82 Of the Advancement of Learning, L i b . II. 



ceedingly derogate from the Majefty of the Mufcs j that whereas they 

 (liould be the Leaders and Ancient-bearers of life j they are become the 

 foot-pages, and bnfFoons to lufts and vanity. 



^ Again ^ vphere Bacchus isfaid to have engaged his affeUions on her that 

 was abandoned and reje&ed by another : it is an Allegory of (pecial re- 

 gard 5 for it is moft certain, that pajpon ever feeks and fues for that 

 which experience hath relinquifht j and they all know, who have paid 

 dear for (erving and obeying their luHs 3 thait whether it be honour, or 

 riches, or delight, or glory, or knowledgCjOr any thing elfe, which they 

 feek after 5 they purlue things caft off, and by divers men in all ages, afc 

 ter experience had,utterly rejected and repudiate. 



§ Neither is it without a My fiery , that the Ivy was facred to Bacchus $ 

 the application holds two ways: Firfi^ in that the Ivy remains green in 

 Winter; Secondly^xn that it creeps along^imbracethjand advanceth it fetf 

 over lb many divers bodies, as trees, walls, and edifices. Touching tht 

 firff, every pajjton doth through renitence and prohibition, and as it 

 were, by an Antiperijlajls, (like the Ivy through the cold of Winter) 

 grow frelh and lively. Secondly^ every predominant afFeftion in mans 

 foul, like the Ivy ^ doth compals and confine all Humane Aftions 

 and Counfels , neither can you find any thing fo immaculate and 

 inconcern'd, which afFeftions have not tainted and clinched, as it were, 

 with their tendrels. 



(j Neither is it a wonder, that fuperjiitious ceremonies were attributed 

 wwffl Bacchus, feeing every giddy-headed humour keeps, in a manner. 

 Revel-rout in falfe Religions 5 (b that the pollutions and diftempers of 

 Hereticks, exceed the Bacchanals of the Heathens 5 and whofe fijper- 

 ftitions have been no lefs barbarous, than vile and loathfbme. Nor it 

 it a wonder^ that madnefs is thought to be fent by Bacchus, feeing every 

 affeftion in the Excefs thereof, is a kind o^jhort fury 5 and if it grow 

 vehement and become habitual 5 it commonly concludes in Madnefs. 



^ Concerning the rending and difntembring of Pentheus and Orpheus, 

 in the celebration of the Orgies i>/Bacchus 5 the Parable is plain. For eve- 

 ry prevalent affeSion is outragious againft two things ; whereof the one it 

 curious enquiry into it j the other free and wholfome admonition. Nor 

 will it avail, though that inquiry was only to contemplate and to be- 

 hold, as it were going up into a tree, without any malignity of mind$ 

 nor again, though that admonition was given with much art and fwect- 

 nefs 5 but howloever, the Or^/c/ of Bacchus cannot endure either P««- 

 thetts or Orpheus, 



§ Lajily, that confujion of ^he perjons <?/ Jupiter 4»^ Bacchus, may be 

 well transferred to a Parable ; feeing noble and famous Adis, and re- 

 markable and glorious merits, do fometimes proceed from virtue and 

 well ordered reafon, and magnanimity ; and fometimes from a fecret 

 afFeftion, and a hidden paffion 5 howfoever both the one and the other, 

 fo affedt the renown of Fame and Glory ; that a man can hardly diftia- 

 guifh between the Afts of Bacchus ; and the Gefts oi Jupiter, 



But weftay too long in the Theatre :, let us now pafson loiheFalacc 

 of the Mind 5 the entrance whereof we arc to approach with more ve- 

 neration and attention, 

 f 



THE 



