‘ON the old Altar of PAN, says Sannazaro in his delightful Pastoral the ARCADIA, there hung two large Tablatures of Beech, full of rustic Characters, which contained their ancient Laws, and Instructions for the Pastoral Life. In one you saw marked all the Days of the Year; the Changes of the succeeding Seasons; and the Inequalities of Night and Day: Along with these were the Prognostics of the Weather; and what Days of the Moon are lucky, and what unlucky for the Works of Men: And what every Person in every Hour ought either to follow or to shun, in order not to trespass against the Will of the Gods, as far as it can be observed and known.—In the other, you read what kind of Management was proper for the Flocks; of what Make you ought to chuse your Cow and Bull; their Years fit for Breeding, &c.’ And the ancient Priest of the God had perfect Knowledge—‘of the Heaven, the Earth and the Sea; the unwearied Sun, and the growing Moon; and of all the Stars with which the Heaven is arrayed; and consequently, could tell the Seasons of Plowing, of Reaping, of dressing the Vines, and planting the
