NEW ATLANTIS. 389 



crescent on the top. The grapes are in number as 

 many as there are descendants of the family. This 

 golden cluster the herald delivereth also to the Tirsan ; 

 who presently delivereth it over to that son that he had 

 formerly chosen to be in house with him : who beareth 

 it before his father as an ensign of honour when he 

 goeth in public, ever after; and is thereupon called 

 the Son of the Vine. After this ceremony ended, the 

 father or Tirsan retireth ; and after some time cometh 

 forth again to dinner, where he sitteth alone under the 

 state, as before ; and none of his descendants sit with 

 him, of what degree or dignity soever, except he hap 

 to be of Salomon s House. He is served only by his 

 own children, such as are male; who perform unto 

 him all service of the table upon the knee ; and the 

 women only stand about him, leaning against the wall. 

 The room below the half-pace hath tables on the sides 

 for the guests that are bidden ; who are served with 

 great and comely order ; and towards the end of 

 dinner (which in the greatest feasts with them lasteth 

 never above an hour and an half) there is an hymn 

 sung, varied according to the invention of him that 

 composeth it, (for_they_have excellent poesy,) but the 

 subject of it is (always) the praises of Adam and Noah 

 and Abraham ; whereof the former two peopled the 

 world, and the last was the Father of the Faithful : 

 concluding ever with a thanksgiving for the nativity 

 of our Saviour, in whose birth the births of all are only 

 blessed. Dinner being done, the Tirsan retireth again ; 

 and having withdrawn himself alone into a place where 

 he maketh some private prayers, he cometh forth the 

 third time, to give the blessing ; with all his descend 

 ants, who stand about him as at the first. Then he 



