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

pew, fluo, quod bonis omnibus circumfluat.