the goddess of flowers, was, according to the poets, the wife of Zephyrus, and was first honoured among the Sabines; but, according to Lactantius, she was a lady of pleasure, who, having gained large sums of money by prostituting herself, made the Roman people her heir, on condition that certain games, called Floralia, might be annually celebrated on her birthday. Her image in the temple of Castor and Pollux was draped in a close habit, and she held in her hands the flowers of pease and beans: but the modern poets and painters have been more lavish in setting off her charms, considering that no parts of nature offered such innocent and exquisite entertainment to the sight and smell, as the beautiful variety which adorns, and the odour which embalms, the floral creation.