THE WISDOM OF TIIR ANCIENTS. 4- L 



beams, did usually, as is reported, send forth a 

 mournful sound. 



This fable may be applied to the unfortunate 

 destinies of hopeful young men, who like the sons of 

 Aurora, puffed up with the glittering shew of vanity 

 and ostentation, attempt actions above their strength, 

 and provoke and press the most valiant heroes to 

 combat with them, so that meeting with their over 

 match, are vanquished and destroyed, whose un 

 timely death is oft accompanied with much pity and 

 commiseration. For among all the disasters that 

 can happen to mortals, there is none so lamentable 

 and so powerful to move compassion as the flower of 

 virtue cropped with too sudden a mischance. Neither 

 hath it been often known that men in their green 

 years become so loathsome and odious, as that at 

 their deaths either sorrow is stinted, or commisera 

 tion moderated : but that lamentation and mourning 

 do not only flutter about their obsequies like those 

 funeral birds, but this pitiful commiseration doth 

 continue for a long space, and specially by occasions 

 and new motions, and beginning of great matters, 

 as it were by the morning rays of the sun, their 

 passions and desires are renewed. 



TITHONUS, OR SATIETY. 



It is elegantly feigned that Tithonus was the 

 paramour of Aurora, who, desirous to enjoy his 

 company, petitioned Jupiter that he might never 

 die, but, through womanish oversight, forgetting to 

 insert this clause in her petition, that he might not 



VOL. 3. ii 



