260 NEW ATLANTIS 



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 re- 

 tireth ; 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 so ever, 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 a half) there is a 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 thanks- 

 giving 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 having withdrawn himself alone into a place, where he 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 descendants, who 

 stand about him as at the first. Then he calleth them 

 forth by one and by one, by name as he pleaseth, though 

 seldom the order of age be inverted. The person that 

 is called (the table being before removed) kneeleth down 

 before the chair, and the father layeth his hand upon 

 his head, or her head, and giveth the blessing in these 

 words : ' Son of Bensalem (or daughter of Bensalem), 

 thy father saith it ; the man by whom thou hast breath 

 and life speaketh the word ; the blessing of the ever- 

 lasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and the Holy Dove, 

 be upon thee, and make the days of thy pilgrimage good 

 and many.' This he saith to every of them ; and 

 that done, if there be any of his sons of eminent merit 



