the Pagan goddess of idleness. The name is taken from murcus or murcidus, an obsolete word, signifying a dull, slothful, or lazy person.—The statues of this goddess were always covered with dust and moss, to express her idleness and negligence. She had a temple in Rome, at the foot of the Aventine mount.

a kingdom in Spain, bounded on the north by New Castile, on the east by the kingdom of Valencia, on the west by Andalusia and Granada, and on the south by the Mediterranean sea. It is about 62 miles in length, and 38 in breadth; and its principal river is the Segura. The soil is dry, because it seldom rains, and therefore it produces little corn or wine; but there is plenty of oranges, citrons, lemons, olives, almonds, mulberries, rice, pulse, and sugar. It has also a great deal of silk. It was taken from the Moors in 1265. The air is very healthful.

a large, handsome, and populous town of Spain, capital of a kingdom of the same name. It is a bishop's see, and contains six parishes. The cathedral is a most superb edifice, with the stairs of the steeple so contrived that a man may ride up to the top, either on horseback or in a coach. It is situated in a pleasant plain, which abounds in fine gardens about the city, and in which are the best fruits in Spain. It is seated on the river Segura, in W. Long. 8° 36' N. Lat. 37° 48'.