458 WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 



a proper matter to nourish and feed it ; and of all things known 

 to mortals, wine is the most powerful and effectual for exciting and 

 inflaming passions of all kinds, being indeed like a common fuel 

 to all. 



It is again with great elegance observed of Bacchus, that he 

 subdued provinces, and undertook endless expeditions, for the affec 

 tions never rest satisfied with what they enjoy, but with an endless 

 and insatiable appetite thirst after something further. And tigers 

 are prettily feigned to draw the chariot ; for as soon as any affection 

 shall, from going on foot, be advanced to ride, it triumphs over 

 reason, and exerts its cruelty, fierceness, and strength against all that 

 oppose it. 



It is also humorously imagined, that ridiculous demons dance and 

 frisk about this chariot ; for every passion produces indecent, dis 

 orderly, interchangeable, and deformed motions in the eyes, coun 

 tenance, and gesture, so that the person under the impulse, whether of 

 anger, insult, love, etc., though to himself he may seem grand, lofty, 

 or obliging, yet in the eyes of others appears mean, contemptible, or 

 ridiculous. 



The Muses also are found in the train of Bacchus, for there is 

 scarce any passion without its art, science, or doctrine to court and 

 flatter it ; but in this respect the indulgence of men of genius has 

 greatly detracted from the majesty of the Muses, who ought to be 

 the leaders and conductors of human life, and not the handmaids of the 

 passions. 



The allegory of Bacchus falling in love with a cast mistress, is 

 extremely noble; for it is certain that the affections always court and 

 covet what has been rejected upon experience. And all those who by 

 serving and indulging their passions immensely raise the value of 

 enjoyment, should know, that whatever they covet and pursue, 

 whether riches, pleasure, glory, learning, or anything else, they only 

 pursue those things that have been forsaken and cast off with contempt 

 by great numbers in all ages, after possession and experience. 



Nor is it without a mystery that the ivy was sacred to Bacchus, 

 and this for two reasons: first, because ivy is an evergreen, or 

 flourishes in the winter; and secondly, because it winds and creeps 

 about so many things, as trees, walls, and buildings, and raises itself 

 above them. As to the first, every passion grows fresh, strong, and 

 vigorous by opposition and prohibition, as it were, by a kind of 

 contrast or antipcristasis, like the ivy in the winter. And for the 

 second, the predominant passion of the mind throws itself, like 

 the ivy, round all human actions, entwines all our resolutions, and 

 perpetually adheres to, and mixes itself among, or even overtops 

 them. 



And no wonder that superstitious rites and ceremonies are attri 

 buted to Bacchus, when almost every ungovernable passion grows 

 wanton and luxurious in corrupt religions ; nor again, that fury and 

 frenzy should be sent and dealt out by him, because every passion 

 is a short frenzy, and if it be vehement, lasting, and take deep root 



