240 A NATURAL HISTORY, ^6. 



at firft kept for one day, then for three days, and afterwards for 

 feven days. So facred was this Feftival, that while it lafted, no 

 Criminals were to be executed, no War to begin .... And yet at 

 the fame time, a Sandlion was given to univerfal Debauchery ; alt 

 -Rules of Virtue and common Decency were intirely banifhed, and 

 all things run into a wild Scene of Diftradtion and Lewdnefs, and 

 all this under the Umbrage of doing Honour to their Gods*. 



The fame Game was adled in the Lupercalian Feafts, inftitu- 

 ted in honour of the God Pan (under the fliape of a Goat') whofe 

 Priefts, on the Morning of the Feaft, ran naked thro' the Streets, 

 flriking the married Women they met, on the Hands and Belly 

 with Straps cut out of Goats Skms, which was held an Omen, 

 promifing Fruitfulnefs, and happy Deliveries, 



I Shall only add the Bacchanalian Feafts, celebrated in ho- 

 nour of Bacchus, the God of Wine, and Mafter of the Revels ; 

 fometimes called Orgia -f-, from a Greek Word that fignifies Anger 

 and Rage, becaufe in the Celebration of it, People adted in fo raging 

 and furious a manner, as if they had been abfolutely diftradtei 

 Thefe religious Feafts werenot only encumber'd with a great num- 

 ber of Ceremonies, but attended with moft notorious DilTolutanefs; 

 for Men and Women met at them, all naked, except their Heads 

 and Hips, that were ftiaded with Vine Leaves. 



The Women, who were inftalled Prieftefles, during this Feaft, 

 ran thro' the Streets, and other Places, cover'd with Tyger's Skins, 

 Scepters in one Hand, and Torches in the other, howling and roar- 

 ing out the Praife oi Bacchus, with Hair difhevell'd, dangling about 

 their Shoulders. They were call'd Moenades from their Madnefs, 

 Thyades from their Rage, Bacchce from their Intemperance. 



Th e Poets tell us, that in the Bacchanalian Train, were a 

 Croud of Nymphs and Naiades^ a fort of Heathen Divinities j fome 

 crown'd with Ivy, their Hair loofe, and intermix'd with Snakes, 

 clothed with the Skins of Beafts,and girt about with large Serpents, 

 and running frantick in the Woods and Mountains. 



In ftiort, their facred Games, Feftivals, and Sacrifices, were 

 little more than drunken Banquets, nofturnal Revels, tumultuous 

 Dancings, all wild, ridiculous and extravagant. 



• Ur.o die .... trium dierum .... feptcm di-.;rum .... Bellum fumere nefas ha- 



birum' Mscroe-.ioj^era, Londin:-, A. D. 1^94. p. 155, i6c, ii»8. 



t '0^y>i. 



FINIS. 



