It is well known by the Learned, that there was a Temple upon Mount
Ætna
dedicated to
Vulcan
, which was guarded by Dogs of so exquisite a Smell, (say the Historians) that they could discern whether the Persons who came thither were chast or otherwise. They used to meet and faun upon such as were chast, caressing them as the Friends of their Master
Vulcan
; but flew at those who were polluted, and never ceased barking at them till they had driven them from the Temple.
My Manuscript gives the following Account of these Dogs, and was probably designed as a Comment upon this Story.
'These Dogs were given to