22 THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 



perfection of the world, that he begets no issue ; for 

 the world doth generate in respect of its parts ; but 

 in respect of the whole, how can it generate, seeing 

 without it there is no body ? Notwithstanding all 

 this, the tale of that tattling girl faltered upon Pan, 

 may in very deed, with great reason, be added to this 

 fable ; for by her are represented those vain and idle 

 paradoxes concerning the nature of things which 

 have been frequent in all ages, and have filled the 

 world with novelties ; fruitless, if you respect the 

 matter ; changelings, if you respect the kind ; some 

 times creating pleasure, sometimes tediousness, with 

 their overmuch prattling. 



PERSEUS, OR WAR. 



Perseus is said to have been employed by Pallas for 

 the destroying of Medusa, who was very infestuous to 

 the western parts of the world, and especially about 

 the utmost coasts of Hiberia ; a monster so dire and 

 horrid, that by her only aspect she turned men into 

 stones. This Medusa alone of all the Gorgons was mor 

 tal, the rest not subject to death. Perseus, therefore, 

 preparing himself for this noble enterprise, had arms 

 and gifts bestowed on him by three of the gods ; Mer 

 cury gave him wings annexed to his heels, Pluto a 

 helmet, Pallas a shield and a looking-glass. Not 

 withstanding, although he were thus furnished, he 

 went not directly to Medusa, but first to the Greae, 

 which, by the mother s side, were sisters to the Gor 

 gons. These Greae from their birth were hoar- 

 headed, resembling old women ; they had but one 



