Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/35

* VARRO. tica Lihri III., the most important treatise on ani-ient agriculture known to ns. (2) Do Ijimjua hatina, a grammatical work, which originally extended to twenty-four books, only six of which, however, have come down to us, and even these in an imperfect form. (3) HcntenlUv, consisting of 105 pregnant sayings strung together, not hy Varro himself, but probably by ilill'ercnt hands at dill'erent times. (4) Antit]iiitutuin Lihri, com- prising two sections, the Aiitiijuitdlc.s Rcnim Hu- manarum, iu twenty-five books, and the Antiqui- tales lirrum Divinarum, in sixteen books. This, tile greatest work of Yairo, and the one on which Ills reputation for learning was mainly founded, lias unfortunately pcrislied. except for a few frag- ments. (5) iSiiturw, composed in various metres, and occasionally in prose. These pieces, cO[)ied to some extent from the productions of Menijipus the Gadarene, were apparently a series of com- ments on a great variety of subjects, generally conveyed in the form of dialogue, and aiming at the enforcement of some moral lesson or serious truth in a familiar and even jocular style. Of these we have only fragments; and of the other works little more than the titles. The best edi- tion of the Dc Re Rustira is that of Kcil (Leip- zig, 1884) : of the De Lingua Laiina, that of Spengel (Berlin, 1885). The Saturw Menippece are published in Biicheler's edition of Petronius (Berlin, 1882). VARSOVIENNE, var'so'vyen' (Fr., Warsaw dance). A modern dance in three-quarter time, and moderate tempo, beginning on the up beat and having a strong accent on the first beat of the even measures. It originated in France about 18.50, and is a modification of the Polish mazurka or redowa ( qq.v. ) . VARtTNA, vii'roo-na ( from Skt. var, to cover, surround, encompass, probably connected with Gk. oi5poii6s, ouranos, heaven, sky ) . In Vedie mythology, the representative of the all-encom- passing heaven. Only a dozen hymns in the Kig- Veda are addressed exclusively to his praise, but the picture which they give of him shows him to be the noblest of the Vedie divinities. He is generally invoked in company with Jlitra (q.v.). The sun is their common eye; the heaven is their •rolden abode. As creator and regent of the world, Varuna rules the universe with unswerving laws; the gods are subject to his dominion : nature dares not transgress his decrees. A thousand spies, the stars or rays of light, seek out offenders against his rule: there is no escape from his omniscient knowledge, even by flight unto the farthest heaven; his bonds and fetters are ever ready for the guilty; and inevitable punishment awaits those who have aroused liis wrath. At the same time this ruler, whose power controls the moral and the physical world, can be equally kind and beneficent. It is his all-wise providence that cares for and protects the good. In his divine keeping are a thousand remedies that relieve the miseries incurred by sin and hold death afar. The reward of immortality is Varuna's abode hereafter. As sovereign of the vaulted slcy King Varuna is the lord of the waters. The sea is his domain, the rivers flow at his bidding, and the rains descend in accordance with his ordi- nances. His sovereignty over the waters, more- over, is shown in the special disease, dropsy, which he inflicts upon those who sin against his 19 VASA. divine law. As an Aditya he is sometimes in- voked together with other gods than Mitra, while his great rival for supremacy in the hearts of the people is Indra (q.v.). In the post-Vedic mythology V/aruna sank into insignificance beside Prajapati (q.v.) as a su- preme being, and in the later Indian religion his dominion is confined simply to the lordship over the waters, especially the .sea, and to the suprem- acy over the western quarters. He rides upon a fabulous monster called makara, and be holds in his hand a noose to bind the guilty. Consult: Macdonell, Vedie Mi/thologn (Strassburg, 18!)7) ; Kaegi-Arrowsmith, The Kigveda (Boston, 188) ; Hopkins, Religions of India (ib., 1895) ; Wilkins. Hindu Mythology (2d ed., London, 1900). VARUS (Lat., bent, stretched, knock-kneed, awry). In surgery, a variety of club-foot (q.v.). It may be regarded as the opposite to valgus (q.v.). In the form of club-foot termed varus, the heel is raised, the inner edge of the foot is drawn upward, and the anterior part of the foot is twisted inward, so that the patient walks on its outer edge. VA'RXJS, PuBLius QuiNTiur.s. A Roman general. He belonged to a noble family. He was consul in B.C. 13. About twenty years later he was appointed Governor of Syria, and on his return was sent by Augustus to command the armies of Germany. His instructions were to introduce the regular administration of a Roman province. The Germans under the leadership of a chief of the Cherusci, named Arminius, at- tacked Varvis, who, with three legions, the usual number of auxiliaries, and a strong body of cav- alry, had proceeded as far as the Weser. By false intelligence, the proconsul was induced to quit his intrenched camp. The Romans marched in a long straggling line, incumbered with baggage, with their w'ives and children. Suddenly they were assailed by the Germans in the Teutoberg Forest, and it was with difficulty they forced their way to a clear space to encamp for the night. For the next two days the Romans struggled on, marching and fighting with de- creasing forces and exhau-sted strength, in- tending to reach, if possible, the fortress of Aliso on the Lippe. Finally they were met by the main force of the Germans, and completely broken. Varus killed himself in despair. This victory of the Germans was gained a.d. 9. and rolled back the tide of Roman conquest. The Rhine, instead of the Weser, again became the boundary of the Empire. See Armhttus.. VASA, vii'sa. A government of Western Fin- land, Russia, extending along the Gulf of Both- nia, and covering an area of 10.100 square miles (Map: Russia, B 2). The coastiand is low and indented, but the surface rises in the interior into a rocky plateau interspersed v/ith lakes and marshes, fhe climate is severe and only the coast region and the river valleys are suitable for agi'iculture. Rye, oats, barley, and potatoes are the principal farm products. The manufactures are of considerable extent and variety, including lumber, paper, metal wares, rubber goods, articles of apparel, food products, etc. There is a lively commerce with the Baltic ports. Population, in 1897. 446.772, of whom the Swedes composed about one-third and the Finns the rest.