the figure of a Jupiter
Pluvius, being that of an old man flying in the air, with his arms
expanded, and a long beard which seems to waste away in rain. The
soldiers are there represented as relieved by this sudden tempest,
and in a posture, partly drinking of the rain-water, and partly
fighting against the enemy; who, on the contrary are represented as
stretched out on the ground with their horses, and upon them only
the dreadful part of the storm descending. The original letter of
Marcus Aurelius concerning this matter, was extant when Tertullian
and St. Jerom wrote. See Hier. in Chron. Euseb. ad annum 176. Tert.
Apol. c. 5, et lib. ad Scapul. The letter of Marcus Aurelius to the
senate now extant, is rejected as supposititious by Scaliger,
(Animadv. In Eus. ad an. 189.).It is published in the new edition of
the works of Marcus Aurelius, printed by Robert Fowlis in 1748, t.
1, p. 127, in Greek, t. 2, p. 126, in Latin, with notes, ib. p. 212.
Mamachi, t. 1, p 366.

ST. SEVERINUS, ABBOT,

AND APOSTLE OF NORICUM, OR AUSTRIA.

From his life, by Eugippius his disciple, who was present at his death.
See Tillemont, t. 16, p. 168. Lambecius Bibl. Vend. t. 1, p. 28, and
Bollandus, p. 497.

A.D. 482.

WE know nothing of the birth or country of this saint. From the purity
of his Latin, he was generally supposed to be a Roman; and his care to
conceal what he was according to the world, was taken for a proof of his
humility, and a presumption that he was a person of birth. He spent the
first part of his life in the deserts of the East; but, inflamed with an
ardent zeal for the glory of God, he left his retreat to preach the
gospel in the North. At first he came to Astures, now Stokeraw, situate
above Vienna; but finding the people hardened in vice, he foretold the
punishment God had prepared for them, and repaired to Comagenes, now
Haynburg on the Danube, eight leagues westward of Vienna. It was not
long ere his prophecy was verified; for Astures was laid waste, and the
inhabitants destroyed by the sword of the Huns, soon after the death of
Attila. St. Severinus's ancient host with great danger made his escape
to him at Comagenes. By the accomplishment of this prophecy, and by
several miracles he wrought, the name of the saint became famous.
Favianes, a city on the Danube, twenty leagues from Vienna, distressed
by a terrible famine, implored his assistance. St. Sev