THE TWIN-BROTHERS OF MEZZORANIA. J 



Of a young lady, who equally favoured them both. 

 The two lovers and the fair-one chanced to meet to- 

 gether at the feftival infr it uted in honour of the fun. 

 This feftival was folemnized twice in the year, becaufe, 

 as the kingdom lay between the two tropics, yet fome - 

 what more on this fide the line, it had two fprings and 

 two fummers. At the commencement of every fpring 

 feafon this adoration was paid to the great luminary 

 throughout all the nomes or diflrifts of the land. It 

 was celebrated in the open air, to denote that the fun 

 was the immediate caufe of all the productions of na- 

 ture. They made an offering to it of five fmall pyra- 

 mids of frankincenfe in golden dimes. Five youths 

 and an equal number of virgins are named by the ma- 

 giftrate to place them on the altar, where they remain 

 till the fire had confumed them. Each of thefe young 

 perfons is dreffed in the colour of their nomc, and 

 wears a diadem on the head. 



One of the two brothers, with the damfel of whom 

 we are fpeaking, compofed the firft couple who were 

 to place the incenfe on the altar. This done, they fa- 

 luted one another. It was cuftomary for them now to 

 change their places,, the youth going over to the fide 

 of the virgin, and fhe coming to his. When the five 

 pair have done in this manner, then follow all the 

 ftanders by in the fame order, by which means they 

 have an opportunity of feeing each other completely. 



It is here that commonly fuch as have not hitherto 

 made their choice, determine upon one ; and as it de- 

 pends folely on the determination of the damfel, the 

 young man takes all imaginary pains to win the love of 

 her whom he has felecled from the reft. For avoiding 



B 4 . every 



