Groxall, Samuel The secret history of pythagoras
PR 3383 C22S4 1751
THE SECRET
HISTORY O F
PTTH^GOR^S. Tranflated from the
ORIGINAL COPY, Lately found at
OTRANTO
ITALY.
in
0eaV,
voft
05
Jiotx.ei]oti
Pyth. Carm. Aur.
LONDON: Printed for R.
GR
in 5/. Ptf a/* J
i
F F
i
T H
s,
at the
Church-Tard.
[Price
One
Shilling.]
Dunciad
1751.
175)
THE
PREFACE. TH
E
Traaflation of this venerable
of Antiquity is undertook upon a double Score ; being defigned as well to entertain the Curiofity of the Learned, as to fupply the Defeats of Piece
the Ignorant.
If the original
Language would have been more acceptable to the one, it would have been lefs intelligible to the other.
I
without uttering a
cannot,
fo fingular Falfity, venture to affirm that
and valuable a Piece at leaft as yet fhall flatter
may
:
my
And felf,
contribute in
will be in the
that this
fome
A
made Public, mean Time I
2
little
Effay
fort or other to the
Diver-
PREFACE.
The
Diverlion, if not Inftru y
Worfhif the immortal Gods as by Law
eftabliftfd.
Human Laws
refpe&ing altogether the external Behaviour and Deportment, and
not being capable in their Nature of aftakes fedting the Heart:; this Philofopher
Occafion
The
PREFACE,
Occafion more than once to excite us to an
Obfervance of them.
which
The Laws
of God,
the inward Regulation and are not of a Quality
alfo regard
of the Mind,
under the Cognizance of human Judges, he refers to the Arbritation of Reafon ; and queftions not, if we are de
to
fall
termined by that, but they will meet with a ready Compliance. If any one, to fhew his Skill in Criticifm, fhould remark that this Secret Hiftory, becaufe of the Inaccuracy and Uncertainty of its Style, does not feem to have been
s
compiled by fo learned a Philofopher: I have one Thing to obferve to him, which ought in Reafon to out-ballance all the Occafions for Cavil
upon
that
Account
$
he
is
not to look upon this as a regular Perform ance, but as what undoubtedly it was, Minutes taken in Short-Hand by fome
Sympofiac or Difciple, and
filled
up
after-
Wards, upon a leifurely Recollection.
Befides
The
PREFACE.
Befides, as the fhortnefs
of a Profpedl
fometimes thought to be a Difadvantage to it, fo poffibly this may be the lefs pleafing is
upon the fame Account.
Therefore I
am
to acquaint the Reader, that the whole Vifta will be opened by Degrees, which I
more
furprizing : Brown Shades, and flowry Meadows, the winding Stream, and the old Ruins, the diftant
hope
will be the
Woods
gilded with Sunihine, and
beyond
all, the blueifh Mountains, will fucceffively I have given no more here than appear.
what may be
feen without {training the
afcending an Eminence; it is not defigned to take off the Eye from Sight,
or
Things of greater Confequence, but may be perufed at the Repaft of the Tea-Table, or in a Coffee-Houfe Vacation.
INTRO-
INTRODUCTION. the Learned are already fuffi-
SINCE
ciently apprized,
by their refpeftive from Italy, of the
Correspondents of Curiolities great Treafure
been
there in lately difcover'd
which has the Garden
of an ancient Palace, which flands upon the Ruins of the old Town of Croton y I ihall detain the Reader no longer with a Account of that Matter, than what is juft neceflary to illuftrate the Sub to communicate. ject I am going particular
In a Part of the Wildernefs belonging to the Gardens of a decay'd Palace of a cer tain Cardinal, near Otranto, there has been,
for
fome Generations
paft, a large
Cafcade
almoft naturally form'd, which falls down the Sides of a broken Rock into a Bafon
of no fmall Circumference
Want
;
in
which, for
of due Infpeftion and Repair, (the
B
Cardinal
INTRODUCTION.
ii
Cardinal refiding moftly at another Palace fituated more conveniently in Refped to
Diftance from Rome] there has been, long fince, a Rupture, or Chafm on one its
Side near the
Bottom
;
at
which the Water
having, for fome Time, emptied
itfelf, did,,
and wafh away the con crete Particles of which the Cement confifted, which held the Stones of the Foun
at laft, fo dilute
dation together,
that
the whole Fabrick
funk in one Night.
The Depth of this Sinking made thofe who faw it the next Day, apprehend it to have been the EfFedts of an Earthquake
;
being fearched into not long after,
by fome Workmen who were fet to repair it,, it was difcovered to be caufed by the fall ing in of an Arch, over which the Bafon was built. This Arch, by the Frag
till,
ments of it, appeared to have been defigned for the Roof or Covering of fome Grot and, from the Pieces of Carving, ftill curi remaining upon it, fome of the more to
5
ous Spectators concluded
Upon
clearing
it
to be antique.
the Place of
its
Rubbifh,
they were foon, to their great Satisfaction, con-
INTRODUCTION.
iii
confirmed in their Opinion. For the whole was found to be a handfome large Room, near upon fquare, about forty Foot each way, and as many in Height.
Door
Window on
The
Foot high,
or Entrance near thirty
with a
over
each fide
it,
which
had, made this Front of the Building look very fpacious and
were
all
the Lights
it
grand ; which yet altogether was plain, and of the Doric Order. Within were feveral
Niches properly difpofed, each containing a very fair Buft of Parian Marble, and the
am
Pedeftal of Egyptian. I
told that feveral
Medals were dug up under the Pavement, which confifted of very thick hard red
An Ac many other An
Tiles, about eight Inches fquare.
count, of
all
which, and
tiquities equally entertaining, will
foon be
publifhed in a Difcourfe or Treatife purpofely written by the Learned Sigmr Flo'
renting the Pope's Librarian 3 who was fent thither by his Holinefs, at the Requeft -
of the Cardinal, with. a fpecial CommifliQn to take; the Care and Cognizance of them. Therefore, to pofe,
come
to our prefent
J muft inform the
B
2
Pur-
World, that a hopeful
INTRODUCTION.
xv
hopeful young Gentleman, Son to a moft ingenious and obliging Friend of mine, happening in the Courfe of his Travels to Jye at an Inn in the Neighbourhood of this Place, the third Night after the Difcovery
was made,
ftay'd there five
Days
j
hoping,
by indefatigable Induftry and Application, to make himfelf Mafter of fome littl$ Piece of thefe Antiquities $ having a good Relifh and Judgment for Things of that
Kind. 1
But Orders being fent from Rome, from the Cardinal, that a near the Place, and ftrictly
kept
had but a
off
Guard fhould be all
from Approaching
faint Profpedl
fet
Perfqns whatever
of
it,
he
accomplifhing
Evening, as he was out after Sun-fet, he met a poor walking Labourer with a and Mattock on
his Wiflies
:
Till one
Spade
his Shoulder, returning
from
The young Gentleman,
his
letting
Work. flip
no
Opportunity of exercifing himfelf in the Italian Tongue, which the ordinary Pe^fant there (quite contrary to what in moft other Countries) fpeaks as $s the beft bred Courtier at
happens properly
Rome, took oc-
INTRODUCTION. cafion to enter
v
upon Difcourfe with him
and foon with a
;
fecret Pleafure found, that
the Converfation he held was with one of thofe
who were employed
in clearing
away
the Rubbifh of the Ruins in the Cardinal's
Garden. Fired with frefh Expeditions upon fo welcome an Interview, he firft warily found
ed the poor Man's Capacity, hoping he might find him one of thofe experienced Pioneers, who knew how to turn fuch fort
Work
fome Meafure to their own Advantage 5 and from whom, moft of the late-found Medals and Antiquities which have been brought from ltalyy have, by
of
in
clandestine Practices,
been
In
obtained.
he appeared,
fine, this Ruftic, as
iimple as
was one of
and having taken his
thefe
;
Opportunity to conceal fomething which he thought might be of Value, he after wards, under Pretence of going to drink at a little Fountain, which gufhed out of
2 Lyon's Hsad, fixed in the Garden Walk threw his Prize unfeen into an adjoining
Megdowj from whence he had been fetch
him,
it
juft as the
young Traveller
to
met
Thefe
INTRODUCTION;
vi
Thefe two had very luckily happened \\pon each other, being the propereft Perfons they could mutally communicate their
For whenever any curious Ddigns to Value or Antiquity is procured of Thing by any Stranger, unlefs he ufes the utmoft Precaution in conveying it out of the Coun :
he
try,
is
fure to have
it
feized and taken
from him \ nay, though he has paid ever fbfair a Price for it, and purchafed it of the rightful Proprietor.
To be
the poor Peafant having a juft Confidence in the young Gentleman, without Hefitation drew out from under his fhort
5
'Cloaths a Cylinder of about a Foot long, -five
Inches Diameter.
It
and
was caked over
with a rough Cafe of Earth and Ruft in termingled ; and by its Lightnefs feemed -to
be hollow
Knife,
which attempting with a
they were foon certified of;
they found raifo
;
up,
it
for
very thin, and
made
fhift to
feparate one
End,
as
arid
one
would open the Head of an Oyfter-Barrel. There appeared to be nothing in it but a 'Roll of Parchment or Vellum,, curioufly rolled
INTRODUCTION. rolled
VJr
round a fmall Stick of black Ebo
ny, at each End of which was a little Bofs of white Cornelian. Our young Virtuofo^
without ilaying to examine the Contents,
made
it
his
own
for five
ferred the Perufal of
Time and
it
Crowns, and
de->
more proper
to a
Place.
This Volume, imce the young Gentle man^ Return, by the very obliging and communicative Temper of his Father, is
now fion
of
it
in
my
Hands ; and
from both
to publifh fuch
may
;
an Account
which now
prepare himfelf for, and
as follows.
The Writing of an ancient fo
have a Permif-
as I fhall think proper
the Reader is
I
is
fair
in the Greek
Character
;
Tongue,
but the Ink
decayed and faded by Time,
that at
prefent it is barely legible, and no more. I have tranfcribed it with the utmoft Care
and Exaftnefs; and can aver, that I folemnly believe I have not omitted or miftaken one Letter. -
On
INTRODUCTION.
tiii
On
the outfide of the Roll
Codex Pompilianus
;
was written
meaning, that the Book
had belong'd to Numa Pompilius y the fecond King of Rome, which is moft proba ble ; or to fome other Roman of that Name. On the infide was the Title, To, ITuSfleyop*
rS
Tys Soviets fite
a/sroppijU,
The
of Pythagoras the PhilofoAs indeed it has been hitherto. For
fecret Hiftory
pher
:
though Men of Learning have all along been acquainted with that great Man's No tions of the Tranfmigration of the Soul, which he ufed to affert from his own par ticular Experience ; profefling that his had belonged firft of all to the Body of &tbalides, then to thofe of Euphorbus, Hcrmoti-
and Pyrrhus a poor Fifherman of Debs, fucceflively; yet they never were informed fufficiently of fuch co-temporary Circumftaaces and Parts of Hiftory, as the Mind of one fo obfervant upon all re fflus,
markable PafTages muft needs have collefted, in the different Bodies or Stages of Life in
which
it
refided.
Thefe
are the
Contents of this Pompilian Volume ; which feems to have been in the keeping of fome noble
INTRODUCTION.
ix
(
noble Inhabitant of Croton; though it is not impoffible but Numa himfelf might
have had a Houfe there.
How long
it
has
been thus loft to the World, or whether indeed
it
were ever publickiy known to
cannot; I think, eaiily be determined. It was found under the Pavement, as if
it,
defignedly laid there
5
either before
the
Building was eredled, or to be concealed
upon fome Emergency which happened after. Poffibly upon that Irruption which the Gauls made into Italy y under their King Brennus, when they over-ran all be fore them, and plundered even Rome itfelf. For there being fcarce any thing extant of the Romans till after that Time, in which
we
could expedt any mention of Pythagoras's Works, makes it not unlikely that this
was the only Book of that kind in being $ and by the unhappy Care of its Profeffor, who might fall in that Time of Calamity, came to be buried in fo long an Obfcurity.
The Ufe I {hall put it to at prefent, till the prefent Proprietor refolves to make the Original public, is to communicate to the
C
World
x
INTRODUCTION-
World
the Contents of
own Tongue
into our
it
in a Tranflation
which
3
I
intend to
keep the Appetites of my Readers from being cloyed, in moderate ferve up,
Parcels
;
to,
that
the
Whole may
laft
the
longer, and that proper Portions of it may be fet before them from time to time as their
Stomachs
may feem
to call for
it.
,
_
MEMOIR
MEMOIR
I.
The Hiftory of J&THALIDES.
MY
Name was
Mother's
Melidora
fhe lived in the Suburbs of in the
phos,
and procured Livelihood,
Ifland of
5
Pa-
Cyprus
;
herfelf an honeft unenvied
by furnifhing
Inhabitants with Milk,
feveral
Honey,
of
its
and
all
Sorts of delicious Fruits as the Seafon re
She rented a little Farm and Gar quired. den of a Merchant in the City, as her Mother had done before her ; from whence provided many Conveniences for the Citizens* a comfortable Maintenance for flie
herfelf,
me.
and
a
For fhe
School in the
handfome Education
Town
for
me
fent 5
to the principal where I was inftrudt-
ed among the Children of People of the firft Rank, in all the Sciences that are proper C 2 tO
to adorn a
Man, and make him
ufeful to
his Country*
As my Age came lege
increafed;
on,
my Love of Know*
and notwithftanding the Matter, and tender Fond-
great Care of nefi of Mother,
ing
my who were daily feed my Mind with all the Notions that my
were adapted
and improve it, I continually gave Inftances of fo inquifitive a Temper, as rather afforded Pleafure than to cherifh
.Trouble to thofe about me*
One Day,
perceiving I
was without a
Father, a Happinefs I could not fee, with out repining, in fome of my Equals, I en quired of my Mother concerning it, with
more than
ufual Importunity. Young as not could I was, help obferving the fudden Blufh which overfpread her beautiful I
Neck and Face
She was not then above One and Twenty 5 and as I have fince heard from many Reports > did at this Queftion.
not yield to the
faireft
Woman
in that
City for the Charms of her Perfon. ftrained me in her Arms with much ture,
and
after
She
Rap
having overwhelmed me with
with a thoufand
Rifles,
yesj
my
JEthalides (fays (he) I will tell
dearell
you
;
and
which has been the Caufe of your be the Means of prefent Being, and will your future Welfare, fliall no longer be that
kept fecret from you.
Know
then,
fhe, that I
when Day,
my
was
deareft Child,
purfued
fearce thirteen Years old,
Evening of a hot Summer's chanced to fall afleep under the
in the I
which grows on the fide Rivulet, which runs through our Garden. My Mother not being yet returned from the Town, whither her Bufinefs had carried her, and the Ser vants employed in fome more remote Part of the Garden, I lay thus till the Dufk of the Night was far advanc'd. The Frefli-
Hedge of of the
Rofes,
little
nefs of the cool Breezes,
and the
Stillnefs
of the Place, which was rendered mpre agreeable by the warbling Notes of correfponding
Nightingales,
contributed
fo
down my Senfes with the Cords of Morpheus, that I did not awake before I found my feif irrecoverably
irrefiftibly to tie
filken
within the
Arms and Power
ctf
a
moft
'4
[
beautiful
3
young Man.
would have em
I
ployed my Strength in Refiftance, but the fudden Surprize had deprived me of it 5 I would have raifed my Voice for Help,
but Fear had difarmed the Attention,
which
my Tongue And :
could not avoid
I
new
giving to an Accident fo
me, confpired to complete my Undoing. For whe ther Love had fo early begun to find the way to my Heart, or whether it was only a Childifh Prelude to this
it,
to
the Features of
Perfon fo refembled thofe of a hand-
fome Youth of Paphos,
whom
gerly gazed at the
before,
came
Houfe
to our
Day (as
had ea
I
when he
he frequently did)
buy Fruits, that, notwithftanding the Anguifh I ought to have felt upon fuch #n Occafion, by that fatal Prepoffeffion of my Fancy, I was all over melted into TenThere was nothing to reftrain dernefs. to
him from
indulging the
Warmth
of his
Degree of Defire, but the eternal and unalterable Rules of Na Paffion to the laft
ture
;
which
at length,
ftances of his
to free
time
my
me
firft
from
after repeated In-
Provocation, confented his
Embraces.
By
Senfes, having re-affembled
this
themfelves
5
t
felves to condole
tion of
my
with
Honour,
inexpreffible
Sorrow.
1
me upon this Viola plunged me into an I
lay
ftill
on the
Ground and I queftion whether my Grief would ever have fuffered me to rife, if the -,
charming Ravifher had not gently
me
lifted
up.
After having folded me in his Arms with a forcible Tranfport, he addrefled himfelf thus to me, in the fweeteft Ac
my Ears were bleflfed with Farewell, my lovely Melidora and
cents that ever
"
al.
"
y
calm
to
your Troubles, remember the Son of Jove was the Author of
made
fcurity in fpeaking,
preffion
-
y
But
upon me.
either thro'
defigned or no
little
ObIm-
in this laft Leflbn
he had open'd his Mind with fuch an Air of Tendernefs and Concern, that every thing he faid had its due Weight, and funk deep into my Mind. The more I thought of it, the more I was convinced of the Truth
of his Difcourfe; and every Reflection which arofe from it gave me a new and fecret Pleafure.
The Complacence and
of Spirit which
Elevation
I felt
upon believing myfelf the Son of Hermes vanished ; or rather was like
extinguifh'd,
a
lefler
Flame of Truth.
Light,
by the
A
Knowledge, and demonftrable, that the Gene of the World were wrong in this Re-
bright
certain rality
fpeftj
and
the Error,
I,
young
gave
me
as I was, free
from
a folid and durable
Sa-
23
f
which
Satisfaction,
]
lafted the
whole time
of my- Life. I was fenfible that the count my Mother had given me of
was
Birth,
own
Ac
my
either a plaufible Invention
of
Truth not proper for her to mention, or that Neanthus had by this Trick firft obtained, and fmce conher
to conceal a
tinu'd, to poffefs her
ther
me
Fame
But whe
Embraces.
had whifper'd
this Secret
whom me
trufted, or
female Friend
to a
the
herfelf
my Wit and Learning made
of
Countrymen conceive fomething of me more than Mortal ; they look'd upon me as the Son of that God fome time before my
my
Death, and
after
it
beftow'd Immortality
and divine Honours upon me. However I kept Melidoras Secret, and my own Senfe of it as
intirely to
my
pious as his juftly
myfelf ; I regarded Neanthus real Father, and lov'd him with a
and
grateful Affedtiori
;
fuch indeed
Fondnefs and paternal Care of me For his Father Chryfander claim'd.
and leaving him Heir to a good Eftate and much Treafure, he gene-
dying foon
after,
roufly fettled
upon
my Mother F
the
Farm and
24
[
3
and Gardens which (he rented, and made her a Prefent of two Talents of Gold.
But my Mind was fo wholly engag'd in the Purfuit of Knowledge, that I found lit tle Enjoyment out of the Company of my and he was
Mafter Eleutherius
y
charm'd with
my
Parts,
Learning.
The
fition for
my
Schoolfellows,
-
as
much
and ready Difporeft
were
of the Youths,
fo
intent
upon that they had the utmoft and Plays, Sports
Averfion for his dry Philofophy (as they call'd it) and took advantage of all the Fefti-
and Times of Solemnity to abfent themThen it was that I had the moft felves. vals
and eafy Accefs to his Inftru&ions, and heard him dictate without Referve. It free
would have been hard
to determine
whe
ther the Mafter expounded, or the Scholar attended, with moft Pleafure.
One Day, when he had been
holding a Difcourfe our favourite To upon copious
and been expofing, with and Strength of Reafon,
pic, Religion his ufual Clearnefs -,
the great Inconveniences that had and might
proceed
proceed from Multitudes pofiefs'd with Superflition,
and
artfully inflam'd
by wicked
defigning Priefts, he confirm'd it with aver ring, that the more plain and natural any Religion was, the better it would be for
more pleaiing to God. For (fays he) if Mankind would but en tertain thofe juft Notions of the Maker of the World, which their own Reafon, his faithful Interpreter, would tell them, and
the Public, and the
refolve not to be
impofed upon by Fables
and Traditions ;
'tis
certain that the Reli
gion flowing from thence muft be accepta ble to
God, and
For
more
firft,
beneficial to
What
confiftent
is
more
Mankind. reafonable and
with the Attributes and Ho
nour of God, than to conclude that he ex-
peds nothing from his Creatures, but what he has given them Capacities to per form ftice,
If
?
we
think
him to be
a
God
of Ju-
we
When
are fure he can require no more. therefore the Priefts, who declare
themfelves to be the Keepers of his Myfteries and his Will, in one place pretend that he ought to be worflrip'd with F 2
Corn
.
in
[
26
]
he expefts Wine ; in a third, Sheep and Oxen ; and that here in our City he is delighted to fee his Temple in
another, that
made
a public
men
;
who
bid
fair
it)
Rendezvouz
for
lewd
Wo
fuch Devotion will produce indeed for eternal Happinefs, by (if
taking care never to mifs the ftated
Times
of Worfhip, and mortifying their Bodies by a continual Proftitution Which of thefe :
Prefcriptions
right
and
fon
none.
;
lar
God.
we
infallible
us, that
tell
are
to follow as the only
one
?
If
we ask
If we ask the Prieft
our Rea;
he will
which belongs
And
as
many
to his particu Religions as there
many hundred thoufand Priefts will aver the fame. What mufl be done then
are, fo
in this uncertain Labyrinth, where there are fo many different Ways, and none
to be
Why
appears (nor certainly is) the right one? let us have Recourfe to our Reafon,
by which our us from the reft of what Information
that excellent Part of us,
Maker his
we
has diftinguifh'd
Creatures, and try can get from thence.
us, that, as
God
is
And
that tells
the Perfedlion of
Good, we can never do
better than
all
when
we
we
endeavour to
By
doing as as
nefit
imitate,
him
and;be like
:
Hurt, and as much Be can to our Fellow-Creatures :
little
we
in keeping our Confciences clear and nocent from evil Defigns and Intentions, and forming new Refolutions of proceeding
By
in the
of Virtue.
Ways
furdity in this at
any time
?
?
Will
Nay
him
this
Is there
any Ab-
make God angry
rather, will
it
not
al
If he were to fpeak to us ways pleafe in the Voice of a Man, and tell us his Will ?
Words, would he make it any other than this? Could he indeed contrive any
in
? And yet how plain, how na how obvious to all Mankind is this ?
thing better tural,
Secondly, As this cannot but pleafe God, fo nothing can be more beneficial to Man kind.
For of what
or
Profit
Ufe
to the
the great Variety of Rites and Ce remonies which every Nation in it claims ?
World
Do
is
tljy contribute
Country where to
to the
they
are
Trade of the exercis'd,
the Strength and Defence
are they
in
any degree
of
it,
or or
honourable, ad
vantageous or pleafureable to
its
Inhabi tants
?
[
tants
28
3
If they are, they ought to be reGood of the Public ; if not, ridiculous, nay often how dangerous,
?
tain'd for the
how is it
to keep
into
Cuftom
them up, and ?
What
let
them grow
Cruelties
do
the
Kings of Ajfyria commit in forcing the Nations which they conquer to worfhip after
their
Manner
?
How
obftinate are
of thofe Nations, in chufing rather to endure the fharpeft Tortures, than to
many
relinquiih the vain Superftitions in
which
they have been educated ? With what a lowring evil Eye do the Prieftefles of our Venus behold thofe chafteMen and Women,
who
will not fuffer their
Minds and Bodies
to be debauch'd with the abominable Lufts
of Paphos ? By their libidinous Geflures, and loofe Inveftives, endeavouring to irri tate and provoke their luftfully zealous Vo branding them with the odious Appellations of cold, impotent,
taries
againft
them
;'
or barren; perfecuting them with all manner of Obfcenities ; and declaring that they
ought by wholefome Severities, fuch as Whipping and Hanging, to be forc'd into an Inclination to do Honour and Service to
29
[
On
their Goddefs.
to
Priefts
who
muft be
1
ferve
the contrary, the
Cybek, Joves Mother, it at the Expence of
qualified for
and when they are carry ing that old Goddefs about the Streets, take an Opportunity to rob all they meet; for when begging is made a Part of Religion,
Manhood
their
it is
;
reckon'd Profane to refufe to give.
Now.
not
are
all
thefe
as
well
great
Inconveniences to the Public, as mighty themfelves? How much ridiculous in better
would
it
be for thofe miferable Peo
whom
the Affyrians take in War, if they had no fuch barbarous Cuftom as burning them upon their Altars? What
ple
Cruelty, Rancour, Revenge, and Hardnefs of Heart does this exprefs ? Are thefe Qua lities
God
No
Emo
agreeable to the Attributes of Or is it for the public furely.
?
lument that fuch Tempers and Habits of
Mind
fhould be encouraged
contrary
is
of Venus, fenfe
certain.
Do
pradtifed in
?
No
:
but the
the wanton Rites this
City,
Good?
in
any
Do
promote publick they Mind, or invigorate the Body ?
redtify the
Do
[
Do
they
make
3
]
thofe that ftickle for
them
more Healthy or more Wife ? or in any contribute to their Well-being ? particular
No
but are evidently the Occafion of much Detriment to the Commonwealth in gene :
ral,
as well as very
Families.
How
pernicious
many
to private
Children of both
Sexes are initiated into the Myfteries of the
Goddefs by the Examples of their wanton Mothers ? How many Wives, under Pre tence of Devotion, take their Fill of furreptitious
and adulterate
Loves,
their
Huf-
band's Race with a fpurious Iffue? Arts and Arms, the Bulwark and Ornament of for thefe bafer fofter
Cities, are
negledted Diverfions ; and the
ture has defign'd cies,
whom
Women, whom Na
for keeping
he has form'd
fair
up our Spe and tempt
ing with a thoufand agreeable Graces, de feat the End of their Inftitution by being
too liberal of their Charms.
They
pleafe
the Eye, like a Valley of Corn fmiling with But when we look to fee a vernal Bloom :
a full Harveft, behold
!
the Clouds
over-
fhadow it, the Drops fall thick into the, Furrows ; and inftead of an impregnating Shower,
1 "Shower,
3' ]
with a Deluge of
overflows
it
Rain.
But every Nation his its religious Rites, and confequently its Follies and Inconveni ences of fome
fome of
Kind
or other.
thefe are indifferent,
For
and innocent
in themfelves* yet through they may become dangerous to a
enough
tho*
Abufe
Commu
nity.
Such
tinuance are
mean
by a too long Con grown into Cuftom, and from I
as
thence efteemed by the Vulgar as effential, important and neceffary Parts of Religion. If the Decency, or perhaps Grandeur with
which Religion ought populous Cities
to be attended, in
efpecially, requires a fufr
Quantity of Pomp and Shew ; this ihould be as changeable as the Fafhions of
ficient
our Drefs
might be pleafed as well with the Variety and Newnefs, as Magnificence of them; and the Magiftrate ;
that the People
have it in his Power, if Reafons of State ihould to alter as eafily as to continue
require
it,
them*
How
indecent
is it
G
to fee the Priefts
of
32 of Pan running naked about the
Women
to the expofing themfelves
Virgins in a
Manner
be thought on
and
too immodeft even to
Yet
?
Streets
if the
State fhould
attempt to abolifh this vile Ceremony, what a tumultuous Outcry would immediately
be
by the
raifed,
Women
efpecially
?
who
think they (hall never feel a Mother's Joys, a Stroke from thefe till they have had frantic Gefticulators.
But
as thefe
Inftitution, let
were
all
to ferve
certainly
fome
of
human
political
us afk our Reafon whether
End,
God ever
told
It tells
he expefts any thing of that Kind? us he cannot, and that we fhould
think
him
it
that
ftrange God, if we Is there any Ceremony
a very
thought he did.
equal to thinking juftly of God ? Is there any Rite or Cuftom, though ever fo vene rable for
its
Antiquity and Solemnity, fo
neceflary, fo truly religious,
to
God,
No
:
It
as a Series
of virtuous Adtions
would be the moft
nefs to fufped,
fo agreeable ?
ftupid Profane-
it.
How
[33
3
How then c^me
the one to be preferred before the other, or even to take place at
Minds of
all in
the
How
came they
reafonable Creatures
?
to imagine, that a Preju
dice in Favour of a Parcel of idle Tricks,
would atone
for the
Sufpenfipji of their the Intermiflipn of their Virtue?
Reafon and
For a bigotted Attention to Toys of this Kind makes us, for a Time, lofe the Affiftance of thofe two noble Guides. Why,
my JEthalides, as great a Riddle as this Teems to be,
who
is
it
eafily
accounted for: Thofe
have the Advantage of Reafon, could
never ad: thus, unlefs that were
firft
blind
ed and perverted. If People, in Purfuance of the Dictates of that excellent Faculty,
were tp
exercife
Virtue only, Fopperies,
and
themfelves in Habits of rejeft
thefe
ridiculous
what Occafion would there be
of Men, to prove the Ncceflity and to enhance the Dignity of their Office, pretend that the
for -.Prints
?
Therefore
this Set
Gods themfelvcs have ordained and comi^anded" thefe Things, and appointed them G 2 Ad-
34
[
and
Adminiftrators
]
of their
Executors
They know that there is a Confcioufnefs of Duty in every Man's Heart, which tells him that he ought to. endeavour after Virtue, and lets him fee there is a Will.
Pleafure in
doing Gopdj but fills his Shame Mind with and Remorfe upon com an ill Action, and makes hirti a-* mitting
doing that which is right. This natural Fear the Arch^Priefts work
fraid to negledt
upon and improve by ftures
People, find
it
tions,
no very
difficult
Talk.
The
when he deliberately to weigh his own Ac will incline him to believe, that
Balance of a corqes
Ijnpothe vulgar ordinary
among
and,
;
own
their
Reafon,
IVJan's
according as they have tended to Virtue or
Vice in
this
Life,
he
fhall
meet with
Pu-r
'
mfhments or Rewards
And
in the Shades below.
as trie
more
Generality of Mankind leans toward Vice than Virtue, and muft
confequently be often agitated
Fear; by the
this
Means
defigning Prieft
their
Judgment
;
there
is
to ftep in
which
is
with
this
Room
for
and
biafs
commonly done, by
[35 by
flattering
their Fears,
their
the
their
He
drooping
1
Hopes,
and
leffening
comforts and encourages
Spirits,
by
affuring
Gods may be appeafed and
them
reconciled
That by fomething elfe befides Virtue fuch a Thing as an Hecatomb of Bullocks :
may go
a great
that building of a dedicating it to fome par
way
;
Temple, and ticular God, will do well ; and that fettling a good Revenue for the Maintenance of the Priefts that muft belong to effectual
Thus People who
it,
is
moft
are confcious of
ha ving committed Injuries among Men, and follicitous how they {hall efcape the Lafh of the Furies, are very willing to believe that find out Expedients for their Security, though ever fo abfurd and un~
thofe
j-eafonable.
We have
neglefted (fay they)
to imitate the Attributes of
God,
Juft and
He
Good; but
in being
be pleafed with Immolations and Viflims ? Will the will
Blood of Bulls and Goats and Sheep enter tain him fo much, that he will overlook pur Injuftice for their Sakes, and
commute our
36
[
]
our Punifhment for the Slaughter of Beafts?
If he
we
will,
are ready to fatisfy his to the one Half of our
Demands, even Dilates
how
:
And how his
Prisfts,
how
venerable,
Men
an Order of
ufefui
Attendants and
Interpreters.
Q
who
facred,
are thefe
us thefe good Tidings, and <pan fuch glorious Things for us
tell
e$el
!
8 mu
n
To think
\
my, Mthauaesy is natural to a Mind diflurbed and perverted by Fear $ but Thou feeft how far it is from the Dic tates
how
of
thus,
coql.
Reafon
\
and confequently
from being agreeable Behold Pandicaus, Nature. enters our profaned at
our
how hpw
to the divine
far
calm,
;
how
undifturbed
is
healthy and vigorous his
unreprovable
all .his
neither
Temples, nor attends
abominable Rites
how
who
Actions
chearful,
Mind
his
pody ?
?
He
?
how walks
through the Streets, and, with an uncon cerned failing Countenance, fees the En-trails
crackling and frying
He falutes
upon the
Altars,
the High-Pneft with a well-bred
and puts on an outward Gravity when lie talks with him ; but laughs in Civility,
wardly
37
[
1
wardly at the Farce he is a&ing, and admire^ The Deity, at the Stupidity of Mankind.
whom
they fo grofly make Court to, as if he had the Appetites and Paffions of a Mortal, Pandicaus contemplates with the
Light of his Reafon, and ftudies to imitate by the Practice of Juftice, Benignity, and all
kind of
focial Virtues.
that this
him,
Creature
made
is
the
His Heart
his conftant Exercife of
;
tells
Duty of a reafonable it
has
and the uninterrupted Pleafure which flows from fuch a Redtitude of Thoughts and Adions, confirms him it
habitual
;
in his Opinion, that joyful
what
is
thus good and
muft be Godlike,
For, what ill-natured Deities, tides,
we
are the
Gods
are told that
unlefs
we
my
reprefented to be,
we
when
cannot pleafe them
torment ourfelves
?
Juftice
and
Temperance, Honefty and Sobriety, Comand Good- Will, are exceeding plaifance pleafant
and
delightful, as
and advantageous
well as ufeful
to that Society in
which
they are pradtifed: But Fear, Superftition, Morofenefs, Paffion, Suspicion, Jealoufy
and
t
3S
and Vain-Glory, which are the Ingredient* of moft People's Religion, are tormenting to ones felf, and troublefome to others*
Which
of thefe Qualities
is
moft
likely to
pleafe God, the good-natured or natured ? It needs no Anfwen
the
ill-
Thus, from time to time, did this wife judicious Man fow the Seeds of Knowledge Heart, and inoculate the Buds of I had a Memory Virtue in my Mind.
in
my
Things com and though the Food with was fupplied, might well be
which happily mitted to
which
I
retained the
it ;
thought too ftrong for one of fuch tender* Years, yet I had an Underftanding that could digeft it> and turn it into the moft
wholfome Nourifhment.
I
rived to the twelfth Year of
I was admired
faw me
and
was
my
careffed
fcarce ar
Age, when
by
all
that
the graver Sort for my Learn* ing and Knowledge ; by the Young, the Spritely and the Gay, for my Wit and
Beauty. fortified
:
By
As much againft
the
as
I
was feafoned and
Attacks of
from the wife Inftru&ions of
my
Vanity, Mafter, I could
[39
1
could not, without being touched with a fecret Pleafure, perceive the Eyes of the I.
admiring City turned upon along.
They
courted
me
me
as I palled
into their
Houfes
with Importunity ; and there was a vifible Emulation among them about gaining my Efteem by the Delicacy of their Entertain ments.
But
in all thefe, there
was none whofe
was expreffed with fo much Ardor, and even Impetuoiity, as that of of the firft Rank ; and tpbigenifr a Matron who furpaffed the reft of my Admirers in
Fondnefs
Munificence, as much as in the Excefs of her Love, and the Superiority of her Con
She bound a Bracelet of Pearl many times round my left Arm, and faflened on Gems of great Price for the But
dition.
tons of
my
She retained
Sandals.
the tendereft Blandifhments iible
;
me with
and the fen-
Tokens me
continually gave of the her Kindnefs, difpofed me to
Reality of return the Affection,
by devoting
Service thofc Intermiffions of Leifure, arc fuch neceffary Reliefs to Study.
H
to her
which Yet
I
could
ObMind
could not difcover which was molt the jedt
of her Paffion, the
or
flie
Turn of
feemed to be
my
in
Raptures Body upon the Contemplation of either of them ; but when I was fpeaking in the moft en gaging Manner, would frequently break ;
her Attention to
Difcourfe by reiterated She ob Kifies, and convulfive Embraces.
my
tained leave of
my Mother, that I fhould whole Nights in her Houfe ; and Meftay Kdora from a Senfe of the Obligations laid y
on her by fo noble a Lady, contented her felf fometimes a Week together without feeing
To all
my
me. the Breaft of Eleutherim I committed Secrets.
He
was become
rather a
Friend than a Mafter, and was as fincere in affifting me with his Counfel now, a s before he had been diligent in furnifhing
me
with his Inftruftions.
To him
I
com
municated every new Motion in this amica ble Affair, and model'd my Behaviour ac cording to his
Opinion.
He
confxdered
that IpKgenia was paft that Age in the Levities and Sallies of Youth
which plead
Excufe
[4'
]
Excufe for unruly Paffions, and the Confequences which they produce That tho' her Hufband had long fince been indifferent to her, fhe avoided giving him any de:
figned Offence ; as knowing that notwithftanding her Charms were not capable of affefting
him now, he would have raged
with Jealoufy at the Thoughts of another's poffeffing them. But Eleutherius perceived that her Fondnefs for
me was
alarming him, that he raged and given in to it
fo far from had rather encou and from thence -,
concluded, that, thinking his Honour fafe, he did not intend to deprive his Wife of fo innocent a Pleafure as fhe feemed to enjoy in a Boy's Company. He thought too, that Iphigema would compound by fuch an Indulgence for all the fevere Reftraints her
had impoied upon
Affectations of Virtue
her
;
fire,
and that
which
all
the
little
Efforts of
for a long time fhe
De-
had check
ed and concealed, would break out with united Forces, for
and center
in her Paflion
me.
H
2
From
[M
3
From thefe Obfervations he formed a mofb artful
which
Scheme
for
my
future
was contrived how
Conduct
;
in
I
might conwith Ipbigenia, without diminifhing her Love and the Advantages flowing from it, the good Opinion of her Hufband, or it
verfe
my own
She was wealthy be yond Account, and moft of her Riches be to her Dowry by the Death ing fuperadded of great Relations, remained in her own Integrity.
She gave me every Day frefh Testimonies of her Affection, by repeated Difpofal.
Inftances cf her Liberality.
I
was
diftin-
had been
my Apparel guifhed her own Son, and fhe often carried as if I
in
me
with
her to the Temples, and among the Aflemblies of honourable Women ; where I en countered fuch a Variety of odd Adven tures, as gave Occafion to many entertain ing and inflrudtive Difcourfe.s of Eleutherius. Religion, Gallantry, Politics, and Trade, were the Topics I was required to be moft obferyant upon : Thefe were the Supplies
by which our
private Difcourfes
time to time kept up
were from
which, by occafional
[43
1
fional Excurfions I took care
to provide
the Repaft of my retired Preceptor^ whofe Age and Station hindered him from
for
mingling in the Chace, and being a prefent Various were the Spectator of the Sport.
Mazes
I trod in tracing the different In
trigues
of Lovers, Statefmen,
Artificers.
Priefts
and
Impoftures, and of what Kind foever
Affectations,
pernicious Defigns were the Marks I
aimed at; and my Haunts were contrived to be in thofe Places
where
Of
thefe
were moft
which an Account
likely to
'will be
be found.
given in this
Hi/lory in Order as they happened.
FINIS.
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE
CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKE' UNIVERSITY OF
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