volume,
that all of you (as many as are Patrons
of OWLS) may carry it continually a-
bout with you, as a useful Vade Mecum,
and have it always ready in your Hous-
es by way of necessary Defence. Nor must I
omit what Pliny takes notice of, that he
is a Bird very full of Compliments, and
much given to dancing: Now Dancing
as Ciccro observes, is the highest Art of
Mirth, and usually crowns the Delights of
a Festival. Now our Bird dances accord-
ing to Nature, and not by the Rules of
Art; for as the above mentioned *Author
observes, he walks with Difficulty, by Rea-
son of the Crookedness of his Claws; and
therefore is sometimes forced to dance like the
Magpye. And herein he sets a good Example,
for I know not what new Superstition has
feized Mankind. and made them almost
out of love with Dancing; since we find
in Hesiod, and Anacreon, that the Muses
themselves dance for Recreation; and Ho-
mer reports the fame of Jupiter himself.
And in that Author we find, that Mu-
sick and Dancing were generally annexed
to Festivals: Nay, the grave Ulysses him-
felf, when he was returned to Ithaca,
appointed Dancing in his Palace, that

* Pliny Lib. 10. cap. 19.

K

Per-

98 The PRAISE of OWLS.

Persons might imagine there was a Marriage in Penelope's Court. And to bring one Example more, which is beyond all Exception, Socrates himself, used sometimes to Dance for his Health's sake. To conclude, our Bird is not only chearful in himself, but diffuses Mirth wherefoever he comes, and makes all his Spectators joyful; which reminds me of the Poet's Character of Pamphilus,

Sic vita erat facile omnes perferre ac pati
Cum quibus erat cunque una iis sese dedere,
Eorum obsequi Studiis, adversus Nemini. *

Thus have I given the Extraction, the No-
bility, the Wit, the Vertue, the Usefulneſs,
and Pleaſantneſs of the OWL: Thus much
may ſuffice with reference to his Life; we
should now ſay something concerning his
Death and Burial. And here

Ventum ad Supremum eſt
Vos, o vos, o mibi, Manes
Eſte Boni —
Sancta ad vos anima, & nullius conscia
Descendat —
(Culpæ

For Ovid has not more bewailed the
Death of his Parrot, or Catullus his Spar-

* Terence in Andria.

row,

The PRAISE of OWLS.

99

Now, nor did ever any Lady more lament
the Death of her favourite Lap Dog, than
I do Thine, thou most excellent of
Birds; wert thou so ambitious as to ad-
mit of a solemn Mourner, or so unhappy
as to fear Death, I would weep for thee:
But as thou wert ever easy in all respects
in thy Life-Time, I am sensible, thou
takest but little care about thy Sepulcher.

— Capit omnia Tellus

Quæ genuit, Cælo tegitur qui non habet Urnam.

Whether our Bird after his Decease,
goes to the gentle Troops of his winged
Fraternity in the Elysfian Fields, or to some
other deftined Region, I cannot determine:
But I am sure he may now fay with the
Emperor*,

Animula, Vagula, Blandula
Hospes, Come/que Corporis,
Que nunc abibis in loca,
Pallidula, Rigida, Nudula,
Nec, ut soles, dabis jocos. †

K 2

Could

* Adriani merientis ad Animam Suam.
† Thus imitated by Mr. Prior.
Poor little pretty fluttering Thing,
Must we no longer live together ?
And doft thou prune thy trembling Wing,
To take thy Flight thou know'st not whither ?
Thy humorous Vein, thy pleasing Folly,
Lyes all neglected, all forgot;
And pensive wav'ring, Melancholy,
Thou dread'st, and hop'st thou know'st not what.

conſcia
(Culpa
the
Spar-
row,

100 The PRAISE of OWLS.

Could he now hear me, I would advise
him to make the best of his Way to the
shining STARS, where he shall find his
Station; for if Plato's Opinion holds true,
concerning the Immortality of the Souls of
Birds, certainly the peaceable OWL must
have a Place there, as well as the bark-
ing Dog, the heavy Crab Fish, or the
poisonous Scorpion. Astronomers also tell
us that Above, reft Lions, Bears, and Ser-
pents, And shall the Bull and Ram re-
fide there, and our Bird be excluded?

Quicquid eris, nec te Reginam Tartara sperent,
Nec tibi regnandi veniat tam dira Cupido.

But perhaps, some may ask why our
Bird is no longer lived since Pallas is his
Friend?

Namque Coturnices inter sua Prælia vivunt,
Forstitan et sunt inde frequenter Anus
Vivit & armiferæ Cornix invisa Minervæ,
Illa quidem Sæclis vix moritura Novem.

You are to esteem it as a peculiar Privilege
granted to our Bird, that he is permitted
to finish his Life in such a short Time,
and not to lengthen it out with the Phæ-
mix, or the Crow: It is certain, that Men
cannot arrive at this Happineſs, but are
forced to endure many tedious Years of
Mis-