ÆOLUS.
_Ques._ Who was Æ´olus?
_Ans._ He was the god of the winds; he could imprison them in a dark
cave, or, by setting them free, create tempests.
_Ques._ What was the origin of this fable?
_Ans._ It is believed that Æ´olus was a skillful astronomer who dwelt
in a volcanic island. By noticing the clouds of smoke, and how they
rose, he was enabled to foretell storms a long time before they
happened; hence the ignorant believed that he could bring high winds
and tempests whenever he pleased.
MOMUS.
_Ques._ Who was Momus?
_Ans._ He was the son of Night and Sleep; the name Momus signifies a
jester. His occupation was to criticise the other gods, and censure
their actions.
_Ques._ Give an example?
_Ans._ Neptune, Vulcan, and Minerva contended for the prize of skill;
Neptune made a bull, Minerva a house, and Vulcan a man. Momus was
called upon to decide their merits, but he blamed them all. He said
that Neptune was imprudent in not placing the bull's horns in his
forehead, before his eyes, that he might give a stronger and surer
blow. He found fault with Minerva's house, because it was immovable
and could not be carried away if it were placed among bad neighbors.
He said that Vulcan was the worst of all, because he did not put a
window in the man's breast so that his thoughts might be seen. No god
could escape the censure of Momus. When he could find nothing to
criticise in the person of Venus, he complained of the noise made by
her golden sandals. Momus was at length driven from Olympus.