Admonition, That we expect not to receive Things neceffary for Life and Manners from Philofophical Abstractions, as from the greater Gods; albeit they applied themselves to no other Study; but from Pan, that is, from the discreet Obfervation and Experience, and the univerfal Knowledge of the Things of this World; whereby (oftentimes even by Chance, and as it were going a Hunting) fuch Inventions are lighted upon.

The Quarrel he made with Apollo about Mufick, and the Event thereof contains a wholesome Inftruction, which may serve to restrain Men's Reafons and Judgements with Reins of Sobriety, from Boasting and Glorying in their Gifts. For there seems to be a twofold Harmony, or Mufick; the one of Divine Providence, and the other of Human Judgement; the Administration of the World and Creatures therein, and the more fecret Judgements of God, found very hard and harsh; which Folly, albeit it be well fet out with Affes' Ears; yet notwithstanding these Ears are fecret, and do not openly appear, neither is it perceived or noted as a Deformity by the Vulgar.

Laftly, It is not to be wondered at, that there is nothing attributed unto Pan concerning Loves, but only of his Marriage with Echo: For the World or Nature doth enjoy itself, and in itself all Things elfe. Now he that Loves would enjoy fomething, but where there is enough, there is no Place left to defire. Therefore there can be no wanting Love in Pan, or the World, nor defire to obtain anything (feeing he is contented with him

felf) but only Speeches, which (if plain) may be intimated by the Nymph Echo; or if more quaint by Syrinx. It is an excellent Invention that Pan, or the World is faid to make choice of Echo only (above all other Speeches or Voices) for his Wife : For that alone is true Philosophy, which doth faithfully render the very Words of the World; and it is written no otherwise than the World doth Dictate, it being nothing else but the Image or reflection of it, not adding any thing of its own, but only iterates and refounds. It belongs also to the Sufficiency or Perfection of the World, that he begets no Iffue: For the World doth generate in respect of its Parts, but in respect of the whole, how can it generate, feeing without it there is no Body? Notwithstanding all this, the tale of that tattling Girl fathered upon Pan, may in very Deed, with great Reason, be added to this Fable: For by her are reprefented thofe vain and idle Paradoxes concerning the Nature of Things which have been frequent in all Ages, and have filled the World with Novelties; Fruitless, if you respect the Matter; Changelings if you respect the Kind; sometimes creating Pleasure, fometimes Tedioufnefs with their overmuch Prattling.

VII. Perfeus, or War.

A

ERSEUS is faid to have been employed by Pallas, for the deftroying of Medufa, who was very infeftuous to the Western Parts of the World, and efpecially about the utmost Coasts of Hiberia. Monster fo dire and horrid, that by her only Afpect she turned Men into Stones. This Medufa alone of all the Gorgons was Mortal, the reft not subject to Death. Perfeus therefore preparing himself for this noble Enterprise, had Arms and Gifts bestowed on him by three of the Gods: Mercury gave him Wings annexed to his Heels, Pluto a Helmet, Pallas a Shield and a Looking-Glass. Notwithstanding (although he were thus furnished) he went not directly to Medufa, but firft to the Grea, which by the Mother's fide were Sifters to the Gorgons. Thefe Gree from their Birth were Hoar-headed, resembling old Women. They had but one only Eye, and one Tooth among them all; both which, fhe that had occafion to go abroad, was wont to take with her, and at her return to lay them down again. This Eye and Tooth they lent to Perfeus ; and so finding himself thoroughly furnished for the effecting of his Defign, haftens towards Medusa. Her he found Sleeping, and yet durft not prefent himself with his Face towards her, left fhe fhould awake; but turning his Head afide, beheld her in

Pallas's Glafs, and (by this means directing his Blow) cut off her Head; from whofe Blood gushing out, instantly came Pegasus, the FlyingHorse. Her head thus fmote off, Perfeus bestows on Pallas her Shield, which yet retained this Virtue, that whosoever looked upon it, should become as ftupid as a Stone, or like one Planet-ftricken.

This Fable feems to direct the Preparation and Order, that is to be used in making of War; for the more apt and confiderate Undertaking whereof, three grave and wholesome Precepts (favouring of the Wisdom of Pallas) are to be observed.

First, That Men do not much trouble themselves about the Conqueft of Neighbour Nations, feeing that private Poffeffions and Empires are enlarged by different Means: For in the Augmentation of private Revenues, the vicinity of Men's Territories is to be confidered; but in the Propagation of Public Dominions, the occafion and facility of making War, and the Fruit to be expected ought to be instead of Vicinity. Certainly the Romans, what time their Conquefts towards the Weft, fcarce reached beyond Liguria, did yet in the East bring all the Provinces as far as the Mountain Taurus within the compass of their Arms and Command; and therefore Perfeus, although he were Bred and Born in the Eaft, did not yet refuse to undertake an Expedition even to the uttermoft Bounds of the Weft.

Secondly, There must be a care had that the Motives of War be just and honourable, for that begets an Alacrity, as well in the Soldiers that Fight,

as in the People that Pay; it draws on and procures Aids, and brings many other Commodities befides. But there is no Pretence to take up Arms more Pious, than the fuppreffing of Tyranny; under which Yoke, the People lose their Courage, and are caft down without Heart and Vigour, as in the fight of Medufa.

Thirdly, it is wifely added, that seeing there were three Gorgons (by which Wars are represented) Perfeus undertook her only that was Mortal; that is, he made choice of such a kind of War as was likely to be effected and brought to a Period, not pursuing vaft and endless Hopes.

The furnishing of Perfeus with Neceffaries was that which only advanced his Attempt, and drew Fortune to be of his fide; for he had speed from Mercury, concealing of his Counsels from Orcus, and Providence from Pallas.

Neither is it without an Allegory, and that full of Matter too, that thofe Wings of Celerity were fastened to Perfeus' Heels, and not to his Ankles; to his Feet, and not to his Shoulders; because Speed and Celerity is required, not so much in the firft Preparations for War, as in those Things which second and yield Aid to the first; for there is no Error in War more frequent, than that Profecutions and Subfidiary forces do fail to answer the Alacrity of the first Onfets.

Now for that Helmet which Pluto gave him, powerful to make Men invifible, the Moral is plain; but that twofold Gift of Providence, (to wit, the Shield and Looking-Glass) is full of Mo