WISDOM OF THE AXCIENTS. 



stirring up the minds of the people. And when all these things arc 

 thus disposed and prepared, then follows the action of the war. 



He hnds Medusa asleep ; for whoever undertakes a war with pru 

 dence, generally falls upon the enemy unprepared, and nearly in a state 

 of security ; and here is the occasion for Pallas s mirror : for it is 

 common enough, before the danger presents itself, to see exactly into 

 the state and posture of the enemy ; but the principal use of the glass 

 is, in the very instant of danger, to discover the manner thereof, and 

 prevent consternation ; which is the thing intended by I crscus s turn 

 ing his head aside, and viewing the enemy in the glass. 



Two effects here follow the conquest: i. The darting forth of 

 Pegasus ; which evidently denotes fame, and flies abroad, proclaiming 

 the victory far and near. 2. The bearing of Medusa s head in the 

 shield, which is the greatest possible defence and safeguard ; for one 

 grand and memorable enterprise, happily accomplished, bridles all the 

 motions and attempts of the enemy, stupitics disaffection, and quells 

 commotions. 



XXXI. THE FABLE OF PAN, OR NATURE, 



EXPLAINED OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 



THE ancients have, with great exactness, delineated universal 

 nature under the person of Pan. They leave his origin doubtful ; some 

 asserting him the son of Mercury, and others the common offspring of 

 all Penelope s suitors. I he latter supposition doubtless occasioned some 

 later rivals to entitle this ancient fable Penelope ; a thing frequently 

 practised when the earlier relations are applied to more modem 

 characters and persons, though sometimes with great absurdity and 

 ignorance, as in the present case ; for Pan was one of the ancientest 

 gods, and long before the time of Ulysses ; besides, Penelope was 

 venerated by antiquity for her matronal chastity. A third sort will 

 have him the issue of Jupiter and Hybris, that is Reproach. But what 

 ever his origin was, the Destinies arc allowed his sisters. 



He is described by antiquity, with pyramidal horns reaching up to 

 heaven, a rough and shaggy body, a very long beard, of a biform figure, 

 human above, half brute below, ending in goat s feet. His arms, or 

 ensigns of power, are a pipe in his left hand, composed of seven reeds; 

 in his right a crook ; and he wore for his mantle a leopard s skin. 



His attributes and titles were the god of hunters, shepherds, and all 

 the rural inhabitants ; president of the mountains; and, after Mercury, 

 the next messenger of the gods. He was also held the leader am 

 ruler of the Nymphs who continually danced and frisked about him, 

 attended with the Satyrs and their ciders, the Silcni. He had also the 

 power of striking terrors, especially such as were vain and superstitious ; 

 whence they came to be called panic terrors. 



Few actions arc recorded of him, only a principal one is, that he 

 challenged Cupid at wrestling, and was worsted. He also catchcd tho 



