登陆注册
15687600000009

第9章 SECT. V. Various Forms of Polytheism: Allegory, He

But it is chiefly our present business to consider the gross polytheism of the vulgar, and to trace all its various appearances, in the principles of human nature, whence they are derived.

Whoever learns by argument, the existence of invisible intelligent power, must reason from the admirable contrivance of natural objects, and must suppose the world to be the workmanship of that divine being, the original cause of all things. But the vulgar polytheist, so far from admitting that idea, deifies every part of the universe, and conceives all the conspicuous productions of nature, to be themselves so many real divinities. The sun, moon, and stars, are all gods according to his system: Fountains are inhabited by nymphs, and trees by hamadryads: Even monkies, dogs, cats, and other animals often become sacred in his eyes, and strike him with a religious veneration.

And thus, however strong men's propensity to believe invisible, intelligent power in nature, their propensity is equally strong to rest their attention on sensible, visible objects;and in order to reconcile these opposite inclinations, they are led to unite the invisible power with some visible object.

The distribution also of distinct provinces to the several deities is apt to cause some allegory, both physical and moral, to enter into the vulgar systems of polytheism. The god of war will naturally be represented as furious, cruel, and impetuous: The god of poetry as elegant, polite, and amiable:

The god of merchandise, especially in early times, as thievish and deceitful. The allegories, supposed in HOMERand other mythologists, I allow, have often been so strained, that men of sense are apt entirely to reject them, and to consider them as the production merely of the fancy and conceit of critics and commentators. But that allegory really has place in the heathen mythology is undeniable even on the least reflection. CUPID the son of VENUS; the Muses the daughters of Memory;PROMETHEUS, the wise brother, and EPIMETHEUS the foolish; HYGIEIA or the goddess of health descended from AESCULAPIUS or the god of physic: Who sees not, in these, and in many other instances, the plain traces of allegory?

When a god is supposed to preside over any passion, event, or system of actions, it is almost unavoidable to give him a genealogy, attributes, and adventures, suitable to his supposed powers and influence; and to carry on that similitude and comparison, which is naturally so agreeable to the mind of man.

Allegories, indeed, entirely perfect, we ought not to expect as the productions of ignorance and superstition;there being no work of genius that requires a nicer hand, or has been more rarely executed with success. That Fear and Terror are the sons of MARS is just; but why by VENUS?32 That Harmony is the daughter of VENUS is regular; but why by MARS?33 That Sleep is the brother of Death is suitable; but why describe him as enamoured of one of the Graces?34 And since the ancient mythologists fall into mistakes so gross and palpable, we have no reason surely to expect such refined and long-spun allegories, as some have endeavoured to deduce from their fictions.

LUCRETIUS was plainly seduced by the strong appearance of allegory, which is observable in the pagan fictions.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 一暖星辰:源少其实也很烦

    一暖星辰:源少其实也很烦

    简介:苏兮若有病,而且还病的不轻。中二病晚期。以至于脑洞开大了,每天晚上都会做一些奇奇怪怪的奇葩梦……群号:718737293
  • 王爷盛宠:废材嫡女倾天下

    王爷盛宠:废材嫡女倾天下

    当她变成她,当天才少女变成玄天大陆顾家远近闻名的废材。什么?她那个白莲花妹妹说她有两只中级魔兽?没关系,姑奶奶她只要拿出碧萧,轻轻吹一下,不管什么魔兽都要臣服于她。她开始了,虐渣男,欺姨娘。她天不怕地不怕,因为背后有一个强大的支柱——冥王
  • 大阿弥陀佛经

    大阿弥陀佛经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 鬼的媒人婆

    鬼的媒人婆

    我知道这个世界有许多常人见不到的东西,我能听见那些不寻常的声音。清明巷尽头有一间药铺,药铺主人喜欢在阳台上晾猫,我的故事,就从清明巷那间香火铺开始。有些事,开始了不到死都不会结束,药铺老板弯着眼睛看着我,但是死也是开始呢。
  • 浔浔顾相惜

    浔浔顾相惜

    他为她打开十五年紧锁的心房。她以为那个冬天是她悲剧的结束。却没想到是她悲剧的开始。再次的相遇,再次的分别。他们又该何去何从?
  • 双鹿之恋

    双鹿之恋

    原来她是因为家族利益和他在一起的,可是没想到自己会沦陷,正当她因为他的行动而一点点的爱上那个男人时,结果却没想到原来他所做的一切只是因为她和那个女人很像,她是向丛玲的替身,伤心欲绝的她因为被人陷害而落入水中被莫亦辰救助后丧失了记忆,从此性格大变,而失去她的鹿晗也发现自己爱上的不是向丛玲而是她“鹿千玲”,明白这一切的鹿晗准备重新追回,可却发现现在的她和莫亦辰是男女朋友关系,那么他们还会在一起吗?向丛玲和鹿千玲之间又会发生什么呢?
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • 天的暝

    天的暝

    冥界,上界人唾弃,下界人恐惧。我,站在这儿。摘掉善良的面具,我的獠牙……我很期待,上界的猪神们看到我站到其面前的大骇。天?!可否一战!天的暝,天之暝,天的死!!!!
  • 异界穿越地球修真记

    异界穿越地球修真记

    一个修炼界百年难得一见的废材于逃命中得到一座小巧玲珑的宝塔,穿越到了地球,从此走向世俗的顶层、修真的巅峰。以身证道,修补规则,引入鸿蒙,恢复神光。
  • 【女佣兵穿越2】皇上,给本宫趴下

    【女佣兵穿越2】皇上,给本宫趴下

    她,是现代穿越过去的顶级女佣兵,冷傲,霸气是她的天性,穿越到一个陌生到时空就遇到同样霸王的他,深陷重重阴谋中。他,北烈国帝王,霸气,无情是他的标志,遇到这个女人第二天,就被她轻描淡写的用了‘勇猛有余技巧不足’八个字评价。当女佣兵对上霸王,计算VS阴谋,谁胜谁负?谁是主宰?谁杀谁?