420 WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 



upon his guard, warily refused the offer. Upon this refusal she conies 

 to his brother Epimetheus, a man of a very different temper, who 

 rashly and inconsiderately opens the box. When finding all kinds oi 

 niseries and misfortunes issued out of it, he grew wise too late, and 

 with great hurry and struggle endeavoured to clap the cover on 

 again ; but with all his endeavour could scarce keep in Hope, which 

 lay at the bottom. 



Lastly, Jupiter arraigned Prometheus of many heinouc: crimes : as 

 that he formerly stole tire from heaven ; that he contemptuously and 

 deceitfully mocked him by a sacrifice of bones ; that he despised his 

 present,* adding withal a new crime, that he attempted to ravish 

 Pallas : for all which, he was sentenced to be bound in chains, and 

 doomed to perpetual torments. Accordingly, by Jupiter s command, 

 he was brought to Mount Caucasus, and there fastened to a pillar, 

 so firmly that he could no way stir. A vulture or eagle stood by him, 

 which in the daytime gnawed and consumed his liver ; but in the night 

 the wasted parts were supplied again ; whence matter for his pain was 

 never wanting. 



They relate, however, that his punishment had an end; for Hercules 

 sailing the ocean, in a cup, or pitcher, presented him by the Sun, came 

 at length to Caucasus, shot the eagle with his arrows, and set Pro 

 metheus free. In certain nations, also, there were instituted particular 

 games of the torch, to the honour of Prometheus, in which they who 

 ran for the prize carried lighted torches ; and as any OPC of these 

 torches happened to go out, the beaier withdrew himself, and gave 

 way to the next ; and that person was allowed to win the prize who 

 first brought in his lighted torch to the goal. 



EXPLANATION. This fable contains and enforces many just and 

 serious considerations ; some whereof have teen long since well 

 observed, but some again remain perfectly untouched. Prometheus 

 clearly and expressly signifies Providence ; for of all the things in 

 nature, the formation and endowment of man was singled out by the 

 ancients, and esteemed the peculiar work of Providence. The reason 

 hereof seems, r. That the nature of man includes a mind and under 

 standing, which 5s the seat of Providence. 2. That it is harsh and 

 incredible to suppose reason and mind should be raised, and drawn 

 out of senseless and irrational principles; whence it becomes almost 

 inevitable, that providence is implanted in the human mind in con- 

 forrrp.ty v/ilh, and by the direction and the design of the greater over 

 ruling Providence. But, 3. The principal cause is this : that man 

 seems to be the thing in which the whole world centres, with respect 

 to final causes ; so that if he were away, all other things would stray 

 and fluctuate, without end or intention, or become perfectly disjointed, 

 and out of frame ; for all things are made subservient to man, and he 

 receives use and benefit from them all. Thus the revolutions, places, 

 and periods, of the celestial bodies, serve him for distinguishing times 



Viz., that by Pandora. 



