450 WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 



fa-miliarly ; and, quitting their throne like Luna, think they may with 

 safety unbosom to them. This temper was very remarkable to 

 Tiberius, a prince exceeding difficult to please, and who had no 

 favourites but those that perfectly understood his way, and, at the 

 same time, obstinately dissembled their knowledge, almost to a degree 

 .Df stupidity. 



The cave is not improperly mentioned in the fable ; it being a 

 common thing for the favourites of a prince to have their pleasant 

 retreats, whither to invite him, by way of relaxation, though without 

 prejudice to their own fortunes; these favourites usually making a 

 good provision for themselves. 



For though their prince should not, perhaps, promote them to 

 dignities, yet, out of real affection, and not only for convenience, they 

 generally feel the enriching influence of his bounty. 



XXIII. THE FABLE OF NEMESIS. 



EXPLAINED OF THE REVERSES OF FORTUNE. 



NEMESIS is represented as a goddess venerated by all, but feared 

 by the powerful and the fortunate. She is said to be the daughter of 

 Nox and Oceanus. She is drawn with wings, and a crown ; a javelin 

 of ash in her right hand ; a glass containing Ethiopians in her left ; 

 and riding upon a stag. 



EXPLANATION. The fable receives this explanation. The word 

 Nemesis manifestly signifies revenge or retribution ; for the office of 

 this goddess consisted in interposing, like the Roman tribunes, with an 

 &quot;I forbid it&quot; in all courses of constant and perpetual felicity, so as 

 not only to chastise haughtiness, but also to repay even innocent and 

 moderate happiness with adversity ; as if it were decreed, that none of 

 human race should be admitted to the banquet of the gods, but for 

 sport. And, indeed, to read over that chapter of Pliny wherein he has 

 collected the miseries and misfortunes of Augustus Caesar, whom of 

 &amp;lt;all mankind one would judge most fortunate, as he had a certain art 

 of using and enjoying prosperity, with a mind no way tumid, light, 

 effeminate, confused, or melancholic, one cannot but think this a 

 very great and powerful goddess, who could bring such a victim to her 

 altar.* 



The parents of this goddess were Oceanus and Nox ; that is, the 

 fluctuating change of things, and the obscure and secret divine decrees. 

 The changes of things are aptly represented by the Ocean, on account 

 of its perpetual ebbing and flowing ; and secret providence is justly 



* As she also brought the author himself. 



