240 A NATURAL HISTORY, &'c. 



at firfl: kept for one day, then for three days, and afterwards for 

 feven days. So facred was this Feftival, that while it lafted, no 

 Criminals were to be executed, no War to begin .... And yet at 

 the fame time, a Sanation was given to univerfal Debauchery j all 

 Rules of Virtue and common Decency were intirely banifhed, and 

 all things run into a wild Scene of Diftra(flion and Lewdnefs, and 

 all this under the Umbrage of doing Honour to their Gods*. 



The fame Game was adted in ihQ Liipercalian Feafts, inftitu- 

 ted in honour of the God Pa?i (under the fhape of a Goat) whofe 

 Priefts, on the Morning of the Feaft, ran naked thro' the Streets, 

 flriking the married Women they met, on the Hands and Belly 

 with Straps cut out of Goats Ski?is^ which was held an Omen, 

 promiiing Fruitfulnefs, and happy Deliveries. 



I S H A L L only add the Bacchanalian Feafts, celebrated in ho- 

 nour of Bacchus^ the God of Wine, and Mafter of the Revels ; 

 fometimes called Orgia -f-, from a Greek Word that fignities Anger 

 and Rage, becaufe in the Celebration of it, People ad:ed in fo raging 

 and furious a manner, as if they had been abfolutely diftradied. 

 Thefe religious Feafts were not only encumber'd with a great num- 

 ber of Ceremonies, but attended with moil: notorious DilTolutenefs; 

 for Men and Women met at them^ all naked, except their Heads 

 and Hips, that were fliaded with Vine Leaves. 



The Women, who were inftalled Priefteffes, during this Feaft, 

 ran thro' the Streets, and other Places^ cover'd with Tyger's Skins, 

 Scepters in one Hand, and Torches in the other, howling and roar- 

 ing out the Praife oi Bacchus^ with Hair diftievell'd, dangling about 

 their Shoulders. They were call'd Mceriades from their Madnefs, 

 Thyades from their Rage, Baccbce from their Intemperance. 



The Poets tell us, that in iho. Bacchanalian Train, were a 

 Croud oi Nymphs and Naiades, a fort of Heathen Divinities , fome 

 crown'd with Ivy, their Hair loofe, and intermix'd with Snakes, 

 .clothed with the Skins of Beafts,and girt about with large Serpents, 

 and running frantick in the Woods and Mountains. 



In ftiort, their facred Games, Feftivals, and Sacrifices, were 

 little more than drunken Banquets, nocfturnal Revels, tumultuous 

 Dancings, all wild, ridiculous and extravagant. 



• Uno die ... . trium dierum .... feptem d\ rum Eellum fumere nefas ba- 



bii-um- -'Macrol/Jto^erai LoKdhti^ A. D. 1694. p. 155, i6c, liS. 



FINIS. 



