IX.—Mercury.

Let your Mercury be depicted with a Saraballum, and with wings on his helmet or his cap, and in other respects naked.  I see a marvellous thing, a god flying with a little satchel.  Run, poor creatures, with your lap spread open when he flies, that he may empty his satchel:  do ye from thence be prepared.  Look on the painted one, since he will thus cast you money from on high:  then dance ye securely.  Vain man, art thou not mad, to worship painted gods in heaven?  If thou knowest not how to live, continue to dwell with the beasts.