THE Percy Anecdotes. ANECDOTES OF HOSPITALITY. "WHO largely gives with willing hand, ANGLO-NORMAN CAROL. GREEKS AND ROMANS. No obligation was considered among the ancient Greeks more sacred and inviolable, than that of hospitality, and it is still preserved in nearly the same degree of reverence by their descendants; indeed, travelling in Greece would be almost impracticable, were it not facilitated by this noble sentiment. Reciprocal hospitality became hereditary in families among the Greeks; and the friendship which was thus contracted, was not less binding than the ties of affinity or of blood. Individuals between whom a regard had been cemented by the intercourse of hospitality, were provided with some particular mark, which, being handed down from father to son, established a friendship and alliance between the families for several generations, This mark, which was equivalent to the tessera hospitalis of the Latins, was sometimes an astragal, probably of lead, which being cut in halves, one half was kept by the host, and the other by the person whom he had entertained. On future occasions, they or their descendants, by whom the symbol was recognized, gave or received hospitality on comparing the two tallies. Mr. Dodwell, in his tour in Greece, found some half astragals of lead, which he supposes to have been used for that purpose. The Romans cut a tessera in two, as signs of hospitality. Plautus, in his play of Pænulus, notices this custom, and represents Hanno, the Carthaginian, as retaining a symbol of hospitality reciprocally with Antidamus of Calydon; but Antidamus being dead, his son, Agorastocles, acknowledges the symbol as a pledge of their mutual hospitality. "POT-LUCK" AT ROME. Cicero and Pompey meeting the Roman General Lucullus, one day, told him they intended doing themselves the pleasure to go and sup with him that night; but on one condition only, which was, that he should have nothing extraordinary on their account. Lucollas said, that he would be most happy to receive such distinguished guests on their own terms, provided they would at least allow him to despatch a messenger before them, to inform his servants in which apartment they should prepare the banquet. To this reasonable condition no objection was made, and Lucullus accordingly sent word home that he would sup that evening with some friends in the Apollo. When the |