PHYSICAL MYTHOLOGY. MYTHOLOGY. I. THE FABLE OF CELUM; EXPLAINED OF THE CREATION, OR ORIGIN OF ALL THINGS. THE poets relate, that Cœlum was the most ancient of all the gods; that his parts of generation were cut off by his son Saturn; that Saturn had a numerous offspring; but devoured all his sons, as soon as they were born; that Jupiter, at length, escaped the common fate; and when grown up, drove his father Saturn into Tartarus; usurped the kingdom; cut off his father's genitals, with the same knife wherewith Saturn had dismembered Cœlum; and throwing them into the sea, thence sprung Venus. Before Jupiter was well established in his empire, two memorable wars were made upon him; the first by the Titans, in subduing of whom, Sol, the only one of the Titans who fa voured Jupiter, performed him singular service. The second by the giants; who being destroyed and subdued by the thunder and arms of Jupiter, he now reigned secure. EXPLANATION. THIS Fable appears to be an enigmatical account of the origin of all things; not greatly differing from the philosophy afterwards embraced by Democritus, who expressly asserts the eternity of matter; but denies the eternity of the world: thereby approaching to the truth of sacred writ, which makes chaos, or un-informed matter, to exist before the six days works. The meaning of the fable seems to be this: Cœlum denotes the concave space, or vaulted roof that incloses all matter; and Saturn the matter itself; which cuts off all power of generation from his father: as one and the same quantity of matter remains invariable in nature, without addition or diminution. * But the agitations and struggling motions of matter, first *The original quantity of matter remaining invariably the same, explains that circumstance in the fable, of the same knife being used for the dismembering of Saturn, as had before been used for the dismembering of Cœlum. produced certain imperfect and ill-joined compositions of things, as it were so many first rudiments, or essays of worlds; till, in process of time, there arose a fabric capable of preserving its form and structure. Whence the first age was shadowed out by the reign of Saturn; who, on account of the frequent dissolutions, and short durations of things, was said to devour his children. And the second age was denoted by the reign of Jupiter; who thrust, or drove those frequent and transitory changes into Tartarus; a place expressive of disorder. This place seems to be the middle space, between the lower heavens, and the internal parts of the earth; wherein disorder, imperfection, mutation, mortality, destruction, and corruption, are principally found. Venus was not born during the former generation of things, under the reign of Saturn: for whilst discord and jar had the upper hand of concord and uniformity in the matter of the universe, a change of the entire structure was necessary. And in this manner, things were generated and destroyed, before Saturn was dismembered. But when this manner of generation ceased, there immediately followed another, * * Viz. When Jupiter possessed the throne; or after a durable world was formed. Let the figurative or personify brought about by Venus, or a perfect and esta blished harmony of things; whereby changes were wrought in the parts, whilst the universal fabric remained entire and undisturbed. Saturn, however, is said to be thrust out and dethroned, not killed, and become extinct; because agreeably to the opinion of Democritus, the world might relapse into its old confusion and disorder: which Lucretius hoped would not happen in his time. * But now, when the world was compact, and held together by its own bulk and energy; yet there was no rest from the beginning: for first, there followed considerable motions and distur bances in the celestial regions; though so regulated and moderated by the power of the Sun, prevailing over the heavenly bodies, as to continue the world in its state. Afterwards there followed the like in the lower parts, by inundations, storms, winds, general earthquakes, &c. which, however, being subdued and kept under, there ensued a more peaceable and lasting harmony, and consent of things. ing manner of expression, usual among the poets, be all along considered. * "Quod procul a nobis flectas Fortuna gubernans; It may be said of this fable, that it includes philosophy; and again, that philosophy includes the fable for we know, by faith, that all these things are but the oracle of sense, long since ceased and decayed; but the matter and fabric of the world being justly attributed to a creator. II. THE FABLE OF PROMETHEUS; EXPLAINED OF AN OVER-RULING PROVIDENCE, AND OF HUMAN NATURE. THE ancients relate that man was the work of Prometheus, and formed of clay; only the artificer mixed in with the mass, particles taken from different animals. And being desirous to improve his workmanship, and endow, as well as create, the human race; he stole up to heaven with a bundle of birch rods, and kindling them at the chariot of the Sun, thence brought down fire to the earth, for the service of men. They add, that for this meritorious act, Prometheus was repayed with ingratitude by man * Next should follow the fable of Pan, explained in the de Augmentis Scientiarum; for that fable seems naturally to succeed the present: as the Phenomena of the Universe, come to be considered immediately after its origin. |