6o A BOOK OF MORTALS 



for the marvellous cohesion of the Roman Empire. The 

 unicorn, fabulous protector of purity, has played its part 

 even in our own patriotism. And so with many another 

 minor legend in regard to minor things. Who, for 

 instance, would deny the actual influence on his or her 

 own mind of the World-Idea of peace associated with 

 the dove bearing the olive branch, or the World-Idea 

 of sacrifice and atonement associated with the lamb of 

 the passover ? 



This record, therefore, of the benefits we have received 

 at the hands of our fellow mortals would be incomplete 

 without some brief mention of the animal symbolism, 

 the animal legends and tales which have been interwoven 

 so closely with the history of the human race. 



Some of them may be held to have fulfilled their whole 

 mission by being passed down to the youth of generation 

 after generation as examples fiar admiration, or allegories 

 of right conduct ; but some, such as those already men- 

 tioned, have had a larger share in helping us to build up 

 our Palace of Thought and Truth. 



Let us then set them down ; so far as is possible repro- 

 ducing the idea in its oldest known form, and only adding 

 such comments as may be necessary to show the effect 

 it has had on the World's history and fhe cause of that 

 effect. 



