I] INTRODUCTORY 3 



why — as they are said to be the universal parents — 

 Jupiter is addressed as '* Father Jove," and Tellus 

 IS *' Mother Earth." Next the Sun and Moon, 

 vhose seasons are observed for the sowing and 

 garnering of the crops. Thirdly Ceres and Liber, 

 IS the fruits they send are specially necessary for 

 subsistence: for it is through them that food and 

 -irink come from the farm. Fourthly Robigus ^ and 

 Flora, for by their grace blight does not ruin the 

 various grains and trees, and these flourish in due 

 season. For which cause the State appointed the 

 festival of the Robigalia,- in honour of Robigus, 

 and for Flora the games known as Floralia."* And 

 likewise I pay my respects to Minerva and Venus, 

 the one of whom watches over the olive orchards, 

 the other over gardens. It is in honour of the latter 

 that the festival of the '^ Country Vinalia " * was in- 

 stituted. And finally I pray to Lympha and Good 

 Speed,* since without water all husbandry is dry 



' Robigus^ the g^od, and Robigo the goddess, of blight or 

 mildew {robigo). *' They were implored not to come near " the 

 crops. Cf. Aug., C. D., iv, 21. 



' Robigalia. "A festival called after Robigus. Sacrifice is 

 made to this god near the corn-fields that mildew may not 

 attack the crops" (Varro, L. L., vi, 16). Its date was 25th 

 April, "just before the ear leaves its sheath (Pliny, N. H., 

 xviii, 14). Red puppies were sacrificed. 



' Floralia. 28th April to 2nd May. 



* Rustica vinalia. 19th August. "Then Venus's temple 

 was dedicated — and on that day gardens are placed under the 

 protection of this goddess, and market-gardeners make holi- 

 day " (Varro, L. L., lac. cit.). 



* Bonus Eventus. According to Pliny (N. H., xxxiv, 8) there 



