The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 293
among them all, both which, she that had oc- fastened to Perseus' heels and not to his ankles,
casion to go abroad, was wont to take with her, to his feet and not to his shoulders; because
and at her return to lay them down again. This speed and celerity are required, not so much in
eye,and tooth they lent to Perseus; and so find- the first preparations for war, as in those things
ing himself thoroughly furnished for the effecting which second and yield aid to the first; for there
of his design, hastens towards Medusa. Her he is no error in war more frequent, than that profound sleeping, and yet durst not present himself secutions and subsidiary forces do fail to answer
with his face towards her, lest she should awake; the alacrity of the first onsets.
but turning his head aside beheld her in Pallas's Now for that helmet which Pluto gave him,
glass, and, by this means directing his blow, cut powerful to make men invisible, the moral is
off her head; from whose blood gushing out, plain; but that twofold gift of Provilence, to
instantly came Pegasus, the flying-horse. Her wit, the shield and looking-glass, is full of mohead thus smote off, Perseus bestows on Pallas's rality; for that kind of providence, which like a
shield, which yet retained this virtue, that what- shield avoids the force of blows, is not alone
soever looked upon it should become as stupid as needful, but that also by which the strength, and
a stone, or one like planet-strucken. motions, and counsels of the enemy are descried,
This fable seems to direct the preparation and as in the looking-glass of Pallas.
order that is to be used in making of war; for the But Perseus, albeit he were sufficiently furmore apt and considerate undertaking whereof, nished with aid and courage, yet was he to do
three grave and wholesome precepts, sav-ouring of one thing of special importance before he entered
the wisdom of Pallas, are to be observed. the lists with this monster, and that was to have
First, That men do not much trouble them- some intelligence with the Greae. These Greae
selves about the conquest of neighbour nations, are treasons, which may be termed the sisters of
seeing that private possessions and empires are war; not descended of the same stock, but far
enlarged by different means; for in the augmen- unlike in nobility of birth; for wars are generous
tation of private revenues, the vicinity of men's and heroical, but treasons are base and ignoble.
territories is to be considered; but in the propa- Their description is elegant, for they are said to
gation of public dominions, the occasion and be gray-headed, and like old wonlen from their
facility of making war, and the fruit to be ex- birth, by reason that traitors are continually vexed
pected ought to be instead of vicinity. Certainly with cares and trepidations. But all their strength,
the Romans, what time their conquests towards before they break out into open rebellions, conthe west scarce reached beyond Liguria, did yet sists either in an eye or in a tooth; for every
in the east bring all the provinces as far as the faction alienated from any state, contemplates
mountain Taurus within the compass of their and bites. Besides, this eye and tooth is as it
arms and command; and therefore Perseus, al- were common; for whatsoever they can learn
though he were bred and born in the east, did not and know is delivered and carried from one to
yet refuse to undertake an expedition even to the another by the hands of faction. And as conuttermost bounds of the west. cerning the tooth, they do all bite alike, and sing
Secondly, There must be a care had, that the the same song; so that hear one and you hear all.
motives of war be just and honourable; for that Perseus therefore was to deal with these Greae
begets an alacrity as well in the soldiers that for the love of their eye and tooth; their eye to
fight as in the people that pay; it draws on and discover, their tooth to sow rumours and stir up
procures aids, and brings many other commodities envy, and to molest and trouble the minds of
besides. But there is no pretence to take up men. These things therefore being thus disposed
arms more pious, than the suppressing of tyranny; and prepared, he addresses himself to the action
under which yoke the people lose their courage, of war, and sets upon Medusa as she slept; for a
and are cast down without heart and vigour, as in wise captain will ever assault his enemy when
the sight of Medusa. he is unprepared and most secure, and then is
Thirdly, It is wisely added, that seeing there there good use of Pallas's glass; for most men,
were three Gorgons, by which wars are repre- before it come to the push, can acutely pry into
sented, Perseus undertook her only that was and discern their enemies' estate; but the best
mortal; that is, he made choice of such a kind use of this glass is in the very point of danger,
of war as was likely to be effected and brought that the manner of it may be so considered that
to a period, not pursuing vast and endless hopes. the terror may not discourage, which is signified
The furnishing of Perseus with necessaries by that looking into this glass with the face
was that which only advanced his attempt, and turned from Medusa.
drew fortune to be of his side; for he had speed The monster's head being cut off, there fol
from Mercury, concealing of his counsels from low two effects. The first was the procreation
Orcus, and providence from Pallas. and raising of Pegasus, by which may be eviNeither is it without an allegory, and that full dently understood fame, that, flying through the
of matter too, that those wings of celerity were world, proclaims victory. The second is the
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