Poliphilus

Let vs goe downe to our cõpanion _Thelemia_, who demanding the cause why they staid so long aboue, _Logistica_ made aunswer, it doth not content our _Poliphilus_, onely to behold, but also to vnderstand by me the secrecie of those things, which he could not goe to knowe, wherein I haue satis-fied him.

Hypnerotomachia The Strife of Loue in a Dreame Francesco Colonna

_Poliphilus_: it will please me well saith she, if the effect of your conditions be aunswerable to your name.

Hypnerotomachia The Strife of Loue in a Dreame Francesco Colonna

_Poliphilus_, thou shalt vnderstande that the deuise of these obiects, are more pleasant to bee vnderstoode then behelde, and therefore lette vs enter in heere, to bee satisfied in both.

Hypnerotomachia The Strife of Loue in a Dreame Francesco Colonna

_The Nymph leadeth the inamored Poliphilus to other pleasant places, where he beheld innumerable Nymphs solacing them, and also the triumph of Vertumnus and Pomona.

Hypnerotomachia The Strife of Loue in a Dreame Francesco Colonna

And I remained still with my companion _Thelemia_, vvho with a flattering and smyling grace said vnto me, _Poliphilus_, this is the place where thou shalt not continue long, but thou shalt finde the deerest thing which thou louest in the world, & which thou hast in thy hart, without intermission determined to seeke and desire.

Hypnerotomachia The Strife of Loue in a Dreame Francesco Colonna

_Poliphilus_, I doe vnderstande very well your doubt, and therefore you shall vnderstande, that this monstrous shape and machine was not made without great and wonderfull humane wisedome, much labour, and incredible diligence, with a perplexibility of vnderstanding to knowe the mysticall conceite.

Hypnerotomachia The Strife of Loue in a Dreame Francesco Colonna

Nowe _Poliphilus_, I doe greatly commende you, in that you are desirous to vnderstand such secrets: for to behold, consider, and measure the same, is a commendable vertue, and the way to knowledge: whereuppon I had occasion giuen to render innumerable thanks, for her great and fauourable curtesies.

Hypnerotomachia The Strife of Loue in a Dreame Francesco Colonna

_Poliphilus_, they shall bring you to an other mightie and maiesticall

Hypnerotomachia The Strife of Loue in a Dreame Francesco Colonna

These speeches pearced my hart, they were so delightfull and desired, and so much the more, bicause she called me hir _Poliphilus_.

Hypnerotomachia The Strife of Loue in a Dreame Francesco Colonna

_Poliphilus_, I woulde thou shouldest vnderstand and know thys, that true and vertuous loue hath no respect of outward things, and therefore let not the basenes of thy apparell, diminish or lessen thy minde, if perhaps noble and gentle, and worthy of these places, and fitte to beholde these maruellous tryumphes; Therefore let not thy minde be dismayed with feare, but dilligently behold what Kingdomes they possesse, that are crowned by _Venus_.

Hypnerotomachia The Strife of Loue in a Dreame Francesco Colonna