OLYMPIC DIALOGt) £. 353 



reprefented in the temples either under an animal, nor 

 even under a human form. I already then conlidered 

 the feveral perfons and names which the belief of our 

 anceflors had elevated into deities, either as Jymboh of 

 the invilible and infcrutable prime energy of nature* 

 or as perfons whom the gratitude of posterity for lignal 

 fervices in focial and civil life had raifed to the dis:- 



o 



nity of publicly worfhiped patron-fpirits, 



Jupiter •.] And the event has taught thee, that it 

 leaft in this latter notion, thou wert not much mifta- 

 ken ; though as to what concerns the images of the 

 deities, I am iiot of thy opinion. 



Numa.'] Had there been a Phidias or an Alcamenes 

 in my time in Latium, probably thofe artifrs would 

 have occafioned even me to alter my fentiments. 



Jupiter ~\ Therefore if thou didffc never hold us for 

 any thing but what we are, where is the wonder thatk 

 we could calmly let it come to pafs that the inhabi- 

 tants of the earth fhould proceed fiich lengths as to 

 hold lis for nothing more ? 



Numa.~] Perhaps it may be owing to the habit of 

 living among you, and of feeing you for fuch a long 

 time in the uninterrupted pofTeffion of the adoration of 

 mankind. Thefe have placed you in an awful chiaro- 

 ofcuro to my view, and perhaps imperceptibly given- 

 me too high ail opinion of your nature and fubHmity 

 — in fnort, I confefs that it will coft me feme trou- 

 ble, Jupiter, to accuftom myfelf to a different way of 

 thinking. 



Jupiter ,] I am almoft inclined to ftep forward out of 

 the chiaro- ofcuro, and throw af.de the covering of the 

 myftery of my family, about which fo many honeft 



vol. ii. a A people- 



