The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 305
as are grafted on a stock a great deal sooner. sacrifice; for having killed two bulls, and in one
You may see it in clay, which in the generation of their hides wrapt up the flesh and fat of them
of stones, is long ere it become hard, but in the both, and in the other only the bones, with a
burning of bricks is very quickly effected. Also great show of religious devotion gave Jupiter his
in moral passages you may observe that it is along choice, who, detesting his fraud and hypocrisy,
time ere, by the benefit of nature, sorrow can be but taking an occasion of revenge, chose that
assuaged, and comfort attained; whereas philoso- which was stopped with bones, and so turning to
phy, which is, as it were, art of living, tarries not revenge, when he saw that the insolency of Prothe leisure of time, but doth it instantly and out of metheus would not be repressed but by laying
hand; and yet this prerogative and singular agility some grievous affliction upon mankind, in the
of art is hindered by certain golden apples, to the forming of which he so much bragged and boastinfinite prejudice of human proceedings: for there ed, commanded Vulcan to frame a goodly beautiis not any one art or science which constantly ful woman, which being done, every one of the
perseveres in a true and lawful course, till it come gods bestowed a gift on her; whereupon she was
to the proposed end or mark, but ever and anon called Pandora. To this woman they gave in her
makes stops after good beginnings, leaves the race, hand a goodly box full of all miseries and calamiand turns aside to profit and commodity, like ties, only in the bottom of it they put Hope; with
Atalanta. this box she comes first to Prometheus, thinking
"ieclinat cursus, aurumque volubile tollit." to catch him, if peradventure he should accept it
at her hands, and so open it; which he, nevertheWho doth her course forsake, less, with good providence and foresight refused:
The rolling gold doth take.
The rollng gold doth take, whereupon she goes to Epimetheus, who, though
And therefore it is no wonder that art hath not brother to Prometheus, yet was of a much differing
the power to conquer nature; and by pact or law of disposition, and offers this box unto him, who
conquest to kill and destroy her; but on the con- without delay took it, and rashly opened it; but
trary, it falls out that art becomes subject to na- when he saw that all kind of miseries came flutture, and yields the obedience as of a wife to her tering about his ears, being wise too late, with
husband. great speed and earnest endeavour clapped on the
cover, and so with much ado retained Hope sitting
PRnO:METHEUS, OR THE STATE OF alone in the bottom; at last Jupiter laying many
MAN. and grievous crimes to Prometheus's charge, as
that he had stolen fire from heaven, that in conTHE ancients deliver that Prometheus made a tempt of his majesty he sacrificed a bull's hide
man of clay, mixed with certain parcels taken stuffed with bones, that he scornfully rejected his
from divers animals. who, studying to maintain gift, and besides all this, that he offered violence
this his work by art, that he might not be ac- to Pallas, cast him into chains, and doomed him
counted a founder only but a propagator of human to perpetual torment; and by Jupiter's command
kind, stole up to heaven with a bundle of twigs, was brought to the mountain Caucasus, and there
which he kindled at the chariot of the sun, came bound fast to a pillar that he could not stir; there
down again, and communicated it with men; and came an eagle also, that every day sat tiring upon
yet they say that notwithstanding this excellent his liver and wasted it; but as much as was eaten
work of his, he was requited with ingratitude in a in the day grew again in the night, that matter for
treacherous conspiracy; for they accused both torment to work upon might never decay. But
him and his invention to Jupiter, which was not yet they say there was an end of this punishment;
so taken as was meet it should, for the information for Hercules crossing the ocean in a cup, which
was pleasing to Jupiter and all the gods: and the sun gave him, cameto Caucasus, and setPrometherefore in a merry mood granted unto men, theus atliberty by shooting the eagle with an arrow.
not only the use of fire but perpetual youth also, Moreover, in some nations there were instituted in
a boon most acceptable and desirable. They, the honour of Prometheus, certain games of lampbeing as it were overjoyed, did foolishly lay this bearers, in which they that strived for the prize
gift of the gods upon the back of an ass, who, being were wont to carry torches lighted, which whoso
wonderfully oppressed with thirst and near a foun- suffered to go out, yielded the place and victory
tain, was told by a serpent which had the custody to those that followed, and so cast back themselves,
thereof, that he should not drink unless he would so that whosoever came first to the mark with his
promise to give him the burden that was on his torch burning got the prize.
back. The silly ass accepted the condition, and This fable demonstrates and presseth many tite
so the restoration of youth, sold for a draught of and grave speculations, wherein some things have
water, passed from men to serpents. But Prome- been heretofore well noted, others not so much as
theus, full of malice, being reconciled unto men, touched.
after they were frustrated of their gift, but in a Prometheus doth clearly and elegantly signify
chafe yet with Jupiter, feared not to use deceit in Providence: for in the universality of nature, tho
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