XIV. Kal. 19th
After an interval of one day rites are performed in honour of Minerva, which get their name from a group of five days. The first day is bloodless, and it is unlawful to combat with the sword, because Minerva was born on that day. The second day and three besides are celebrated by the spreading of sand: the warlike goddess delights in drawn swords. Ye boys and tender girls, pray now to Pallas; he who shall have won the favour of Pallas will be learned. When once they have won the favour of Pallas, let girls learn to card the wool and to unload the full distaffs. She also teaches how to traverse the upright warp with the shuttle, and she drives home the loose threads with the comb. Worship her, thou who dost remove stains from damaged garments; worship her, thou who dost make ready the brazen caldrons for the fleeces. If Pallas frown, no man shall make shoes well, though he were more skilful than Tychius; and though he were more adroit with his hands than Epeus of old, yet shall he be helpless, if Pallas be angry with him. Ye too, who banish sicknesses by Phoebus’ art, bring from your earnings a few gifts to the goddess. And spurn her not, ye schoolmasters, ye tribe too often cheated of your income, she attracts new pupils; and thou who dost ply the graving tool and paint pictures in encaustic colours, and thou who dost mould the stone with deft hand (spurn not the goddess). She is the goddess of a thousand works: certainly she is the goddess of song; may she be friendly to my pursuits, if I deserve it.
Where the Caelian Mount descends from the height into the plain, at the point where the street is not level but nearly level, you may see the small shrine of Minerva Capta, which the goddess owned for the first time upon her birthday. The origin of the name Capta is doubtful. We call ingenuity “capital”; the goddess herself is ingenious. Did she get the name of Capta because she is said to have leaped forth motherless with her shield from the crown of her father’s head (caput)? Or because she came to us as a captive at the conquest of Falerii? This very fact is attested by an ancient inscription. Or was it because she has a law which ordains capital punishment for thefts proved to have been committed in that place? From whatsoever source thou dost derive the title, O Pallas, do thou hold thine aegis ever before our leaders.
X. Kal. 23rd
The last day of the five reminds us to purify the melodious trumpets and to sacrifice to the strong goddess.
Now you can look up to the sun and say, “Yesterday he set foot on the fleece of the Phrixean sheep.” By the guile of a wicked stepmother the seeds had been roasted, so that no corn sprouted in the wonted way. A messenger was sent to the tripods to report, by a sure oracle, what remedy the Delphic god would prescribe for the dearth. But he, corrupted like the seed, brought word that the oracle demanded the death of Helle and the stripling Phrixus; and when the citizens, the season, and Ino compelled the reluctant king to submit to the wicked command, Phrixus and his sister, their brows veiled with fillets, stood together before the altars and bewailed the fate they shared. Their mother spied them, as by chance she hovered in the air, and thunder-struck she beat her naked breast with her hand: then, accompanied by clouds, she leaped down into the dragon-begotten city and snatched from it her children, and that they might take to flight, a ram all glistering with gold was delivered to them. The ram bore the two over wide seas. It is said that the sister relaxed the hold of her left hand on the ram’s horn, when she gave her own name to the water. Her brother almost perished with her in attempting to succour her as she fell, and in holding out his hands at the utmost stretch. He wept at losing her who had shared his double peril, wotting not that she was wedded to the blue god. On reaching the shore the ram was made a constellation, but his golden fleece was carried to Colchian homes.
VII. Kal. 26th
When thrice the Morning Star shall have heralded the coming Dawn, you shall reckon the time of day equal to the time of night.
III. Kal. 30th
When four times from that day the shepherd shall have folded the cloyed kids, and four times the grass shall have whitened under the fresh dew, it will be time to adore Janus, and gentle Concord with him, and Roman Safety, and the altar of Peace.
Pr. Kal. 31st
The moon rules the months: the period of this month also ends with the worship of the Moon on the Aventine Hill.
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