STUDY Vil. Ht 



fiire of indemnifying ihemfelves upon the chil- 

 dren. 



An attempt has been made, for fome years paft, 

 to give encouragement to virtue, in our poor 

 country girls, by feftivals called Rojieres (rofe- 

 feafts) ; for as to thofe who are rich, and our city- 

 dames in bulinefs, the refpeâ; which they owe to 

 their fortune, permits them not to put themfelves 

 on a level with the female peafantry, even at the 

 foot of the altar. But you who beftovv crowns on 

 virtue, are you not afraid of blighting the prize 

 by your touch ? Know you not, that among Na- 

 tions who really honoured virtue, the Prince only, 

 or the voice of the Country, prefumed to confer 

 the crown ? The pro-conful Jpronms refufed the 

 civic crown to a foldier who had merited it, be- 

 caufe he confidered this privilege as^ belonging 

 only to the Emperor. Tiberius beftowed it, find- 

 ing fault with Apronius for not having done it, in 

 quality of Pro-conful *. Have you been informed 

 in what refped virginity was held among the Ro- 

 mans ? The Veftals had the maces of the Prœtors 

 borne before them. We have mentioned, on a 

 former occafion, that their prefence, merely, be- 

 ftowed a pardon on the criminal going to execu- 

 tion, provided, however, the Veftals could affirm, 



* Annah of Tacitus ^ book iii. year 6. 



that 



