THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 5 



kingdom) to contract their power, and, being de 

 prived of the sinews of money and majesty, betake 

 themselves to some remote and obscure corner within 

 their dominions ; but in process of time, if they bear 

 their misfortunes with moderation, they may recover 

 their strength by the virtue and industry of Mercury, 

 that is, they may, by becoming affable, and by re 

 conciling the minds and wills of their subjects with 

 grave edicts and gracious speech, excite an alacrity 

 to grant aids and subsidies whereby to strengthen 

 their authority anew. Nevertheless, having learned 

 to be wise and wary, they will refrain to try the 

 chance of fortune by war, and yet study how to sup 

 press the reputation of the rebels by some famous 

 action, which if it fall out answerable to their expec 

 tation, the rebels, finding themselves weakened, and 

 fearing the success of their broken projects, betake 

 themselves to some sleight and vain bravadoes like the 

 hissing of serpents, and at length in despair betake 

 themselves to flight, and then when they begin to 

 break, it is safe and timely for kings to pursue and 

 oppress them with the forces and weight of the 

 kingdom, as it were with the mountain JEtna. 



THE CYCLOPS, OR THE MINISTERS OF 

 TERROR. 



They say that the Cyclops, for their fierceness 

 and cruelty, were by Jupiter cast into hell, and there 

 doomed to perpetual imprisonment ; but Tellus per 

 suaded Jupiter that it would do well, if being set at 

 liberty, they were put to forge thunder-bolts, which 



