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again, which Lucretius prayed might not happen in his Time :

Quod procul à nobis flectat fortuna gubernans :
Et ratio potius quam res perfuadeat ipfa.

Oh guiding Providence be gracious,

That this Doomsday be far removed from us;
And grant, that by us it may be expected,
Rather than on us in our Times effected.

For afterwards, the World should fubfift by its own quantity and power. Yet from the beginning there was no reft: For in the Celestial Regions there firft followed notable Mutations, which by the Power of the Sun (predominating over superior Bodies) were fo quieted, that the state of the World should be conferved: and afterwards (in inferior Bodies) by the fuppreffing and diffipating of Inundations, Tempefts, Winds, and general Earthquakes, a more peaceable durable Agreement and Tranquillity of Things followed. But of this Fable it may convertibly be faid, that the Fable contains Philosophy, and Philosophy again the Fable : For we know by Faith, that all thefe Things are nothing else but the long fince ceafing and failing Oracles of Sense, seeing that both the Matter and Fabrick of the World are moft truly referred to a Creator.

XIII. Proteus, or Matter.

HE Poets fay that Proteus was Neptune's Herdfman, a grave Sire, and fo excellent a Prophet, that he might

well be termed thrice excellent; for he knew not only Things to come, but even Things paft as well as prefent; fo that befides his Skill in Divination, he was the Meffenger and Interpreter of all Antiquities and hidden Mysteries. The Place of his Abode was a huge vaft Cave, where his Custom was every Day at Noon to count his Flock of Sea-calves, and then to go to fleep. Moreover he that defired his Advice in anything, could by no other means obtain it, but by catching him in Manacles, and holding him fast therewith; who nevertheless, to be at liberty, would turn himfelf into all manner of Forms and Wonders of Nature; fometimes into Fire, fometimes into Water, sometimes into the shape of Beasts, and the like ; till at length he were restored to his own Form again.

This Fable may seem to unfold the secrets of Nature, and the properties of Matter. For under the Perfon of Proteus, the firft Matter (which next to God is the ancienteft Thing) may be represented: for Matter dwells in the concavity of Heaven, as in a Cave.

He is Neptune's Bondman, because the Operations and Difpenfations of Matter are chiefly exercifed in liquid Bodies.

His Flock or Herd feems to be nothing but the ordinary Species of fenfible Creatures, Plants, and Metals, in which Matter feems to diffuse and as it were spend itself; fo that after the forming and perfecting of these Kinds, (having ended as it were her Task,) fhe feems to Sleep, and take her Reft, not attempting the Compofition of any more Species. And this may be the Moral of Proteus's counting of his Flock, and of his sleeping.

Now this is faid to be done, not in the Morning, nor in the Evening, but at Noon; to wit, at such time as is most fit and convenient for the perfecting and bringing forth of Species out of Matter, duly prepared and predisposed, and in the middle, as it were, between their Beginning and Declinations, which we know fufficiently (out of the Holy History) to be done about the time of the Creation: For then by the power of that Divine Word (Producat,) Matter at the Creator's Command did congregate itself (not by Ambages or Turnings, but inftantly) to the Production of its Work into an Act and Constitution of Species. And thus far have we the Narration of Proteus (free and unreftrained) together with his Flock complete: For the univerfality of Things, with their ordinary Structures and Compofitions of Species, bears the Face of Matter, not limited and constrained, and of the Flock alfo of Material Beings. Nevertheless if any expert Minister of Nature, shall encounter Matter by main force, vexing and urging her with Intent and Purpose to reduce her to nothing; she contrariwise (seeing Annihilation and

abfolute Destruction cannot be effected but1 by the Omnipotency of God) being thus caught in the ftraits of Neceffity, doth change and turn herfelf into divers ftrange Forms and Shapes of Things, so that at length (by fetching a Circuit as it were) she comes to a Period, and (if the Force continue) betakes herself to her former Being. The reason of which Conftraint or Binding will be more facile and expedite, if Matter be laid hold on by Manacles, that is, by Extremities.

Now whereas it is feigned that Proteus was a Prophet, well skilled in three differences of Times, it hath an excellent Agreement with the Nature of Matter: for it is neceffary that he that will know the Properties and Proceedings of Matter should comprehend in his Understanding the fum of all things which have been, which are, or which shall be, although no Knowledge can extend fo far as to fingular and individual Beings.

XIV. Memnon, or a Youth too forward.

HE Poets fay, that Memnon was the Son of Aurora, who (adorned with beautiful Armour, and animated with

popular Applaufe,) came to the Trojan War; where in rash Boldness hafting unto, and

The Montagu edition omits the word but here, thus rendering the paffage abfurd. There are in other places omiffions and perverfions, but it is unneceffary to point them all out.

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thirsting after Glory, he enters into fingle Combat with Achilles, the valianteft of all the Grecians, by whofe powerful Hand he was there flain. But Jupiter pitying his Destruction, sent Birds to mo

dulate certain lamentable and doleful Notes at the Solemnization of his Funeral Obfequies. Whofe Statue alfo (the Sun reflecting on it with his Morning Beams) did ufually, as is reported, fend forth a mournful Sound.

This Fable may be applied to the unfortunate Deftinies of hopeful young Men, who, like the Sons of Aurora, (puffed up with the glittering shew of Vanity and Oftentation,) attempt Actions above their Strength, and provoke, and press the most valiant Heroes to combat with them; so that, meeting with their overmatch, [they] are vanquished, and destroyed whofe untimely Death is oft accompanied with much Pity and Commiferation. For among all the Difafters that can happen to Mortals, there is none fo lamentable, and fo powerful to move Compaffion as the flower of Virtue cropped with too fudden a Mifchance. Neither hath it been often known that Men in their green Years become fo loathfome, and odious, as that at their Deaths either Sorrow is ftinted, or Commiferation moderated; but that Lamentation and Mourning do not only flutter about their Obfequies, like thofe Funeral Birds; but this pitiful Commiferation doth continue for a long space, and especially by Occafions, and new Motions, and beginning of great Matters, as it were by the Morning Rays of the Sun, their Paffions and Defires are renewed.

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