This land next heav'n :) she standing by the side, And gave herself from the lov'd pool a name Tritonia. Or from τρίτω, Οι τρίτων. [triton] a word which in the old Boeotian and Eolic languages signifies a head, because she was born from Jupiter's head. Yet, before we leave the lake Triton, let me tell you the ceremonies that were performed upon the banks of it in honour of Minerva. A great concourse of people out of the neighbouring towns assembled to see the following performance all the virgins came in companies, armed with clubs and stones, and on a sign being given, they assaulted each other; she who was first killed was not esteemed a virgin, and therefore her body was disgracefully thrown into the lake; but she who received the most and the deepest wounds, and did not desist, was carried home in triumph in a chariot, in the midst of the acclamations and praises of the whole company. Epyaris [Ergatis] operaria, "workwoman" was her name among the Samians, her worshippers; because she invented divers arts, especially the art of spinning, as we learn from the poets: thus the distaff is ascribed to her, and sometimes she is called Minerva, from her name, because she was the inventress of it. Although Minerva so much excelled all others in spinning, yet Arachne, a young lady of Lydia, very skilful at spinning, challenged her in this art; but it proved her ruin; for the goddess tore her work, and struck her forehead with a spoke of the wheel. This disgrace drove her into despair, so that she hanged herself; but Pallas, out of compassion, brought her again to life, and turned her into a spider, which continues still employed in spinning : "Frontem percussit Arachnes; Non tulit infælix, laqueoque animosa ligavit Guttura, pendentem Pallas miserata levavit : Ov. Met. 6. Arachne thrice upon the forehead smote ; Her falling weight:-Live wretch, yet hang, she said. She is called Musica; because, says Pliny, the dragons or serpents on her shield, which, instead of hair encompassed the Gorgon's head, did ring and resound, as if the strings of a harp near them were touched. But it is more likely that she was so named, because she invented the pipe; upon which, when she played by the river-side, and saw in the water how much her face was swelled and deformed by blowing it, she was moved with indignation, and threw it aside, saying, the sweetness of the music is too dear, if purchased with so much loss. Glaucopis was another of her names; because her eyes, like the eyes of an owl, were gray or skycoloured, that is, of a green colour mixed with white. She was also called Pylotis, from a Greek word, signifying a "gate:" for, as the image of Mars was set up in the suburbs, so her effigy or picture was placed on the city gates, or doors of houses; by which they signified, that we ought to use our weapons abroad, to keep the enemy from entering our towns; but in the town we must use the assistance of Minerva, not of Mars; that is, the state ought to be governed at home by prudence, counsel, and law. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. What are the reasons given for the name Minerva ? What proverb has her great wisdom furnished, and what does the term Minervale signify? Why is she called Athena? Why is she named Pallas ? Give some account in writing of the Palladium. Why was she called Parthenos? What is the history of Tiresias? What is related of Neptune and Medusa? Why was Minerva named Tritonia? What ceremony was performed on the banks of the lake "Triton? Why is Minerva called Ergatis ? Repeat the lines from Ovid. Why is she named Glaucopis? Why is she called Pylotis? What inference is drawn from the circumstance? SEC. 3.-THE SIGNIFICATION OF THE FABLE. By the story of Minerva, the poets intended to represent wisdom; that is, true and skilful knowledge, joined with discreet and prudent manners. They hereby signify also the understanding of the noblest arts, and the accomplishments of the mind; likewise the virtues, and especially chastity: for, 1. Minerva is said to be born out of Jupiter's brain because the wit and ingenuity of man did not invent the useful sciences, which, for the good of men were derived from the brain of Jupiter; that is, from the inexhausted fountain of the divine wisdom, whence not only the arts and sciences, but the blessings of wisdom and virtue also proceed. 2. Pallas was born armed; because a wise man's soul being fortified with wisdom and virtue, is invincible he is prepared and armed against fortune; in dangers he is intrepid, in crosses unbroken, in calamities impregnable. Thus, though the image of Jupiter perspires in bad weather, yet as Jupiter himself is dry and unconcerned, so a wise man's mind is hardened against the assaults that fortune can ́ make upon his body. 3. She invented and exercised the art of spinning; and hence other young women may learn, if they would preserve their good character, never to indulge idleness, but to employ themselves continually in some sort of work; after the example of Lucretia. 4. As the spindle and the distaff were the inven tion of Minerva, so they are the arms of every virtuous woman. For which reason those instruments were formerly carried before the bride when she was brought to her husband's house; and somewhere it is a custom, at the funeral of women, to throw the distaff and spindle into the grave with them. 5. An owl, a bird seeing in the dark, was sacred to Minerva, and painted upon her images, which is the representation of a wise man, who, scattering and dispelling the clouds of ignorance and error, is clear sighted where others are stark blind. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. What do the poets represent by the story of Minerva ? What lesson should Minerva teach as the inventress of spinning? Why were the spindle and distaff carried before the bride, when she went to her husband's house? What does the owl represent as sacred to Minerva ? CHAPTER IX. SEC. 1.-VENUS. HER IMAGE. HER DESCENT. TURN your eyes now to a sweet object, and view that goddess in whose countenance the graces sit playing, and discover all their charms. You see a pleasantness, a mirth, and joy in every part of her face. Observe with what becoming pride she holds up her head and views herself, where she finds nothing but joys and soft delights. She is clothed with a purple mantle 'glittering with diamonds. By her side stand two Cupids, and round her are three Graces, and after follows the lovely beautiful Adonis, who holds up the goddess' train. The chariot in which she rides is made of ivory, finely carved, 1 and beautifully painted and gilded. It is drawn by swans and doves, or swallows as Venus directs, when she pleases to ride. Venus, whom in more honourable terms men style the "goddess of the Graces," the author of elegance, beauty, neatness, delight, and cheerfulness, is in reality the mistress, president, and patron of all manner of licentiousness; and it should seem, by the worship which was formerly paid to her, that men used at that period to erect altars to, and deify their vices; that they hallowed the greatest impieties with frankincense, and thought to ascend into heaven by the steps of their iniquities. Some You will see her sometimes painted like a young virgin rising from the sea, and riding in a shell; at other times like a woman holding the shell in her hand, her head being crowned with roses. times her picture has a silver looking-glass in one hand, and on the feet are golden sandals and buckles. In the pictures of the Sicyonians, she holds a poppy in one hand, and an apple in the other. At Elis she was painted treading on a tortoise ; showing thereby that young women ought not to ramble abroad; and that married women ought to keep silence, love their home, and govern their family. She wore a girdle or belt, called Cestus; in which all kinds of pleasures were folded, and which was supposed to excite irresistible affection. Some give her arrows; and make Python Suada, the goddess of eloquence, her companion. We learn from several authors, that there were four Venuses, born of different parents, but this Venus of whom we speak was the most eminent, and had the beauties as well as the disgraces of the others commonly ascribed to her. She sprang from the froth of the sea. She was by the Greeks called Aphrodite, ex ȧøgos spuma. As soon as she was born, she was laid, like a pearl, in a shell instead of |