therefore he inserts either by poetical license, or only in respect to the sacrifices which were in use in his time. For Pliny asserts, that they did not sacrifice with frankincense in the times of the Trojans. Neither does Homer in the least mention frankincense in any place where he speaks concerning sacrifices. He was also called Patulcius and Clusius, or Patulacius and Clausius; from opening and shutting; for in the time of war Janus' temple was open, but shut in the time of peace. This temple was founded by Romulus and Tatius. Numa ordained that it should be opened when the Romans waged war, but shut when they enjoyed peace.

Ovid mentions both these latter names of Janus in a distich and Virgil describes the manner and occasion of opening his temple, and also the conse quences of shutting it again:

"Sunt geminæ belli portæ sic nomine dicunt
Religione sacræ et sævi formidine martis.
Centum ærei claudunt vectes æternaque ferri
Robora; nec custos absistit limine Janus.
Has ubi certa sedet patribus sententia pugnæ,
Ipse Quirinali trabea cinctuqueGabino
Insignis, reserat stridentia limina consul." Æn. 7.
Two gates of steel (the name of Mars they bear,
And still are worshipped with religious fear)
Before his temple stand: the dire abode
And the fear'd issues of the furious god

Are fenc'd with brazen bolts; without the gates
The weary guardian Janus doubtly waits.
Then when the sacred senate votes the wars,
The Roman consul their decree declares,
And in his robes the sounding gates unbars.

It is remarkable, that within the space of seven hundred years, this temple of Janus was shut only thrice once by Numa; the second time by the consuls Marcus Attilius and Titus Manlius, after the Carthaginian war; and lastly, by Augustus, after the victory at Actium.

In this story of Janus, we may behold the representation of a very prudent person; whose wisdom

consists"in the remembrance of things past, and in the foresight of things to come."

"Aspera tum positis mitescent sæcula bellis :
Cana fides, et Vesta, Remo cum fratre Quirinus
Jura dabunt; diræ ferro et compagibus arctis
Claudentur belli portæ, Furor impius intus,
Sæva sedens super arma, et centum vinctus ahenis
Post tergum nodis, fremet horridus ore cruento."</

Then dire debate, and impious war shall cease,
Then the stern age be soften'd into peace:
Then banish'd faith shall once again return,
And vestal fires in hallow'd temples burn;
And Remus with Quirinus shall sustain

The righteous laws, and fraud and force restrain.
Janus himself before his fane shall wait,
And keep the dreadful issues of his gate,
With bolts and iron bars. Within remains
Imprison'd Fury, bound in brazen chains;
High on a trophy rais'd of useless arms

He sits, and threats the world with vain alarms.

The prudent man ought therefore to have, as it were, two faces; that, according to his natural sagacity of mind, and ripeness of judgment, observing both things past and future, he may be able to discern the causes, beginnings, and progresses of all events and things.

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION.

Who was Janus, and from what is his name derived? Who mentions the place called the Jani at Rome, and for what was it used?

What is he named by Virgil and Ovid, and why?

What happened in the reigns of Romulus and Numa ?

Why was he called Claviger?

Why was he named Janitor?

Which month is said to be named after him

Why is he called Junonius?

Why were the Roman consuls said to open the year?

To what custom does Ovid refer?

What does Pliny say on this subject?

Why does he hold a key in his hand?
What did Janus do?

What sacrifices were offered to him?

Why was he called Patulcius and Clusius?

By whom was the temple of Janus founded/
In how long was it only thrice shut?
What does the story of Janus teach?

CHAPTER III.

VULCAN. HIS SERVANTS AND SONS

VULCAN is both a smith and a god, and had a shop in the island Lemnos, where he exercised his trade, and where, though he was a god himself, he made Jupiter's thunder and the arms of the other gods. He was born of Jupiter and Juno, some say of Juno only; and being contemptible for his deformity, was cast down from heaven into the island Lemnos, whence he is called Lemnius: he broke his leg with the fall, and if the Lemnians had not caught him when he fell, he had certainly broke his neck: he has ever since been lame. *In requital of their kindness, he fixed his seat among them, and set up the craft of a smith; teaching them the manifold uses of fire and iron; and from softening and polishing iron, the received the name Mulciber, or Mulcifer. He was the

god of fire, the inventor and patron of the art of fabricating arms and all kinds of utensils from the metals. His most celebrated works are the famous palace of the sun; the armour of Achilles and Æneas; the beautiful necklace of Hermione, and the crown of Ariadne. According to Homer, the shield of Achilles was enamelled with metals of various colours, and contained twelve historical designs, with

* Τιὸν ἔχεις τὸν Έρωτα, γωναῖκα, δε τὴν Αφροδίτην,
Ουκ αδίκως χαλκεν τον πόδα χωλὸς ἔχεις.
Cupid is Vulcan's son, Venus his wife,
No wonder then he goes lame all his life.
† A mulcendo ferro. Vide Lucan. 1. 1.