Yet verily these issues lie on the lap of the gods. HOMER-Iliad. Bk. XVII. 514. Odyssey. I. 267. BUTCHER and LANG's trans. That lies in the laps of the gods. (Nearest to the original, which is "in" not "on.") Other translations are:

But these things in the God's Knees are repos'd. And yet the period of these designes, lye in the Knees of Gods.

It lies in the lap of the Norns. [Fates.] From the Scandinavian.

12

Where'er he moves, the goddess shone before. HOMER-Iliad. Bk. XX. L. 127. POPE'S trans.

14

cording to TERTULLIAN-Ad Nationes. Bk. II. Ch. 2, DIOGENES said, "I do not know, only there ought to be gods.'

(See also TILLOTSON under GOD)

Vilia miretur vulgus; mihi flavus Apollo
Pocula Castalia plena ministret aqua.

Let the crowd delight in things of no value; to me let the golden-haired Apollo minister full cups from the Castalian spring (the fountain of Parnassus). OVID-Amorum.

Bk. I. 15. 35. Motto on title-page of Shakespeare's "Venus and Adonis." Another reading: "Castalia aquæ," of the Castalian spring.

Cui homini dii propitii sunt aliquid objiciunt lucri.

The gods give that man some profit to whom they are propitious.

PLAUTUS-Persa. IV. 3. 1.

20

Miris modis Di ludos faciunt hominibus.

In wondrous ways do the gods make sport with men.

PLAUTUS-Rudens. Act III. 1. 1; Mercator. Act II. (See also KING LEAR)

1

Keep what goods the Gods provide you. PLAUTUS-Rudens. Act IV. Sc. 8. RILEY'S trans.

2

Dum homo est infirmus, tunc deos, tunc hominem esse se meminit: invidet nemini, neminem miratur, neminem despicit, ac ne sermonibus quidem malignis aut attendit, aut alitur.

When a man is laboring under the pain of any distemper, it is then that he recollects there are gods, and that he himself is but a man; no mortal is then the object of his envy, his admiration, or his contempt, and having no malice to gratify, the tales of slander excite not his attention.

PLINY THE YOUNGER-Epistles. VII. 26.

Atlas, we read in ancient song,
Was so exceeding tall and strong,
He bore the skies upon his back,
Just as the pedler does his pack;
But, as the pedler overpress'd
Unloads upon a stall to rest,
Or, when he can no longer stand,
Desires a friend to lend a hand,
So Atlas, lest the ponderous spheres
Should sink, and fall about his ears,
Got Hercules to bear the pile,
That he might sit and rest awhile.
SWIFT-Atlas; or, the Minister of State.

21

Volente Deo.

The god so willing.

VERGIL Eneid. I. 303.

22

Incessu patuit Dea.

By her gait the goddess was known. VERGIL Eneid. I. 405.

23

Heu nihil invitis fas quemquam fidere divis.

Alas! it is not well for anyone to be confident when the gods are adverse.

VERGIL Eneid. II. 402.