THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 85 



\vho asked him what creature that was, which after 

 his birth went first upon four feet, next upon two, 

 then upon three, and lastly upon four feet again ; 

 answered forthwith that it was man, which in his 

 infancy, immediately after birth, crawls upon all 

 four, scarce venturing to creep, and not long after 

 stands upright upon two feet, then growing old he 

 leans upon a staff, wherewith he supports himself; 

 so that he may seem to have three feet, and at last, 

 in decrepid years, his strength failing him, he falls 

 groveling again upon four, and lies bed-rid. Having 

 therefore by this true answer gotten the victory, he 

 instantly slew this Sphynx, and, laying her body 

 upon an ass, leads it as it were in triumph ; and so, 

 according to the condition, was created king of the 

 Thebans. 



This fable contains in it no less wisdom than 

 elegancy, and it seems to point at science, especially 

 that which is joined with practice, for science may 

 not absurdly be termed a monster, as being by the 

 ignorant and rude multitude always held in admira 

 tion. It is diverse in shape and figure, by reason of 

 the infinite variety of subjects, wherein it is conver 

 sant. A maiden face and voice is attributed unto it 

 for its gracious countenance and volubility of tongue. 

 Wings are added, because sciences and their inven 

 tions do pass and fly from one to another, as it were, 

 in a moment, seeing that the communication of sci 

 ence is as the kindling of one light at another. Ele 

 gantly also it is feigned to- have sharp and hooked 

 talons, because the axioms and arguments of sci 

 ence do so fasten upon the mind, and so strongly 



