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three, and lastly, upon four Feet again, answered forthwith, that it was Man; which in his Infancy, immediately after Birth, crawls upon all four, fcarce venturing to creep, and not long after, ftands upright upon two Feet; then growing old, he leans upon a Staff wherewith he supports himself, so that he may seem to have three Feet; and at laft, in decrepit Years, his Strength failing him, he falls grovelling again upon four, and lies bedrid. Having therefore by this true Answer gotten the Victory, he instantly flew this Sphynx, (and laying her Body upon an Afs,) led it, as it were, in Triumph; and fo according to the Condition, was created King of the Thebans.

This Fable contains in it no lefs Wisdom than Elegancy, and it seems to point at Science, especially that which is joined with Practice, for Science may not abfurdly be termed a Monster, as being by the ignorant and rude Multitude always held in Admiration. It is diverse in Shape and Figure, by reason of the infinite variety of Subjects, wherein it is converfant. A Maiden Face and Voice is attributed unto it for its gracious countenance and volubility of Tongue. Wings are added, because Sciences and their Inventions do pass and fly from one to another, as it were, in a moment, seeing that the Communication of Science, is as the kindling of one Light at another. Elegantly alfo it is feigned to have sharp and hooked Talons, because the Axioms and Arguments of Science do so fasten upon the Mind, and so strongly apprehend and hold it, as that it ftir not or evade, which is

noted alfo by the Divine Philofopher, Ecclef. 12,

12.

Verba fapientum (faith he) funt tanquam aculei et veluti clavi in altum defixi. The words of the Wise are like Goads, and Nails driven far in.

Moreover, all Science feems to be placed in fteep and high Mountains; as being thought to be a lofty and high thing, looking down upon Ignorance with a scornful Eye. It may be observed and feen also a great way, and far in compass, as things fet on the tops of Mountains.

Furthermore, Science may well be feign'd to beset the Highway, because which way soever we turn in this Progress and Pilgrimage of Human Life, we meet with some matter or occafion offered for Contemplation.

Sphynx is faid to have received from the Mufes divers difficult Questions and Riddles, and to propound them unto Men, which remaining with the Mufes, are free (it may be) from favage Cruelty; for fo long as there is no other end of Study and Meditation, than to know, the Understanding is not racked and imprisoned, but enjoys Freedom and Liberty, and even Doubts and Variety find a kind of Pleasure and Delectation: But when once these Enigmas are delivered by the Mufes to Sphynx, that is, to Practice, so that if it be folicited and urged by Action and Election, and Determination; then they begin to be troublesome and raging; and unless they be refolved and expedited, they do wonderfully torment and vex the Minds of Men, diftracting, and in a manner rending them into fundry Parts.

Moreover, there is always a twofold Condition propounded with Sphynx's Enigmas: To him that doth not expound them, diftraction of Mind; and to him that doth, a Kingdom; for he that knows that which he fought to know, hath attained the end he aimed at, and every Artificer also commands over his Work.

Of Sphynx's Riddles, they are generally two kinds; fome concerning the Nature of things, others touching the Nature of Men. So alfo there are two kinds of Empires, as Rewards to those that refolve them. The one over Nature, the other over Men; for the proper and chief end of true Natural Philosophy is to command and sway over Natural Beings; as Bodies, Medicines, Mechanical Works, and infinite other things; although the School (being content with fuch things as are offered, and priding itself with Speeches) doth neglect Realities and Works, treading them as it were under foot. But that Enigma propounded to Edipus (by means of which he obtained the Theban Empire) belonged to the Nature of Man: For whosoever doth thoroughly confider the Nature of Man, may be in a manner the Contriver of his own Fortune, and is born to command, which is well spoken of the Romans' Arts:

Tu regere imperio populos, Romane, memento.

Hæ tibi erunt Artes

Roman, remember, that with Sceptres' awe
Thy Realms thou rule. These Arts let be thy

Law.

It was therefore very appofite, that Augustus Cæfar (whether by Premeditation, or by a Chance) bare a Sphynx in his Signet: For he (if ever any) was famous not only in Political Government, but in all the course of his Life; he happily discovered many new Enigmas concerning the Nature of Man, which if he had not done with Dexterity and Promptness, he had oftentimes fallen into imminent Danger and Destruction.

Moreover, it is added in the Fable, that the Body of Sphynx, when she was overcome, was laid upon an Afs; which indeed is an elegant Fiction, feeing there is nothing fo acute and abftrufe, but (being well understood, and divulged,) may be well apprehended by a flow capacity.

Neither is it to be omitted, that Sphynx was overcome by a Man lame in his Feet; for when Men are too swift of Foot, and too speedy of Pace, in hafting to Sphynx's Enigmas, it comes to pass, that (fhe getting the upper hand) their Wits and minds are rather diftracted by Difputations, than that ever they come to command by Works and Effects.

XXIX. Proferpina, or Spirit.

LUTO, they fay, being made King of the Infernal Dominions, (by that memorable Divifion,) was in defpair of

ever attaining any one of the Superior Goddeffes in Marriage, especially if he should venture to court them, either with Words, or with any amorous Behaviour; fo that of Neceffity he was to lay fome Plot to get one of them by Rapine: Taking therefore the Benefit of Opportunity, he caught up Proferpina (the Daughter of Ceres, a beautiful Virgin,) as she was gathering Narciffus-Flowers in the Meadows of Sicily, and carried her away with him in his Coach to the Subterranean Dominions; where she was welcomed with fuch Refpect, as that she was styled the Lady of Dis. But Ceres, her Mother, when in no place fhe could find this her only beloved Daughter, in a forrowful Humour, and distracted beyond measure, went compaffing the whole Earth, with a burning Torch in her hand, to feek, and recover this her loft Child. But when she saw that all was in vain, fuppofing peradventure, that she was carried to Hell, fhe importuned Jupiter with many Tears and Lamentations that she might be reftored unto her again; and at length, prevailed thus far, That if fhe had tafted of nothing in Hell, fhe fhould have leave to bring her from thence. Which Condition was as

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