Page:Johnson - Rambler 2.djvu/256

248 While the world was yet in its infancy, came among mortals from above, and  from below. was the daughter of and ;  was the progeny of  impregnated by the wind. They advanced with equal confidence to seize the dominion of the new creation, and as their enmity and their force were well known to the celestials, all the eyes of heaven were turned upon the contest.

seemed conscious of superior power and juster claim, and therefore came on towering and majestick, unassisted and alone;, indeed, always attended her, but appeared her follower, rather than companion. Her march was slow and stately, but her motion was perpetually progressive, and when once she had grounded her foot, neither gods nor men could force her to retire.

always endeavoured to copy the mien and attitudes of, and was very successful in the arts of mimickry. She was surrounded, animated, and supported by innumerable legions of appetites and passions, but, like other feeble commanders, was obliged often to receive law from her allies. Her motions were sudden, irregular, and violent; for she had no steadiness nor constancy. She often gained conquests by hasty incursions, which she never hoped to keep by her own strength, but maintained by the help of the passions, whom she generally found resolute and faithful.

It sometimes happened that the antagonists met in full opposition. In these encounters, always invested her head with clouds, and commanded  to place ambushes about her. In her left hand she bore the shield of, and the quiver of rattled on her