CHAP. XIII. J THE FABLE OF BACCHUS INTERPRETED. 115 



second, the predominant passion of the mind throws itself, 

 like the ivy, round all liuman actions, entwines all our reso- 

 lutions, and perpetually adheres to and mixes itself in, among, 

 or even overtops them. 



And no wonder that superstitious rites and ceremonies 

 are attributed to Bacchus, when almost every ungovernahle 

 passion grows- wanton and luxuriant in corrupt religions; 

 nor again, that fury and frenzy should be sent and dealt out 

 by him, because every passion is a short frenzy, and if it be 

 vehement, lasting, and take deep root, it terminates in mad- 

 ness. And hence the allegory of Pentheus and Orpheus 

 being torn to pieces is evident ; for every headstrong passion 

 is extremely bitter, severe, inveterate, and revengefiil upon 

 all curious inquiry, wholesome admonition, free counsel and 

 persuasion. 



Lastly, the confusion between the persons of Jupiter and 

 Bacclms will justly admit of an allegory, because noble and 

 meritorioj^s actions may sometimes proceed from virtue, 

 sound r.^ason, and magnanimity, and sometimes again from 

 a con*^ ealed passion and secret desire of ill, however they 

 may be extolled and praised ; insomuch that it is not easy to 

 distinguish betwixt the acts of Bacchus and the acts of 

 Jupiter. 



But perhaps we remain too long in the theatre, — it is 

 time we should advance to the palace of the mind. 



mechanics, Newton has observed that reaction is always equal to action, 

 and we may observe a similar principle in the antiperistasis of the 

 moral world. The reactions in communities and individuals against any 

 dominant principle are generally marked with excesses proportionally 

 antagonistic to the fashions over which they prevail ; and though no 

 precise certainty can be acquired in the interpretation of phenomena 

 connected with the human will, yet we think a vast amount of proxima-te 

 truth might be elicited, and a flood of light thrown upon the springs of 

 our spiritual nature by a philosophic attempt to generalize such move- 

 ments and connect them with the higher laws of our mental constitu- 

 tion. Physically speaking, the force of the body resisting only augments 

 the eff'ect of the force which endeavours to conquer it ; while in the 

 moral world it increases both the effect and the power, as resistance 

 irritates the assailing force and consequently excites it to redouble its 

 efforts : hence may be seen the wisdom of that Providence who has 

 hidden the springs of the universe from ocular vision to sharpen man's 

 faculties in their discovery, and who ordinarily surrounds the course of 

 genii\s with diSicultiesi, in order that it may burst through them with 

 purei ^ame. Ed, 



i2 



