THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 9 



STYX, OR LEAGUES. 



The oath by which the gods were wont to oblige 

 themselves when they meant to ratify any thing so 

 firmly as never to revoke it, is a thing well known to 

 the vulgar, as being mentioned almost in every fable, 

 which was, when they did not invoke or call to wit 

 ness any celestial majesty or divine power, but only 

 the river Styx, that with crooked and meandry turn 

 ings encircleth the palace of the infernal Dis. This 

 was held as the only manner of their sacrament, and, 

 besides it, not any other vow to be accounted firm 

 and inviolable, and therefore the punishment to be 

 inflicted, if any did perjure themselves, was, that for 

 certain years they should be put out of commons, 

 and not to be admitted to the table of the gods. 



This fable seems to point at the leagues and pacts 

 of princes, of which more truly than opportunely 

 may be said, that be they never so strongly confirmed 

 with the solemnity and religion of an oath, yet are 

 for the most part of no validity ; insomuch, that they 

 are made rather with an eye to reputation, and re 

 port, and ceremony, than to faith, security, and 

 effect. Moreover, add to these the bonds of affinity, 

 as the sacraments of nature, and mutual deserts of 

 each part, and you shall observe, that with a great 

 many, all these things are placed a degree under 

 ambition and profit, and the licentious desire of 

 domination ; and so much the rather, because it is 

 an easy thing for princes to defend and cover their 

 unlawful desires and unfaithful vows with many out- 

 VOL. 3. c 



