82 THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 



games, in honour of Prometheus, or human nature, 

 were again restored ; and that matters should receive 

 success by combat and emulation, and not hang upon 

 any one man s sparkling and shaking torch. Men 

 therefore are to be admonished to rouse up their 

 spirits, and try their strengths and turns, and not refer 

 all to the opinions and brains of a few. 



And thus have I delivered that which I thought 

 good to observe out of this so well known and common 

 fable ; and yet I will not deny but that there may be 

 some things in it which have an admirable consent 

 with the mysteries of Christian religion ; and espe 

 cially that sailing of Hercules in a cup to set Pro 

 metheus at liberty, seems to represent an image of 

 the divine word, coming in flesh, as in a frail vessel, 

 to redeem man from the slavery of hell. But I have 

 interdicted my pen all liberty in this kind, lest I 

 * should use strange fire at the altar of the Lord. 



SCYLLA AND ICARUS, OR THE MIDDLE- 

 WAY. 



Mediocrity, or the middle-way, is most com 

 mended in moral actions ; in contemplative sciences 

 not so celebrated, though no less profitable and com 

 modious ; but in political employments to be used 

 with great heed and judgment. The ancients by 

 the way prescribed to Icarus, noted the mediocrity 

 of manners; and by the way between Scylla and 

 Charybdis, so famous for difficulty and danger, the 

 mediocrity of intellectual operations. 



Icarus being to cross the sea by flight, was com- 



