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.
Si
CHAP. IX.
OF VENUS.
VENUS is Piled the goddefs of the graces, e-
loquence, beauty, neatnefs, and chearfulnels ;
1 in whofe countenance many cr.arms fit and play:
i in her fore-head fit mirth and joy ; and a thoufand
t delights wantonly fpcrt in her fnowy bofom.
' She is clothed with a purple mantle glittering
with diamonds; and refulgent with a rofy crown,
flic breathes pleafures, and flows in foftnels. Two
Cupids attend at her fides, three graces (land round
her. and the lovely Adonis follows after, gently
holding her train. Her chariot is of ivory, finely
carved, and beautifully painted and gilt, falhioned
in form of a (hell, and drawn by fwans, doves and
fwdlows, -or, as fome fay, by fparrows, as fhe di¬
rects, w-hen fhe pleafes to mount it.
The fame Venus is alfo the goddefs of love, the
patronefs of ftrumpets, the vile promoter of im¬
pudence and luft, and infamous for many whore-
I doms, rapes and incefts: Who ought to be lur-
rounded by furies, not graces, and her chariot
drawn rather by twine, dogs, and goats, than the
puretfi and chafteit birds. She is often painted like
a virgin, rifingout of the fea, and riding in a (hell:
fometimes as a woman holding a fliell, with her
head adorned with rofes and other flowers : Some¬
times flie carries a filver looking-glafs in her hand,
and Alines with golden fandals and buckles.
She was worshipped among the Sicyonians, hav¬
ing a poppy in one hand, and cn apple in the other.
They confecratcd to her the thighs of all facrifi-
ces, except fwine; becaufe the goddefs, though
E t filthy