Their  enjoyment  is  now  interrupted  by  the  arrival  of
Minerca  and  Mercury,  who  descend  in  a  chariot  drawn
by  owls.  They  are  commisaioned  to  announce  to  Mars
the  necessity  of  his  departure  into  Thrace  to  subdue  the
Titans  ;  such  being  the  royal  pleasure  of  Jopiler.  The
two  lovers  appear  thunderstruck  by  this  news ;  they
become  motionless ;  and  all  their  vows  of  affection  must
be  broken.  The  Ocean's  daughter  feels  the  most
poignant  grief.  Rage  and  revenge  inspire  her  breast.
Mitierea  persuades  them  to  be  calm,  and  induces  them  to
act  promptly  and  resolutely.  The  son  of  Juno,  unable  to
withstand  the  power  of  Jupiter,  takes  an  affectionate  fare-
well of  his  mistress,  and  departs  fully  armed,  but  a  prey
to  despair.  Minerva  consoles  I  enus,  and  covering  her
with  the  i^gis,  protects  her  from  the  fatal  passion.  Love,
to  try  the  effect  of  his  arrows,  engages  in  a  contest  with
the  Goddess  of  Wisdom,  hut  he  is  vanquished,  and  finding
himself  deceived,  and  his  designs  frustrated,  he  wings  his
way  into  the  skies,  the  daughter  of  Jove  laughing  at  the
rage  of  the  malignant  boy.
Vulcan  now  enters,  accompanied  by  his  attendants,  he
revisits  his  wife  with  delight,  the  influence  of  Minerca
having  entirely  obliterated  every  trace  of  what  has  hap-
pened. The  happy  couple  exchange  marks  of  mutual
attachment,  while  Vulcan  invites  Minerva  and  Mercury
to  attend  him  into  his  palace  to  partake  of  a  bantjiiet.
THE  CODE  OF  TERPSICHORE.
TABLEAU  V.
A  magnificent  interior  of  the  Palace  of  I'ulcan.
