THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 67 



by a great start, and Jeaves her behind him : but she 

 by her own natural swiftness, recovers her lost time 

 and gets before him again. But Hippomenes still 

 continues his sleight, and both the second and third 

 times cast out his balls, those enticing delays ; and 

 so by craft, and not by his activity, wins the race 

 and victory. 



This fable seems allegorically to demonstrate a 

 notable conflict between art and nature; for art, 

 signified by Atalanta, in its work, if it be not letted 

 and hindered, is far more swift than nature, more 

 speedy in pace, and sooner attains the end it aims at, 

 which is manifest almost in every effect; as you may 

 see in fruit-trees, whereof those that grow of a ker 

 nel are long ere they bear, but such as are grafted 

 on a stock a great deal sooner. You may see it in 

 clay, which in the generation of stones, is long ere 

 it become hard, but in the burning of bricks is very 

 quickly effected. Also in moral passages you may 

 observe, that it is a long time ere, by the benefit of 

 nature, sorrow can be assuaged, and comfort at 

 tained ; whereas philosophy, which is, as it were, art 

 of living, tarries not the leisure of time, but doth it 

 instantly and out of hand ; and yet this prerogative 

 and singular agility of art is hindered by certain 

 golden apples, to the infinite prejudice of human 

 proceedings : for there is not any one art or science 

 which constantly perseveres in a true and lawful 

 course, till it come to the proposed end or mark, 

 but ever and anon makes stops after good beginnings, 



