312 OF ATMOSPHERICAL CHAP. 10. 2. 



Cupid, or the power of love ; Pysche, or the 

 breath of life; Fortune, or the principle of 

 chance influencing the lot of mortals ; and 

 Prudentia, or the gift of foresight. 



The celebrated anatomist, John Hunter, from 

 the want of a literary education commensurate 

 to his scientific attainments, was led into an 

 injudicious use of this figurative language, in 

 expressing his opinions on the physiology of 

 vital actions, which has beguiled some of his 

 followers into a most extraordinary sophistry of 

 doctrine respecting the nature of life. 



Finally, I may take an example, which may 

 serve for all the other gods and imaginary 

 beings, from the NgpsXjjye^ro, Zevg or Jupi- 

 ter riding on clouds : it affords a good clue to 

 the origin of his divinity, more simply and 

 philosophically described, by the great poet of 

 nature : 



" Principle) coelum ac terras camposque liquentes, 

 Lucentemque globum Lunae, Titaniaque astra, 

 Spiritus iutus alit, totumque infusa per artus, 

 Mens agitat molem, et magno se corpore miscet." 



, T The Greeks made out Castor and Pollux to 

 be the offspring of Jove, and I am inclined to 

 regard this also as an atmospherical fable. Jove, 



