WISDOM OF THE AXCIENTS. 427 



liis limbs scattered all over the desert. But in sorrow and revenge for 

 his death, the river Helicon, sacred to the Muses, hid its water under 

 ground, and rose again in other places. 



EXPLANATION. The fable receives this explanation. The music 

 of Orpheus is of two kinds ; cnc tint appeases the infernal powers, 

 and the other that draws together the \\ild beasts and trees. The 

 former properly relates to natural, and the latter to moral, philosophy, 

 or civil society. The reinstatement and restoration of corruptible 

 things is the noblest woik of natural philosophy ; and, in a less decree, 

 the pieservation of bodies in their own state, or a prevention of their 

 dissolution and corruption. And if this be possible, il can certainly be 

 effected no other way than by proper and exquisite attempcrations of 

 nature ; as it were by the harmony and fine touching of the harp. Hut 

 as .h s is a thing of exceeding great difficulty, the end is seldom ob 

 tained ; and that, probably, for no reason more than a curious and 

 unseasonable impatience and solicitude. 



And, therefore, philosophy being almost unequal to the task, has 

 cause o grow sad, and hence betakes itself to human affairs, insinuating 

 into men s minds the love of virtue, equity, and peace, by means of 

 eloquence and persuasion ; thus forming men into societies, bringing 

 them under laws and regulations, and making them forget their un 

 bridled passions and affections, so long as they hearken to precepts 

 and submit to discipline. And thus they soon after build themselves 

 habitations, form cities, cultivate lands, plant orchards, gardens, etc. 

 So that they may not improperly be said to remove and call the trees 

 and stones together. 



And this rcga-d to civil affairs is justly and regularly placed after 

 diligent trial made for restoring the mortal body ; the attempt being 

 frustrated in the end, because the unavoidable necessity of death, thus 

 evidently laid before mankind, animates them to seek a kind of eternity 

 by works of perpetuity, character, and fame. 



It is also prudently added, that Orpheus was afterwards averse to 

 women and wedlock, because the indulgence of a married state, and 

 the natural affections which men have for their children, often prevent 

 them from entering upon any grand, noble, or meritorious enterprise 

 for the public good ; as thinking it sufficient to obtain immortality by 

 their descendants, without endeavouring at j.rcat actions. 



And even the works of knowledge, though the most excellent 

 among human things, have their periods ; for after kingdoms and 

 commonwealths have nourished fora time, disturbances, seditions, and 

 wars often arise, in the din whereof, first the laws arc silent, and not 

 heard ; and then men return to their own depraved natures, whence 

 cultivated lands and cities soon become desolate and waste. And if 

 this disorder continues, learning and philosophy is infallibly torn to 

 pieces ; so that only some scattered fragments thereof can afterwards 

 be found up and down, in a few places, like planks after a shipwrcrk. 

 And barbarous times succeeding, the river Helicon dips under-ground ; 

 that is, letters are buried, till tilings having undergone their due course 



