424 WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 



Vulcan, the God of Fire. And hence infinite miseries and calamities 

 have proceeded to the minds, the bodies, and the fortunes of men, 

 together with a late repentance ; and this not only in each man s par 

 ticular, but also in kingdoms and states ; for wars, and tumults, and 

 tyrannies, have all arisen from this same fountain, or box of Pandora. 



It is worth observing, how beautifully and elegantly the fable has 

 drawn two reigning characters in human life, and given two examples, 

 or tablatures of them, under the persons of Prometheus and Epiine- 

 theus. The followers of Epimetheus are improvident, see not far 

 before them, and prefer such things as are agreeable for the present ; 

 whence they are oppressed with numerous straits, difficulties, and cala 

 mities, with which they almost continually struggle ; but in the mean 

 time gratify their own temper, and, for want of a better knowledge of 

 things, feed their minds with many vain hopes ; and as with so many 

 pleasing dreams, delight themselves, and sweeten the miseries of life. 



But the followers of Prometheus are the prudent, wary men, that 

 lock into futurity, and cautiously guard against, prevent, and under 

 mine many calamities and misfortunes. But this watchful, provident 

 temper, is attended with a deprivation of numerous pleasures, and the 

 loss of various delights, whilst such men debar themselves the use 

 even of innocent things, and what is still worse, rack and torture them 

 selves with cares, fears, and disquiets ; being bound fast to the pillar 

 of necessity, and tormented with numberless thoughts (\\hich for their 

 swiftness are well compared to an eagle), that continually wound, tear, 

 and gnaw their liver or mind, unless, perhaps, they find some small 

 remission by intervals, or as it were at nights; but then new anxieties, 

 dreads, and fears, soon return again, as it were in the morning. And, 

 therefore, very few men, of either temper, have secured to themselves 

 the advantages of providence, and kept clear of disquiets, troubles, 

 and misfortunes. 



Nor indeed can any man obtain this end without the assistance of 

 Hercules ; that is, of such fortitude and constancy of mind as stands 

 prepared against every event, and remains indifferent to every change ; 

 looking forward without being daunted, enjoying the good without dis 

 dain, and enduring the bad without impatience. And it must be ob 

 served, that even Prometheus had not the power to free himself, but 

 owed his deliverance to another ; for no natural inbred force and forti 

 tude could prove equal to such a task. The power of releasing hirn 

 came from the utmost confines of the ocean, and from the sun : that 

 is, from Apollo, or knowledge ; and again, from a due consideration of 

 the uncertainty, instability, and fluctuating state of human life, which 

 is aptly represented by sailing the ocean. Accordingly, Virgil has pru 

 dently joined these two together, accounting him happy who knows 

 the causes of things, and has conquered all his fears, apprehensions, 

 and superstitions.* 



* &quot; Felix qui potuit rcmm cognoscere crmsas, 

 Ouique metus omnes et inexorabile fatuin 

 imbjetit pedibus, strepitumque Acheiontis avari.&quot; 



