FRAGMENT* 227 



** turn of the annual day. Potitius has the honour 



" of having firft inftituted it, and the Pinarian 



*' Family, to whom belongs the dire6lion of this 



** folenin fervice, in honour of Hercules, reared 



*' this altar in the hallowed grove: which ever 



" fhall be called, and, in my efteem, ever fliall be, 



" the moft Venerable of Altars. Come on, then, 



** my young friends from Troy, in grateful re- 



** membrance of merit fo exalted, crown your 



" brows with the foliage of his favourite tree, put 



" your right-hand to the goblet ; invoke a deity 



*' who fliall be our common protedlor, and pour 



*' out your joyful libations of the juice of the 



*^ grape. He faid, and inflantly a poplar-branch 



" of double-coloured foliage, from the Herculeaa 



*' tree, fliaded his hoary locks, and, in twifted 



'' fprigs, hung gracefully down from his temples : 



" The facred bowl filled his right-hand. With 



" holy ardor every one immediately poured his 



"^ libation on the table, and preferred his prayer. 



** Meanwhile, the Star of Evening began to ap- 

 ^' pear, the harbinger of approaching night : and 

 " now a proceffion of Piiefts, Potitius led the 

 *' train, moved along, drefled, as the order of the 

 *' feall required, in the fleecy fkins of the flock, 

 " and with flaming torches in their hands. The 

 " banquet is renewed, and the grateful delicacies 



Q^ 2 " gf 



