72 Of the Advancement of Learning. Lib.IL 



ly the words of Epicurus favour lefs of Dotage than ofprophanenefs 

 Senec.in vvhete he faith ; Prajiare, credere fahlam Deornfa, quant Fatum aJJere-< 

 re, Asifany thing in the frame of nature could be like an Ifland, wJiich 

 is feparate from the connexion of the continent. But Epicurus (as it is 

 evident from his own words) accommodating, and fubjeding his AT*- 

 tural Philofophy to his Moral •-, would hear of no opinion which might 

 pre(s and fting the confcience -, or any way difcalm, and trouble that 

 Eiithymia, or Tranquillify of mwd:, which he had receiv'd from Demo- 

 critui. Wherefore being more indulgent to the delufions of his own 

 fancyes, than patient of truth ; he hath fairly caft off the yoak, and 

 abandoned as well the Necejjity o^Fate, as the Fear of the Gods* And 

 thus much concerning the Fraternity oiPan with the Dejiinies, 



§ Horns are attributed unto the IVorld^ broad at the root, fliarp at 

 the top 5 the nature of all things being like a Py ramis leffening upwards. 

 For Individuals in which the Bafe of nature is fpread out 5 being infi- 

 nite, are collefted into Species, which aremanyalfb^ Species again 

 rife up into Generals 5 and thefe afcending are contrafted into more U- 

 niverfal Generalities ; fo that at length, nature may feem to clofe in a 

 unity •-, which is fignified by the Pyramidal Figure oiPatts Horns, Nei- 

 ther is it to be wondr'd at, that Pan toucheth heaven with his horns 5 

 feeing the tranfcendentals of Nature, or Vniverfal ideas, do in (bme 

 fort reach things Divine. Wherefore llomevs famous Chain of Natural 

 iliad.ix. caufes, tyed to the foot <?/ lupiters Chair, was celebrated. And it is 

 plain, thatnoman converlantinMi;^d/?^^/?f45 ^"d thofe things which 

 in Nature are Eternal, and immoveable 5 and that hath never fo little 

 withdrawn his mind from the fluid ruin of fublunary things, which doth 

 not at the fame inftant fill upon Natural Theology : fo direft and com- 

 pendious a paflageitis, from the top of the Pyramis , to matters Di« 

 vine. 



§ The body of lV<i/«re is elegantly and and lively drawn Hairy, re- 

 preftnting the beams of things , for beams are, as it were, the hairs or 

 briftles of nature ; and every Creature is more or lefs Beamy 5 which 

 is moft apparent in the faculty of feeing; and no lefs in every magne- 

 tick virtue, and operation upon diftance ; for whatfoeverworketh up- 

 on any thing upon Diftance, that may rightly be faid to dart forth rays. 

 Moreover Pans beard is faid to be exceeding long, becaufe the beams or 

 influences of the Heavens 3 and fpecially of the Sun, do operate, and 

 pierce fartheft of all ; fo that not only the furface, but the inward bow- 

 els of the earth have been turn'd 5 fubduc'd ; and impregnate, with the 

 mafculine Spirit of the heavenly influence. And the form of Pans heard 

 is the more elegant 5 becaufe the 6'«w,vvhen his higher part, is fhadow- 

 ed with a Cloud, his beams break out in the lower $ and fo appears to 

 the eye as if he were bearded. 



§ Nature is alfo mofl expreflively fet forth with a hi-formed Body ; 

 in reference to the Differences between fiiperiour and inferiour bodies. 

 For the one part, by reafon of their beauty 5 and equability, and con- 

 ftancy ofmotion; and dominion over the earth ; and earthly things ; 

 is aptly fet out by the fliape of man : And the other part in refpeft of 

 their perturbations ; and irregular motions 5 and tbat they are for moft 

 part commanded by the Ceieltial •■, may be well fitted with the figure 

 of a bruit beaji. Again this fame bi formed defcription of his body, per- 

 tains 



