tion of the division of the year: for the spirit diffused through the earth, lives above ground in the vegetable world, during the summer months; but in the winter returns under ground again.

The attempt of Theseus and Perithous to bring Proserpine away, denotes that the more subtile spirits, which descend in many bodies to the earth, may frequently be unable to drink in, unite with themselves, and carry off the subterraneous spirit; but, on the contrary, be coagulated by it, and rise no more; so as to increase the inhabitants, and add to the dominion of Proserpine. *

The Alchemists will be apt to fall in with our interpretation of the golden bough, whether we will or no; because they promise golden mountains, and the restoration of natural bodies from their stone; as from the gates of Pluto: but we are well assured, that their theory has no just foundation; and suspect they have no very encouraging practical proofs of its soundness.

* Many philosophers have certain speculations to this purpose. Sir Isaac Newton, in particular, suspects that the earth receives its vivifying spirit from the comets. And the philosophical chemists and astrologers have spun the thought into many phantastical distinctions and varieties. See Newton. Princip. Lib. III. p. 473. &c. See also Sylva Sylva

rum.

Leaving, therefore, their conceits to themselves, we shall freely declare our own sentiments upon this last part of the fable. We are certain from

numerous figures and expressions of the ancients, that they judged the conservation, and in some degree, the renovation of natural bodies, to be no desperate or impossible thing; but rather abstruse, and out of the common road, than wholly impracticable. And this seems to be their opinion in the present case; as they have placed this bough among an infinite number of shrubs, in a spacious and thick wood. They supposed it of gold, because gold is the emblem of duration. They feigned it adventitious, not native, because such an effect is to be expected from art; and not from any medicine, or any simple or mere natural way of working.*

* The author's History of Life and Death is a comment upon this text.

MORAL MYTHOLOGY.

I.

THE FABLE OF MEMNON;

EXPLAINED OF THE FATAL PRECIPITANCY OF YOUTH.

THE poets made Memnon the son of Aurora; and bring him to the Trogan war in beautiful armour, and flushed with popular praise; where, thirsting after farther glory, and rashly hurrying on to the greatest enterprizes, he engages the bravest warrior of all the Greeks, Achilles; and falls by his hand, in single combat. Jupiter, in commiseration of his death, sent birds to grace his funeral, that perpetually chanted certain mournful and bewailing dirges. It is also reported, that the rays of the rising sun, striking his statue, used to give a lamenting sound.

EXPLANATION.

THIS fable regards the unfortunate end of those promising youths, who, like sons of the morning, elate with empty hopes and glittering

outsides, attempt things beyond their strength; challenge the bravest heroes; provoke them to the combat; and proving unequal, die in their high attempts.

The death of such youths seldom fails to meet with infinite pity; as no mortal calamity is more moving and afflicting, than to see the flower of virtue cropt before its time. Nay, the prime of life enjoyed to the full, or even to a degree of envy, does not assuage or moderate the grief occasioned by the untimely death of such hopeful youths But lamentations and bewailings fly, like mournful birds, about their tombs, for a long while after: especially upon all fresh occasions, new commotions, and the beginning of great actions, the passionate desire of them is renewed, as by the sun's morning rays.

II.

THE FABLE OF TYTHONUS;

EXPLAINED OF PREDOMINANT PASSIONS.

IT is elegantly fabled by Tythonus, that being exceedingly beloved by Aurora, she petitioned Jupiter that he might prove immortal; thereby to secure herself the everlasting enjoyment of his company but through female inadvertence she

forgot to add, that he might never grow old: so that, though he proved immortal, he became miserably worn and consumed with age, insomuch, that Jupiter, out of pity, at length transformed him to a grashopper.

EXPLANATION.

THIS fable seems to contain an ingenious description of pleasure; which at first, as it were in the morning of the day, is so welcome, that men pray to have it everlasting: but forget that satiety and weariness of it will, like old age, overtake them; though they think not of it: so that at length, when their appetite for pleasurable actions is gone, their desires and affections often continue: whence we commonly find that aged persons delight themselves with the discourse and remembrance of the things agreeable to them in their better days. This is very remarkable in men of a loose, and men of a military life the former whereof are always talking over their amours; and the latter the exploits of their youth; like grashoppers, that show their vigour only by their chirping.

*

* See the History of Life and Death.