112 ADVANCEMENT 01' LEARKING. [UoOK It 



ing of Medusa's head in the jjhield, which is the greatest 

 possible defence and safeguard ; for one grand and memorable 

 enterprise, happily accomplished, bridles all the motions and 

 attempts of the enemy, stupifies disaffection, and quells 

 couimotions. 



DIONYSUS, OR BACCHUS.* 

 Explained of the Passions. 



" The fable runs, that Semele, Jupiter's mistress, having 

 boimd him by an inviolable oath to grant her an unknown 

 request, desired he would embrace her in the same form and 

 manner he used to embrace Juno ; and the promise being 

 irrevocable, she was burnt to death with lightning in the 

 performance. The embryo, however, was sewed up, and 

 carried in Jupiter's thigh, till the complete time of its birth ; 

 but the burden thus rendering the father lame, and giving 

 him pain, the child was thence called Dionysus. When born, 

 he was committed for some years to be nursed by Proser- 

 pina ; and when grown up, appeared with such an effeminate 

 face, that his sex seemed somewhat doubtful. He also died 

 and was buried for a time, but afterwards revived. When a 

 youth, he first introduced the cultivation and dressing of 

 vines, the method of preparing wine, and taught the use 

 thereof; whence becoming famous, he subdued the world, 

 even to the utmost bounds of the Indies. He rode in a 

 chariot drawn by tigers : there danced about him certain 

 deformed demons called Cobali, &c. ; the Muses also joined 

 in his train. He married Ariadne, who was deserted by 

 Theseus. The ivy was sacred to him. He was also held the 

 inventor and institutor of religious rites and ceremonies, 

 but such as were wild, frantic, and full of corruption and 

 cruelty. He had also the power of st liking men with frenzies. 

 Pentheus and Orpheus were torn to pieces by the frantic 

 women at his orgies, the first for climbing a tree to behold 

 their outrageous ceremonies, and the other for the music of 

 liis harp. But the acts of this god are much entangled and 

 confounded with those of Jupiter." 



This fable seems to contain a little system of morality, so 

 that there is scarce any better invention in all ethics. Un- 



• Ovid'a Metamc rphosei:, iii. iv. and vi. ; and Fasti, iii. 767. 



