CHAP. XIII.] THE FABLE OF PAN INTERPRETED. 107 



government of the world, the administration of its affairs, 

 and the more secret divine judgments, sound harsh and 

 dissonant to human ears or human judgment ; and though 

 this ignorance be justly rewarded with ass's ears, yet they 

 are put on and worn, not openly, but with great secrecy ; 

 nor is the deformity of the thing seen or observed by the 

 vulgar. 



We must not find it strange if no amours are related of 

 Pan, besides his marriage with Echo ; for nature enjoys 

 itself, and in itself all other things : he that loves, desires 

 enjoyment ; but in profusion there is no room for desire ; 

 and therefore Pan, remaining content with himself, had no 

 passion, unless it be for discourse, which is well shadowed out 

 by Echo, or talk ; or when it is more accurate, by Syrinx, or 

 writing.^ But Echo makes a most excellent wife for Pan, 

 as being no other than genuine philosophy, which faithfully 

 repeats his words, or only transcribes exactly as nature dic- 

 tates ; thus representing the true image and reflection of the 

 world, without adding a tittle. The calling the moon aside 

 into a deeply embrowned wood, seems to refer to the conven- 

 tion between the sense and spiritual things. Eor the ear of 

 Endymion and Pan are different, the moon of her own 

 accord in the latter case stooping down from her sphere as 

 Endymion lay asleep, intimating that divine illuminations oft 

 glide gently into the understanding, cast asleep and \vithdrawu 

 from the senses. But if they be called by sense, representing 

 Pan, they afford no other light than that 



*' Quale, per incertani luaam, sub luce malignS, 

 Est iter in sylvis."' 



It tends also to the support and perfection of Pan or 

 nature, to be without offspring ; for the world generates in its 

 parts, and not in the way of a whole, as wanting a body ex- 

 ternal to itself wherewith to generate. 



l^astly, for the supposed or spurious prattling daughter of 

 Fan, it is an excellent addition to the fable, and aptly re- 

 presents the talkative philosophies that have at all times 

 been stirring, and filled the world with idle tales ; being 

 ever barren, empty, and servile, though sometimes indeed 

 •liverting and entertaining, and sometimes again troublesome 

 Vid importunate. 



T Syrinx aignifying a reed, or the ancient pen. ' .^neid, vi, 270. 



