HAUPT— MANNA, NECTAR, AND AMBROSIA. 233 



is the Hindoo term for this manipulation ; Hindustani champo is the 

 imperative of cMmpnd, to thrust, to press (EB^^ 17, 863''). Some 

 of our modern massage creams are said to cleanse all dust 'and dirt 

 from the pores ; after they have been rubbed in gently they roll out, 

 bringing with them all the dirt and skin impurities, so that the skin 

 appears clean and healthy with a clear and glowing color, while the 

 cream that comes from the pores appears darkened and dirt-laden 

 (SEP, April 15, 1922, p. 93). According to Pliny (28, 191) soap 

 was an invention of the Gauls, who prepared it from tallow and 

 ashes. The ancients cleansed themselves by oiling their bodies and 

 scraping (Gr. stiengizein) their skins, and by baths (EB 4665). 

 Cowper (1791) says: Her lovely face \ She with ambrosia purified. 

 Ambrosia is supposed to be connected with Skt. amrta, which 

 denotes the beverage of immortality that resulted from the churning 

 of the ocean by the gods and demons (CD s. amrita). The view 

 that Gr. ambrosias means immortal is untenable. Nor can Gr. nckfar 

 be combined with Gr. nogala, dainties. The ancients regarded nckfar 

 as a compound of the negative ne and ker, the goddess of death, or 

 kteinein, to kill. Our post-Volsteadian nectars may not always kill, 

 but they certainly do not impart immortality.^^ Homer applies the 

 epithet ambrosial, not only to divine food and anointing oil, but also 

 to raiment, sandals, locks. A sexagenarian knows that hair is not 

 immortal, and if he raised a number of boys he will remember that 

 shoes have no everlasting soles. Ambrosial curls denotes fragrant 

 hair}* Milton says {Par. L. 5, 57) : His dewy locks distilled atn- 

 brosia. In Swift (Streph. and Chloe) we find: Venus like her 

 fragrant skin \ Exhaled ambrosia from within. The Scottish poet. 

 Sir William Mure (1594-1657) has (Dido and ^neas 1, 461) : Her 

 sweet ambrosial breath and nectared hair. Our poets also speak of 

 nectarine kisses or a touch of her sweet nectar-breathing mouth.^^ 



i3Littre says .y. nectar: Cc qui nc tue pas does not signify ce qui donne 

 I'immortalite. 



1* Cf. Fr. chevelurc amhroislenne, Ger. amhrosisches Haar. We find also 

 ambrosische Nacht. 



15 German poets speak of NektarJippen and Nektarkiisse. Schiller says: 

 Ncktarduft von M'ddchcnUppcn; Wieland : der Anhauch Hires Ncktarmundes; 

 Riickert calls the lips Nektarkelch. We also find nektarne Brust (cf. BL 70. 

 72). Tennyson {The Miller's Daughter) says: / would be the necklace— . . . 

 upon her balmy bosom. 



