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'.' A palace, wealth, and slaves I late possess'd, 

 And all that makes the great be call'd the bless'd : 

 My gate, an emblem of my open soul, 

 Embiac'd the poor, and dealt a bounteous dole. — 

 —For, taught by time, my heart has learn'd to glow 

 For others good, and melt at others woe ! 

 — Who knows the son of sorrow to relieve 

 Cheers the sad heart, nor lets affliction grieve. 



— . it never was our guise 



To slight the poor, or aught humane despise; 



For Jove unfolds our hospitable door, 



Tis Jove that sends the stranger and the poor : 



On all their weary ways wait Care and Pain, 



And Pine and Penury, a meagre train. 



Be then attentive : what we order heed; 



This hapless stranger to the city lead : 



By public bounty let him there be fed, 



And bless the hand that stretches forth the bread. 



To wipe the tears from all afflicted eyes, 



The will may covet, what the power denies. Homer. 



Such was the hospitality of ancient Greece ; my own experi- 

 ence, aud that of many other travellers, confirms the same customs 

 among the modern Asiatics. Chardin writing on this subject says, 

 among the Turks and Persians, at their meals " they do not in 

 common make use of a table, or chairs; the floors of the houses 

 are covered with mats, pieces of felt, or carpets. Among those 

 who are at all opulent, there are, besides, embroidered or stitched 

 coverings, four feet broad ; and cushions placed against the wall 

 to lean upon. All these things are embroidered with gold, among 

 people of quality. When the provisions are served up, they 

 spread a cloth, whose breadth and length is proportioned to the 



