Curiosities & wonders > History of the heathen gods and heroes of antiquity, very necessary for understanding the writings of the ancients, and the modern English poets

THE HEATHEN GODS. 29
CHAP. V.
OF BACCHUS.
BACCHUS is placed next to Mercury; a fil¬
thy, fliamelefs ami immodeft god ; with a bo¬
dy naked, red face, lafcivous look, fwollen cheeks,
fat bread, big belly and dittended paunch ; in an
effeminate polture, difpirited with luxury, and in¬
toxicated with wine. He is crowned w ith ivy and
vine-leaves, and in his hand holds a th'yrfus for a
fceptre. His chariot is drawn fometimes by tygers
and lions, fometimes by lynxes and panthers : A
drunken band of Satyrs, demons, and nymphs pre-
fiding over the w ir.e-prcfles; fairies of the foun¬
tains, and prieltefles attend him as his guard, and
old Silenus, riding on an afs, brings up the rear.
He is painted with horns, and fometimes a fmooth
and beardlefs youth, frequently alfo an old man.
Concerning the birth and kindred of Bacchus,
the poets fay, that Jupiter, being charmed with
the love of Semele, daughter of Cadmus, very
much moved the jealoufy of his wife Juno, who
therefore contriving fnares for the whore, vifitcd
her in the fliape of an old woman, congratulated
her acquaintance with the king of the gods, and
advifed, that flie would oblige him by an inviola¬
ble oath, to ptomife whatever Ihe fhould alk : and
then, fays (lie, you lhall a(k, that he come to you
with all the enfigns of his dignity, as lie ufes to the
bed of his royal fpotife. The advice extremely
pleafeu Semele, and when firll fne faw the god, (he
begged a favour, but without a name, which he
forthwith promifed, and bound himfelf by the Sty-
f;!an Lake to perform. Jupiter, having heard tne
C 3 rcqueit,