Classical Theology.-Xviii.

CLASSICAL THEOLOGY . —XVIII

iOiVDOJV , SATURDAY , AI > £ IL 14 , 1 SG 0

VII . —VULCAN AND SEPTEMBER . VARRO says thafc tlie ivord Vulcanus is derived from the attributes of fire , strength , poiver , and vehemence . " And , therefore , " rejoins Servius on the eighth . / Eneid , " the gocl is painted AA'ith a blue hat , ivhich colour is symbolical of the celestial or elementary fire , whose nature is clear , pure ,

unmixed in itself inexhaustible , and inexhalable , ivhereas common fire , such as is used on earth , is of inflammable substance , or fuel ; continually dependent upon its supply in itself weak , and wanting support . " . For which reason the poets made Vulcan himself resemble this fire in more than one respectand in consequence lie ivas said to be lame . On

, the other hand , astrographically , they made out that he ivas deformed , and thafc being cast down from heaven he broke his leg ; aucl again , because lightning is common in Lemnos , they said he fell into thafc island . But let us here take leave for a moment to consider the

constituent properties of another fire , tlie flame of love . Compound or material fire may represent Venus as well as Vulcan * and none the less because it may bo kindled in hell . Venus marrie . d Vulcan , of whom it is said , lie was a " deformed and black god . " Hence comes the inquiry , ho iv could so delicate and beautiful a goddess have become the wife of a lover so begrimed and so repulsively ugly ? The union of

licentious passions ancl of those addicted to them may soon end in destruction , and the victims be overwhelmed by the increase of their devastating ruin . The flame of Venus , thus , will bring no lighfc to the sotil , but rather iveakeu the understanding . The fire of Vulcan will only set forth the greater darkness , stupify the mind , ancl arouse it to fury or

anguish . It was by these flames , which imply unbridled passions , that Semele , the lovely daughter of Cadmus , king of Thebes , was consumed and died ; by them Samson and Hercules were made to fade ancl wither in their strength ancl the mighty towers and stately j > alaces of Troy were reduced to ashes , But though the Greek epigrammatist may jocosely assert that with such an helpmate as Venus , ancl with such a son as Cupid ,

" No lvonder , then , he Avent lame all his life ! " and though the author of "Tho Complaint" takes up the accusation and points out that" Imagination is the Paphian shop AVhere feeble happiness , like Vulcan , lame , Bids foul ideas in their dark recess , And hot as hell ( ivhich kindled the black fires ) AVith wanton art those fatal arrows form , Which murder all thy time , health , wealth , and fame , "

ancl our great dramatist , himself a married man , has sung with infinite humour the song of the ' '• Cuckoo , " with other similar witty Blockings , yet still"A man \ s a man , " ancl ifc does not therefore follow that a husband and ivifi : should not love ancl honour one another without being blind ,

as the gocl of love , to each other ' s personal imperfections . Assuredly this should never be the case , but , on the contrary , there should be found , in wedded life , that pure or elementai-y dame which the true poets of all time have religiously infused into their verses when tbey have dispassionately and conscientiously poured forth the feelings of the truly manly ancl

poetic heart . Listen to the calm melody of Young ' s lines : — " Ye gentle theologues , of calmer kind , Whose constitution dictates to your pen ; AVho , cold yourselves , think ardour comes from hell ! Think not our passions from corruption sprung , Though to corruption noiv they lend their wings : That is their mistressnot their motherAll

, . ( And justly ) reason deem divine ; I see , I feel a grandeur in the passions , too , Which speaks their high descent and glorious end ; Which speaks them rays of an eternal fire .

Classical Theology.-Xviii.

In Paradise itself they burnt as strong Ere Adam fell , though wiser in their aim . Like the proud . Eastern , struck by Providence ; What though our passions are run mad , and stoop AVith low terrestrial appetite to graze On trash , on toys , dethroned from high desire ? Yet still , through tlieir disgrace , no feeble ray

Of greatness shines and tells us whence they fell ; But these ( like that fallen monarch ivhen reclaimed ) , AVhen reason moderates tlieir reign aright , Shall reascend , remount their former sphere AVhere once they soared illustrious , ere seduced—By wanton Eve ' s debauch—to stroll on earth And set the sublunary Avorld on fire .

***** Passion speaks A future scene of boundless objects too , And brings glad tidings of eternal day . Eternal day ! 'tis that enlightens all , Aud all , by that enlightened , proves it sure . Consider man as an immortal being , Intelliible alland all is great

g , , A crystalline transparency prevails , And strikes full lustre through the human sphere . Consider man as mortal , all is dark And Avretched ; Beason lveeps at the survey .

Heaven is all love , all joy in giving joy ; It never had created but to bless ; And shall it then strike oif the list of life A being bless'd , or worthy so to be ? Heaven starts at an annihilating Gocl . " Byron , too , ' " no mean proficient in the knoAvledge of human nature ancl human passions , has written : —

" Yes , love indeed is light from heaven ; A spark of that immortal fire With angels shared , by Alia given * To lift from earth our IOAV desire . Devotion wafts the soul above , But heaven itself descends in love ; A feeling from the Godhead caught , To wean from self each sordid thought * , A ray of Him who form'd the whole ; A glory circling round the soul !

This lesson yet has man to learn , Taught by the thing he dares to spurn , The bird that sings within the brake , The sivan that swims upon the lake , One mate , and one alone , will take . And let the fool still prone to range , Ancl sneer at all who cannot change

, Partake his jest ivith boasting boys ; I envy not his varied joys , But deem such feeble , heartless man Less than the solitary sivan ; Far , far beneath the shallow maid He left believing and betray'd . "

In these poetic utterances is plainly described that sacred and . almost universal lame which , warms and enli ghtens the " human sphere , " which all should desire—which nono can be ashamed of . Here are depictured also the consequences of tho pseudo fires of lust ancl excitement which every being possessed of more wisdom than tho brutes which perish should righteously condemn and endeavour to keep in

subjection . With Sfc . Paul tho philosophic philanthropist ivould say , " Let them marry . Let the husband render rmto the wife clue benevolence : and likewise also the wife unto the husband " and in the words of tho Psalmist , « May his quiver be full . " Butwith regard to the grosser conception of Venusit

, , must be borne in mind , that the Venus who rose from the sea was the wife of Vulcan but that there were other goddesses of ( this name , as Avell as two sorts of Cupids , or emblems of pure and unholy love . The ethical theologians