Vmbræ.
Some men call the ghosts of all dead things by yͤ name of Lemures. Thus saith Apuleius, Of those Lemures, he that hath care of his posteritie, and inhabiteth the house with a peaceable and quiet kinde of rule, was called Lar familiaris, god of the house. And be cause among the people of olde time, as they counted Lares good, so they supposed Lemures to be naught, therefore to driue them away, they did sacrifice vnto them.
Lemures.
Some other affirme, that Lemures are soules which tarry about the bodies. Porphyrius calleth them the wandring soules of men departed before their time, as it were Remures, taking their name of Remus, whose soule folowed his brother Romulus: who to the intent he might pacifie them, instituted feastes called Lemuria.
Laruæ.
Ceriti.
Seruius writeth, that Vmbræ were called Laruæ: and they called dead mens soules by the name of Vmbræ. Of Laruæ men are called Laruati, that is to say, frantike men, and such as are vexed with spirits. Who also as (Nonius witnesseth) are called Ceriti.
Manes.
Seruius saith, that mennes soules are called Manes, at suche time as departing from their bodies, they are not yet passed into other bodies. And he iudgeth that they are so called by the figure ἁντίφρασις, (whiche is when one speaketh by contraries) of the olde adiectiue Manus, that is good, because they were nothing lesse than good. For the auncient people supposed, that Manes were infernall gods, and therefore did they number them amongst their euil gods, and pacified them with sacrifice, least they should hurt them. Some affirme that Manes are indéed infernall gods, but yet good: whereof commeth Mane, which signifieth good, and Dii Manes, as if you would say, good and prosperous gods, and therof also is said Immanes, for, not good.