Lib. II. Of the Advancement of Learning. nn 



Monfier huge and fierce, of an afpeft (b dire and horridj that with her fan^. 

 Very looks fhe turn'd men into (tones . Of all the Gorgons this MecluU ^'"'''' 

 ^one was mortal, the reft not fubjeft to death ; Perjeus therefore pre- 

 paring himfelf for this noble enterprife, had Arms and gifts beftowed 

 on him by three of the Gods ; Mercury gave him wings fitted for his 

 feet not his arms ; Tluto a helmet, Pallas a fhield, and a Looking- glafs. 

 Nattvithjiafiditjg although he was thus well furniflit, he went not di- 

 redly tq Medufa^ but turned into the Gre£^ which by the Mothers 

 (ide were fifters to the Gorgons. Thefe Gre<e from their birth were 

 hq^ry-hcaded, refembiing old women. They had but one only 9 e, 

 and one tooth among them all 5 both which as they had occafion to go 

 abroad, they were wqnt in courfe tq take with them, and at their re- 

 turn to lay them down again. This eyeznd tooth they lent to Perfeus 5 

 fo finding himfelf completely appointed for the Adion defigned, with 

 winged fpeed he marches towards- Mcdufa. Her he found fleeping ; 

 yet durft not venture himfelf a front to her alped, if (he (hould chance 

 to awake; but turning his head afide, beholding her by refleftion in 

 Fallot her Mirror^ andfodirefting his blow,cut off her head ; from who(e 

 i)loud guChing out , inftantly there emerged Pegafus the flying Horfe. 

 Her head thus fmitten off, Perfeus transfers and inferts into Pal- 

 las herfhield ; which yet retained this virtue, that whofoever lookt 

 ppon it, as one blafted or Plannet-ftruck, he (bould fuddenly become 

 ienfelefs, 



§ 'This Frf^/e feems to be devifed fqr direftion tq the preparation, Sandyj 

 and order that is to be obferved in making of war. And firft the un- ^'''"- 

 dertaking of any war ought to be as a cqmmifliqn frqm Pal/as ^ cer- "vid ' "* 

 tainly not from Venus^ (as the Trojan, war was) or fome fuch flight Mct.4. 

 motive 5 becaufe the DeGgns of War, ought to be grounded upon fo- R^noyajd, 

 lid coun(els. Then for the choice of War; for the nature and quality 

 thereof; the Fable propounds three grave and whoKbme Precepts. The 

 firji is^thata Prince do not much trouble himfelf about theconqucfi of neigh- 

 bour Nations : nor is the way of enlarging a Patrimony^ and an Empiry^the 

 fame-f for in the augmentation of private pojfejjions, the vicinity of Terri^ 

 tories is to be confidered ; but in the amplification of publicl{^ Dominions^ 

 the occafion and facility of making war^ and the fruit to be expeSed^ ought 

 to be injiead of propinquity. Therefore Perfeus^ though an Ea(tcrn 

 Prince, makes the expedition of his War a far off, even in the reraote(t 

 parts of the Weftern World. There is a notable prefident of this Ca(e, pj^^ - 

 in the different manner of warring, praftifed by two Kings, the Father Aiex.id, 

 and the Son, Philip and Alexander. For Philipwancd upon Borderers l^i^*^"' 

 only, and added to the Empire fome few Cities, and that not without 

 great contention and danger; who many times, but efpecially in a 

 Theban war, was brought into extreme hazard : But Alexander carried 

 the Aftions of his War a far off; and with a pro(peroUs boldnefs un- 

 dertook an expedition againft the Perfian ; conquered infinite Nati- 

 ons ; tired, rather with travel than war. This point is farther cleared 

 in thepropagation oi the Roman Empire, what time their comquefts to- 

 wards xhclVejl fcarce reacht beyond Liguria^ did yet in the Eaji, bring 

 all the Provinces, as far as the mountain Taurus^ within the compafs of 

 their Arras and command. So Charles the Eighth,King of France, find- Hifl.Frm. 

 ing the War of Britain (which afterward was compounded by marrigc) p"^ ** 



not 



