the famous mermaid which so recently deceived (though but for a very short time) some of our most celebrated naturalists.

Mythologists inform us that the centaurs were the descendants of Ixion and a cloud, to which Jupiter had given the figure of his wife Juno. Nothing can convey a clearer idea of their being altogether imaginary beings.

MERCURY AND BATTUS.

MERCURY or Hermes was the son, the confident, and the messenger of Jupiter; the agent and minister of all the gods and goddesses, and the general pacificator or peace-maker of the celestial court, without whose presence and sanction no treaties could be made, no alliances formed. He interpreted the will of the gods in heaven, on earth, and in the infernal regions. Innumerable were the offices he had to fulfil; but his talents were found more than equal to the duties imposed on him.

In the beautiful statues by which this active divinity is generally represented, his promptitude and vigilance are symbolically expressed by wings attached to his cap, to his heels, and to his caduceus or wand. He was considered as the patron or protector of orators, musicians, merchants, and

even of thieves. The invention of the lyre and of letters are attributed to him, with that of many other useful and elegant arts. Numerous and brilliant, however, as were his talents, he had one failing, which may justly be considered as throwing a shade over them all: this was a want of due respect for the property of others. In short, he was so excessively addicted to thieving, that few indeed were the gods who had not, on some occasion or other, been the dupes of his pilfering propensities.

One day, as he was wandering in the fields of Pylos, he perceived the oxen of Admetus, king of Pharæ, which had strayed thither unobserved by their celestial keeper or guardian, the divine Apollo;' who, having been condemned by Jupiter to nine years banishment from heaven, for having killed some of the Cyclops (the manufacturers of his thunderbolts), had under the disguise of a peasant engaged himself as a herdsman to Admetus. Mercury stole the oxen; and in order to conceal them, began to drive them towards a cavern in a neighbouring forest; when, to his great mortification, he was met by an old shepherd named Battus, who thus became the involuntary witness of his theft. Mercury 3 immediately advanced towards the old man with an air of familiarity

2

and kindness, and charging him not to mention what he had seen, made him a present of a fine young heifer. Battus promised to keep the secret; and being much delighted with the gift he had received, took a stone in his hand, and showing it to Mercury, said to him, “Confide in my promise, and depart in peace; for be assured that this stone shall reveal secrets sooner than I will betray you."

Mercury went away apparently satisfied; but wishing to have a convincing proof of the old shepherd's integrity, he assumed the appearance and voice of Admetus; and returning to the place where he had left Battus, hastily inquired if he had seen the cattle, promising to give him a bull and a cow if he would tell him where they were. Seduced by the promise of such a liberal reward, Battus disclosed the secret: upon which Mercury, resuming his own proper form and appearance, reprimanded the unfaithful shepherd for his duplicity, and metamorphosed him into a touchstone; a species of basalt, called by the Italians pietra di paragone.

Nero il far divenir qual è un carbone,
E si l'indura poich' un sasso fallo,
Quel sasso il fa, che chiamiam paragone,
Che vero saggio dà d' ogni metallo.

Laddove poi mutò condizione

Nessun poi tradi più, non fe' più fallo,

Disse poi sempre il ver, per qual ch' io veggio,
Per non si trasformar di male in peggio.

ANG.

Observations.-There are divers exhibitions of Apollo-Nomio (Apollo-Pastore). In the Villa Ludovisi is a fine statue of Apollo-Nomio keeping the flocks of Admetus.

Notes.-1 Apollo. This banished divinity, in becoming the herdsman of Admetus, obtained the name of Apollo-Pastore. While he remained in this capacity, he is said to have instructed the inhabitants of the adjacent country, inspiring them with a taste for music, and a love of pastoral occupations. He rewarded the attachment and kindness of his employer, by enabling him to fulfil the hard conditions enjoined by Peleus to the lover who should obtain his daughter Alceste in marriage. The banks of the Amphrysus, where the flocks and herds committed to his care were wont to graze, under his pastoral guidance, became the scene of adventures that form the subject of many of the following fables; as, his game of quoits, which proved fatal to his young friend Hyacinth. His musical competition with the unfortunate Marsyas; for his cruelty to whom he obtained the name of ApolloTormentore; and many others.