Asmodeus, the evil spirit, because she belonged to Tobias, by right of inheritance. Tobit, ii. 171 From Media

171

183

Its chief cities were Ecbatana, the capital and summer residence of the kings of Persia ; Cyropolis, on the north, near the Caspian Sea; and Roga, of which mention is made in the history of Tobit.

post to Egypt there fast bound.

Egypt is a narrow vale on both sides of the river Nile; bounded by parallel ridges of mountains or hills. It is the most considerable part of Africa; and was once the seat, if not the parent, of science.

As when a prowling wolf,

,

He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. John, x. 1. Let Christ be regarded, by us, as the door from whom all good teachers derive their authority, and to whom they direct their administrations; and let it be our care, that we enter in by this door. Let inferior shepherds learn their duty, so plainly suggested here: let them know their sheep, and take as particular notice as they can of each single person committed to their care; and let them go before them in all the paths of duty; for what could the greatest enemy of the flock do worse, than to lead them by example into the paths of destruction? Happy souls who are entered in by this gate! their safety their comfort is secure; they enjoy a holy liberty and plenty, and, going in and coming out, they find pasture. If we are

strangers to that entertainment and refreshment which arises from ordinance, (those green pastures which Christ has provided for his sheep in the wilderness) we have reason to fear that we belong not to his flock. He came, that his sheep might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly; that greater provision might be made for their instruction and consolation now, till they are brought to those better pastures, he intends for them above. May his grace prepare us for them! and his hand will certainly conduct us to them; nor need we fear the darkest passage in our way.

194 Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life,

How

To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Rev. ii. 7. It is reviving to the heart of a sincere Christian, that Jesus has the keys of the unseen world and of death; so, that whenever we are removed, by the stroke of this our last enemy, it is only considered as his turning the key, which will let us out of this world, into another of happiness and glory everlasting. does this cheering sentiment disarm disarm both life and death of its terrors! Let us recollect from whence we are fallen, if we are in a backsliding and declining state; and humbly and heartily repent, and vigorously exert ourselves against the enemies of our salvation; that, overcoming the difficulties of this wilderness, we may be received to the enjoyments of the heavenly country; and when we can no longer share in the bounties of providence, in this inferior state,

be feasted with the fruit of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

212 Of great Seleucia.

The sir name of Seleucia was given to the kings of Babylon; Seleucia, one of the generals of Alexander, founder of the Syro-Macedonian empire, before Christ, 301. Babylon, a celebrated city, the capital of the Assyrian empire, on the banks of the Euphrates. It had one hundred brazen gates; and its walls, which were cemented with bitumen, and greatly enlarged and embellished by the activity of Semiramis, measured four hundred and eighty stadia in circumference, fifty cubits in thickness, and two hundred in height. It was taken by Cyrus, B. C. 530, after he had drained the waters of the Euphrates into a new channel, and marched his troops by night into the town, through the dried bed; and it is said, that the fate of the extensive capital was unknown to the inhabitants of the distant suburbs, until late in the evening. Babylon became famous for the death of Alexander, and for the new empire which was afterwards established there under the Seleucidae.

214 Dwelt in Tellassar

The children of Eden, which were in Tellassar. Isa. xxxvii. 12.

223 Southward through Eden went a river large,

Orontes, a river of Syria, rising in Cœlosyria, and falling after a rapid and troubled course, into the Mediterranean, below Antioch. According to Strabo, who mentions some fabulous accounts

N

266

concerning it, the Orontes disappeared under ground for the space of five miles.

Hesperion Fables true. See 568, Book III. while universal Pan

The god of shepherds, hunters, and rural sports; and the inventor of musical pipes; he was honored in Arcadia, and the Romans celebrated a festival in commemoration of him every year in the month of February, under the title of Lupercus. 267 Knit with the Graces

They were the daughters of Bacchus and Venus. Their names Agalia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne. They were supposed to have the power of dispensing to mankind, not only a good grace, gaiety and equality of temper, but also of liberality, eloquence, and wisdom; their names are made use of in all languages to express both favours and gratitude.

269 Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers Proserpine, a daughter of Ceres and Jupiter; she made Sicily the place of her residence, and delighted herself with the beautiful views, the flowery meadows, and limpid streams which surrounded the plains of Enna.

tary retreat Pluto carried her

From this soli

away into the

infernal regions, of which she became the queen.

by gloomy Dis

A title of Pluto, god of the infernal regions.
which cost Ceres all that pain

The mother of Proserpine, and goddess of corn
When Ceres was informed of the

and harvests.

loss of her daughter, and that Pluto had taken

her off, she demanded of Jupiter her restoration. His endeavours to soften her by representing Pluto as a powerful god to become her son-in-law proved fruitless, and the restoration was granted, provided that Proserpine had not eaten anything in the kingdom of Pluto; but she had gathered a pomegranate as she walked over the Elysian fields, which Ascalaphus, who had seen her, discovered to make his court to Pluto. The grief of Ceres for the loss of her daughter was so great, that Jupiter granted Proserpine to pass six months with her mother, and the rest of the year with Pluto.

273 Of Daphne

This

Of whom Apollo became enamoured. passion had been raised by Cupid, with whom Apollo (proud of the conquest over the serpent Python) had disputed the power of his darts. Daphne fearful of being pursued by Apollo, entreated the assistance of the gods, who changed her into a laurel, with the leaves of which he crowned his head, and ordered the tree to be sacred to his divinity.

Orontes explained in line 223

274 Castalian spring,

275

The fountain Pirene was sacred to the Muses, and according to some, the horse Pegasus was then drinking some of its waters, when Bellerophon took it to go on and conquer the Chimera. nor that Nyseian isle

Nisros an island in the Egean sea, west of Rhodes, Neptune was worshipped there.