another incomparably fine statue of Mercury, from which hundreds of copies have been taken, and dispensed among the curious in every part of Europe. This figure is distinguished by the name of Mercurio-Pacifico.

Of modern statuary, there is a chef-d'œuvre of Giovanni di Bologna in bronze. No description can do justice to this sublime statue. It was long an object of admiration to amateurs and travellers in the Villa Medici at Rome, and was brought to Florence in the reign of Pietro Leopoldo.

Apelles, a celebrated artist of Cos, who flourished in the time of Alexander, king of Macedon, and who was remarkable for his talent in allegorical representation, painted the figure of Envy with terribly squinting eyes, scowling eye-brows, and her face covered with wrinkles; in one hand she held a hydra with seven heads, and with the other was laying hold of a serpent that seemed to be gnawing her breast. Envy is generally represented as the conductor or guide of Calumny; an evil propensity or quality that has also been variously personified. See a painting in the Floren tine Gallery, by Alessandro Botticelli.

In the royal palace of the Luxembourg is a picture by Rubens, in which Envy is represented as a squalid, thin, haggard female figure, ap

proaching to the description given in the above
tale.

Poussin painted a figure of Envy gnawing her

own arms.

In the Salle de Parlement at Rennes, in France, is a much-esteemed painting of Envy, by Jean Jouvenot.

In a picture at Versailles that represents the apotheosis of Hercules, painted by François Le Moine, Envy is lying under the hero's chariot wheels.

In the south corridor of the Medici Gallery at Florence is a beautiful statue of Minerva, with a countenance expressive of dignity, mildness, and beauty more than human.

Notes. 1 Herse. Was the beautiful daughter of Cecrops, the founder of the kingdom of Athens. He was a native of Egypt, and is said to have conducted a colony into Greece about 1556 B. C. He softened the rude and uncultivated manners of the people, and encouraged learned men and artists of every description to come from Egypt, Phœnicia, and other countries of the East, to settle in his newly-founded kingdom; where, having married a Grecian princess, with whom he lived in great harmony, his reign was peaceable, and his subjects enjoyed comfort and plenty.

He taught them to cultivate the olive; and instructed them to worship the goddess Athena or Minerva, and to consider her as the presiding divinity and watchful patroness of their city. Cecrops reigned fifty years, and died 1506 years before the Christian era. Cranaus, his immediate successor, reigned only nine years; and Amphyction, the third king, was deposed by Erichthonius in the tenth year of his reign; so that only nineteen years elapsed between the reign of Cecrops and that of Erichthonius. It appears by the mythological legend which furnishes the subject of this tale that Cecrops was living at the time of this procession. His daughters were then probably very young.

2 Envy. The visit to the cavern of this malign spirit seems to have been an expedition very unworthy of the goddess of wisdom. Consistency of character must not be sought for in the objects of pagan worship. That heavenly wisdom which, as Christians, we are taught to pray for, must come from a Being who is all consistency-the Father of lights, (that is to say of intelligence, wisdom or divine illumination,) IN WHOM there is no variableness nor shadow of turning.

JUPITER AND EUROPA.

2

MERCURY having avenged or punished the crime of Aglaurus, as related in the preceding tale, now returned to Olympus, where he was anxiously expected by his father Jupiter, who had recently become enamoured of Europa, daughter of Agenor, king of Phoenicia. Mercury no sooner appeared than he received orders to take another flight, and descend into a plain near the city of Sidon, in which plain the cattle of Agenor were feeding, and to drive the whole herd into a meadow that bordered the sea. Mercury obeyed; and Jupiter soon after, assuming the form and appearance of a beautiful white bull, went and joined himself to the herd.

The princess Europa,' accompanied by some Tyrian ladies who were appointed to be her companions, went out one day to take the air on the sea

shore. They had walked but a short time when, to their great surprise and terror, they beheld the bull advancing towards them; he approached them, however, in such a gentle manner, that their fears soon vanished. He knelt down before them, and seemed to invite their caresses. Europa gathered herbs and flowers, which he gently received from her hands, licking them with his rough tongue.

Long did these young persons continue to amuse themselves with this playful animal, by turns feeding him, and decking him with flowers.

The young princess at length took it into her head to seat herself on his back, where she supported herself by laying hold of one of his smooth, small horns, which looked like mother-of-pearl. Delighted with his lovely burden, the bull carried her several times round the field. At length he took his way towards the water. Europa was alarmed, and would have dismounted, but it was no longer time. Before she could effect her purpose he plunged into the sea, and swam off, equally heedless of her cries and the lamentations of her companions.

Bagna di pianto la donzella il volto,

Che la terra ognor più s' asconde e abbassa.

Dritto a Favonio il torro il nuoto voltò

Cipro e Rodi a man destra vede e passa: