celebrate the time in which their ancestors, who had before fed on wild fruits, enjoyed in society the gifts of Ceres. They sing it likewise at marriages, to signify that men, after having left their wild state in the woods, enjoyed the sweets of love. Female dancers, habited in light robes, and crowned with myrtle, afterwards entered, and expressed by their motions the transports, tender languor, and intoxication, of the most delicious of passions.

When this dance was ended, Leucippe lighted the nuptial torch, and conducted her daughter to the apartment prepared for her. A number of symbols reminded Ismene of the duties which were formerly annexed to the new condition of life on which she entered. She carried one of those earthen vessels in which barley is parched : one of her attendants held a sieve, and over the door was hung an instrument used to bruise grain. The new married couple ate of a fruit, the sweetness of which was considered as the emblem of their union."

In the mean time, giving a loose to the transports of an immoderate joy, we raised tumultuous shouts, and besieged the door, which was defended by a faithful friend of Theagenes. A number of young persons danced to the music of several instruments. This noise was at length interrupted by the Theoria from Corinth, who had undertaken to sing the even

Eurip. in Iphig. in Aul. v. 732. Id. in Phoeniss. y. 346. Poll. lib. 1. cap. 12. § 246. Id. lib. 3. c. 3. § 37. • Plut. in Solon. t. i. p. 89. Id. in Conjug. Præcept. t. ii. p 138. ' Poll.

ibid.

ing hymeneal. After having congratulated Theagenes, they added:

X

"We are in the spring of our years; we are the fairest of the maidens of Corinth, so renowned for their beauty;" yet is there not one of us, O Ismene! whose charms can compare to thine. Lighter than the Thessalian courser, exalted above her companions like the lily, the pride of the garden, Ismene is the ornament of Greece. All the loves are enthroned in her eyes, and all the arts live under her fingers. O maid! O charming woman! to-morrow will we repair to the enamelled mead, and cull flowers to compose for thee a crown: we will hang it on the most beautiful of the neighbouring plane-trees, under the shade of which we will pour forth perfumes in thy honour, and on its bark we will inscribe these words: Offer to me your incense, for I am the tree of Ismene. We salute thee, happy bride! we salute thee, happy bridegroom! May Latona give you sons who shall resemble you! May Venus ever animate you with her fires!--May Jupiter bestow on your children's children the felicity which surrounds you! Repose in the bosom of pleasure, and henceforth breathe only the most tender love. We will return with the morning's dawn, and again will we sing: O Hymen, Hymenæus, Hymen!"

The next day, as soon as it was light, we repaired to the same place, and heard the maidens of Corinth sing the following hymeneal."

"We celebrate you in our songs, O Venus, ornament of Olympus! Love, the delight of the earth! and thou, O Hymen, source of life! we celebrate you in our song, Love, Hymen, Venus! O Theagenes, awake; turn your eyes on your love! Youthful favourite of Venus, happy and worthy husband of Ismene; O Theagenes! awake; turn your eyes on your spouse; survey the splendor of her beauty, the animated freshness which embellishes all her charms. The rose is the queen of flowers, Ismene is the queen of beauties.-Already her trembling eyelid opens to the rays of the sun. O Theagenes; happy and worthy husband of Ismene, awake!"

This day, which the two lovers considered as that on which they began to live, was almost entirely employed, on their part, in receiving the affectionate congratulations of the inhabitants of the island on their marriage. All their friends might make them presents they also made presents to each other; and received, in conjunction, those of Philocles, the father of Theagenes. They were brought with great ceremony. A child in a white robe opened the procession, bearing a lighted torch; next came a girl with a basket on her head: she was followed by several domestics, who carried vessels of alabaster, boxes of perfumes, different kinds of essences, odorous ointments,* and a variety of those luxuries which a taste for convenience and elegance has converted into necessaries.

'Harpocr. in 'Avaxaλ.

Ꮓ

Eustath. in Iliad. lib. 24. t. ii. p. 1337. lin 44.

VOL. VI.

G.

In the evening Ismene was carried back to her father; and, less in conformity with custom than to express her real sentiments, testified to him the regret she felt at leaving her paternal house: the next day she was restored to her husband; and, from that moment, nothing has interrupted their mutual felicity.

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CHAPTER. LXXVIII.

CONTINUATION OF THE VOYAGE TO DELOS.

On Happiness.

PHILOCLES, with a heart of the greatest sensibility, possessed an exquisite judgment and extensive knowledge. In his youth he had frequented the schools of the most celebrated philosophers of Greece; and, improved by their lessons, but still more by his own reflection, he had composed a system of conduct which diffused tranquillity through his own soul, and promoted peace and satisfaction among all around him. We incessantly studied this singular man, to whom each moment of his life was a moment of happiness.

One day, as we wandered about the island, we met with this inscription, on a little temple of Latona: Nothing is more excellent than justice, more to be desired than health, or more delightful than the possession of the object we love." This, said I, is the maxim which Aristotle once censured in our hearing: he alleged that the epithets contained in it ought not to be separated, and that they are only applicable to happiness. And, in fact, happiness is certainly what is

b

'Aristot. de Mor. lib. 1. c. 9. t. ii. p. 11. Id. Eudem. lib. 1. c. 1. p. 195.