Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Commodianus/The Instructions of Commodianus/Chapter 10

IX.&#8212;Mercury.

Let your Mercury be depicted with a Saraballum, and with wings on his helmet or his cap, and in other respects naked.&#160; I see a marvellous thing, a god flying with a little satchel.&#160; Run, poor creatures, with your lap spread open when he flies, that he may empty his satchel:&#160; do ye from thence be prepared.&#160; Look on the painted one, since he will thus cast you money from on high:&#160; then dance ye securely.&#160; Vain man, art thou not mad, to worship painted gods in heaven?&#160; If thou knowest not how to live, continue to dwell with the beasts.