ARCADIA. 335 



fairs. If any one prefumes to oppofe their judg- 

 ment, he is excluded from the communion of their 

 myfteries (12) ;' and, from that moment, he is 

 abandoned by every one, not excepting his own 

 wife and children ^ but it feldom happens that any 

 one ventures to refift them ; for they arrogate to 

 themfelves, exclufively, the charge of educating 

 youth, that they may imprefs upon their minds 

 early in life, and in a manner never to be effaced, 

 thefe horrible opinions. 



As for the larles, or Nobles, they have the 

 power of life and death over their own vaflals, 

 Thofe who live under Kings pay them the half of 

 the tribute which is levied upon the commonalty. 

 Others govern them entirely to their own advan- 

 tage. The richer fort give feafts to the poor of 

 their own particular clafs, who accompany them to 

 the wars, and make it a point of honour to die by 

 their fide. They are extremely brave. If, in 

 hunting, they encounter a bear, the Chief amongft 

 them lays afide his arrows, attacks the animal 

 alone, and kills him with one ftroke of his cutlafs. 

 If the fire catches their habitation, they never quit 

 it till they fee the burning joifts ready to fall upon 

 them. Others, on the brink of the Ocean, with 

 lance or fword in hand, oppofe themfelves to the 

 waves which dalh upon the fliore. They fuppofe 

 valour to confift, not only in refilling their enemies 



of 



