Taylor - Eleusianian and Bacchic Mysteries.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

""130 EleMsinian andNor must the reader be disturbed on finding that, according to Porphyry, as cited byEusebius,* the fable of Proserpina alludes toseed placed in the ground ;for this is likewise true of the fable, considered accordingto its material explanation. But it will beproper on this occasion to rise a little higher,and consider the various species of fables,according to their philosophical arrangement ;since by this means the present subject will receive an additional elucidation,and the wisdom of the ancient authors offables will be vindicated from the unjustaspersions of ignorant declaimers. I shallpresent the reader, therefore, with the following interesting division of fables, fromthe elegant book of the Platonic philosopher Sallust,Of fables,"on the gods and the universe.says he,some are theological,others physical, others animastic (or relatingto soul), others material, and lastly, othersmixed from these. Fables are theologicalwhich relate to nothing corporeal, but contemplate the very essences of the gods ;* Evang. Prcepar. book iii.chap. 2.such as