HISTORY OF MEXICO. 401 



0 



fc happinefs of our life." But they never believed their 

 gods fo impotent as the Greeks and Romans believed 

 theirs. The Mexicans had more than one deity under 

 the name of Centeotl who took care of the country and 

 'the fields, and although they were fo fond of their chil- 

 dren they had but one god for their protection. The 

 Romans, befides the goddefs Ceres, had a crowd of dei- 

 ties for the care of the fields alone (m) 9 and for the guard 

 and education of their children upwards of twenty, be- 

 fides a number which were employed in the generation 

 and birth of infants (n). Who would believe that they 

 would have occafion for their Gods merely to guard 

 their doors ? Forculus was charged with the door polls, 

 Carna with the hinge, and Lamentinus with the thre- 

 fliold. " Ita," exclaims St. Auguftin, 6< ita non pote- 

 <c rat, Forculus fimul foresj et cardinem limenque fer- 

 " vare." So wretched was, the power of the gods in the 

 judgment of the Romans ! Even the names by which 

 Vol. III. 3 F fome 



(nw) Seja was charged with the grain which was newly fown, Proferpina with 

 the grain which was juft fprung, Nadotus with the knots on the ftem, Volatina 

 with the eyes on buds, Patelena with the leaves which were fpread, Flora with 

 the flowers, Segejla with the new grains, LaSiantla with the grain yet milky, 

 Matuta with the ripe grain, Tutanus or Tutilina with the grain in the granary ; 

 to all whom we ought to add the god Sterculius who attended the manuring of 

 the fields, Priapus who defended the grain from the birds, Rubigo who defended 

 it from infecTs, and the nymphs Napia who had the care of its nutritive juices. 



(n^ The goddefs Opts was charged with giving afliftance to the child which 

 was delivering, and to receive it in her lap, Vailcanus to open its mouth to cry, 

 Levana to raife it from the ground, Cunlna to watch the cradle, the Carmentes 

 to announce its deftiny, Fortuna to favour it in all accidents, Rumina to intro- 

 duce the nipple of the mother's breaft into the mouth of the child, Potina took 

 care of its drink, Ecfaca of its pap, Faventia wiped its flabberings, Venilia had 

 10 cherifh its hopes, Vohpia to attend its pleafures, Agenoria to watch its mo- 

 tions, Stimula to make it. adive, Strenua to make it courageous, Numeria to 

 teach it minibers, Camena finging,~ Confo to give it counfel, Senica refolution, 

 Juventa had charge of its- youth, and Fortuna Barbata was enjoined that import- 

 ant office of making hair grow upon aduit$. 



