282 ANDREW JACKSON HOWE. 



is a fine statue of the medicine god. It is accompanied 

 by the goddess of Health and Prosperity. 



One of the more stately of the superior deities is 

 Neptune. With mystic trident " he makes the sleep- 

 ing billows roll, and the rolling billows sleep." The 

 handsomest fountain in Rome the Trevi is sur- 

 mounted by a colossal figure of the sea-god, standing 

 in a shell chariot drawn by winged horses whose tails 

 and hind-parts are like those of dolphins. The splash- 

 ing waters from three sources in the overhanging 

 cliffs, in bounteous quantities fall upon the marble 

 group, then clash into a broad basin below, making 

 delightful cascades. The workmanship of this grand 

 exhibit is Roman, but the attributes of the presiding 

 deity are wholly Grecian. And so it seems to be 

 every-where in Rome. The Greeks converted concep- 

 tions of mythological characters into beautiful statues, 

 they seem to have been the inventors of the best 

 plastic art. The average Roman was warlike, and 

 thirsted for conquest and plunder. It was easy to 

 quarrel with a less martial people, and with the ques- 

 tionable right "to the victors belong the spoils," carry 

 off what they had not the genius nor the disposition to 

 make. The finest sculptures of Greece went to 

 beautify Rome. Home talent was turned to the 

 formation of invincible legions, with the view ul- 

 timately of extending the borders of empire. As soon 

 as a few legions could be spared from protecting the 

 home government, they were sent to conquer a neigh- 

 boring province, and to despoil it. Every thing hand- 

 some and valuable w r as brought to Rome, hence the 

 city became a vast store-house of art treasures. Then, 

 again, the wealth and prosperity of the country 

 attracted to it the best artists of foreign lands. Cap- 



