Chapter II: Appendix: To Essays

1. Fragment of an Essay of Fame 301

2. Of a King 303

3. An Essay on Death 307

THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS; A SERIES OF
MYTHOLOGICAL FABLES.

Preface 317

1. Cassandra, or Divination. Explained of too free and
unseasonable Advice 323

2. Typhon, or a Rebel. Explained of Rebellion 324

3. The Cyclops, or the Ministers of Terror. Explained
of base Court Officers 327

4. Narcissus, or Self-Love 329

5. The River Styx, or Leagues. Explained of Necessity,
in the Oaths or Solemn Leagues of Princes 331

6. Pan, or Nature. Explained of Natural Philosophy 333

7. Perseus, or War. Explained of the Preparation and
Conduct necessary to War 343

8. Endymion, or a Favorite. Explained of Court Favorites 348

9. The Sister of the Giants, or Fame. Explained of
Public Detraction 350

10. Acteon and Pentheus, or a Curious Man. Explained
of Curiosity, or Prying into the Secrets of Princes
and Divine Mysteries 351

11. Orpheus, or Philosophy. Explained of Natural and
Moral Philosophy 353

12. Cœlum, or Beginnings. Explained of the Creation,
or Origin of all Things 357

13. Proteus, or Matter. Explained of Matter and its
Changes 360

14. Memnon, or a Youth too forward. Explained of the
fatal Precipitancy of Youth 363

15. Tythonus, or Satiety. Explained of Predominant
Passions 364

16. Juno’s Suitor, or Baseness. Explained of Submission
and Abjection 365

17. Cupid, or an Atom. Explained of the Corpuscular
Philosophy 366

18. Diomed, or Zeal. Explained of Persecution, or Zeal
for Religion 371

19. Dædalus, or Mechanical Skill. Explained of Arts and
Artists in Kingdoms and States 374

20. Ericthonius, or Imposture. Explained of the improper
Use of Force in Natural Philosophy 378

21. Deucalion, or Restitution. Explained of a useful Hint
in Natural Philosophy 379

22. Nemesis, or the Vicissitude of Things. Explained of
the Reverses of Fortune 380

23. Achelous, or Battle. Explained of War by Invasion 383

24. Dionysus, or Bacchus. Explained of the Passions 384

25. Atalanta and Hippomenes, or Gain. Explained of the
Contest betwixt Art and Nature 389

26. Prometheus, or the State of Man. Explained of an
Overruling Providence, and of Human Nature 391

27. Icarus and Scylla and Charybdis, or the Middle Way.
Explained of Mediocrity in Natural and Moral
Philosophy 407

28. Sphinx, or Science. Explained of the Sciences 409

29. Proserpine, or Spirit. Explained of the Spirit included
in Natural Bodies 413

30. Metis, or Counsel. Explained of Princes and their
Council 419

31. The Sirens, or Pleasures. Explained of Men’s Passion
for Pleasures 420