452 WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 



It happened long after, that Jupiter was displeased with ^Esculapius, 

 the son of Apollo, for having, by the art of medicine, restored a. dead 

 man to life ; but concealing his indignation, because the action in 

 itself was pious and illustrious, he secretly incensed the Cyclops 

 against him, who, without remorse, presently slew him with their 

 thunderbolts: in revenge whereof, Apollo, with Jupiter s connivance, 

 shot them all dead with his arrows. 



EXPLANATION. This fable seems to point at the behaviour of 

 princes, who, having cruel, bloody, and oppressive ministers, first 

 punish and displace them ; but afterwards, by the advice of Tcllus, 

 that is, some earthly-minded and ignoble person, employ them again, 

 to serve a turn, when there is occasion for cruelty in execution, or 

 severity in exaction : but these ministers, being base in their nature, 

 whet by their former disgrace, and well aware of what is expected from 

 them, use double diligence in their office ; till, proceeding unwarily, and 

 over eager to gain favour, they sometimes, from the private nods, and 

 ambiguous orders of their prince, perform some odious or execrable 

 action. When princes, to decline the envy themselves, and knowing 

 they shall never want such tools at their back, drop them, and give 

 them up to the friends and followers of the injured person ; thus 

 exposing them, as sacrifices to revenge and popular odium : whence 

 with great applause, acclamations, and good wishes to the prince, these 

 miscreants at last meet with their desert. 



XXV. THE FABLE OF THE GIANTS SISTER. 



EXPLAINED OF PUBLIC DETRACTION. 



THE poets relate, that the giants, produced from the earth, made 

 war upon Jupiter and the other gods, but were repulsed and conquered 

 by thunder ; whereat the earth, provoked, brought forth Fame, the 

 youngest sister of the giants, in revenge for the death of her sons. 



EXPLANATION. The meaning of the fable seems to be this : the 

 earth denotes the nature of the vulgar, who are always swelling, and 

 rising against their rulers, and endeavouring at changes. This disposi 

 tion, getting a fit opportunity, breeds rebels and traitors, who, with 

 impetuous rage, threaten and contrive the overthrow and destruction of 

 princes. 



And when brought under and subdued, the same vile and restless 

 nature of the people, impatient of peace, produces rumours, detrac 

 tions, slanders, libels, etc., to blacken those in authority ; so that re 

 bellious actions and seditious rumours, differ not in origin and stock, 

 but only as it were in sex ; treasons and rebellions beir^g the brother*, 

 and scandal or detraction the sister. 



