Origin of Names 69 



So swift her flight, her passing through the air is 

 sometimes represented as unknown to all but for the 

 brilliant trail left by her many colored robe. 



Fell Juno, while before the mound 

 The games perform their festal round, 

 Despatches Iris from the sky 

 And gives her wings of wind to fly. 



Adown her bow of myriad dyes, 

 Unseen of all, the maiden hies. 



Virgil: ^Eneid V (Conington's tr.). 



Like fiery clouds, that flush with ruddy glare, 

 Or Iris, gliding through the purple air; 

 When loosely girt her dazzling mantle flows, 

 And 'gainst the sun in arching colors glows. 



Flaccus: Argonautics (Elton's tr.). 



Another of the duties of Iris was to keep the clouds 

 supplied with water from lakes and streams, that they 

 might let it fall upon the earth in fertilizing showers. 

 Hence in art she sometimes carries a pitcher in her 

 hand. 



Forth on his lagging pinions Notus flies; 



