Boy or Girl. He died alfo, and was buried for fome Time, and not long after revived again. In his tender Youth, he firft invented and taught the Dreffing of the Vine, the Ma king alfo, and Ufe of Wine; for which becoming famous and renowned, he fubjugated the World, even to the utmoft Bounds of India. He rode in a Chariot drawn by Ty-. gers. There danced about him certain deformed Hobgoblins, called Cobali, Acratus, and others. Nay, and the Muses joined themfelves to his Retinue. He took to Wife Ariadne, deferted and left by Thefeus. The Tree facred unto him was the Ivy. He was held the Inventor alfo and Inftitutor of facred Rites and Ceremonies, but of fuch fort, as were Frantick, and full of Debauchery, and Cruelty alfo. He had Power likewife to ftrike Men with Madness. At leaft in his Orgies, two celebrated Men Pentheus and Orpheus are faid to have been torn in pieces by certain diftracted Women: The One, for getting up a Tree, out of Curiofity, to behold their Ceremonies; the Other, for playing fweetly and kilfully upon his Harp. And for the Atchieveinents of this God, they are commonly confounded with the Acts of Jupiter.

THIS Fable feems to pertain to Morality, infomuch as Moral Philofophy affords nothing better. Under the Perfon of Bacchus there is described the Nature of Defire, or of the Paf

fions and Perturbations of the Mind. First therefore, as to the Birth and Parentage of Defire, the Origin of all Defire, tho' never fo pernicious or wicked, is no other than Good Apparent. For as the Mother of Virtue is Good Exifting, fo the Mother of Defire is Good Appearing. The One, the lawful Wife of Jupiter, (under whofe Perfon the Soul of Man is represented ;) the Other, his Concubine; who yet emulates the Honour of Juno, as Semele did. Defire is conceiv'd in an unlawful With rafhly granted, before rightly understood and judg'd of. And after it has begun to kindle up, its Mother (that is, the Nature and Appearance of Good) by too much Fire is deftroyed and perifhes. The Proceeding of Defire from its firft Conception is after this manner: It is nurs'd, and concealed by the Mind of Man, (which is its Father) especially in the inferior Part thereof, the Thigh as it were, and pricks, and girds, and depreffes the Mind, fo as to hinder and lame its Actions and Refolutions. Furthermore, after it is confirm'd by Consent and Time, and breaks out into Aft, fo that it has now in a manner fulfill'd its Months; and is fairly brought forth and born, at firft for fome Time however it is educated with Proferpine; that is, it feeks Höles and Corners, and is clandeftine, and under-ground as it were; until the Reins of Shame and Fear being laid afide, and improv'd in Boldnefs, it either affumes

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the Cloak of fome Virtue, or defpifes Infamy it felf. And this is moft true, that every vehement Paffion is as it were of the Doubtful Gender. For it has the Fiercenefs of a Man, but the Weaknefs and Impotence of a Wo

man.

THAT likewife is an excellent Fiction, That Bacchus died, and came to Life again. For Paffions fometimes feem fast asleep, and even dead, but there is no trufting of them, no though they were buried, for let there be but Matter and Opportunity offered, and they'll rife again.

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THE Invention of the Vine is a wife Parable; for every Affection is very ingenious and quick in finding out that which nourishes and cherishes it. And of all Things known to Men, Wine is moft powerful, and efficacious, to excite and kindle Paffions of what Kind foever; being in a manner the common Incentive to Defires in general.

AGAIN; Paffion or Defire is elegantly reprefented a Subduer of Provinces, and an Undertaker of infinite Expeditions. For it never refts content with what it has purchafed, but with an infinite and infatiable Appetite ftill covets and gapes after more.

TIGERS alfo ftable by Affections, and are fometimes put to their Chariot. For when once a Paffion is from going a-foot advanced to ride in a Chariot, and has captivated Reason, and leads her as it were in Triumph, it grows cruel, unmanageable, and fierce against all that withstand or oppose it.

AND it is a pretty Fiction, The Dancing of those deform'd ridiculous Demons about

Bacchus his Chariot. For every vehement Paflion causes in the Eyes, and in the very Face, and Gesture, certain indecent, diforderly, capering, and deform'd Motions; fo that they who in any Paffion, (as Anger, Arrogance, Love,) may perhaps feem glorious and brave in their own Eyes, do yet appear to others ugly and ridiculous.

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THE Mufes alfo are feen in the Train of Defire. For there is hardly any Paffion to be found fo deprav'd and vile, which is not foothed by fome Kind of Learning. For in this Particular, the Indulgence, and Immodefty of Wits hath hugely derogated from the Majefty of the Mufes; that whereas they ought to be the Guides and Standard-Bearers of Life, they many Times become the Handmaids and Procurers to Luft,

the Cloak of fome Virtue, or defpifes Infamy it felf. And this is moft true, that every vehement Passion is as it were of the Doubtful Gender. For it has the Fierceness of a Man, but the Weaknefs and Impotence of a Wo

man.

THAT likewife is an excellent Fiction, That Bacchus died, and came to Life again. For Paffions fometimes feem fast asleep, and even dead, but there is no trufting of them, no though they were buried, for let there be but Matter and Opportunity offered, and they'll rise again.

THE Invention of the Vine is a wife Parable, for every Affection is very ingenious and quick in finding out that which nourishes and cherishes it. And of all Things known to Men, Wine is moft powerful, and efficacious, to excite and kindle Paffions of what Kind foever; being in a manner the common Incentive to Defires in general.

AGAIN, Paffion or Defire is elegantly reprefented a Subduer of Provinces, and an Undertaker of infinite Expeditions. For it never refts content with what it has purchafed, but with an infinite and infatiable Appetite ftill covets and gapes after more.