proverbs of hell, plate 11

the ancient poets animated all sensible objects with gods or geniuses

calling them by the names and adorning them with the properties of woods

rivers

mountains

lakes

cities

nations

and whatever their enlarged and numerous senses could perceive

and particularly they studied the genius of each city and country

placing it under its mental deity

till a system was formed

which some took advantage of and enslav'd the vulgar

by attempting to realize or abstract the mental deities from their objects; thus began priesthood

choosing forms of worship from poetic tales

and a length they pronounc'd that the gods had order'd such things

thus men forgot that all deities reside in the human breast