INTRODUCTION. XV 



were in existence in his time, particularly 

 one of high estimation, which was a picture 

 known by the name of Stephanoplocos, 

 wherein the artist had painted the fair Gly- 

 cera braiding chaplets. This picture must 

 then have been about 460 years old, from 

 which we may infer that the art of painting- 

 was in considerable advancement as long 

 back as 2300 years. 



The same author tells us that Mnestheus 

 and Callimachus, two renowned Greek phy- 

 sicians, compiled several books on the vir- 

 tues of chaplets, enumerating such as were 

 hurtful to the brain, and others that refreshed 

 the spirits. 



We also learn from an anecdote related 

 by Pliny, that it was a frequent custom 

 amono; the ancients to mix the flowers of 

 their chaplets in their wine, when they 

 pledged the health of their friends. 



Notwithstanding the great pains which 

 Cleopatra took to please and amuse Antony, 

 it was a considerable time before she could 

 gain his entire confidence, as it appears he 

 would never eat or drink at her table without 



