The presumption of Pan in challenging Cupid to the conflict, denotes that matter has an appetite and tendency to a dissolution of the world, and falling back to its first chaos again, unless this depravity and inclination were restrained and subdued by a more powerful concord and agreement of things, properly expressed by Love or Cupid ; it is therefore well for mankind, and the state of all things, that Pan was thrown and conquered in the struggle. His catching and detaining Typhon in the net receives a similar explanation; for whatever vast and unusual swells, which the word typhon signifies, may sometimes be raised in nature, as in the sea, the clouds, the earth, or the like, yet nature catches, entangles, and holds all such outrages and insurrections in her inextricable net, wove as it were of adamant. That part of the fable which attributes the discovery of lost Ceres to Pan, whilst he was hunting-a happiness denied the other gods, though they diligently and expressly sought her-contains an exceeding just and prudent admonition; viz., that we are not to expect the discovery of things useful in common life, as that of corn, denoted by Ceres, from abstract philosophies, as if these were the gods of the first order, no, not though we used our utmost endeavours this way,but only from Pan, that is, a sagacious experience and general knowledge of nature, which is often found, even by accident, to stumble upon such discoveries whilst the pursuit was directed another way. The event of his contending with Apollo in music affords us a useful instruction, that may help to humble the human reason and judgment, which is too apt to boast and glory in itself. There seems to be two kinds of harmony-the one of Divine Providence, the other of human reason; but the government of the world, the administration of its affairs, and the more secret Divine judgments, sound harsh and dissonant to human ears or human judgment; and though this ignorance be justly rewarded with asses' ears, yet they are put on and worn, not openly, but with great secrecy; nor is the deformity of the thing seen or observed by the vulgar. We must not find it strange if no amours are related of Pan besides his marriage with Echo; for nature enjoys itself, and in itself all other things. He that loves desires enjoyment, but in profusion there is no room for desire; and therefore Pan, remaining content with himself, has no passion unless it be for discourse, which is well shadowed out by Echo or talk, or when it is more accurate, by Syrinx or writing. But Echo makes a most excellent wife for Pan, as being no other than genuine philosophy, which faithfully repeats his words, or only transcribes exactly as nature dictates; thus representing the true image and reflection of the world without adding a tittle. It tends also to the support and perfection of Pan or nature to be without offspring; for the world generates in its parts, and not in the way of a whole, as wanting a body external to itself wherewith to generate. Lastly, for the supposed or spurious prattling daughter of Pan, it is an excellent addition to the fable, and aptly represents the talkative philosophies that have at all times been stirring, and filled the world with idle tales, being ever barren, empty, and servile, though sometimes indeed diverting and entertaining, and sometimes again troublesome and importunate. INDEX. A. Apophthegms, a collection of, 256 Acquaintance, the kind of, that should be Archidamus, King of Lacedæmon, anecdote sought in travel, 185 Adrian, the emperor, and the philosopher, 282 Advancement of learning, the, 9 Altabin, Isle of, 306 America, the Great Atlantis, 306 Anatomy, its method of pursuit deficient, Ancients, Wisdom of, 467; Fables, 469— Ancients, their objection to learning, 14 Annals and journals, importance of, in his- Anne of Britanny, 328; betrothal, 365; Anthromorphites, heresy of the, 98 Antoninus Pius, a learned prince, 39 of, 283 Aristippus, anecdote of, 280 Arthur, King, his fabulous exploits inferior Atlantis, the Great, 306; inundation, 307 tants, 298; account of, 303; trade of, B. Bacon, Lord, anecdotes of, 269 308; King of, 308; laws, 313; purity, Body, lineaments of, disclose the condition Boldness, essay on, 174 Cicero's laudation of Cæsar's virtue, 119; Books, good, compared to the serpent of Command, dignity of, according to the Cæ:ar's deeds greater than the fabulous ex- Cæsar, Augustus, 466 Cato the Censor, on the effects of elo- Ceremonies and respects, essay on, 238 Charles the Hardy, his secretiveness, 200 Charles VIII., King of France, 329, 345; Children, want of, fortunate or not, 452 Church, government of the, 156 dignity of the commanded, 47 Conversation, wisdom not to be over-much Cornwall, rising in, 406, 414 Cosmus, Duke of Florence, anecdote of, 275 Courtenay sent to Tower, 432 Cusson, Sir R., 432 Custom and education, essay on, 220 Dam taken, 376 D. Death, nature of, discussed, 159; essay on, Deformity, essay on, 226 Democritus, his natural philosophy better Demosthenes, his reply to Eschines, 281 Diogenes on philosophers and rich men, 23 Dissimulation but a faint kind of policy, Divination, the art of, 88 Dudley, Edmund, unjust proceedings, 430; E. Ecclesiastical history, divisions of, 62 Elizabeth, Queen of England, 449; acces- Elizabeth of York, 327; marries Henry Empire, essay on, 185 Empson, Sir Richard, 430; oppresses the 60 England, conquest of, designed by Spain, 455 English banished from Flanders, 390 G. Gabato, Sebastian, 419 Good books compared to the serpent of Goodness and goodness of nature treated of, 175 Gordon, Lady Catherine, weds Warbeck, Grammar produced by speech and words, ΙΟΙ Great Britain, history begins, 459 Great men, errors of, serve as warnings, 16 English make better soldiers than the Grief no evil, 255 French, 205 Envious men desire to excel in too many matters, 169 H. Envy, its nature analyzed, 168; allied with Hanno, the Carthaginian, anecdote of, 284 witchcraft, 170 Epictetus, anecdote of, 46 Euripides, anecdote of, 265 Europe, morals of, condemned, 314 Expense, essay on, 202 Henry IV. of France styled "King of the Henry VII., reign of, 324; his titles, 325; |