The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 28.1.3

28.1.3

which I could not refuse. Then next he demanded whose the Pictures were. I answered : Sent to me to vse on occasions, and dispose as my businesse required. So hee called for them, and caused them to be opened, examined me of the women, and other little questions, requiring many iudgements of them. Of the third Picture, of Venus and a Satyre, he commanded my Interpreter not to tell me what he said, but asked his Lords what they conceiued should be the interpretation or morall of that. He shewed the Satyres hornes, his skinne, which was swart, and pointed to many particulars. Euery man replyed according to his fancie ; but in the end hee concluded they were all deceiued : and seeing they could iudge no better, hee would keepe his conceit to himselfe, iterating his command to conceale this passage from me ; but bade him aske me what it meant. I answered : An Inuention of the Painter to shew his arte, which was Poeticall, but the interpretation was New to mee that had not seene it. Then he called Master Terry to giue his iudgement, who replying hee knew not, the King demanded why hee brought vp to him an inuention wherein hee was ignorant ; at which I enterposed that he was a Preacher, and medled not with such matters, nor had charge of them ; onely, comming in their company, hee was more noted, and so named as their conductor. This I repeate for instruction, to warne the company and him that shall succeed me to be very wary what they send may be subject to ill Interpretation ;