to that divinity. Posthumius Tubertus, who defeated the Sabines in his consulship, was the first general who entered Rome rejoicing in a bloodless victory, and obtained a crown of the myr tle Veneris Victricis.' In what part of the city Venus Victrix was worshipped, and where he who had obtained an ovation received his myrtle crown, is uncertain. We suppose that it was at the Great Circus in the ninth region,' where has been a Templum Veneris Myrtea (so called from Myrtus) since the addition of the Latins to the city in the reign of Marcus. At that time, (says Livy,) many thousand Latins were received into the state, that the Aventine might join the Palatine; and a place was then consecrated to the myrtle goddess, to whom afterwards Fabius Gurges built an altar with money raised by fines. Pompey the great, after his return from the Mithridatic war, built a theatre, upon the cavea of which he erected an altar to Venus the conqueress; at whose dedication,' says Pliny, 'twenty elephants fought in the Circus.' This representation of Venus is very common upon coins of Trajan, Titus and the Augustan family, and in every instance the title of Victrix is annexed. There is no foundation then for the epithet Callipyges sometimes applied to her; for what have the two Syracusean sisters, who built the temple of Callipygean Venus, to do with war?"

sons.

The great circus mentioned above, was an immense and splendid building. It is said to have been one mile in circumference, and to have contained at least one hundred and fifty thousand perIt was situated, as has been remarked, in that section of the city, which was occupied by the Latins, to whom, on account of their numbers, a large tract of land was given. "Tum quoque multis millibus Latinorum in civitatem acceptis; quibus, ut jungeretur Palatio Aventinum, ad Murciæ datæ sedes." The splendid theatre built by Pompey was opened, and the altar dedicated, A. U. C. 699. The cavea, so far as we can learn, was the place occupied by the spectators. "The cavea was threefold; in the lowest part sat the equites and senators; in the uppermost part, the lowest of the people; in the middle, the more respectable class."―(Leverett.)

FORTUNA.- -(Incis. in Corneola.)

"So much power and influence did the superstitious ancients ascribe to Fortune, that Pliny says, 'Throughout the world, in every place, at every hour, by every voice, Fortune alone is invoked, addressed or blamed,' &c. Hence she is represented in the medal, with the horn of plenty and a rudder; indicating that she has the bestowal of all things, and the guidance of human affairs. The sun and moon are seen by her side, since, according to the doctrine of the Chaldeans, Fortune is a disposition of the stars.

Homer is said to be the first poet who makes mention of this divinity. In his 'Hymn to Ceres,' among the other daughters of the Ocean, rúgn herself is represented as sporting with Proserpine."

Many of our readers are aware of the custom once prevalent among oriental nations, of consulting the horoscope, or aspect of the heavens, on important occasions. This was done from the belief mentioned above, that Fortune dwelt among the stars, and by their motions manifested her designs. However much we may ridicule the pretensions of Astrology, it cannot be denied, that there still exists the same blind dependence on capricious Fortune, which characterized those of whom Pliny wrote. The vulgar,

especially, exhibit this superstition in their frequent wishes for good luck' and benignant stars.

EPILEGOMENA.

ON, on, is the note which the trump of time is ever sounding. Tyrant like, he spares neither friend nor foe, but gathering all beneath his broad wings, dashes them forward through life. Some strive to elude his grasp by hiding themselves in the secret bowers which pleasure has scattered along the road,—but in vain,— on, on, comes ringing in their ears, and away again they are hurried. Life has no real stopping place where we may "cross our legs and sip our wine." At our birth we are thrown upon this planet in the midst of its rapid revolutions, and with it are borne on, until by a kind of centrifugal force we are hurled off into eternity. No matter what we are; whether the stamp of royalty be on our brow, or we follow with the beggar;—whether wealth entrench us behind its battlements of gold,-fame write our name upon the face of heaven, or men flee us as a monster, alike we come, and pass, and disappear.

Pardon, Reader, this moralizing! It has been induced by the recollection that another collegiate year has gone: a year of joy and of sorrow,-of light and of shade,―of beauty and of gloom. Hopes have been attained and crushed,—aspirations elevated and debased,-resolutions kept and broken. Goals which ambition had erected have been reached and passed. All of us have made one hitch onward in life. One of the great mile-stones erected by the right worthy Corporation has been overtaken by us in our four-years' heat, and panting we have stopped to catch our breath. To no purpose was the effort; another class has spurred us on, and "commencement" is buried in the past.

That, Reader, was a proud day for old Yale! Were you present in the holy house on that eventful occasion, when so talented a portion of our number made to us their farewell speeches? How many bosoms were then too small for the big souls that beat and swelled within them. Fathers grew proud, while mothers dashed away the tears of joy. Sisters dreamed of immortality on earth with gifted brothers, and friends lavished their flattery. It was indeed a proud day for our University; not that it then sent forth a class of young men so greatly superior to any which had preceded, though there were some in that band of whom we shall yet hear again on a wider field of action, but because the good, the wise, the beau

tiful, were in crowds assembled, in attestation of their deep and increasing interest in the welfare of this ancient institution. It has become a nucleus, around which cluster high hopes and old associations.

Since that time we have been separated; and one by one we have scattered ourselves abroad. Homes have been made glad, and the evening circle enlivened by the presence of "the collegian." Joy, sorrow, romance, seriousness, dissipation, all have had their day. Exhausted powers have been recruited,-the depressed spirit elevated; the hollow cheek and sunken eye have resumed their former beauty.

Nature too has been busy in change. Summer, with its long days and burning sun, its green leaves and showers, has passed away. Autumn is abroad upon the fields, hills and forest trees. Reader! if thou hast true taste in thy soul, thou wilt acknowledge with us that this is the most beautiful season of the year. Poets have indeed sung of spring flowers and spring breezes ;-young men and maidens have sighed for the return of May day;-painters have strolled forth to catch the first colorings of nature's pencil; and yet spring has no real beauty over the other seasons of the year. The only thing which renders it the object of our admiration, is the transition from barrenness to verdure, but this is dependent upon the associations connected with it.

Beauty is found only in present contrast. Variety is indispensable to its existence, and in no month can this contrast and variety be found equal to that which "gude auld October" displays. Spring wears one monotonous appearance,—Autumn changes the scene with every glance of the eye.

Another company has joined our little army, and a fine looking set of fellows they are. If we do not greatly mistake, they will prove to be no ordinary acquisition. We have met but few who do not act the gentleman as nature models him. Some it is true are very little gentlemen, yet perfect in their size. Electioneering, both public and private, has of course been the order of the day. The Lyceum and Atheneum have groaned beneath the mountains of society and party notices that have been heaped upon them. "Tricks upon Freshmen," unlike angels' visits, have been neither few nor far between. Private examinations and gratuitous advice have kept the uninitiated for a while in a profound wonderment and respect towards self-made Tutors. Smoke, broken panels, and sashless windows, have abounded in the lower rooms, and the college pump has been heard to creak at midnight, for what purpose we will not say. But it is over now:-the agony is passed; while Sophs and Fresh have become "hail, fellows, well met."

Having thus given you, Reader, a bird's-eye glance over the last two months, reach us now your hand, and with a single bound we will fly through mid-air to the Editor's room. There-you are within the mysterious place! look on and be silent! He of the high stock and beardless chin, who is occupying the rocking chair of state, is Nung Boah,—the fortunate, or rather unfortunate holder of the fatal E. His small features, long hair and little feet, show him to be of Chinese origin. He is a profound philosopher, and is now preparing a metaphysical work on "the production of effects without causes." That short yet fine looking personage on his right, from whose deep sunken eye flashes out the intellect that dwells within, is Beppo, author of *** and ***, and many other distinguished works. On the left of the President, is a young man of modest mien, who cannot look you in the face for a moment without blushing, yet whose high forehead bespeaks a mind of no common magnitude,-Caius Gracchus, a worthy descendant of the old Roman. Directly in front of Beppo, at the opposite side of the table, is a very loquacious fellow, and one who loves to hear himself praised, yet withal a poet, and a great favorite of the ladies,-Alcibiades, 'permit us to introduce you to Mr. Reader-Mr.

Reader,' our friend Alcibiades. Next to Caius sits, or rather swings, Zotoff, the Russian; you might know that he belongs to the land of the Czars, by the kind of senseless, dare-devil look which he carries.

Having thus introduced you, Mr. Reader, to these distinguished personages, here are the records of their meetings, which, to divert you while important business is transacted, you may read.

EDITORS' ROOM, OCTOBER, 1837.-Regular meeting of the corps. Nung Boah was chosen Presiding Editor for the next No. of the Magazine. With sundry grimaces and counterfeit contortions of features, which but ill disguised his pleasure, he seated himself in the "immortal chair," and after sundry attempts to clear his voice, thus addressed the body.

'Gentlemen, we have met.

ness? If so, let us despatch it.'

You have chosen me President. Is there any busi

'Mr. President,' said Alcibiades, 'you will remember that the last No. of the Magazine closed the second volume, and that we are now about to commence the third for the benefit of the literary world. You will moreover, sir, bear it in your recollection, that we determined at our last meeting to make an effort, a great, an herculean effort, to obtain a new host of subscribers. This then, sir, is 'par excellence' our first business., Permit me, therefore, sir, to point out the several ways in which this can be accomplished.'

First, then, a College meeting can be held-speeches made, &c.—and

Secondly, the classes can be addressed separately-or

Thirdly, individuals may be solicited at their rooms-or

Fourthly, notices may be posted upon the doors of the Lyceum, Chapel and Atheneum-and

Fifthly, subscription papers can be left at the several bookstores-and
Sixthly, the Tutors

'Hold, for heaven's sake,' interrupted Beppo, ' and let us have one plan at a time.' After a long discussion, the first and third propositions were carried, and committees appointed.

'The next business in order, gentlemen,' said Nung Boah, 'is to examine the deferred articles. Here is "A Translation of an ode in Horace." You have heard it at a previous meeting, since which time it has been corrected by the author. Shall I read it?'

'Let it be read, with the emendations,' said Beppo.

The piece was read and by a majority of one accepted.

"A Trip to Mount Carmel," came next in order, and after having been read by the President, it was consigned to the fire.

The next and last article was "The New York fire of '35-a Parody."

'Is it that parody on Hohenlinden?' said Alcibiades- if so, give me a cigar, that I may forget myself for a few moments.'

The President began

At New York, when the sun was down,~

All motionless lay the frozen ground,

'Motionless lay the frozen ground!' exclaimed Caius,' who ever heard that frozen ground was any thing else than motionless?-pardon me Mr. President for interrupting you.'

And harsh as winter was the sound
Of the winds, blowing rapidly.

'Quite a breeze that,' said Alcibiades.

Nung Boah continued—

But firemen saw another sight,

When the bells rang with all their might,

To raise the alarm, on that night,

Of the fire raging speedily.

'Bravo!' shouted Zotoff, Campbell outdone-Oh, ye gods and little fishes! let us have more of the beautiful stuff.'

Then shook the streets with engines driven,

Then rushed the men by order given,

To save the goods, from utter ruin,

The flames consuming rapidly.

'Goods consuming the flames rapidly!-there's philosophy for you, Nung. He beats Scott in rhyming,' said Caius-driven-given-ruin. Humph!'

'Gentlemen!' said the President, 'permit me to read the remainder through without interruption.'

When Nung Boah had concluded, there was such a general huzzaing, stamping of feet and rattling of canes, that the whole building trembled. The next evening the following article appeared in a city paper.

"We understand that a loud clap of thunder was heard about eight o'clock last evening over the westerly part of the city. There was not a cloud, at the time, to be seen in the sky, and we learn that several distinguished scientific gentlemen are about to make an investigation into the cause of this wonderful phenomenon. We shall in due time apprise our readers of the result of their labors." 'What shall be done with the parody?' enquired the President.

'Send it to the devil!' said Zotoff.

"Which devil? the printer's?' asked Beppo.

'No, yours!' retorted the Russian.

'I move,' said Alcibiades, that a thousand copies be printed and sent to all the sufferers by that fire, and that a subscription be raised for the benefit of the author.' The motion was lost.