There was a time when men were not 
united by any common tie. When the mo¬ 
ther would deprive her son of the wild fruit 
with which he wished to appease his hunger, 
and if misfortune united them for a moment 
the sudden sight of an oak laden with acorns, 
or a beech covered with beech mast, ren¬ 
dered them enemies. At that period the 
earth was filled with horror; there was no 
law, no religion, no language; man was ut¬ 
terly ignorant of his nature—his reason slept, 
and he was often seen more cruel than the 
ferocious beasts whose frightful howling he 
imitated. 
According to ancient mythology the gods 
had pity on the human race. Apollo and 
Mercury exchanged presents, and came down 
upon the earth. The god of harmony re¬ 
ceived from the son of Ma'ia a tortoise-shell, 
of which he had made a lyre, and gave in re¬ 
turn a branch of hazel, which had the power 
of making virtue beloved, and of re-uniting 
hearts divided by hatred and envy. Thus 
armed, the two sons of Jupiter presented 
; 
