lotus spread its hospitable branches to entice the weary to thy pleasant places! Let delicacy draw the veil of concealment over this hour. Mutual recriminations occasioned reciprocal forgiveness, and, in the endearments of virtuous and unfeigned affection, we forgot the anxieties of the past, and contemplated, with eager delight, the flattering promises of the future. When we entered the house, I was cordially received by the venerable Telesicles, whose head was blanched by the winters of many Olympiads. He was one of the intrepid heroes who distinguished themselves by the conquest of Salamis, in conjunction with Solon, whose patriotism never yielded to the vile clamours of Athenian democracy. He was among the first who dared to second the advice of the legislator, when he exposed the absurdity of that law which condemned to death, the citizen who should propose to renew the war against the Megarians. In the Council of Five Hundred, his wisdom justified the hope of his early years, and Attica acknowledged in him the undaunted soldier, the disinterested patriot, and the sagacious statesman. The death of Solon deprived him of the last friend of his youth, and in the peaceful shades of retirement he now experienced and enjoyed the reward of a virtuous life. In a few days after my arrival I communicated to him the object of my visit. He embraced me with the cordiality of a father, and signihed his entire approbation of the preference of Myrilla, and also of that of her mother, who was acquainted with my attachment. Thus, after a tedious banishment which was lengthened by the anxious thoughts that had perplexed my mind, was my happiness completed by the success of my ardent wishes. I despatched a courier to Anacreon with the joyful tidings of the felicity of his friend; and the alacrity with which he obeyed my summons attested the sincerity of his attachment. At the dawn of a serene and cloudless day the inhabitants of a neighbouring hamlet were making sacrifices to the gods for our happiness. When the hour arrived, which had been agreed upon, I repaired to the house of Telesicles, accompanied by Anacreon and about thirty other male friends.* We were met at the door by a person appointed It was contrary to law to invite more than thirty to an entertainment in Athens, and it was the business of certain people who were called your vous to go to the houses and expel all above that number. The cooks were obliged to give a list of the names of the guests where they were hired. Athenæ, lib. 6, cap. 11. Men and women were never invited together. Cic. Orat. 3, pro Verr. Cornel. Nep. Præfat. in Vit. Imp. for that purpose by our host,* who was then occupied in making sacrifices to the gods, with some he joined hands;t of others he kissed the lips, hands, knees, or feet, and some received the xrpor‡ or pot kiss. When we entered, we did not immediately sit down, but walked round the room, and examined the pictures and furniture.§ Over the door was inscribed, let no evil enter. μηδεν είσιτο κακον. The tables were decorated with garlands of wild asparagus, which, being covered with prickles and affording pleasant fruit, signified the difficulty of courtship, and the reward with which perseverance is crowned in the possession of a lovely woman. The friends who accompanied me threw upon my head figs and other fruits, as omens of future plenty.** While we were thus engaged, Myrilla was led into the room by her uncle, and followed by her friends. The blooming bride was attired in a flowing purple robe, and a jealous veil strove to conceal her timid blushes. The violet curls†† which luxuriantly wantoned on her neck, were perfumed with odorous essences and loosely bound with garlands of herbs which are sacred to Venus. We walked in procession to the temple, and at the door we were met by the priest, who presented us with a branch of the twining ivy that indicated the intimate union which we were about to form. A sacrifice of a milk-white heifer was then made to propitiate the pure Diana, the wise Minerva, and those deities who are believed to be unfriendly te matrimony, because they never bowed to the dominion of Hymen. The priest and the people also implored the protection of the Fates who spin the threads of life, of the Graces who embellish the comforts of social intercourse, and of the queen of Beauty, who gave birth to Love, and added strength to the silken bands of the god of Marriage. The entrails of the animal having been inspected and the omens which had appeared to the soothsayers being propitious,‡‡ the notary • When the guests arrived at the house of entertainment, the master of the house or one appointed in his place saluted them, which was called Morata. Schol. in Aristoph. Plut. † Hom. Odys. y. v. 35. This was when they took the person kissed, like a pot, by both ears, which was chiefly used towards children. Tibul. lib. 2. Though sometimes by men and women. Theocrit. Idyll. 1. v. 132. Achill. Tat. lib. 2. Plutarch de Conjug. Præcept. was now ordered to read the contract, which simply stated that Telesicles having received a present, had given his niece in marriage to me, with the concurrence of her mother; and that he had bestowed a dowry, which was to be returned in case of my death, or of a separation by mutual consent.* If the dowry was not returned, I was bound to pay her nine oboli every month, or be subject to an action of maintenance in the odeum. When this instrument was signed, Telesicles placed the hand of Myrilla in mine, and at the same time pronounced these words: "Athenian! I bestow this maid upon you, that you may give legitimate children to the republic." We then exchanged vows of fidelity, which being ratified by fresh sacrifices, we prepared to return to the house which I had prepared for this occasion. Anacreon and myself ascended the car, and the blushing bride was placed between us. The shades of night had now descended, and our way was illuminated by the glare of a hundred torches. We were preceded by a band of musicians and dancers, whose joyous notes and nimble attitudes added to the festivity of the scene.¶ When we arrived at my house, the axletree of the car was broken, by which act it was signified that the bride would not return to her former home.** The hall was decorated with green garlands emblematic of cheerfulness, and the nuptial entertainment was now to be celebrated in honour of the gods of marriage, and that the marriage might be made public, by the assemblage of friends.†† The table, which was covered with tapestry, was placed in the middle of the room and surrounded by couches. The guests were arranged according to their respective ranks, and they were called to their places, by a person appointed for that purpose.‡‡ The first reclined the upper part of his body upon his left side, his • Homer makes Telemachus say, that if his mother should be sent from the house, he would be obliged to return her dowry to her father, Icarius. Odys. 11. Vid. Isæus de hæred. Pyrr. Plut. in Alcibiad. †The action of its dix. Demost, in Neær. Menander. § Hom. Il. 8. 700. Valer. Flac. lib. 6. Catul. epig. ad Mall. In Hom. H.-66. Women, whose husbands died soon after the marriage are said to be left widows in a new built house. called Eustat. notes on the Iliad . anda. Catull. Epithal. This groomsman was Падоход. Hom. Il. B. v. 490. ** Hom. I. Z. 491. †† Hom. Il. T. 299. act 4, sc. 4. Ter. Adelph. act 5, sc. 7. Odys. J. 18. Athenæ, lib. 5, cap. 1. Terent. Phorm. Eustath. in II. . v. 498. head raised, his back supported by a pillow, and his feet thrown behind the next person below him. In this manner four or five persons were accommodated on each couch, on which odorous flowers were profusely scattered.* Some preferred lying on their breast, that their right arm might more easily reach the table.f First we offered a part of our provisions to the gods, and particularly to Vesta, the chief of the household gods. The first meal was a repast before supper (suvs #gooμov) which consisted of bitter herbs, eggs, oysters, and other things which create an appetite. The second, or supper (Avov) was a repetion of the former provisions,§ with bread (μaga) made of flour, salt, water and oil,|| baked under the ashes,¶ and compositions of rice, cheese, eggs, and honey wrapt in fig leaves, and of cheese, garlic and eggs.** We had also almonds, figs, peaches and other fruits. The third part of the entertainment, which was the second course, was composed of a variety of sweetmeats. These were furnished in great profusion and luxury,‡‡ although the guests were very frugal in their use of them.§§ A list of all the dishes was given to me by the cook and handed round the table, that the guests might select those which were most pleasing to their palates.|||| Our liquors were wine and water. The water had been cooled by ice,¶¶ and the wine was four years old.*** While we were eating, a little boy entered who was covered with acorns and boughs of thorns. He carried a basket full of bread, and sung, I have left a worse and found a better state; έφυγον κακον, ευρον αμύνον in allusion to the superior joys of matrimony.††† * Cic. Orat. in Pison. Athenæ, lib. 25, cap. 10. Ovid, Fast. lib. 5. † Plut. Sympos. lib. 5. Quæst. 6. Hor. lib. 2, Sat. 4, v. 37. Homer and the Greek writers generally. 5 Athena, lib. 4, cap. 4. Schol. Aristoph. Pac. 1. Athenæ, 3, 27. * Schol. Aristoph. Equit. 1100. ff Elian, Var. Hist. 1, 31. # Athenæ, lib. 14, cap. 11. SS Herodot. lib. 1, cap. 133. Athen. lib. 4, cap. 10. ill Athenæ, lib. 15, cap. 10. 1 Plut. Sympos. lib. 6. Athenæ, lib. 3, cap. 36. *** Old wine was then, as it is now, in best repute. Hom. Odys. p. 340. 391. Pind. Olym. Od. 9. The Spartans drank it at the age of four years. When first made, it was boiled until a fifth part was consumed. Athenæ, lib. 10, cap. 7. MR. OLDSCHOOL, FOR THE PORT FOLIO. IT is asserted by Heron, that the author of Junius's Letters was John Dunning, the attorney, afterwards lord Ashburton; but he brings forward no evidence, external or internal, to support his assertion. I will take the liberty to point out to your readers a few things that tend to strengthen this belief. 1. Dunning's memorial, entitled, "A Defence of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, against the Complaints of the Dutch East India Company," is not only a masterpiece of language and reasoning, but seems to be inspired by the genius of Junius. 2. When Wilkes figured in the political world, Dunning's attachment to the cause displayed itself on so many trials in which his professional abilities were engaged, that the name of DUNNING was sounded distinctly in the general cry of Wilkes and liberty.* 3. Counsellor Lee (better known by the name of honest Jack Lee) the particular friend of Dunning, is made honourable mention of by Junius, in the preface to his Letters. 4. No lawyer of his time understood the English Constitution better than Dunning. He knew it in spirit as well as in law, and, though not deficient in the depths of his profession, his eloquence partook more of the spirit than the letter of his profession. 5. His diction was of the purest and most classical kind; not modelled after any particular writer, but sui generis.† I am, sir, &c. ATTICUS. This well-attested fact overthrows the objection started by a writer on this subject in a former number of The Port Folio, who insists that Horn and Dunning were friends. The PRECIS of Horn's philological work was communicated by him to Dunning, in 1777, that is, several years after Junius appeared. + Dunning's letter, republished in The Port Folio from the European Magazine, on the study of the law, is such as one would fancy to himself Junius's unpremeditated composition. |