after a long and dangerous voyage, in Italy,
they, to show their gratitude for their preservation, built a temple to
Feronia, so called from their _bearing patiently_ all the fatigues and
dangers they had encountered in their voyage. This edifice casually
taking fire, the people ran to remove and preserve the image of the
goddess, when on a sudden the fire became extinguished, and the grove
assumed a native and flourishing verdure.

Horace mentions the homage that was paid to this deity, by washing the
face and hands, according to custom, in the sacred fountain which flowed
near her temple. Slaves received the cap of liberty at her shrine, on
which account they regarded her as their patroness. How Feronia was
descended, where born, or how educated, is not transmitted to us; but
she is said to have been wife to Jupiter Anxur, so called, because he
was worshipped in that place.

[Illustration:

NEPTUNE RISING FROM THE SEA

HE SITS SUPERIOR & THE CHARIOT FLIES.

Pope's Homer's Iliad. B. 13. L. 41
Pl. 7.]

NYMPHAE, _the_ NYMPHS, were certain inferior goddesses, inhabiting the
mountains, woods, valleys, rivers, seas, &c. said to be daughters of
Oceanus and Tethys. According to ancient mythology, the whole universe
was full of these nymphs, who are distinguished into several ranks and
classes, though the general division of them is into celestial and
terrestrial. I. The Celestial Nymphs, called _Uraniae_, were supposed to
govern the heavenly bodies or spheres. II. The Terrestrial Nymphs,
called _Epigeiae_, presided over the several parts of the inferior world;
these were again subdivided into those of the water, and those of the
earth.

The Nymphs of the water were ranged under several classes: 1. The
Ocean{)i}des, or Nymphs of the ocean. 2. The Nereids, daughters of
Nereus and Doris. 3. The Naiads, Nymphs of the fountains. 4. The
Ephydri{)a}des, also Nymphs of the fountains; and 5. The Limni{)a}des,
Nymphs of the lakes. The Nymphs of the earth were likewise divided into
different classes; as, 1. The Ore{)a}des, or Nymphs of the mountains. 2.
The Napaeae, Nymphs of the meadows; and 3. The Dryads and Hamadryads,
Nymphs of the woods and forests. Besides these, there were Nymphs who
took their names from particular countries, rivers, &c. as the
Dardan{)i}des, Tiber{)i}des, Ismen{)i}des, &c.

Pausanias reports it as the opinion of the ancient poets that the Nymphs
were not altogether free from de