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The gods of the first order, were endowed by the writers of antiquity, with
natures partly real, and partly imaginary. By their power, the government
of the universe was carried on; but mortals in attributing to these gods
their own passions and weaknesses, began to blend with them divinities of a
secondary class, to preside over those less important affairs, which might
be supposed unworthy the notice of the superior intelligences.
For the most part, therefore, these Immortals have no origin in history;
but, as allusions are constantly made to them in the eloquent language of
the orator, or in the beautiful metaphor of the poet, it is necessary to
introduce those who are considered to be the most celebrated.
And for the future, the poetry offered will principally be that which
relates rather to the attributes they were supposed to possess, than to the
gods themselves. Thus, with such deities as Aeolus and Mors, we shall
introduce poems addressed to the Wind and Death, over which they presided,
as suited to the modern character of our Mythology, and more generally
appreciated by the readers of the nineteenth century.