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up the rivers Orontes and Hydaspes, by striking them with his thyrsis, and passed through them, as Moses passed through the Red Sea. 9th. It is said also, that a little ivy-stick, thrown down by one of the Baccha upon the ground, crept like a dragon, and twisted itself about oak. Aud, 10. That the Indians once were all covered with darkness, while those Bacchæ enjoyed a perfect day.

From this you may collect, that the ancient invention of fables have borrowed many things from the Holy Scriptures, to patch up their conceits. Thus Homer says, that Bacchus wrestled with Pallene, to whom he yielded; which fable is taken from the history of the angel wrestling with Jacob. In like manner Pausanias reports, that the Greeks at Troy found an ark that was sacred to Bacchus; which when Euripidus had opened, and viewed the statue of Bacchus laid therein, he was presently struck with madness: the ground of which fable is in the second book of Kings, where the Sacred History relates that the Bethshemites were destroyed by God, because they looked with too much curiosity into the ark of the covenant.

Wine and its effects are understood in this fable of Bacchus. He was educated by the Naiades, nymphs of the rivers and fountains; whence men may learn to dilute their wine with water.

Bacchus is naked, he cannot conceal any thing. Wine always speaks truth, it opens all the secrets of the mind.

The poet says Bacchus has horns.

"Accedant capiti cornua, Bacchus eris."-Ov. Ep. Saph. But put on horns, and Bacchus thou shalt be.

Wine makes even the meanest people bold, insolent, and fierce, exercising their fury and rage against others, as a mad ox gores with his horns.

He is crowned with ivy; because that plant, be

ing always green and flourishing, by its natural coldness assuages the heat occasioned by too much wine.

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION.

In what respects do Bacchu and Nimrod resemble each other? In what respects is Bacchus like Moses?

What does the fable of Bacchus teach?

CHAPTER VI.

SEC. 1.-MARS. HIS IMAGE AND DESCENT.

MARS is fierce and sour in his aspect; terror is every where in his looks, as well as in his dress; he sits in a chariot drawn by a pair of horses, which are driven by a distracted woman; he is covered with armour, and brandishes a spear in his right hand, as though he breathed fire and death, and threatened every body with ruin and destruction.

Mars, the god of war, who is often seen on horseback, in a formidable manner, with a whip and a spear together. The dog was consecrated to him, for his vigilance in the pursuit of his prey; the wolf, for his rapaciousness; the raven, because he diligently follows armies when they march, and watches for the carcasses of the slain; and the cock, for his watchfulness, whereby he prevents all surprise. But, that you may understand every thing in the picture, observe, that the creatures which draw the chariot are not horses, but Fear and Terror. Sometimes Discord goes before them in tattered garments, and Clamour and Anger go behind. Yet some say, Fear and Terror are servants to Mars; and accordingly, he is not more awful and imperious in his commands, than they are ready and exact in their obedience.

that

"Fer galeam, Bellona mihi, nexusques rotarum
Tende, Pavor; Fræna rapidos, Formido, jugales."
Claud. in Ruf.

My helmet let Bellona bring; Terror my traces fit;
And, panic Fear, do thou the rapid driver sit.

"Sævit medio in certamine Mavors,

Cœlatus ferro, tristesque ex æthere Diræ,
Et scissa gaudens vadit Discordia palla,
Quam cum sanguineo sequitur Bellona flagello."

Virg. Æn. 8.CO

Mars in the middle of the shining shield
Is grav'd, and strides along the liquid field..
The Dire come from heav'n with quick descent,
And Discord, died in blood, with garments rent,
Divides the press: her steps Bellona treads,
And shakes her iron rod above their heads.

Bellona is the goddess of war, and the companion of Mars; or, as others say, his sister, or wife. She prepares for him his chariot and horses when he goes to fight. It is plain that she is called Bellona from bellum. She is otherwise called Duellona from duellum, or from the Greek word Behov [belone] a needle," whereof she is said to be the inventress. Her priests, the Bellonarii, sacrificed to her in their own blood; they hold in each hand naked swords, with which they cut their shoulders, and wildly run up and down like men mad and possessed upon which people thought, that (after the sacrifice was ended) they were able to foretell future events. Clau dian introduces Bellona combing snakes; and another poet describes her shaking a burning torch, with her hair hanging loose, stained and clotted with blood, and running through the midst of the ranks of the army, uttering horrid shrieks and dreadful groans..

"Ipsa faciem quatiens, et flavam sanguine multo
Sparsa comam, medias acies Bellona pererrat..
Stridet Tartarea nigro sub pectore Diva
Lethiferum murmur."

Her torch Bellona waving through the air,
Sprinkles with clotted gore her flaming hair,

Sil. 1. 5.