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. 41
CHAP. VH.
OF JUNO.
JU N O is the queen of the gods, both the filler
and wife of Jupiter; the daughter of Saturn
and Ops; born in the ifland Samos, where (he liv¬
ed, while (he continued a virgin.
She rides in a golden chariot, dratvn by pea¬
cocks, diliinguifiied by a fceptre and crown fet a-
bout with roles and lilies. Her perfon is auguft;
her face full of brightnefs, beauty and majefty; her
carriage noble, and her drefs elegant and fine.
Iris, the daughter of Thaumus and Eledlra, alfo
filler of the Harpyes, is fervant and peculiar mef-
fenger of Juno; though Jupiter and the other gods,
yea Furies and Men too employed her. Becaufe
of her fwiftnefs, (he is painted with wings, fitting
on a rainbow; and was always fent to promote
ftrife and dilTenlion, as if (lie were goddefs of dii-
cord. It was alfo her office to unloofe the fouls of
dying women from the chains of the body.
Juno had by Jupiter Vulcan, Mars, and Hebe;
although lome fay, that Hebe was begot of Juno
only : for while (lie was yet childlefs, as foon as
fne ate wild lettuces, fet before her at an enter¬
tainment in the royal palace, growing fuddenly
big-bellied (lie brought forth Hebe, who, for her
extraordinary beauty, was by Jupiter made god¬
defs of youth, and the office of ferving the cup to
him, was alfo conferred on her. But when by an
unlucky fall, (lie caufed great diverfion to the
guells; Jupiter, being enraged, turned her out of
her office, and Ganimede fucceeded in her Head.
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