246 



History of Nature. 



[Booic VII. 



an Actor in Comedies, as is reported by ancient Writers, 

 died with the most laboured security of Death ; for after he 

 had afforded much Pleasure to the People on his Birth-day 

 he held a Feast ; and when the Supper was set forth, he 

 called for some hot Drink in a Basin: and casting his Eye 

 on the Mask that, he had worn that day, he took off the 

 Chaplet from his Head, and set it on it; in this habit he 

 became cold before any Man perceived it, until he that 

 reclined next to him put him in mind that his Drink was 

 growing cold. These are examples of happy Deaths. But, 

 on the other hand, there is a very great number of those that 

 are miserable. L. Domitius, descended from a noble Family, 

 being vanquished by Ceesar near Massilia, and taken pri- 

 soner at Corsinium by the same CWar, for very irksomeness 

 of Life poisoned himself; but after he had drunk the 

 Poison he did fill he could to save his life. We find in the 

 Public Acts, that when Felix, one of the Red-coloured 

 Chariot- drivers, was carried out to be burnt, one of those 

 who favoured him threw himself into his Funeral Fire. A 

 frivolous matter it is to speak of; but they of the other side, 

 that this act should not be ascribed to the honour of the 

 Artist abovenamed, gave it out, that this Friend of his did it 

 only because his Head was intoxicated with the strong smell 

 of the Odours. Not long before this M. Lepidus, 1 descended 

 from a most noble Family, who (as is above said) died 

 through Grief, was by the violence of the Flame cast off from 

 the Funeral Pile ; and as, because of the extreme Heat, no 

 one could come near to lay him again on the place, he was 

 burnt naked on a pile of dry Vine Cuttings, near the former. 



CHAPTER LIV. 

 Of Burial. 



To burn the Bodies' 2 of the Dead was not an ancient 

 Custom among the Romans ; but they Buried them in the 



' The cause of his death is mentioned in the 36th chapter of this 

 book. Wern. Club. 



' 2 The practice of burning the dead is of high antiquity, and as such is 



