To the god Robigus were celebrated festivals called Robigalia, which were usually observed upon the seventh of the calends of May, to avert the blasting of the corn.

Stercutius, Stercutus, or Sterculius, called likewise Sterquilinius and Picumnus, is the god who first invented the art of manuring the ground.

Proserpine is the goddess who presides over the corn, when it is sprouted pretty high above the earth. We shall speak more of her when we discourse concerning the infernal deities.

Nodosus, or Nodotus, is the god that takes care of the knots and the joints of the stalks.

Volusia is the goddess who takes care to fold the blade round the corn, before the beard breaks out, which foldings of the blade contain the beard, as pods do the seed.

Patelina, who takes care of the corn after it is broken out of the pod, and appears.

The goddess Flora presides over the ear when it blossoms.

Lactura, or Lactucina, who is next to Flora, presides over the ear when it begins to have milk. And Matura takes care that the ear comes to a just maturity.

Hostilina was worshipped that the ears of corn might grow even, and produce a crop proportionably to the seed sown.

Tutelina, or Tutuliņa, hath a tutelage of corn when it is reaped.

Pilumnus invented the art of kneading and baking bread. He is commonly joined with Picumnus, his brother, whom we mentioned above.

Mellona is the goddess who invented the art of making honey.

And Fornax is esteemed a goddess; because, before the invention of grinding wheat, corn was parched in a furnace. Ovid makes mention of this goddess:

"Facta Dea est Fornax, læti fornace coloni
Orant, ut vires temperet illa suas."

Fast. 6.

A goddess Fornax is, and her the clowns adore,
That they may've kindly batches by her pow'r.

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION.

Who were the Rusina, Collina, Vallonia, and Hippona? What were the occupations of Bubona, Seia, Runcina, and Occator?

Who were the gods of sowing and raking?

On what account were the Robigalia instituted?

Who invented the art of manuring the land?
Over what does Proserpine preside?

Who were Nodosus, Volusia, and Patellina?

Over what does Flora, Lactura, and Matura preside?
Why was Hostilena worshipped?

What was the office of Tutelina?

What did Pilumnus invent?

Who was Mellona ?

Why is Fornax esteemed a goddess?

PART III.

OF THE GODS OF THE SEA.

CHAPTER I.

SEC. 1.-NEPTUNE. HIS NAME AND DESCENT,
ACTIONS AND CHILDREN.

NEPTUNE, the king of the waters, is represented with black hair and blue eyes, holding a sceptre in his right hand, like a fork with three tines, and beautifully arrayed in a mantle of blue, clasping his left hand round his queen's waist. He stands upright in his chariot, which is a large escalopshell, drawn by sea horses, and attended by odd kind of animals, which resemble men in the upper parts, and fish in the lower. His name is derived, by the change of a few letters, from the word nubo, which signifies "to cover;" because the sea encompasses, embraces, and, as it were, covers the land. Or, as others believe, he is so called from an Egyptian word (nepthen,) which signifies the coasts and promontories, and other parts of the earth, which are washed by the waters. So that Cicero, who derives Neptune from nando (swimming,) is either mistaken, or the place is corrupt.

Neptune is the governor of the sea, the father of the rivers and the fountains, and the son of Saturn by Ops. His mother preserved him from the de

PART III.

OF THE GODS OF THE SEA.

CHAPTER I.

SEC. 1.-NEPTUNE. HIS NAME AND DESCENT,
ACTIONS AND CHILDREN.

NEPTUNE, the king of the waters, is represented with black hair and blue eyes, holding a sceptre in his right hand, like a fork with three tines, and beautifully arrayed in a mantle of blue, clasping his left hand round his queen's waist. He stands upright in his chariot, which is a large escalopshell, drawn by sea horses, and attended by odd kind of animals, which resemble men in the upper parts, and fish in the lower. His name is derived, by the change of a few letters, from the word nubo, which signifies" to cover;" because the sea encompasses, embraces, and, as it were, covers the land. Or, as others believe, he is so called from an Egyptian word (nepthen,) which signifies the coasts and promontories, and other parts of the earth, which are washed by the waters. So that Cicero, who derives Neptune from nando (swimming,) is either mistaken, or the place is corrupt.

Neptune is the governor of the sea, the father of the rivers and the fountains, and the son of Saturn by Ops. His mother preserved him from the de