INTRODUCTION. XXXV 



may infer, unless he thought it to be eternal, 

 that he meant it should be ascribed to the 

 Deity ; but, if such was his opinion, he ought 

 to have stated it distinctly and broadly ; 

 which he certainly would have done had he 

 felt any anxiety to prevent misrepresentation. 

 As it is, his God is an exact counterpart 

 of the God of Epicurus, who leaving all to 

 nature or chance, takes no further care or 

 thought for the worlds to which he had given 

 being. 



But what is this mighty and next to omni- 

 potent power, 



This great- grandmother of all creatures bred, 

 Great Nature ever young, but full of eld ; 

 Still moving, yet immoved from her sted ; 

 Unseen of any, yet of all beheld ; 

 Thus sitting in her throne 



as quaintly sings our great bard of allegory. 1 



Now this great-grandmother of the whole 

 creation, who, according to our author, takes 

 all trouble off the hands of the God of Gods, 

 sitting as it were in his throne, and directing 

 and upholding all things by the word of her 

 power, what is she ? Is she not at. least 



1 Faerie Queene, B. vn. c. vii. st. 13. 



