128 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



PERSEUS, 18 OR WAR 

 Explained of the Preparation and Conduct necessary to War 



&quot;THE fable relates that Perseus was despatched from 

 the east by Pallas, to cut off Medusa s head, who had 

 committed great ravage upon the people of the west; for 

 this Medusa was so dire a monster, as to turn into stone 

 all those who but looked upon her. She was a Grorgon, 

 and the only mortal one of the three ; the other two being 

 invulnerable. Perseus, therefore, preparing himself for this 

 grand enterprise, had presents made him from three of the 

 gods: Mercury gave him wings for his heels; Pluto, a hel 

 met; and Pallas, a shield and a mirror. But though he was 

 now so well equipped, he posted, not directly to Medusa, 

 but first turned aside to the Greae, who were half-sisters to 

 the Grorgons. These Grreas were gray-headed, and like old 

 women from their birth, having among them all three but 

 one eye, and one tooth, which, as they had occasion to go 

 out, they each wore by turns, and laid them down again 

 upon coming back. This eye and this tooth they lent to 

 Perseus, who, now judging himself sufficiently furnished, 

 he, without further stop, flies swiftly away to Medusa, and 

 finds her asleep. But not venturing his eyes, for fear she 

 should wake, he turned his head aside, and viewed her in 

 Pallas s mirror, and thus directing his stroke, cut off her 

 head; when immediately, from the gushing blood, there 

 darted Pegasus winged. Perseus now inserted Medusa s 

 head into Pallas s shield, which thence retained the faculty 

 of astonishing and benumbing all who looked on it.&quot; 



This fable seems invented to show the prudent method 

 of choosing, undertaking, and conducting a war. The chief 

 thing to consider in undertaking war is a commission from 

 Pallas, certainly not from Yenus, as the Trojan war was, or 

 other slight motive. Because the designs of war ought to 

 be justified by wise counsels. As to the choice of war, the 

 fable propounds three grave and useful precepts. 



18 Ovid, Metam. iv. 



