428 WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 



of changes, learning rises again, and shows its head, though seldom in 

 the same place, but in some other nation. 



IV. -THE FABLE OF ATALANTA AND HIPPOMENES. 



EXPLAINED OF THE CONTEST BETWIXT ^RT AND NATURE. 



ATALANTA, who was exceeding fleet, contended with Hippomenes 

 in the course, on condition chat if Hippomenes won, he should espouse 

 her, or forfeit his life if he lost. The match was very unequal, fo 

 Atalanta had conquered numbers, to their destruction. Hippomenes, 

 therefore, had recourse to stratagem. He procured three goiden 

 applcs, and purposely cairied them with him : they started ; Atalanta 

 outstripped him soon ; then Hippomenes bowled one of his apples 

 before her, across the course, in order not only to make her stoop, but 

 to draw her out of the path. She, prompted by female curiosity, and 

 the beauty of the golden fruit, starts from the course to take up the 

 apple. Hippomenes, in the mean time, holds on his way, and steps 

 before her ; but she, by her natural swiftness, soon fetches up her lost 

 ground, and leaves him again behind. Hippomenes, however, by 

 rightly timing his second and third throw, at length won the race, not 

 by his swiftness, but his cunning. 



EXPLANATION. This fable seems to contain r. noble allegory of 

 the contest betwixt art and nature. For art, here denoted by Atalanta, 

 is much swifter, or more expeditious in its operations than nature, 

 when all obstacles and impediments are removed, and sooner arrives 

 at its end. This appears almost in every instance. Thus fruit conies 

 slowly from the kernel, but soon by inoculation or incision; clay, left 

 to itself, is a long time acquiring a stony hardness, but is presently 

 burnt by fire into brick, f So again in human life, nature is a long 

 while in alleviating and abolishing the remembrance of pain, and 

 assuaging the troubles of the mind ; but moral philosophy, which is 

 the art of living, performs it presently. Yet this prerogative and 

 singular efficacy of art is stopped and retarded to the infinite detriment 

 of human life, by certain golden apples; for there is no one science 01 

 art that constantly holds on its true and proper course to the end, but 

 they are all continually stopping short, forsaking the track, and turning 

 aside to profit and convenience, exactly like Atalanta. Whence it is 



Thus we see that Orpheus denotes learning ; Eurydice, things, or the sub 

 ject of learning ; Bacchus, and the Thracian women, men s ungoverned passions 

 and appetites, etc. And in the same manner these fables might be familiarly iliwi&amp;gt; 

 trated and brought down to the capacities of children, who usually learn them in an 

 unscientifical manner at school. 



\- A proper collection of these instances should be made for the encouragement 

 of men in their endeavours to adv mce arts and produce considerable effects. 



