THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 25 



the first ; for there is no crrour in war more frequent 

 than that prosecutions and subsidiary forces do fail 

 to answer the alacrity of the first onsets. 



Now for that helmet which Pluto gave him, 

 powerful to make men invisible, the moral is plain ; 

 but that twofold gift of Providence, to wit, the shield 

 and looking-glass, is full of morality ; for that kind 

 of Providence, which like a shield avoids the force of 

 blows, is not alone needful, but that also by which 

 the strength and motions and counsels of the enemy 

 are descried, as in the looking-glass of Pallas. 



But Perseus, albeit he were sufficiently furnished 

 with aid and courage, yet was he to do one thing of 

 special importance before he entered the lists with 

 this monster, and that was to have some intelligence 

 with the Greae. These Grea? are treasons which may 

 be termed the sisters of war not descended of the 

 same stock, but far unlike in nobility of birth ; for 

 wars are generous and heroical, but treasons are 

 base and ignoble. Their description is elegant, for 

 they are said to be gray-headed, and like old women 

 from their birth, by reason that traitors are conti 

 nually vexed with cares and trepidations. But all 

 their strength, before they break out into open re 

 bellions, consists either in an eye or in a tooth ; for 

 every faction alienated from any state, contemplates 

 and bites. Besides, this eye and tooth is as it were 

 common ; for whatsoever they can learn and know is 

 delivered and carried from one to another by the 

 hands of faction. And as concerning the tooth, they 

 do all bite alike, and sing the same song ; so that 

 VOL. 3. D 



