6 Introduction. 



Without going at all out of the way to find them, 

 indications of the same truth may also be found in the 

 work which Proteus has to do every day as a herdsman, 

 as well as in that nobler work which may now and then 

 devolve upon him as a seer. 



It is very possible that the herd itself may point to a 

 law of communion as a primary law of nature. It is 

 very possible that the counting of this herd by the 

 herdsman, and the sleeping afterwards, may point to this 

 law as working, not in the direction of evolution and 

 development, but within certain fixed limits as pre- 

 serving a state of equilibrium which would be disturbed 

 if any one herd, or species, or genus, or class, exceeded 

 or fell short of the proper number allotted to it. And, 

 without putting any great strain upon the fancy, a 

 meaning may also be found in the work which has to be 

 done in bringing the herd out of the waters to rest and 

 sleep at noon, even this, that in order to repair the 

 waste caused by exercise, and to fill up the gaps made 

 by death, the herd must have more rest and sleep, as 

 well as more light and heat and air, than can be had in 

 the waters. 



Nor is it a matter of wonder that Proteus should be 

 a herdsman at one time, and a seer at another. For if 

 " the invisible things of Him, from the creation of the 

 world are clearly seen, being understood by the things 

 that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead," 

 it surely follows that 'the things that are made,' nature, 

 may be prophetic in any other matter. So that, even 

 here, Proteus may still serve for the authentic symbol of 

 nature. 



And not less significant are the parts of the story 

 which yet remain to be noticed. 



As her name implies, Eidothea is, not exactly a 



