University of Virginia Library

An Explanation of the Fable of Mars and Venus. Out of Mr. Motteux's Gentleman's Journal, Month of January, Vol: 3.

The oldest of the Heathen Gods was Cœlus, whose Son Saturn is sometimes describ'd like an old man devouring his Children, and at others with Wings and a Scyth; with which having spoilt his Father's propagating Faculty, lest he should produce other Beings, some of the Blood fell into the Sea, and mixing with the foamy Waves give birth to Venus.

By Cœlus the Ancients seem to have meant the Heavens, whose motions give birth to Time, which is figured by Saturn, made old because first created; and said to devour his Children, Time devouring its Off-spring. The Wings imply its swiftness, and the Scyth that it mows down all. Saturn castrating Cœlus shows, that Time soon takes from things the power of multiplying their Kind, lest they should encrease to too great a Number, and that the Destruction of one is the production of another: also, that even after the loss of the Power, Desire fluctuates, and creates Venus.

Fair Venus is the Wife of limping Vulcan, and Cupid is her Son; Mars is the Son of Juno, who by the advice of Flora, begot him, having toucht a Flower, to be even with Jupiter, who begot Minerva out of his Brain without any other help. Mars is charm'd, courts and enjoys Venus, but Phœbus discovers this to Vulcan, who frames so artificial a Net, that he secures Mars and Venus in it, who are expos'd to the laughter of the Gods.

Venus is libidinous Pleasure, which is always wedded to the Fire of Lust, which is the reason, that Vulcan

is made ugly, because Lust is so; limping like too many of its infected Votaries; and supporting himself with a stick, because Fire cannot subsist without Fuel; made God of Smiths, because Lustful flames serve to forge and sharpen the first points of Love, that is, the Arms of Cupid; as it made those of the Trojans and Greeks in another Sence, the Loves of Patis and Helena having caus'd those two Nations to take up Arms. And as Venus is daughter of the Sea. Vulcan's Wife, and Mars's Mistress, she's apt to cause stormy commotions, Fire and Bloodshed.

As for Jupiter's having without any help produc'd out of his Brain Minerva the Goddess of Arts and Sciences, call'd Pallas and Bellona, when she presides to defensive arms, this means the omnipotent Deity, who by his supream wisdom has form'd all states, and given to Man Arts and Sciences, with the means of defending himself against his Enemies. Juno is Riches Jealousie and Envy, that beg at Mars, which is War, in opposition to Minerva, that is the flourishing condition of Governments. Flora by whom Juno is advis'd, means Youth, to whose rash advice War often ows its beginning. By Mars Warriors are to be understood, who gazing on Venus, or libidinous, Pleasure, are entic'd; and abandoning themselves than ignoble sloth, lose their martial vigor, which is only preserv'd by military Discipline. Now this cannot be hid from the piercing eyes of a prying observer, meant by the Sun, whose light discovers all the intreague to the Enemy: Thus they are surprized in the snare which the Fire of Lust, the Husband of unlawful pleasure has laid for them, and expose to the censure of the Gods, that is, thier Superiours and the World.