436 ASS. 



of the thistle tribe, called Onopordon, which, if its 

 effects wQve as vulgarly reported, might perhaps, 

 in some degree, have justified this Roman's mirth; 

 but as this is merely an idle fancy, it is difficult 

 to guess at tlie reason of such sudden merriment 

 in a person of a constitution so peculiarly satur- 

 nine. The learned Sir Thomas Brown, in his 

 Pseudodoiia Epidemica^ has not thought this rela- 

 tion of Crassus unworthy of his notice ; and has 

 delivered his sentiments in language so curiously 

 majestic, that I cannot but flatter myself the rea- 

 der will be pleased with the quotation. 



" The relation of Lucilkis, and now become 

 common, concerning Crassus, the grandfather of 

 Marcus the wealthy Roman, that he never laugh- 

 ed but once in all his life, and that was at an Ass 

 eating thistles, is something strange. For if an 

 indifferent and unridiculous object could draw his 

 habitual austereness unto a smile, it will be hard 

 to believe lie could with perpetuity resist the pro- 

 per motives thereof. For the act of laughter, 

 which is evidenced by a sweet contraction of the 

 muscles of the face, and a pleasant agitation of 

 the vocal organs, is not merely voluntary, or to- 

 tally within the jurisdiction of ourselves : but as 

 it may be constrained by corporal con taction in 

 any, and hath been enforced in some, even in 

 their death ; so the nev/, unusual, or unexpected 

 jucundities, which present themselves to any man 

 in his life, at some time or other, will have acti- 

 vity enough to excitate the earthiest soul, and raise 

 a smile from the most composed tempers. Cer- 



