CHAP. XIII.] THE FABLE OF BACCHUS INTERPRETED. 113 



der the history of Bacchus is drawn the nature of unlawful 

 desire, or affection and disorder ; for the appetite and thirst 

 "f apparent good is the mother of all unlawful desire, though 

 ever so destructive ; and all unlawful desires arc conceived 

 in unlawful wishes or requests, rashly indulged or granted 

 before they are well understood or considered ; and when the 

 affection begins to grow warm, the mother of it (the nature 

 of good) is destroyed and burnt uj) by the heat. And whilst 

 an unlawful desii'e lies in the embryo, or unripened in tlie 

 mind, which is its father, and here represented by Jupiter, it 

 is cherished and concealed, especially in the inferior part of 

 the mind, corresponding to the thigh of the body, where jjaiu 

 twitches and depresses the mind so far as to render its reso- 

 lutions and actions imperfect and lame. And even after this 

 child of the mind is confirmed, and gains strength by con- 

 sent and habit, and comes forth into action, it must still be 

 nursed by Proserpina for a time ; that is, it skulks and 

 hides its head in a clandestine manner, as it were under- 

 ground, till at length, when the checks < f shame and fear are 

 removed, and the requisit''*. V»oldness acquired, it either as- 

 sumes the j)retext of some -.irtue, or openly despises infamy. 

 And it is justly observed, that every vehement passion aj)- 

 })ears of a doubtful sex, as having the strength of a man at 

 first, but at last the impotence of a woma.i. It is also excel- 

 lently added, that Bacchus died and rose again ; for the affec- 

 tions sometimes seem to die and be no more ; but there is no 

 trusting them, even though they were buried, being always 

 apt and ready to rise again whenever the occasion or object 

 offers. 



That Bacchus should be the inventor of wine carries a fine 

 allegory with it; for every affection is cunning and subtile 

 in discovering a proper matter to nourish and feed it ; ind 

 of all things known to mortals, wine is the most powerful 

 and effectual for exciting and inflaming passions of all kinds, 

 being indeed like a common fuel to them all. 



It is again with great elegance observed of Bacchus, that 

 he subdued provinces and undertook endless expeditions; for 

 the affections never rest satisfied with what they enjoy, but 

 with an endless and insatiable appetite tiiirst after somewhat 

 fui*ther. And tigers are prettily feigned to draw the chariot ; 

 for as sooK a,s any affection shall, from going on foot, be ad- 

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