Of The Images Of Venus

CHAP. XL.

OF THE IMAGES OF VENUS.

FROM the operations of Venus they made an image, which was available for favour and benevolence, at the very hour it ascended into Pisces; the form of which was the image of a woman, having the head of a bird, the feet of an eagle, and holding a dart in her hand. They made another image of Venus,

p. 163

to obtain the love of women, in the lapis lazuli, at the hour of Venus, Venus ascending in Taurus; the figure of which was a naked maid, with her hair spread abroad, having a looking-glass in her hand, and a chain tied about her neck--and near her a handsome young man, holding her with his left hand by the chain, but with his right hand doing up her hair, and both looking lovingly on one another--and about them is a little winged boy, holding a sword or dart. They made another image of Venus, the first face of Taurus, Libra, or Pisces, ascending with Venus; the figure of which was a little maid, with her hair spread abroad, clothed in long and white garments, holding a laurel apple, or flowers, in her right hand, in her left a comb: it is said to make men pleasant, jocund, strong, cheerful, and to give beauty.