46(3 WHAT WAS MEANT BY 



In the Theogony of Hesiod, Chaos and Night 

 were represented under the emblem of an egg, 

 over which the.SEther brooded, and disclosed the 

 innumerable forms of things. And it is probable 

 that the fable of Cupid and Psyche was an allego- 

 rical impersonation of passive matter, and of the 

 principle by which it is actuated ; or that Cupid 

 was intended to represent the universal attraction 

 that causes the loves of the elements, and binds 

 the universe together. 



The generation of the world from a fluid and 

 chaotic state, was a leading doctrine in all the an- 

 cient oriental cosmogonies, from the time of Moses, 

 Orpheus, and Hesiod, down to the period of Ovid ; 

 and may be traced in the writings of Aristotle, 

 Epicurus, Zeno, and the Stoics generally. For 

 example, we are informed in the first chapter of 

 Genesis, that " in the beginning, the earth was 

 without form, and void, and darkness was on the 

 face of the deep." And it is related by Berosus, 

 that the ancient Chaldeans maintained, that in 

 the beginning, all things consisted of a dark fluid 

 mixture, that was separated and reduced to order 

 by the divine power of Belus ; and that the 



" O them who fillest the palaces of Jove, 



Who flowest round sun, and moon, and stars above ; 



Pervading, bright, life-giving element; 



Supernal JETHER, fair and excellent, 



Fountain of hope and joy, of light and day, 



We own at length thy tranquil sway." 



