“Manlius.” Consul in 392 B. C. In 395 he defended the plebeians against the higher classes, but was accused of aiming at kingly power, and was thrown into prison. The plebs showed such indignation at this that Manlius was liberated. He only became bolder in his support of the people, and in the following year was accused of treason, condemned, and thrown from the Tarpeian rock. P. 228.—“Dante,” dănˈte. (1265-1321.) “Inferno,” in-ferˈno; “Purgatorio,” pur-gä-toˈre-o; “Divina Commedia,” dee-veéˈnä com-meˈdee-ä. P. 230.—“Mincius,” minˈci-us. A river of northern Italy emptying into the Po, a little below Mantua, which is situated on an island in the middle of a lagoon formed by the river. P. 232.—“Bucolic,” bu-cŏlˈic; “Eclogues,” ĕkˈlogs. “Dactylic hexameter,” dac-tylˈic hex-ămˈe-ter. A verse of poetry consisting of six feet, parts, or measures (hexameter means of six measures), the first four of which may be dactyls, that is feet of three syllables, one long and two short; or spondees, feet of two syllables, one long and one short: the fifth must be a dactyl, and the sixth a spondee. “Theocritus,” the-ŏkˈrĭ-tus. Was born in Syracuse about 250 B. C. He is known as the creator of pastoral poetry. About thirty poems by him are still extant, and several epigrams. P. 234.—“Sibyl,” sĭbˈyl. A name given by the Greeks and Romans to several women who were supposed to have been able to foretell, to avert trouble, and to appease the gods. Some writers mention four Sibyls, others ten. The most famous of all was this Cumæan Sibyl, and to her the Romans traced the origin of the “oracles.” It is fabled that she offered to sell to one of the Tarquins nine books, but the king refused. Going away she burnt three, and then offered the six at the same price. Being refused again she destroyed a second three, and at her first price the king finally took those remaining. These were carefully preserved, but burnt in B. C. 83. A new compilation was made by consulting the various oracles of the world. The “Sibyline oracles” mentioned here are in eight books, and were collected after the second century; they consist of a mixture of heathen, Christian and Jewish poems. P. 235.—“Lucina,” lu-ciˈna. The goddess who was supposed to preside over the birth of children. “Tiphys,” tiˈphys. The pilot of the “Argo.” He died before the ship reached Colchis. For the story of the “Argo” see Grecian history. P. 236.—“Fates,” or Parcæ, were mythological beings who cared for human life. “Linus.” The personification of the dirge. “Calliope.” The muse of epic poetry. She usually appears with a stylus and a wax tablet. P. 237.—“Hesiod,” heˈsĭ-od. Greek epic poet; 800 B. C. “Iambic pentameter.” A verse of five feet (pentameter), or ten syllables. Each foot is an iambus; that is, is composed of one short and one long syllable. “Alexandrine,” ălˌex-ănˈdrĭne. A verse composed of twelve syllables, named from a French poem on Alexander.