he implored the god to give a remedy against the lightning. The ruler of the thunder assented, and in ambiguous terms conveyed the relief: “Cut a head,”--“of an onion from my garden” subjoined the king,--“of a man,”--“the topmost hairs” quickly replied Numa.--“I demand a life,”--“of a fish.” The deity smiled, and said that his weapons might thus be averted, and promised a sign at sunrise the following morning. [Illustration: JUPITER TONANS.] At dawn the people assembled before the doors of the king. Numa came forth, and, seated on his maple throne, looked for the rising of the sun. The orb of day was just wholly emerged above the horizon, when a loud crash was heard in the sky; thrice the god thundered without a cloud; thrice he sent forth his lightnings. The heavens opened, and a light buckler came gently wafted on the air, and fell to the ground. Numa, having first slain a heifer, took it up and named it _Ancile_. He regarded it as the pledge of empire; and having had eleven others made exactly like it by the artist Mamurius, to deceive those who might attempt to steal it, committed them to the care of the priests named Salii. Jupiter was named Feretrius or _Bearer_, as the spoils of the enemy’s general, if slain by a Roman commander, were _borne_ to him. He was also called Victor and Stator, as the giver of victory and stayer of flight. We also meet with Jupiter Pistor, whose altar was on the capitol, and Jupiter Tonans, the author of thunder. In the usual Roman manner, an historical origin was given to all these names. Jupiter was called Lucetius, as the author of light (_lucis_), and Diespiter, _i.e._, Dies Pater, or Father of Day or of Light. THE MATRON GODDESS. Juno was the feminine of Jove--from Jovino we have the word Juno. Juno was one of the great deities of Rome and had a share in the worship of the magnificent temple on the capitol. One Juno was called Juno Moneta, and her temple was finally made the mint, or coining place for money. Female slaves swore by the Juno of their mistress. As the patroness of married women, Juno was named Matrona. She presided over marriage. Whenever a child was born a piece of money was deposited in her temple’s treasury. In July of each year Juno was honored by a sacrifice. Juno Sospita, the _Protectress_, was represented with a goat-skin about her, a spear in her hand, and a small shield on her arm. Juno was generally represented armed, and the Romans usually divided the hair of a virgin-bride with a small spear-point, thus invoking the protection of this goddess. THE GODDESS OF SCHOOLS.