132 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



sens to lend him their eye and their tooth the eye to give 

 him indications and make discoveries, the tooth for sowing 

 rumors, raising envy, and stirring up the minds of the people. 

 And when all these things are thus disposed and prepared, 

 then follows the action of the war. 



He finds Medusa asleep ; for whoever undertakes a war 

 with prudence generally falls upon the enemy unprepared, 

 and nearly in a state of security; and here is the occasion 

 for Pallas s mirror, for it is common enough, before the 

 danger presents, to see exactly into the state and posture 

 of the enemy; but the principal use of the glass is in the 

 very instant of danger, to discover the manner thereof and 

 prevent consternation, which is the thing intended by Per 

 seus turning his head aside and viewing the enemy in the 

 glass. 19 



Two effects here follow the conquest 1. The darting 

 forth of Pegasus, which evidently denotes fame, that flies 

 abroad, proclaiming the victory far and near. 2. The 

 bearing of Medusa s head in the shield, which is the 

 greatest possible defence and safeguard; for one grand 

 and memorable enterprise, happily accomplished, bridles 

 all the motions and attempts of the enemy, stupefies dis 

 affection, and quells commotions. 



DIONYSUS, OE BACCHUS 20 



Explained of the Passions 



1 THE fable runs, that Semele, Jupiter s mistress, hav 

 ing . bound him by an inviolable oath to grant her an un 

 known request, desired he would embrace her in the same 

 form and manner he used to embrace Juno; and the prom 

 ise being irrevocable, she was burned to death with light 

 ning in the performance. The embryo, however, was sewed 

 up, and carried in Jupiter s thigh, till the complete time of 



19 Thus it is the excellence of a general early to discover what turn the 

 battle is likely to take, and looking prudently behind, as well as before, to 

 pursue a victory so as not to be unprovided for a retreat. 



20 Ovid s Metamorphoses, iii iv. and vi. ; and Fasti, iii. 767. 



