THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 65 



whether it be honour, or riches, or delight, or glory, 

 or knowledge, or any thing else which they seek 

 after, yet are they but tilings cast off, and by divers 

 men in all ages, after experience had, utterly rejected 

 and loathed. 



Neither is it without a mystery, that the ivy was 

 sacred to Bacchus ; for the application holds first, 

 in that the ivy remains green in winter. Secondly, 

 in that it sticks to, embraceth, and overtoppeth so 

 many divers bodies, as trees, walls, and edifices. 

 Touching the first, every passion doth by resistance 

 and reluctation, and as it were by an antiperistasis, 

 like the ivy of the cold winter, grow fresh and lusty: 

 and as for the other, every predominate affection 

 doth again, like the ivy, embrace and limit all human 

 actions and determinations, adhering and cleaving 

 fast unto them. 



Neither is it a wonder, that superstitious rites 

 and ceremonies were attributed unto Bacchus, seeing 

 every giddy-headed humour keeps in a manner 

 revel-rout in false religions ; or that the cause of 

 madness should be ascribed unto him, seeing every 

 affection is by nature a short fury, which if it grow 

 vehement and become habitual, concludes madness. 



Concerning the rending and dismembering of 

 Pentheus and Orpheus, the parable is plain, for 

 every prevalent affection is outrageous and severe, 

 and against curious inquiry and wholesome and free 

 admonition. 



Lastly, that confusion of Jupiter and Bacchus 

 persons may be well transferred to a parable, 



