Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

xxv. Atalanta, or Gain.

[graphic]

TALANTA, who was reputed to excel in fwiftnefs, would needs challenge Hippomenes at a match in Running. The conditions of the Prize were these That if Hippomenes won the Race, he fhould efpoufe Atalanta; if he were out-run, that then he fhould forfeit his Life. And in the Opinion of all, the victory was thought affured of Atalanta's fide, being famous, as she was, for her matchless and inconquerable speed, whereby fhe had been the bane of many. Hippomenes therefore bethinks him how to deceive her by a Trick, and in that regard provides three Golden Apples or Balls, which he purpofely carried about him. The Race is begun, and Atalanta gets a good start before him. He feeing himself thus caft behind, being mindful of his device, throws one of his Golden Balls before her, and yet not outright, but fomewhat of the one fide, both to make her linger and also to draw her out of the right course: She, out of a Womanish defire, (being thus enticed by the Beauty of the Golden Apple) leaving her direct Race runs afide, and ftoops to catch the Ball. Hippomenes the while holds on his courfe, getting thereby a great ftart, and leaves her behind him: But she by her own natural swiftness, recovers her loft time, and gets before him again.

But Hippomenes ftill continues his flight, and both the second and third time casts out his Balls, those enticing delays; and so by craft, and not by his activity, he wins the Race and Victory.

This Fable feems Allegorically to demonstrate a notable conflict between Art and Nature; for Art (fignified by Atalanta) in its work (if it be not letted and hindered) is far more swift than Nature, more speedy in pace, and fooner attains the end it aims at, which is manifest almost in every effect: As you may fee it in Fruit-trees, whereof those that grow of a Kernel are long ere they bear, but fuch as are grafted on a Stock a great deal fooner. You may fee it in Clay, which in the generation of Stones, is long ere it becomes hard; but in the burning of Bricks, is very quickly effected. Also in Moral Paffages you may obferve, that it is a long time ere (by the benefit of Nature) forrow can be affuaged, and comfort attained; whereas, Philosophy (which is, as it were, Art of Living) tarries not the leisure of time, but doth it inftantly, and out of hand; and yet this Prerogative and fingular agility of Art is hindered by certain Golden Apples to the infinite prejudice of Human proceedings: For there is not any one Art or Science which conftantly perfeveres in a true and lawful courfe, till it comes to the propofed End or Mark; but ever and anon makes ftops after good beginnings, leaves the Race, and turns afide to Profit and Commodity, like Atalanta.

Declinat curfus, aurumque volubile tollit.

Who doth her courfe forfake,

The Rolling Gold to take.

And therefore it is no wonder that Art hath not the Power to conquer Nature, and by Pact or Law of Conqueft, to kill and deftroy her; but on the contrary it falls out, that Art becomes fubject to Nature, and yields the obedience as a Wife the Hufband.

XXVI. Prometheus, or the
Statue of Man.

[graphic]

HE Ancients deliver, that Prometheus made a Man of Clay, mixed with certain parcels taken from divers Animals, who ftudying to maintain this his Work by Art, (that he might not be accounted a founder only, but Propagator of Human kind) ftole up to Heaven with a bundle of Twigs, which he kindled at the Chariot of the Sun, came down again, and communicated it with Men: And yet they fay, (That notwithstanding this excellent work of his,) he was requited with Ingratitude, in a treacherous Confpiracy: For they accused both him and his Invention to Jupiter, which was not fo taken as was meet it fhould, for the Information was pleafing to Jupiter, and all the Gods. And therefore in a merry Mood, granted unto Men, not only the ufe of Fire, but perpetual youth alfo,

a Boon most acceptable and desirable. They being, as it were, over-joyed, did foolishly lay this Gift of the Gods, upon the back of an Afs, who being wonderfully oppreffed with Thirst, and near a Fountain, was told by a Serpent (which had the cuftody thereof) that he should not drink, unless he would promise to give him the Burthen that was on his Back. The filly Afs accepted the condition, and fo the restoration of Youth (fold for a draught of Water) paft from Men to Serpents. But Prometheus full of Malice, being reconciled unto Men, after they were frustrated of their Gift, but in a Chafe yet with Jupiter, feared not to use deceit in Sacrifice: For having killed two Bulls, and in one of their Hides wrapped up the Flesh and Fat of them both, and in the other only the Bones, with a great fhew of Religious Devotion, gave Jupiter his choice, who (detesting his Fraud and Hypocrify, but taking an occasion of Revenge) chofe that which was ftopped with Bones, and fo turning to Revenge (when he saw that the Infolency of Prometheus would not be repreffed, but by laying fome grievous Affliction upon Mankind, in the forming of which he so much bragged and boafted) commanded Vulcan to frame a goodly beautiful Woman, which being done, every one of the Gods beftowed a Gift on her; whereupon she was called Pandora. To this Woman they gave, in her hand, a goodly Box full of all Miferies and Calamities, only in the bottom of it they put Hope; with this Box fhe comes first to Prometheus, thinking to catch him, if peradventure he should

accept it at her hands, and fo open it; which he nevertheless, with good Providence and Forefight refused. Whereupon fhe goes to Epimetheus (who though Brother to Prometheus, yet was of a much differing difpofition) and offers this Box unto him, who without delay took it, and rafhly opened it; but when he saw that all kind of Miseries came fluttering about his Ears, being wife too late, with great speed and earnest endeavour clapped on the Cover, and fo with much ado retained Hope fitting alone in the bottom; at last Jupiter laying many and grievous Crimes to Prometheus's charge (as that he had stolen Fire from Heaven, that in contempt of his Majefty, he facrificed a Bull's Hide ftuffed with Bones, that he fcornfully rejected his Gift, and befides all this that he offered violence to Pallas) caft him into Chains, and doomed him to perpetual Torment: And by Jupiter's Command, was brought to the Mountain Caucasus, and there bound faft to a Pillar that he could not stir; there came an Eagle also, that every day fat tyring upon his Liver and wafted it, but as much as was eaten in the day, grew again in the Night, that Matter for Torment to work upon might never decay. But yet they say there was an end of this Punishment. For Hercules croffing the Ocean in a Cup, which the Sun gave him, came to Caucafus, and fet Prometheus at liberty, by shooting the Eagle with an Arrow. Moreover in fome

Nations there were inftituted in the honours of Prometheus, certain Games of Lamp-bearers, in which they that ftrive for the Prize, were wont to

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »