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saddle and the other upon another； carrying the other man upon his
shoulders； would ride full career； the other standing bolt upright upon
and making very good shots with his bow； several who would ride full
speed with their heels upward； and their heads upon the saddle betwixt
several scimitars； with the points upwards； fixed in the harness。 When I
was a boy； the prince of Sulmona； riding an unbroken horse at Naples；
prone to all sorts of action； held reals ＇A small coin of Spain； the
Two Sicilies； &c。＇ under his knees and toes； as if they had been nailed
there； to shew the firmness of his seat。
CHAPTER XLIX
OF ANCIENT CUSTOMS
I should willingly pardon our people for admitting no other pattern or
rule of perfection than their own peculiar manners and customs； for 'tis
a common vice； not of the vulgar only； but almost of all men； to walk in
the beaten road their ancestors have trod before them。 I am content；
when they see Fabricius or Laelius； that they look upon their countenance
and behaviour as barbarous； seeing they are neither clothed nor fashioned
according to our mode。 But I find fault with their singular indiscretion
in suffering themselves to be so blinded and imposed upon by the
authority of the present usage as every month to alter their opinion； if
custom so require； and that they should so vary their judgment in their
own particular concern。 When they wore the busk of their doublets up as
high as their breasts； they stiffly maintained that they were in their
proper place； some years after it was slipped down betwixt their thighs；
and then they could laugh at the former fashion as uneasy and
intolerable。 The fashion now in use makes them absolutely condemn the
other two with so great resolution and so universal consent； that a man
would think there was a certain kind of madness crept in amongst them；
that infatuates their understandings to this strange degree。 Now； seeing
that our change of fashions is so prompt and sudden； that the inventions
of all the tailors in the world cannot furnish out new whim…whams enow to
feed our vanity withal； there will often be a necessity that the despised
forms must again come in vogue； these immediately after fall into the
same contempt； and that the same judgment must； in the space of fifteen
or twenty years； take up half…a…dozen not only divers but contrary
opinions； with an incredible lightness and inconstancy； there is not any
of us so discreet； who suffers not himself to be gulled with this
contradiction； and both in external and internal sight to be insensibly
blinded。
I wish to muster up here some old customs that I have in memory； some of
them the same with ours； the others different； to the end that； bearing
in mind this continual variation of human things； we may have our
judgment more clearly and firmly settled。
The thing in use amongst us of fighting with rapier and cloak was in
practice amongst the Romans also：
〃Sinistras sagis involvunt； gladiosque distringunt；〃
＇〃They wrapt their cloaks upon the left arm； and drew their
swords。〃De Bello Civili； i。 75。＇
says Caesar； and he observes a vicious custom of our nation； that
continues yet amongst us； which is to stop passengers we meet upon the
road； to compel them to give an account who they are； and to take it for
an affront and just cause of quarrel if they refuse to do it。
At the Baths； which the ancients made use of every day before they went
to dinner； and as frequently as we wash our hands； they at first only
bathed their arms and legs； but afterwards； and by a custom that has
continued for many ages in most nations of the world； they bathed stark
naked in mixed and perfumed water； looking upon it as a great simplicity
to bathe in mere water。 The most delicate and affected perfumed
themselves all over three or four times a day。 They often caused their
hair to be pinched off； as the women of France have some time since taken
up a custom to do their foreheads；
〃Quod pectus； quod crura tibi； quod brachia veilis；〃
＇〃You pluck the hairs out of your breast； your arms； and thighs。〃
Martial； ii。 62； i。＇
though they had ointments proper for that purpose：
〃Psilotro nitet； aut acids latet oblita creta。〃
＇〃She shines with unguents； or with chalk dissolved in vinegar。〃
Idem； vi。 93； 9。＇
They delighted to lie soft； and alleged it as a great testimony of
hardiness to lie upon a mattress。 They ate lying upon beds； much after
the manner of the Turks in this age：
〃Inde thoro pater AEneas sic orsus ab alto。〃
＇〃Thus Father AEneas； from his high bed of state； spoke。〃
AEneid； ii。 2。＇
And 'tis said of the younger Cato； that after the battle of Pharsalia；
being entered into a melancholy disposition at the ill posture of the
public affairs； he took his repasts always sitting； assuming a strict and
austere course of life。 It was also their custom to kiss the hands of
great persons； the more to honour and caress them。 And meeting with
friends； they always kissed in salutation； as do the Venetians：
〃Gratatusque darem cum dulcibus oscula verbis。〃
＇〃And kindest words I would mingle with kisses。〃
Ovid； De Pont。； iv。 9； 13＇
In petitioning or saluting any great man； they used to lay their hands
upon his knees。 Pasicles the philosopher； brother of Crates； instead of
laying his hand upon the knee laid it upon the private parts； and being
roughly repulsed by him to whom he made that indecent compliment：
〃What；〃 said he； 〃is not that part your own as well as the other？〃
＇Diogenes Laertius； vi。 89。＇ They used to eat fruit； as we do； after
dinner。 They wiped their fundaments （let the ladies； if they please；
mince it smaller） with a sponge； which is the reason that 'spongia' is a
smutty word in Latin； which sponge was fastened to the end of a stick； as
appears by the story of him who； as he was led along to be thrown to the
wild beasts in the sight of the people； asking leave to do his business；
and having no other way to despatch himself； forced the sponge and stick
down his throat and choked himself。＇Seneca； Ep。； 70。＇ They used to
wipe； after coition； with perfumed wool：
〃At tibi nil faciam； sed Iota mentula lana。〃
They had in the streets of Rome vessels and little tubs for passengers to
urine in：
〃Pusi saepe lacum propter se； ac dolia curta。〃
Somno devincti； credunt extollere vestem。〃
＇〃The little boys in their sleep often think they are near the
public urinal； and raise their coats to make use of it。〃
Lucretius； iv。＇
They had collation betwixt meals； and had in summer cellars of snow to
cool their wine； and some there were who made use of snow in winter； not
thinking their wine cool enough； even at that cold season of the year。
The men of quality had their cupbearers and carvers； and their buffoons
to make them sport。 They had their meat served up in winter upon chafing
dishes； which were set upon the table； and had portable kitchens （of
which I myself have seen some） wherein all their service was carried
about with them