Blow) cut off her Head; from whofe Blood gushing out, instantly came Pegafus, the Flying-Horse. Her head thus smote off, Perfeus bestows on Pallas her Shield, which yet retained this Virtue, that whofoever looked upon it, should become as stupid as a Stone, or like one Planet-stricken.

This Fable feems to direct the Preparation and Order, that is to be used in making of War; for the more apt and confiderate Undertaking whereof, three grave and wholesome Precepts (favouring of the Wisdom of Pallas) are to be observed.

First, That Men do not much trouble themselves about the Conqueft of Neighbour Nations, feeing that private Poffeffions and Empires are enlarged by different Means: For in the Augmentation of private Revenues, the vicinity of Men's Territories is to be confidered; but in the Propagation of Public Dominions, the occafion and facility of making War, and the Fruit to be expected ought to be instead of Vicinity. Certainly the Romans, what time their Conquefts towards the Weft fcarce reached beyond Liguria, did yet in the East bring all the Provinces as far as the Mountain Taurus within the compass of their Arms and Command; and therefore Perfeus, although he were Bred and Born in the East, did not yet refuse to undertake an Expedition even to the uttermoft Bounds of the Weft.

Secondly, There must be a care had that the Motives of War be just and honourable, for that begets an Alacrity, as well in the Soldiers that Fight, as in the People that afford Pay; it draws on and

procures Aids, and brings many other Commodities befides. But there is no Pretence to take up Arms more Pious than the fuppreffing of Tyranny; under which Yoke the People lose their Courage, and are caft down without Heart and Vigour, as in the fight of Medusa.

Thirdly, it is wifely added, that seeing there were three Gorgons (by which Wars are represented) Perfeus undertook her only that was Mortal; that is, he made choice of fuch a kind of War as was likely to be effected and brought to a Period, not pursuing vaft and endless Hopes.

The furnishing of Perfeus with Neceffaries was that which only advanced his Attempt, and drew Fortune to be of his fide; for he had speed from Mercury, concealing of his Counfels from Orcus, and Providence from Pallas.

Neither is it without an Allegory, and that full of Matter too, that thofe Wings of Celerity were faftened to Perfeus his Heels, and not to his Ankles; to his Feet, and not to his Shoulders; because Speed and Celerity is required, not so much in the first Preparations for War, as in those Things which second and yield Aid to the first; for there is no Error in War more frequent, than that Profecutions and Subfidiary forces do fail to answer the Alacrity of the firft Onfets.

Now for that Helmet which Pluto gave him, powerful to make Men invisible, the Moral is plain; but that twofold Gift of Providence, (to wit, the Shield and Looking-Glafs) is full of Morality; for that kind of Providence, which like a Shield

avoids the force of Blows, is not 'alone needful, but that alfo by which the Strength and Motions, and Counsels of the Enemy are descried, as in the Looking-Glafs of Pallas.

But Perfeus, albeit he were fufficiently furnished with Aid and Courage, yet was he to do one Thing of special Importance before he entered the Lifts with this Monster, and that was to have fome Intelligence with the Grea. These Grea are Treafons which may be termed the Sisters of War not defcended of the fame Stock, but far unlike in Nobility of Birth; for Wars are generous and heroical, but Treasons are base and ignoble. Their Description is elegant, for they are said to be Grayheaded, and like old Women from their Birth; by reason that Traitors are continually vexed with Cares and Trepidations. But all their Strength (before they break out into open Rebellions) confifts either in an Eye or in a Tooth; for every Faction alienated from any State, contemplates and bites. Befides, this Eye and Tooth is as it were common; for whatsoever they can learn and know, is delivered and carried from one to another by the hands of Faction. And as concerning the Tooth, they do all bite alike, and fing the same Song; fo that hear one, and you hear all. Perfeus therefore was to deal with these Grea for the loan of their Eye and Tooth. Their Eye to discover, their Tooth to fow Rumours and ftir up Envy, and to moleft and trouble the Minds of Men. These Things therefore being thus disposed and prepared, he addreffes himself to the Action of

War, and fets upon Medufa as fhe flept; for a wife Captain will ever affault his Enemy when he is unprepared and moft fecure; and then is there good ufe of Pallas her Glafs: For moft Men, before it come to the Pufh, can acutely pry into and difcern their Enemies' Eftate; but the best use of this Glass is in the very point of danger, that the manner of it may be fo confidered, as that the Terror may not difcourage, which is fignified by that looking into this Glafs with the Face turned from Medufa.

The Monster's Head being cut off, there follow two Effects. The firft was, the procreation and raifing of Pegafus, by which may evidently be underftood Fame, that (flying through the World) proclaims Victory. The fecond is the bearing of Medufa's Head in his Shield; to which there is no kind of defence for Excellency comparable; for the one famous and memorable Act profperously effected and brought to pafs, doth restrain the Motions and Infolencies of Enemies, and makes Envy herself filent and amazed.

VIII. Endymion, or a Favourite. T is faid, That Luna was in Love with the Shepherd Endymion, and in a ftrange and unwonted manner bewrayed her Affection: For he lying in a Cave framed by Nature under the Mountain Latmus, the oftentimes defcended from her Sphere

to enjoy his Company as he flept; and after she had kissed him, afcended up again. Yet notwithstanding this his Idleness and fleepy Security, did not any way impair his Eftate or Fortune; for Luna brought it fo to pafs, that he alone (of all the rest of the Shepherds) had his Flock in best Plight, and moft Fruitful.

This Fable may have reference to the Nature and Difpofition of Princes; for they being full of Doubts, and prone to Jealousy, do not easily acquaint Men of prying and curious Eyes, and as it were of vigilant and wakeful Difpofitions, with the fecret Humours and Manners of their Life; but fuch rather as are of quiet and obfervant Natures, fuffering them to do what they lift without further Scanning, making as if they were Ignorant, and perceiving nothing but of a stupid Difpofition, and poffeft with Sleep, yielding unto them fimple Obedience, rather than fly Compliments; For it pleaseth Princes now and then to defcend from their Thrones or Majesty (like Luna from the fuperior Orb) and laying afide their Robes of Dignity (which always to be cumbered with, would feem a kind of Burthen) familiarly to Converse with Men of this Condition, which they think may be done without Danger; a Quality chiefly noted in Tiberius Cæfar, who (of all others) was a Prince most severe; yet fuch only were gracious in his Favour, as being well acquainted with his Difpofition did yet conftantly Diffemble, as if they knew nothing. This was the Cuftom alfo of Lewis the Eleventh, King of France, a cautious and wily Prince.