WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 451 



expressed by Night. Even the heathens have observM this secret 

 Nemesis of the nighi, or the difference betwixt divins and human 

 judgment.* 



Wings arc given to Nemesis, because of the sudden end unforeseen 

 changes of things ; for, from the earliest account of time, it has been 

 common for great and prudent men to fall by the dangers they most 

 despised. Thus Cicero, when admonished by Brutus of the infidelity 

 and rancour of Octavius, coolly wrote back, &quot; I cannot, however, but 

 be obliged to you, Brutus, as I ought, for informing me, though of such 

 a trifle.&quot; 



Nemesis also has her crown, by reason of the invidious and 

 malignant nature of the vulgar, who generally rejoice, triumph, and 

 crown her, at the fall of the fortunate and the powerful. And for the 

 javelin in her right hand, it has regard to those whom she has actually 

 struck and transfixed. But whoever escapes her stroke, or feels not 

 actual calamity or misfortune, she affrights with a black and dismal 

 sight in her left hand ; for doubtless, mortals on the highest pinnacle 

 of felicity have a prospect of death, disco jcs, calamities, perfidious 

 friends, undermining enemies, reverses of fortune, etc., represented 

 by the Ethiopians in her glass. Thus Virgil, with great elegance, 

 describing the battle of Actlum, cays of Cleopatra, that, &quot;she did not 

 yet perceive the two asps behind her ; f but soon after, which way 

 soever she turned, she saw whole troops of Ethiopians still before her. 



Lastly, it is significantly added, that Nemesis rides upon a stag, 

 which is a very long-lived creature; fcr though perhaps some, by an 

 untimely death in youth, may prevent or escape this goddess, yet they 

 who enjoy a long flow of happiness and power, doubtless become 

 subject to her at length, and are brought to yield. 



XXIV. THE FABLE OF CYCLOP S DEATH. 



EXPLAINED OF UASE COURT OFFICERS. 



IT is related that the Cyclops, for their savagcncss and cruelty, 

 were by Jupiter first thrown into Tartarus, and there condemned to 

 perpetual imprisonment : but that afterwards, Tellus persuaded Jupiter 

 it would be for his service to release them, and employ them in forging 

 thunderbolts. This he accordingly did ; and they, with unwearied 

 pains and diligence, hammered out his bolts, and other instruments of 

 terror, with a frightful and continual din of the anvil. 



&quot; eadit Riphcus, justissimus unus. 



Qui fuit ex Tucris, el scrvantissirnus acqui : 

 IJiis alitcr visum.&quot; 



t kcgina in mcdiis patrio vocal agmina iistro ; 

 Nccdum ctiam gcminos a tergo respicit angucs.&quot; 



