the form of a serpent. Sometimes also they were described like a boy, a girl, or an old man; and crowned with the leaves of the plane, which was a tree sacred to them. Wine and flowers were offered up in the sacrifices to the Genii, and that, especially by the people on their birth-days, as we may learn from Persing and Horace : "Funde merum Genio." Pers. To Genius consecrate a cheerful glass. -" piabant Floribus et vino Genium memorem brævis ævi, Their wives, their neighbours, and their prattling boys, They drank, they danc'd, they sung, made wanton sport, To these flowers and wine they added *incense, parched bread, and corn strewed with salt. †Sometimes also a swine was sacrificed; though Censorinus writes, that it was not usual to sacrifice to the Genii with the blood and slaughter of any thing, since we ought not to take life from other creatures on that day on which we received it. The Genii were appointed the continual guardians, overseers, and safe keepers of the men (as the women's guardians and protectors were called Junones) from their cradles to their graves. They likewise carried the prayers of men to the gods, and interceded for them. Whence some call them Præstites, or chief governors, because they are set over the management of all things. To every person were assigned two Genii, a * Plut. in Aul. Palæph. Ecl. 5. Hor. Carm. 3. Plut de Iside et Osir. bonus Genius, and a malus Genius : *Horace calls them a white and a black one. We are told by +Valerius Maximus, that when Cassius fled to Athens, after Anthony was beaten at Actium, there appeared to him a man of large stature, of a black swarthy complexion, with long hair, and grisly beard. Cassius asked him who he was? and the apparition answered, "I am your evil Genius." Virgil is thought, by his commentator, Servius, to mean these two Genii, by the word manes. Of these two Genii, the good one, which is given to every one at his birth, constantly incites him to the practice of virtue and goodness; whereas the bad one prompts him to all manner of vice and wickedness. Nor were they assigned to men only; for several countries had their Genii, who therefore were called "the deities of the place" Nay, ||Genii were allotted to all houses, and doors, and stables, and hearths and because the hearths were usually covered with slates, therefore the god of the hearths was called Lateranus. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. Who were the Genii, and from what is the term derived? How are they represented? What were the sacrifices offered to the Genii? To whom were the Genii appointed guardians? How many Genii were appointed to each person, and what were they? What was the office of each ? Were Genii appointed to countries and places, as well as per sons ? What was the god of the hearths called? * Genium album et nigrum Epist. 2. + Interrogatus quisquam esset respondit se esse xanodaipova, c. 7. ! Quisque suos patimur manes. Virg. Æn. 7. Vide Servium Numen loci. Virg. Æn. 7. Prud. in Symm. Laterculis extrui foci solebant. Lil. Gyr ynt. 1. CHAPTER II. THE NUPTIAL GODS AND GODDESSES, DEITIES PRESIDING OVER WOMEN IN LABOUR, &c. FIVE deities were so absolutely necessary to all marriages, that none could lawfully be solemnized without them. They were Jupiter perfectus or adultus, Juna perfecta or adulta, Venus, Suada, and Diana: beside these, several inferior gods and goddesses were worshipped at all marriages. Jugatinus joined the man and the woman together in the yoke of matrimony. Domiducus guided the bride into the bridegroom's house. Domitius was worshipped, that the bride might be ‡kept at home, to look after the affairs of the family. Manturna was worshipped, that the wife might never leave her husband, but in all conditions of life Sabide with him. Then the goddess Virginensis, and also the goddess Cinxia Juno, were invoked. Priapus, or Mutinus, was also reckoned one of the nuptial gods, because in his lap the bride was commanded to sit. ¶Viriplaca reconciles husbands to their wives. A temple at Rome was dedicated to her, whither the married couple usually repaired when any quarrel arose between them; and there, opening their minds freely to each other, without passion, they laid aside all anger, and returned home together friendly. A jugo matrimonii dictus. Aug. de Civ. Dei. 4. ↑ Quod sponsam in sponsi domum duceret. Idem. ibid. Ut sponsam domi teneret. § Ut cum marito semper maneret. August. ibid. A placando viro. Val. Max. 1. 2. e. 1.. Pilumnus, one of the gods of children,, was so called from the *pestle which the ancients pounded their corn with, before they made their bread; or, tbecause he keeps off those misfortunes which attend children. Intercidona was the goddess who first taught the art of cutting wood with a hatchet to make fires. Deverra was worshipped as a goddess, because she invented brooms, by which all things are brushed clean, and those distempers prevented that proceed from uncleanliness. The Sylvan gods, who were always hurtful to pregnant women, were driven away by those deities, and the mischiefs they intended were prevented. For, as neither the trees, says St. Augustine, are cut down without an axe, nor bread made without a pestle, nor things preserved clean without a brush; so, since these instruments are thought signs of good housewifery, it was supposed that these wild unclean deities would never enter into the chamber of a pregnant woman. Juno Lucina, the friend, of women in labour, is represented with one hand empty, and ready, as it were, to receive the new-born babe; the other hand holding a lighted torch, by which that light of life was signified, which all enjoy as soon as they are born. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. Who were the deities necessary in all marriages? What was the business of Jugatinus, Domiducus, and Domi. tius? Why were Maturna, Virginensis, and Priapus, reckoned nup tial gods? What was the business of Viriplaca ? * A pile. + Quod mala ab infantibus pellit. Servius. Ab intercisione securis. De Civ. Dei. 7. Who was Pilumnus ? Who was Intercidona? Why was Deverra worshipped as a goddess? What gods were driven away by these deities; and what are the observations of St. Augustine? How is Juno Lucina represented? CHAPTER IV. THE DEITIES PRESIDING OVER INFANTS AT THE TIME OF THEIR BIRTH AND AFTERWARDS. THE chief of these are as follows: Janus, who opened *the door of life to them. Opis, who assisted them when they came into the world. Nascio, or Natio, a goddess so called from a Latin word signifying to be born. Cunia, who attends the cradle, and watches the infants while they lie and sleep. Levana, from lifting them up from the ground, for when a child was born, the midwife constantly laid the child on the ground, and the father, or in his absence, somebody appointed by him, lifted it from the ground; and hence tollere liberos signifies "to educate children." Carna, or Carnea, who keeps the inward parts safe. To this goddess they sacrificed upon the calends of June, bacon, and cakes made of beans. Whence those calends were called Fabariæ. The goddess Nundina was so called from the ninth day of the child's age, which was the day of the purification in which the name was given it, if it was |