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Thefe terrific fcenes, inceffantly rendered more animated by the fonorous and majestic voice of the Hierophant, who appeared to be the minifter of divine vengeance, filled us with dread; and fcarcely could we recover from our apprehenfions, when we were led into delightful groves and fimiling meadows, the abodes of happiness, and the image of the Elyfian Fields, lluminated by a ferene and pure light, and where harmonious voices uttered the most enchanting funds. Thence we were brought into the fanctuary, where we beheld the flatue of the goddefs refplendent with light, and adorned with all its richet ornaments. Here our trials were to end, and here we faw and heard things which it is not permitted to reveal. I fhall only add that, in the intoxication of a holy joy, we fang hymns, in which we congratulated ouifelves on our happinefs.

Such was the account 1 received from my newly initiated friend: I learned from another a circumftance which he had omitted. On one of the days of the feftival, the Hierophant uncovered the myftic befkets, which are carried in the proceffions, and are the objects of public veneration. They contain the facred fymbols, which may not be feen by the profane; but which, however, are only cakes of different shapes, fome grains of falt, and other things, relative either to the history of Ceres, or to the doctrines taught in the myfteries. The initiated, after having removed them from one bafket into another, affirm that they have falled and drank Ciceon.

Among thofe who have not been initiated, I have frequently heard men of fenfe and learning communicate to each other doubts and opinions con⚫erning the doctrines taught in the my

fteries of Ceres. Do they only contain, faid they, the hiftory of nature and its revolutions; or are they folely intended to fhew that, by means of laws and agriculture, man has been advanced from the state of barbarifni to that of civilized life? But why fhould ideas like thefe be covered with the veil of fecrely? A difciple of Plato modeftly propofed a conjecture which I fhall here give my readers.

It appears undeniable, faid he, that the neceffity of the rewards and punishments which await us after death was inculcated in the mysteries, and that the initiated were prefented with a reprefentation of the different deftinies prepared for men in this and the other world. It alfo appears certain that they were taught by the Hierophant, that, among that great number of divis nities which are adored by the multitude, fome are pure genii, who are the minifters of the will of the Supreme Being, and regulate, fubfervient to his commands, alt the motions of the univerfe; while others have been only mere mortals, whofe tombs are fill to be feen in different parts of Greece.

Is it not, therefore, natural to imagine, that the inftitutors of the mysteries, wishing to diffufe a more jutt idea of the Supreme Being, earnestly endeavoured to establish a doctrine, of which traces, more or lefs manifeft, are found in the opinions and ceremonies of almost all nations-that there is one God, who is the author and end of all things? and this doctrine is, in my opinion, the momentous fecret revealed to the initiated.

The establishment of this religious affociation was doubtless favoured by political views. Polytheifm had be come general, when it was perceived what fatal confequences refulted to morality from a worship, the objects of which were only multiplied to authorize every species of injustice and vice; but this worship was equally agreeable to the people from its antiquity, and

ever

even from its imperfections. Far, therefore, from fruitlessly attempting to abolish it, endeavours were made by the legislator to counterbalance it by a more pure religion, which fhould repair the injurics done to fociety by polytheism. As the muitirade are more cafily restrained by the laws than by manners, it was thought they might be abandoned to fuperftitions, of which it would be eafy to prevent the abufe; but, as the more enlightened citizens are influenced more by manners than by the laws, it was judged proper to communicate to them a doctrine adapted to render them virtuous.

You are now able to conceive why the gods are permitted to be introduced in ludicrous fituations on the stage of Athens. The magistrates, delivered from the falle ideas of polytheifm, attempt not to reprefs a liberty which can do no injury to the people, and which contributes to their amufement. You likewife understand how two religions, fo oppofite in their doctrines, have fubfifted for fo long a time in the fame place, without disturbance or rivalry; it is becaufe, though their doctrines are different, their language is the fame; and truth fhews that refpect to error which it may be expected to require.

The myfteries externally have the appearance of the religious worship adopted by the people. The hymns which are fung in public, and the greater part of the ceremonies, prefent to

us feveral circumftances of the rape of Proferpine, the purfuit of Ceres, and her arrival and ftay at Eleufis: the environs of that town are covered with monuments erected in honour of the goddefs; and the ftone on which it is pretended the fat down when exhausted with fatigue, is ftill fhewn. Thus, on the one hand, perfons of little knowledge and difcernment fuffer themfelves to be perfuaded by appearances that favour their prejudices; and, on the other, the initiated, pen trating to the fpirit of the myfteries, believe they may rely on the purity of their intentions.

Whatever foundation there may be for the conjecture I have here given, initiation is at prefent little more than an idle ceremony: those who receive it are not more virtuous than others; they every day violate the vow they have made to abitain from fowl, fish, ponegranates, beans, and many other kinds of pulfe and fruits. Many among them have contracted this facred engagement in a manner by no means fuitable to its object; for, almost in our time, the government, to retrieve the exhaufted ftare of the finances, has been known to grant permillion that the right of participating in the myfteries should be purchaled, and women of diffolute life have long been admitted to initiation: a time therefore muft arrive when the most facred of a ciations will be entirely corrupted and disfigured.

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Marriage Ceremonies of the Ancient Grecians. From the fame.

OVE prefided at the feftivals of Delos; and the numerous youth which the god had affembled around him, acknowledged no other laws than his. Sometimes, in concert with Hymen, he crowned the conftancy of faithful lovers; fometimes he excited a tender languor and

anxiety in hearts before infenfible; and by thefe multiplied triumphs prepared the way for the moft glorious of all-the marriage of Ifmene and Theageanes.

As I was a witnefs to the ceremonies with which this union was accompanied, I fhall proceed to relate

them,

them, and defcribe practices which the laws, cuflom, and fuperftition have introduced, to provide for the fecurity and happins of the most facred of engagements and if, in this account, fome apparently frivolous circumftances fhould be found, they will acquire importance and dignity from the fimplicity of the times from which they derive their origin.

Silence and tranquillity began to be reftored at Delos. The multitude of ftrangers diminished like a river, which, after having overflowed the plain, gradually retires into its bed. The inhabitants of the island had rifen before the dawn; they were crowned with flowers, and incefiantly offered up, in the temples, and before their houfes, facrifices to render the gods propitious to the marriage of Ifmene. The moment when it was to be concluded was arrived. We were affembled in the houfe of Philocles: the door of the apartment of Ifmene opened, and we faw her and Theagenes come out of it, followed by their parents, and a public officer, who had juft drawn up the inftrument of their engagement. The conditions of this engagement were fimple; in it no provifion had been made for any difcuffion of interest between their relatives, nor any caufe of divorce between the contracting parties: and, with refpect to the marriage porrion, as Theagenes was already related to Philocles, it was thought fufficient to mention a law of Solon's; which, to prevent the property of a family from being carried out of it, enacis that heireffes fhall marry their nearett kinf

men.

We were dreffed in magnificent habits, which we had received from Ifmene. That which Theagents wore was her own work. Her orn ments were, a necklace of precious ftones, and a purple robe embroidered with gold. Both wore on their hair, which flowed on their fhoulders, and was perfumed with effences, crowus

of poppy, fefamum, and other plants facred to Venus. Thus habited, they mounted a chariot, and proceeded towards the temple. Ifmene had Theageanes on her right, and on her left a friend of Theagenes, who was to follow him in this ceremony. The people who thronged around them fcattered flowers and perfumes in their way. They cried out: Thefe are not mortals; it is Apollo and Coronis; it is Diana and Endymion; it is Apollo and Diana. They fought to procure us favourable omens, and to prevent fuch as were of evil portent. One faid: I faw this morning two turtles long hover in the air, and at length reft together on a branch of that tree. Another faid: Drive away the folitary crow, and let her go far hence to mourn the lofs of her faithful companion; for the brings the moft ill-boding of auguries.

The bride and bridegroom were received at the gate of the temple by a priest, who prefented to each of them a branch of ivy, the fymbol of the bonds by which they were to be for ever united. He then conducted them to the altar, where every thing was prepared for the facrifice of a heifer to Diana, to the chafte Diana, whom, as well as Minerva, and the other divinities who had never fubmitted to the yoke of Hymen, they thus endeavoured to appeafe. They alfo implored Jupiter and Juno, whofe union and loves thall be eternal; the Heavens and the Earth, the concurence of which produces fertility and plenty; the Parca, because they hold in their hands the life of mortals; the Graces, because they embellish the pleafures of happy marriages; and, lailly, Venus, from whom Love derives his birth, and who bestows happiness on mortals.

The pricfts, after having examined the intrails of the victims, declared that the gods approved the marriage. To conclude the ceremonies, we proceeded to the Artemifium, where the

lovers

lovers depofited each a lock of their hair on the tomb of the laft Theori of the Hyperboreans. That of Theagenes was wound about a handful of grafs, and that of Ifmene round a Ipindle. This cuftom reminded them of the firft inftitution of marriage, at which time it was intended to fignify that the husband was to be occupied in the labours of the field, and the wife to manage the household affairs.

Philocles now took the hand of Theagenes, and, joining it to the hand of Ifmene, pronounced thefe words: "I bestow on you my daughter, that you may give legitimate citizens to the republic." The bride and bridegoom then fwore to each other an inviolable fidelity; and their parents, after having received their oaths, ratified them by new facrifices.

Night began to come on when we came out of the temple to return to the house of Theagenes. The proceffion, lighted by numberlefs torches, was accompanied by bands of muficians and dancers; the houfe was hung with garlands, and fplendidly illuminated.

As foon as the new married couple fet their feet on the threshold of the door, a basket of fruit was, for a moment, placed on their heads, as a prefage of the plenty they were to enjoy. We at the fame time heard the name of Hymenæus re-echoed on all fides. This was a young man of Argos, who formerly restored to their country fome Athenian maidens who had been taken by pirates. He obtained for his reward one of the captives, of whom he was paflionately enamoured; and fince that time the Greeks contract no marriage without celebrating his memory.

Thefe acclamations followed us into the banqueting hall, and continued during the fupper; when fome poets entered, and recited epithalamiums.

"I have changed my former ftate for a happier." The Athenians fing this hymn at one of their feftivals, to celebrate the time in which their anceftors, who had before fed on wild fruits, enjoyed in fociety the gifts of Ceres. They fing it likewife at marriages, to fignify that men, after having left their wild ftate in the woods, enjoyed the fweets of love. Female dancers, dreffed in light robes, and crowned with myrtle, afterwards entered, and expreffed by their motions the tranfports, tender languor, and intoxication of the most delicious of paffions.

When this dance was ended, Leucippe lighted the nuptial torch, and conducted her daughter to the apartment prepared for her. A number of fymbols reminded Ifmene of the duties which were formerly annexed to the new condition of life on which the entered. She carried one of thofe earthen veffels in which barley is parched; one of her attendants held a fieve; and over the door was hung an inftrument ufed to bruife grain. The new married couple ate of a fruit the fweetnefs of which was confidered as the emblem of their union.

In the mean time, giving a loose to the tranfports of an immoderate joy, we raised tumultuous fhcuts, and befieged the door, which was defended by a faithful friend of Theagenes. A number of young perfons danced to the mufic of feveral inilruments. This noife was at length interrupted by the Theoria from Corinth, who had undertaken to fing the evening hymereal. After having congratulated Theagenes, they added:

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"We are in the fpring of our years; we are the faircit of the "maidens of Corinth, fo renowned for their beanty: yet is there not of us, O limene! whofe charms A child, half covered with bran- " can compare to thine. Ligh er ches of hawthorn and oak, appeared" than the heffalian courfer, exaltwith a basket of loaves, and fang a "ed above her companions like the hymn beginning with these words; lily, the pride of the garden, Ifme

<6 ne is the ornament of Greece. All" eves on your fpoufe; furvey the

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fplendor of her beauty, the animat"ed freshnels which embellishes all "her charms. The rofe is the queen " of flowers, Ifmene is the que:n of "beauties. Already her trembling "eyelid opens to the rays of the fun.

"the loves are enthroned in her eyes, "and all the arts live under her fin"gers. O maid! O charming woman ! to-morrow will we repair to "the enamelled mead, and cull flowers to compofe for thee a crown: "we will hang it on the moft beauti-O Theagenes! happy and worthy "ful of the neighbouring plane trees, "hufband of Imene, awake!" under the fhade of which we will "pour forth perfumes in thy honour, "and on its birk we will infcribe thefe words: Offer to me your incenfe, for I am the tree of Ifmene. "We falute thee, happy bride! we "falute thee, happy bridegroom! "May Latona give you fons who "fhall refemble you. May Venus "ever animate you with her fires.May Jupiter beftow on your child"rens' children the felicity which "furrounds you. Repofe in the bo"fom of pleasure, and henceforth "breathe only the moft tender love. "We will return with the morning's "dawn, and again will we fing: O "Hymen, Hymenæus, Hymen !"

The next day, as foon as it was light, we repaired to the fame place, and heard the maidens of Corinth fing the following hymeneal.

"We celebrate you in our fongs, "O Venus, ornament of Olympus! "Love, the delight of the earth! and "thou, O Hymen, fource of life! we "celebrate you in our fong, Love,

Hymen, Venus! O Theagenes, a"wake; turn your eyes on your love. "Youthful favourite of Venus, happy "and worthy hufband of Iimene; O "Theagenes! awake; turn your

This day, which the two lovers confidered as that on which they began to lie, was almost entirely employed, on their part, in receiving the affec-" tionate congratulations of the inhabi tants of the island on their marriage.. All their friends might make them prefents: they alfo made prefents to each other; and received, in conjunc-, tion, thofe of Philocles, the father of Theagenes. They were brought with great ceremony. A child, in a white robe, opened the proceflion, bearing a lighted torch; next came a girl, with a basket on her head: the was followed by feveral domeftics, who carried veffels of alabafter, boxes of perfumes, different kinds of effences, odorous oictments, and a variety of thofe luxu-, ries which a tafte for convenience and elegance has converted into neceilaries.

In the evening, Ifmene was carried back to her father; and, lefs in conformity with custom than to express her real fentiments, teftified to him the regret fhe felt at leaving her paternal houfe: the next day the was restored to her husband; and, from that moment, nothing has interrupted their mutual felicity.

Remarks on the land of Hinzuan or Johanna, by Sir William Jones.

[Continued from Page 326.]

WE reived, indefed, trope cted he could not but approve our intention

7E received no anfwer from Sa- one, fince we took for granted that

From the Second Volume of "Afiatic Refearches," just published.

of.

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