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SABINA;

OR,

MORNING SCENES IN THE DRESSING-ROOM OF A ROMAN LADY.

SCENE III.-Glycerium, the dealer in flowers and garlands; the Chaplet of Isis; Garland of Parsley for the Head; Garlands of Roses of Pæstum for the Neck; Wax Fruits.

Curo, the chambermaid and confidant of branches and flowers, imitated in metals and other Sabina, now hastily enters and informs her mis-substances; among which she spied the chaplet, tress, that Glycerium, the well known Alex- the arrival of which she had so anxiously exandrian dealer in garlands and flowers, desires to pected ever since she first entered her dressingbe admitted to her. "She is attended," conti- room. It was a chaplet of Isis, such as was worn nues Clio, "by two young slaves, carrying, in at solemn assemblies and sacrifices, by those inihandsome baskets, the newest and most tasteful tiated into the mysteries of the great Egyptian flowers, parily natural and partly artificial. She goddess. The body of the chaplet was composed has been told that you have no time now to spare, of tresses formed of the most delicate rind of the and that she had better return in the afternoon papyrus, twisted and fastened with elegant knots. before the hour of bathing. She will not, how- Palm-leaves, of silver, resembling rays, projected ever, take any denial; and appears as though she from it at small intervals. From behind, where has something which she can deliver only into the ends of the chaplet met, hung two ribbands, which were suffered to flow on either side over Sabina, who had waited, with secret impa- the shoulders. Sabina hastily seized this chaptience, for this morning visit, nods approbation; let; and actually found the significant Greek and the loquacious Glycerium, with all the na-words, "My life and my soul," embroidered in tural and artificial treasures of Flora's kingdom, one of the ribbands. is instantly admitted.

the hands of the Domina herself.

It is obvious that this chaplet was not an ordiWhat abundance of the choicest and most hary article of sale; nay, perhaps, the reader elegant festoons, garlands, and chaplets, Glyce- may have already guessed that its object was norium now displays to the eyes of the eager Do- thing less than to effect a secret assignation by mina and her astonished slaves! She bore, with the aid of the flower-dealer. The young knight justice, the name of that celebrated female who Saturninus, who had lately become the farivalled her lover, Pausias, the famous painter of vourite lover and cicisbeo of our Domina, had Sicyone, in the art of blending the variegated yesterday, at parting, concerted this sign with beauties of flowers. In the one kalathiskos,her, and had found means to gain over to his infor so the curiously woven flower-baskets were denominated, were the loveliest children, of Flora, which seem to have just sprung up in the footsteps of the dancing goddess of love. The gilly-flower, the narcissus, the lily, the crocus, the hyacinth, and the rose, entwine the young shoots of myrtle with ingenious variety and the nicest attention to the shades of colour and resemblance of smell. You might exclaim with Göthe's new Pausias: "What ought I to admirement, supported by Asiatic luxury. The art of the most? The exquisite beauty of the flowers, the art with which they are arranged, or the taste of her who selected them?"

Nevertheless, all this display was so far from satisfying the inquisitive looks of the lady, that she scarcely designed to bestow upon it a hasty glance. It was not till she examined the second basket that the rays of joy were seen to illumine her countenance. She there found the most recent fashionable productions, consisting of

terest the officious Glycerium, who was not ac-
customed to refuse any other occasional employ-
ment in addition to the trade of making chaplets,
for which her country was so renowned.*
bina now knew, from this distinguished chaplet,
that every thing was prepared for the most so-

Sa

Egypt, subsequent to the time of Alexander the Great, was the only centre of Grecian refine

making chaplets was likewise carried to the highest degree of perfection in that country, which, according to Athenæus, produced flowers all the year round. It was, therefore, natural enough that at Rome, where every nation was esteemed only in proportion as it contributed to the pleasures of the luxurious masters of the world, a strong prepossession should prevail in favour of Egyptian flower-girls and dealers in chaplets.

lemn nocturnal devotions (pervigilium) in the sacred temple of the benevolent Isis, who so readily affords relief to all the distressed, and can even prescribe the most efficient remedies for the pains of tender lovers. She consequently knew also what she had to do; and, in a whisper, directed the trusty Clio to make the needful preparations for an interview in the temple of Isis the following night.

Not till then had Sabina either time or inclination to examine, with attention, the baskets of flowers and chaplets which the young slaves still held on their heads, and to chuse what she should want for the evening. "Here, Spatale," cries she, "run and hang this fragrant garland of Egyptian lotus upon the statue of the great health-dispensing goddess that stands in my chamber, in the little golden temple beside my Ded, and forget not to swing round the silver sistrum three times in a circle from right to left. We shall stand in need, to-day, of the protecting care of the goddess who nourishes all beings."

"And now, dear Glycerium," continues she, "what novelties out of the kingdom of Flora have been imported from Alexandria in the fleet of merchantmen that the day before yesterday arrived at Ostia? For what kind of chaplets have you had the greatest demand since the last Apollinarian games? You know how stedfastly all eyes are fixed upon me. My husband gives a great entertainment to-day, and it is necessary that I should appear in the newest style of

fashion,"

"Domina," replies the artful Glycerium, with a smile scarcely half suppressed, and yet with a respectful inclination, "the silk fancy-flowers, after Indian patterns, are still universally in fashion, for chaplets to be worn on the hand.Here," continued she, taking the basket from the head of one of the boys, and shewing a fragrant garland, in which the flowers of the lotus, intermingled with the leaves of the Indian spikenard, were as naturally imitated in silk as if they had been plucked only the same day among the banians on the shores of the Indus or Ganges, "you see the newest that the flower-dealers of Alexandria have sent me. They are sprinkled with essence of roses and cinnamon, but just invented and brought by the last fleet from India

The primitive use of the sistrum was, undoubtedly, to accompany, in some measure, the lamentations made for Osiris. In process of time the real motive of this custom was lost; and it appears, that the Roman females shook the sistrum just as in modern times there are persons who mechanically repeat prayers with

beads.

to Egypt. As to garlands for the neck and bosom, even the all-fructifying Nile cannot dispense, from his boundless stores, any thing more beautiful and becoming than these leaves and roses of Pæstum fixed, in the most modern taste, to soft bandeaus of linden-bark. You know we have discovered the secret of keeping them fresh for several days. And were it even for infusion in beverage, nothing could surpass these roses of Pestum."+

"I shall trust entirely to you, my dear Gly, cerium," replied Sabina, with unusual conde scension. "Give me one of those chaplets. But what treasures are contained in that basket, in which I perceive nothing but green plants? Have you transformed yourself from the Egyptian queen of flowers into the mother of Euripides, the tragedian, and taken up the trade of selling chervil and anis?"

Thus said Sabina, and laughed. The whole circle of her surrounding attendants did the same, and pointed contemptuously to the basket of green chervil. Glycerium was so far from being disconcerted, that she appeared to be the only person in the company who was in the right. "q beg pardon, Domina," said she, "for not shewing you, at first sight, this new and wonderful production of a most skilful gardener on the Tusculan hill: but you prevented me by your questions concerning the novelties of my native country. Know, then, that these are garlands of water-parsley (apium), which my friend, the gardener, of Tusculum, has such a method of rearing, that in delicacy and beauty of appearance it is not surpassed by the hair of Queen Beremice; which, as you know, now shines a star in the firmament of Heaven. How admirably would a garland of this parsley decorate, this evening, your charming locks, which the hand of nature herself has formed into such elegant curls and ringlets. Our ancestors, it is true, likewise wore garlands of this kiad of parsley: but they knew not, in those days, how to improve it by art. People tell many curious things concerning its secret virtues and ancient origin, and give it the mystical appellation of blood of the Corybantes.' 'But I ought rather to hold my tongue, lest I should expose myself still

It was customary to pluck the leaves from the chaplets, to infuse them in wine and to drink them with it. Pliny, who relates a curious anecdote of Cleopatra's curing Anthony of his distrust of her, by means of an impoisoned chaplet, calls it, to drink chaplets-coronas bibere.

In the comedies of Aristophanes, he often indulges in sarcastic allusions to Euripides, OR account of his mother, who is said to have sold chervil and other culinary vegetables.

more to your raillery and the laughter of your servants: especially as you have no occasion for the secret virtues of this wonderful plant; and as Clio told me, when I came in, you have not a moment to lose on my unprofitable gossipping."

The crafty Glycerium knew but too well that this address would only inflame the curiosity of Sabina, and that the Roman ladies of distinction were as superstitious, and as easily gave credit to every ridiculous tale, as the lowest of their slaves. On the very day the fleet of Egyptian merchant vessels was unladen, she had brought Sabina some bottles of unadulterated Nile water, with which the votary of Isis did not fail the same evening to sprinkle the statue of the great goddess in her temple. Nor was she deceived in her expectation.

"Stop a moment," said Sabina, "meanwhile I will have my nails pared. But tell me how does your good friend at Tusculum contrive to give his parsley this admirable curly and frizzled appearance? Perhaps he understands something of magic?"

"No doubt," replied Glycerium, "he makes use, in planting, of some secret arts, which he takes care not to communicate. So much, however, I know and have witnessed with my own eyes, that after treading down the young shoots with his feet, he every morning draws the gardenroller over his parsley-bed. In short, his parsley || is the most beautiful and curly of any in the whole country, and-" Here Glycerium paused, and seemed preparing to depart.

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With respect to the cause of its extraordinary name, you, perhaps, recollect reading, in the ancient books, lent you some time ago by the priestess of Isis, a tradition relative to the rebellious smiths of Crete, called Cyclops or Corybantes. They slew one of their comrades, or their third brother, as the fable has it, covered the head of the deceased with a purple cloth, and buried him at the foot of Mount Olympus. The parsley is said to have sprung up immediately from the blood of the sufferer; and for this reason, in the mysteries and orgies of the Corybantes, it has ever been considered as the greatest of crimes to lay a plant of this kind on the sacred table."

"I shall take your chaplet of parsley;" exclaimed Sabina, with sparkling eyes, "" and you shall see that in a few days all Rome shall wear chaplets of parsley, as did our grandmothers fifty years ago, as we are told by Horace."

The Domina had, in fact, more than one motive for chusing this chaplet. Certain secret indulgences had given her breath, especially at rising in the morning, a kind of odor not much less disagreeable than that of a fasting Jew. On this account she was accustomed to take the

first thing after rising, and sometimes even before she was up, a decoction of aniseed, and some honey boiled in wine. At this very time, while she was engaged with her toilette, she was chewing myrtle pastils to cure an evil, which gave rise to an important question among the lawyers of old, namely, Whether a person with offensive breath were to be considered as sick or in health? How welcome then was the chaplet, whose leaves combined such elegance with such salutary virtues. Isis herself, in a happy hour, sent this excellent remedy to her pious votary.

"Go on, go on!" exclaimed Sabina with impatience, you praised the secret virtues of the plant, and said something about the sacred origin from which it derives its romantic name. Explain yourself, or I shall not buy one leaf of all these herbs, which are much fitter for the col-announced that the Domina's monkey had lection of a Rhizotomos than for the toilette of a lady of distinction."

"The secret virtue of this parsley, illustrious Domina," rejoined Glycerium, "is that, when chewed, it operates as a powerful sweetener of the breath. For this reason I provide a regular supply of it for the little Arbuscula, the dancer, who lives behind the Temple of Peace: and it is asserted, that among all the remedies for a foul breath, prescribed in the works of our Greek masters in the cosmetic art, this is the most natural, the most effectual, and the most harmless.

Spatale now returned, and with great concern

found means to introduce himself into her bedchamber, and had broken and destroyed the beautifully painted wax-figures and garlands, suspended beneath the figure of Isis, in two small silver cornucopia entwined in each other, probably mistaking these fruits for real apples, nuts, and pears. None appeared to be so distressed at this intelligence as Clio, who had the care of that apartment, and who might certainly be accused, with justice, of some degree of negligence.

Fortunately Sabina, in whom the coming of Glycerium had awakened pleasing hopes, re

* Sabina every where affects Greek appella-garded the emptying of the cornucopia as a fatives. She might have employed the Roman word herbarists. What we call botanists, the Greeks denominated Rizotomous, cutters of roots. By Botanistai, the Greeks denoted only the labourers who were employed in weeding.

vourable omen. "Blessed and praised be Isis, the great goddess!" exclaimed she aloud. "The goddess pours forth her favours on her handinaid, I vow to present to her three of the fattest geese in our poultry-yard, and a silver lamp on her sacred table!"

"The mischief may be very easily repaired," said Glycerium, "for in this basket I have some wax fruits of the greatest beauty, such as are sold at Alexandria, at the great festival of Adonis, and as we shall have here in Rome at our Saturnalia next December. It is true your friend Calpurnia had bespoken them of me as a votive gift to her Isis: but you shall have the preference; so take and dedicate them to the benevolent goddess." Before Sabina had time to answer her, the tremling Clio held both her hauds, and ridded Glycerium of a commodity for which at that season of the year she would scarcely have been able to find a customer.

Glycerium was now dismissed with her slaves with a gracious nod. "Clio," said the Domina, "pay the Alexandrian immediately, and without any abatement, what we owe her. But hark,

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|| forget not to give her the chaplets left from the last entertainment, and the other things that belong to them."

For these the sly procuress had long been wait. ing. Saturninus had expressly enjuined her to || being him some token from Sabina that all was right, and that the private signification of his chaplet had been understood. Clin, obedient to the commands of her mistress, paid Glycerium two hundred sesterces, great part of which was to recompence her secret services. She gave her the half-withered chaplet which the Domina had worn at the last entertainment, and had put off on retiring to bed. A fig of Chios, of which Sabina had bitten off a piece, completed the symbolical love-letter. Instead of the fig, she would undoubtedly have sent a love-apple, had it not been too early in season to procure any.

ON THE TOMBS OF THE MODERN GREEKS.

IN A LETTER FROM A GRECIAN LADY TO HER FRIEND.

DURING the last conversation we had together, || dared to levy on several villages of Moldavia,

my dear friend, you appeared to be much astonished, when I related to you that the Greeks thought it their duty, and even a pleasure, sometimes to spend a whole day near the tombs of their departed friends. "Truly a pleasant amusement," you said, "to go and sadden one's-self upon a grave!" But, my friend, the tombs of the ancients, and those which are still seen in Greece, particularly those of persons distinguished by birth and fortune, have nothing in them that ought to excite horror. I will give you a description of one of these tombs, and then you may judge. It was raised by a virtuous son under the reign of the Sultaun Mahmoud, to immortalize the memory of a beloved mother.

without the permission or knowledge of the reigning prince, to whom they were nearly allied. The prince, irritated, hearkened to the voice of envy, and notwithstanding the ties of affinity, he sent these two noblemen to Constantinople, to be treated as state criminals. In twenty-four hours, (for justice is expeditiously executed in Turkey), they were condemned to have their heads cut off, and all their estates were confis

cated.

When the lady heard this fatal news, she fled from her house in a state of distraction, covered with a black veil followed by her slaves, and holding by the hand her only child, a boy of eleven years old, she went and placed herself on a spot where she knew the Grand Seignor would pass. Before I proceed in my narration, allow me to make a little digression to acquaint you with the character of the Suitaun Mahmoud. There are some people who, with a prejudiced mind, which will not allow them to view things with an im

This lady, who enjoyed all the endowments of nature and fortune, and whose least advantage was that of being extremely beautiful, had the happiness of saving the life of her father and her husband, by her courage and her eloquence.These two persons filled the first stations under the Sovereign Princes of Moldavia; their impartial eye, or, through a too great attachment mense riches excited jealousy in the breasts of to the nation to which they belong, imagine that, many who put every device in practice to create out of their own country every thing is bad, or suspicions respecting the conduct of the father inferior. But you, my friend, who know men, and son-in-law. They went so far as to say, that you who are unprejudiced, by the just attachtheir large estates were the produce of taxes they ment you have towards the most celebrated na

tion in the universe, apd have not shut your eyes to the merit of others, examine if among the Turks there be not also men truly worthy of the appellation of great.

The Sultaun Mahmoud was the most enlightened, the most amiable, and the most gallant prince of the Ottoman house; he was a great admirer of painting, music, and poetry. While he lived the arts had a protector in Turkey; he cultivated them himself with great success, and whoever excelled in them were certain of his esteem and patronage. Clemency was in general his principal characteristic. He delighted in redressing the wrongs of his subjects, particularly those of men who were incapable of repelling the attacks of injustice. He was not inferior to his predecessors in greatness of soul, || nor in the art of governing. From his cabinet he made war against three great potentates, with whom he afterwards succeeded in making an advantageous peace. He excelled most men of his kingdom in the knowledge of the Turkish, the Arabian, and the Persian languages.After this, perhaps, too tedious portrait, I will resume the thread of my narrative.

sentence pronounced against them; if two victims are absolutely wanting to appease your wrath, take my head, and that of my son; it is just we should sacrifice our lives for those who have given us existence."

But, said the Sultaun, "it is not you, nor your son, that are guilty; it is your father and your husband."-She replied with so much respect and wisdom to the Sultaun's question, and he was so touched with the supplicant's greatness of soul, that, turning to those that surrounded him, he exclaimed aloud, "I cannot resist this woman's tears; let her father and her husband be restored to her immediately." Then, ad. dressing her with a kind of placid countenance, he said, "Return home with your son, and banish all inquietude. I also give you back your estates; but as your relatives have so many enemies, prevent their mixing in affairs of state.”This virtuous woman returned home full of gratitude, and penetrated with the liveliest and purest joy to have saved the lives of two persons so dear to her heart. Some years after this, her husband, for whom she had been so much alarmed, died; and, although she was still handsome, rich, and young enough to make a second choice without being subjected to ridicule, she preferred remaining a widow, rather than afflict her son by marrying a second time. She died

immortalize his regrets, caused a superb tomb to be raised to her memory in his own ground, and this is the one I am going to describe.

The lady awaited the approach of the Sultaun Mahmoud, and as soon as he arrived at a sufficient distance to hear her voice, she called upon him, at the same time raising her right hand, in which she held the petition she intended to pre-eighteen years after her husband. Her son, to sent him. The Grand Seignor turned his head, and sought with his eyes for the person who had called him; immediately one of his two hundred attendants approached the lady, took her arm, and assisted her to follow the cavalcade till they had arrived at the spot where his highness dismounted. All that day's petitions were read to him. Several of these affairs were transferred over to his visir, to be judged, as a last resource, before his tribunal; but the Sultaun was pleased to reserve a certain number for his own inspection. The lady's affairs were fortunately among the latter. Her petition was nearly couched in the following terms:

"He who created the Heavens, who is the Lord of Kings, as well as of all men, does not disdain paying attention to the wants of the smallest insect; allow me, mighty Sultaun, to enter your august presence, that, prostrate before your august throne, I may reveal to you my affliction, and implore your clemency."

She was permitted to present herself before the Sultaun; for some time she remained silently prostrate at his feet, till ordered to speak, when she expressed herself thus:

"Mighty Prince, as iny father and my husband have had the misfortune of appearing criminal and deserving of death, I am come to throw myself at your feet, to conjure you to change the

Figure to yourself, my friend, a long square garden, situated at the extremity of a village, in the walls of which there are several windows that on one side look to the sea, and on the other to a public road. It is planted with cypresses, elms, and poplars; the walls are covered with flowers that do not require much care, such as jessamine, roses, and woodbine. The earth is clothed with violets and all kinds of wild flowers. From one angle of the garden there flows a wandering stream, which, gently murmuring, gives a refreshing coolness to this delightful spot, where reigns an eternal spring; the shade of the trees, the peaceful tranquillity, the variety of flowers, the murmurs of the stream, all in spire us with the idea of those happy fields, where the ancient Greeks believed their souls were received and recompensed.

This stream, which I have already mentioned, winds through the garden, and at length falls in a reservoir placed against the wall, which has several cocks; one of them is always open, and destined to water the flocks, the others are shut, and serve to relieve the thirst of the passers by. There are five or six brass cups fastened to, the reservoir by long chains, which people on

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