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port that this one only Sprig was found among infinite other Trees in a huge and thick Wood, which they feigned to be of Gold, because Gold is the Badge of Perpetuity, and to be artificially as it were inferted, because this Effect is to be rather hoped for from Art, than from any Medicine, or fimple or natural means.

xxx. Metis, or Counsel.

HE Ancient Poets report that Jupiter took Metis to Wife, whofe Name doth plainly fignify Counsel, and that she

by him conceived. Which when he found, not tarrying the time of her Deliverance, devours both her and that which she went withal, by which means Jupiter himself became with Child, and was delivered of a wondrous Birth; for out of his Head or Brain came forth Pallas Armed.

The Sense of this Fable (which at firft Apprehenfion may seem monftrous and abfurd) contains in it a Secret of State, to wit, with what Policy Kings are wont to carry themselves towards their Counsellors, whereby they may not only preferve their Authority and Majefty free and entire, but also that it may be the more extolled and dignified of the People: For Kings being as it were tied and coupled in a Nuptial Bond to their Counfellors, do truly conceive that communicating with them about the Affairs of greatest Importance do yet detract nothing from their own Majefty. But

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when any Matter comes to be cenfured or decreed (which is as a Birth) there do they confine and reftrain the liberty of their Counsellors; left that which is done should seem to be hatched by their Wisdom and Judgement. So as at laft Kings (except it be in fuch Matters as are distasteful and maligned, which they always will be sure to put off from themselves) do affume the Honour and Praise of all Matters that are ruminated in Council, and, as it were, formed in the Womb, whereby the Refolution and Execution (which because it proceeds from Power, and implies Neceffity, is elegantly shadowed under the Figure of Pallas Armed) shall seem to proceed wholly from themfelves. Neither fufficeth it, that it is done by the Authority of the King, by his mere Will and free Applause, except withal, this be added and appropriated as to iffue out of his own Head or Brain, intimating, that out of his own Judgement, Wifdom, and Ordinance, it was only invented and derived.

XXXI. The Syrens, or Pleasures.

HE Fable of the Syrens feems rightly to have been applied to the pernicious Allurements of Pleasure, but in a very vulgar and grofs manner. And therefore to me it appears, that the Wisdom of the Ancients have with a farther reach or infight strained deeper Matter out of them, not unlike to Grapes

ill pressed; from which, though fome Liquor were drawn, yet the best was left behind. These Syrens are faid to be the Daughters of Achelous, and Terpsichore one of the Muses; who, in their first being, were winged, but after rafhly entering into Contention with the Mufes, were by them vanquifhed, and deprived of their Wings. Of whofe plucked out Feathers the Mufes made themselves Coronets, fo as ever fince that time all the Mufes have attired themselves with plumed heads, except Terpsichore only, that was Mother to the Syrens. The Habitation of the Syrens was in certain pleafant Islands, from whence as soon as out of their Watch-Tower they discovered any Ships approaching, with their sweet Tunes they would first entice and stay them, and having them in their Power would deftroy them. Neither was their Song plain and fingle, but consisting of such variety of melodious Tunes, fo fitting and delighting the Ears that heard them, as that it ravished and betrayed all Paffengers. And so great were the Mischiefs they did, that these Isles of the Syrens, even as far off as Man could ken them, appeared all over white with the Bones of unburied Carcaffes. For the remedying of this Mifery a double Means was at laft found out; the one by Ulyffes, the other by Orpheus. Ulyffes (to make experiment of his Device) caufed all the Ears of his Company to be stopped with Wax, and made himself to be bound to the Main-Maft, with special Commandment to his Mariners not to be loofed, albeit himself should require them fo to do. But Orpheus neglecting and

difdaining to be fo bound, and with a fhrill and sweet Voice, finging Praises of the Gods to his Harp, fuppreffed the Songs of the Syrens, and so freed himself from their Danger.

This Fable hath relation to Men's Manners, and contains in it a manifeft and most excellent Parable For Pleasures do for the moft proceed out of the abundance and fuperfluity of all things, and also out of the Delights and jovial Contentments of the Mind; the which are wont fuddenly, as it were, with winged Inticements to ravish and rapt Mortal Men: But Learning and Education brings it fo to pass, as that it reftrains and bridles Man's Mind, making it fo to confider the ends and events of Things, as that it clips the Wings of Pleafure. And this was greatly to the Honour and Renown of the Muses; for after that by fome Examples, it was made manifeft, that by the Power of Philosophy, vain Pleasures might grow Contemptible; it presently grew to great esteem, as a thing that could raise and elevate the Mind aloft, that feemed to be base and fixed to the Earth; make the cogitations of the Men (which do ever refide in the Head,) to be ethereal, and as it were winged. But that the Mother of the Syrens was left to her Feet, and without Wings; that no doubt is no otherwise meant, than of light and fuperficial Learning, appropriated and defined only to Pleasures, as were those which Petronius devoted himself unto, after he had received his fatal Sentence; and having his Foot, as it were, upon the Threshold of Death, fought to give himself all delightful Contentments;

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infomuch, as when he had caused Confolatory Letters to be sent him, he would perufe none of them, (as Tacitus reports, that should give him Courage and Conftancy) but only read fantastical Verses, fuch as these are:

Vivamus, Mea Lesbia, atque amemus,
Rumorefque Senum feveriorum,
Omnes unius eftimemus Affis.1

My Lesbia, let us live and love;
Though wayward Dotards us reprove,
Weigh their Words light for our behove.
And this alfo :

Jura Senes norint, et quid fit fafque nefafque,
Inquirant triftes, Legumque examina fervent.2
Let doting Grandfires know the Law,
And right and wrong obferve with awe;
Let them in that ftrict Circle draw.

This kind of Doctrine would easily perfuade to take these plumed Coronets from the Muses, and to restore the Wings again to the Syrens. These Syrens are faid to dwell in remote Ifles; for that Pleasures love Privacy and retired Places, fhunning always too much Company of People. The Syren's Songs are so vulgarly understood, together with the Deceits and Danger of them, as that they need no Expofition. But that of the Bones appearing like white Cliffs, and defcried afar off, hath more Acuteness in it; for thereby is fignified, that 2 Ovid. Metam. ii. 550.

1 Catull. Eleg. v.

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