This goddess was a virgin, and so great an admirer of virginity, that when Jupiter, her brother, gave her liberty of asking what she would, she begged that she might always be a virgin, and have the first oblations in all sacrifices. She not only obtained her desire but received this further honour among the Romans, that a perpetual fire was kept in her temple, among the sacred pledges of the empire; not upon an altar, or in the chimnies, but in earthen vessels, hanging in the air; which the vestal virgins tended with so much care, that if by chance this fire was extinguished, all public and private business was interrupted, and a vacation proclaimed till they had expiated the unhappy prodigy with incredible pains; and if it appeared that the virgins were the occasion of its going out, by carelessness, they were severely punished, and sometimes with rods.

In recompense for this severe law, the vestals obtained extraordinary privileges and respect: they had the most honourable seat at games and festivals the consuls and magistrates gave way whenever they met them their declarations in trials were admitted without the form of an oath; and, if they happened to encounter in their path a criminal going to the place of execution, he immediately obtained his pardon. Upon the calends of March, every year, though it was not extinguished, they used to renew it with no other fire than that which was produced by the rays of the sun.

It has been conjectured, that when the poets say that Vesta is the same with fire, the fire of Vulcan's forge is not understood, nor yet the dangerous flames of Venus, but a pure, unmixed, benign flame, so necessary for us, that human life cannot possibly subsist without it; whose heat being diffused through all the parts of the body, quickens, cherishes, refreshes, and nourishes it; a flame really sacred, hea

venly, and divine; repaired daily by the food which we eat, and on which the safety and welfare of our bodies depend. This flame moves and actuates the whole body; and cannot be extinguished but when life itself ceases with it.

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION.

Who was Vesta?

Why is she placed among the terrestrial goddesses

What reasons are assigned for the ornaments with which she is decked?

Why is Vesta's temple round?

What are the Vesta?

Why were the first sacrifices offered to Vesta?

Why did the Greeks begin and conclude their sacrifices with Vesta?

Who were the two Vestas?

For what is the word "vesta" put?

Why is she esteemed the president and guardian of houses: and why was her image placed before the doors of the houses at Rome?

What favour did she ask of Jupiter; and what other honour did she obtain among the Romans?

What was the duty of the vestal virgins?

What was the punishment inflicted on them if they suffered the fire to go out?

What respect was paid them, by way of recompense for the severity of this law?

When and how was the vestal fire renewed?

What is understood by the vestal fire?

CHAPTER VII.

SEC. 1.-CYBELE. HER IMAGE. HER NAMES.

CYBELE is the goddess not of cities only, but of all things which the earth sustains. She is the Earth itself. On the earth are built many towers and castles, so on her head is placed a crown of towers. In her hand she carries a key, for in winter

the earth locks up those treasures which she brings forth and dispenses with so much plenty in summer. She rides in a chariot, because the earth hangs suspended in the air, balanced and poised by its own weight. But that chariot is supported by wheels, since the earth is a revolving body, and turns round; and it is drawn by lions, because nothing is so fierce, so savage, or so ungovernable, but a motherly piety and tenderness is able to tame it, and make it submit to the yoke. I need not explain why her garments are painted with divers colours, and figured with the images of several creatures, since every body sees that such a dress is suitable to the earth.

She is called Cybele, and Ops, and Rhea, and Dindymene, and Berecynthia, and Bona Dea, (the good goddess,) and Idæa, and Pessinuntia, and Magna Deorum Mater, (the great mother of the gods,) and sometimes also Vesta. All these names, for different reasons, were given to the same goddess; who was the daughter of Coelum by the elder Vesta, and Saturn's wife.

She is called Cybele, from the mountain Cybelus in Phrygia, where sacrifices were first instituted to her. Or the name was given her from the behaviour of her priests, who used to dance upon their heads, and toss about their hair like madmen, foretelling things to come, and making a horrible noise. These were named Galli, and this fury and outrage in prophesying is described by Lucian in his first book.

Others again derive the word Cybele from a cube, because the cube, which is a body every way square, was dedicated to her by the ancients.

She is called Ops, because she brings help and assistance to every thing contained in this world. Her name *Rhea is derived from the abundance

* A pew, fluo, quod bonis omnibus circumduat,