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Ficta religio.

False religion.

Emblema vi.

A crowned woman (the harlot) riding the beast (a hydra or many-headed gryphon) offers a rich beverage to begging people.
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Regali residens meretrix pulcherrima sella,[1]
Purpureo insignem gestat honore peplum.
Omnibus & latices pleno è cratere propinat:
At circum cubitans[2] ebria turba iacet.
Sic Babylona notant: quae gentes illice forma,
Et ficta stolidas religione capit.

A beauteous harlot reclining on a royal seat wears a robe resplendent with purple, the badge of honour. From a full bowl she passes round the cup of drink to all, and round about the drunken crowd sprawls in stupor. Thus they indicate Babylon, who with her alluring beauty takes in the doltish nations with false religion.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [B2r f10r]

Ex D. Ioannis Apocalypsi ducta est haec fictae reli-
gionis descriptio: ex qua colligimus in statu reli-
gionis iam olim fuisse, multósque[3] adhuc esse, qui
suis praestigiis, falsáque doctrina imperitos in-
escant, errorísque poculo iis imponunt, quo tan-
quam facti ebrii, mentisque impotes, a subdola
capti meretrice, purissimos divinae sapientiae fon-
tes aspernantur, adeóque insanientes. séque & alios
miserrimè in praecipitium coniiciunt.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [B2v f10v]

Feinte religion.

LA Courtisane belle, avec royal atour,
Portant un long manteau de pourpre, est à l’entour
Presentant du breuvage enclos dedans sa coupe[4]
A gens mal-advisez & estourdie trouppe:
Ainsi de Babylon est le pourtrait induit,
Qui souz fort beau pretexte un grand monde seduit.

Ceste description de la Religion fein-
te est tiree du livre de l’Apocalypse de
Sainct Jean: par laquelle nous apprenons
qu’au fait de la religion il y a eu des hom-
mes au passé, comme encor aujourdhuy, qui
par leurs impostures & faulses doctrines ap-
pastent les ignorans, & les abbreuvent de la
coupe d’erreur, dont estans faits yvres, &
hors d’entendement, comme deceuz par les
piperies de la paillarde, ont en desdain les
pures fontaines de la sapience divine, telle-
ment, qu’estans rendus insensez & hors de
raison, ils mettent à perdition & eux & beau-
coup d’autres.

Notes:

1.  See Revelation 17:3 ff., which has influenced the illustration.

2.  Corrected from the Errata.

3.  Corrected from the Errata.

4.  Corrected from the Errata.

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