The Unknown Country

Sig. Gaudentio di Lucca. 193having no fuch aiTiftancCjtake little care tocultivate and moderate their vitious incli-nations, unlefs they are apprifed and fore-warned of the danger. Therefore theirwife men, whenever they come in compa-ny of the younger fort, confider attentivelywith themfelves all the lineaments of thecountenance, complexions, motion?, ha-bit of body, conititution, tone of theToice, make and turn of the face, nofc,ears, ozc. but particularly they obfervethe flructure and glances of the eye, withinnumerable figns proceeding from it, bywhich they pretend t,o dilcover thole paffi-ons. I fliy, they pretend to knov/ by thefewhat brutal foul lays fiege to the rationalfoul, or whether it has already taken pof-feifion of its poft. If they aye iirangers,they prudently take care to avoid theircompany, or at -ieail are on tKeir guard notto have any dealings with them in mattersobnoxious to the brutal foul they thinkthem poileffed by. But if the perfon at-tacked by thefe brutal fouls be of their ownnation, they immediately forewarn faclito be on his guard, by Vv^hich, and thedread they have entertained from theiryouth of thefe brutal enemies, they arckept in fuch order, that, as I faid, I neverfaw fuch moral people in m^y life. Theword is, they are extrcm.ely inclined to beproud, and have too great a value for R themfelves

J94 'ih<^ Adv£ntureo 01themreives, defpifing in tlieir hearts allother nations as if they Vvere notili ng bntbrutes in hiKiian iliape*'. Howe\^er, theirAvife men take as nrach care ns|)o(libIc tocorrect this'faiih-, as far as the ignoranceof the law of grace will allow ; by puttingthem often in mind of the i^iTerir^s and in-firmities of human life, which being realevils, muft be in pitinifhment of fomefault; that the mofi perfecl arc liable todeath, which makes no difìinclion bctv/e^nthem and the reft of the world. Bcfi'de?,humility, and a commiferation for the de-fects of others, is one of the rays of thedivine light that 15 to guide them. Fromfuch docnments and inflruclions of the\vifer*f )rt, though they do not care Jo haveany correfoondence v.ith other pccipie, icc-ing '*them fo poiieiTe'd with thofc brutalfouls, yet -they are a moil courteous andccmpailionate people in all their. behaviour. Of their Lnvs and cufionu. Over and above what has been fald a?-iready of the nature and culfoms of thefepeople, I fhail here oblerve that their lawsarc very few in number j but then they are* The CbircOe, whom' I have proV'cS to be descended Troni the firftw^€gypt ans, fnbjccl to ihe like pri.de and,!,ont<;in;.t ot' other people ;Ia3'i.i;; that alf other nationshavè hut one eye, ul.e'er* nature has giventhem two : fignifying thereby, how much wifer they think them!\"eK-c.s prodigious

nSig. G.wi^r.iiTio I.ucca. 195*prodigious cxacl: in thf obr:':-v^néé oitticm,Ì Imve offcn li::ird ih;; I'oph.-r, rontr:iry tohis cuttom, mnke vc ^' ; '^ns .on \h.c iav^'ve;\"s cf o:.:. ')ioixKik:; i.: -.: : ^ .t-;ihem jnakes. the rui>- ;.:;_ ;V •: . t^ beiorn;oLten ; levying ao.ir.::^r ou>. .. UJi-iaieahcLip of cxplanadoiis ; \'--u*jìì iT;jy'C.itì(c'i[»;-'iior.int yc-^^: •\"• trubt, v.'h;iher there isrt^ivv a:. ^ .'.: b'^, lb:; i^s^'i, (/r not. ,It I for Did ii:y iu.i, fliys he, to do anywrong to any one, what need is thc/e ofreckoning vjp all the ; . \" ' by.' which . =a perfbn may be wroi ... :i:v.- but tlis ,fuel on both fides, r.ny.man .iffcnfe andequity can tell, if there be any wrcny done. For if you niukiply an infinity of circum- ftances, it v.'ill be much more difilciik to 'decide what is riy&--n\"t', \"o'r what i\"s' w\"r\"\"o'n\"&>^.than if you precifely and abfobately forbidail injury whatfoevxr. It is Almofl incre-dible, with wliv.t nicety aiid equity, andliow foon, tlieir judges deiermine the few-'din:nUcs tliqy have among them. To'V Jy': :b ) i-^eritij of uxe caule by the weight01 tk : ['a.:k, would be counted by themone of the gicateil cno^nnitie^-.. There areno courts ;--:-'';-:: :k' this nature all ;is d.-jne by b L^erore tiicir pub-lie allembke.,,^ or Djh;re any one or twc>prudent and juft men j and the affair is lina Ik-

jrjS The Adventures of finally^ décìcìed at once. All the lav/ for?neumzud /i/z/;» among them is, Thou Jhali do no 'vjrong to anv one, without enteringinto any further niceties. Such explana- tory ruppoficions, i'ay they, oftener fhe\7people how they inay ingenioufly contriveto do an injury, than how to avoid it. Their laws therefore are nothing but thefnTt principles of natural juftice, explainedand apphed by the elders, in the publichearing of all who have a mind to comein when the fails are brought into dli'pute, 'J'he worOiip of the Deity, and that ex-ceiTive and even fuperititious reverencethey pay to their parents, both, alive anddead, is fo carefully inculcated to themfrom their infancy, that there is no needof any written lav/ to inforce it. Theylook on a man to be poifelTed v/ith femebrutal foul, who Ihould pretend to call inqueftion or neglect this duty. 'There is a pofitive law among them, not*•) :h-;i human blood voluntarily -^% They ^ > j': .icv'e dc'^ cnJ'r.gfrom Mii'r-iim» v.'no m'glt know the pa-ti;:irc . .'^a!', nnd migH: have learned by traciitio.i the punUhment ofCain for fte vi'-'rde\" of his brother Abe!, carried that opinioii to an ex-ccfs. - Be theb people who they will, or not be at al!, I cannot but ob-ler'.e. 'now inexcafable the wickcdnefs of men was from the beginnitig,ti'thoi.i blaming God, as fome libertines do, for leaving them In igno-miiiy yCAfj before the deluge, (the truth of which is attefted by ancient'h'.loVy as w,cii as by facred fcripture,) and i'aw he dreadful puniflimcnt-.-.fiif^cd on the world for lln ; could not heliave learned godlinefs, andHam1-- rc'.v.irJ tor it, of his ifatlier Noah? Could not have taught his, a,, chidren, they theirs; and lb on> But they corrupted their own•V i, and lùcreby il;evved the necellity of ii revelatioa. carry

SÌ2f. Gaudentio di LucrcA. io'carry this fundamental lav/ of nature tofuch a height, that they never put any oneto death, even for murder, vi'hich veryrarely happens that is, once in fcveral ;ages. If it appearb that a perfon has reallymurdered another, a thing they think. al-moft impollible, t'he perion convicled isIhut up from all commerce of men, withprovifions to keep him alive as long as na-ture allows. After his death the faci isproclai-m^d, as it was v.dieu they ihut himup, over all the Nomes. His rame is'blotted out of their genealogies ; thenhis dead body is mar.gled ]-j\\ in the famemanner as he killed the iniiocent, a:id after-wards burnt to aihes, which are carriedup to the higiieil part of the deferts, andthen toflcd v.p into the air,, to be carried-away by the winds blowing from their owncountry : nor is he ever mure tc bs reckoii-^ed as one of their race, and there v.. :•. - :-neral mourning obferved throughcn. li.:.kingdom f,)r niiic G;iy:^.There is alio an cxpiCiS l.'iry ;;g.ur;ii aduitery and ^ •r:a.;:n, vv-:uJ> are likawiic :pviniflied .iiic; ;'j.uii.- If pjui;iis arc cciughl;idukery, they are Ihut up apart till . ich ; then they are cxpotbd naked asthrey were furprited,. and the body of thewomen treated after the moil ignominious-Ti-^anner for three days. Alter \\hirh,they Ttic burnt, and their afivcs dlu^rrled. R2 ^' ..

i9<^ The Ad^^entuPvEs ofas before . Whoredom is only punlfhed,ill rhe n.an, by chaining him to a he goat,and tile women to alalt bitch, and lead-ing thus round the Nome. All in the ref-pe^'live Nome, men and women, are to beprefent at the more fignal puniihments ;and parents are obliged to explain to theirchildren the wickedncfs and horror of thecrime, for a warning for the future. I for-got to tell your Reverences, that if thev/'^T^.an brings forth by adultery, the childis prelerved, till able to be carried withthem when they go into Egypt, and theregiven to feme ftranger, with aniple provi-lion for its maintenance, but never to be,heard of moref. 1 here is -alfo one particular I fliouldhave mentioned, relating to injuftice. If,tor example, the elders find there has beenany confiderable injuPiice done, the crimi>n?.l Ì5 obbo-oeci to reftore nine tim^es thevalue. If any one be convided to haveimpofed upon, the judges, he is to be fent:out to the Ovirts of the country, to live byhimfelf for a time proportionable to ..hisguilt, v/ith a mark on his forehead, for all * See the\" learned B'fliop of Meanx's unlveifrLl hirtorj-, concerningf e EgypT'ons, par. 3. and oi'the'r pnnifl-.ments after deatt. ' is Vv\"u;-i oar a-uth^r's eave, this is not fuch.a vR and companionatep.irt, to turn innoc-nt I'hildren out among people ivho* cuftcvms theyi.uh'c^:-. 3. horror o% on.'y for their parents fàuJi-s. ' For tj-.ongh the max*Tin te goo.'l, F'ewsre a breed )et the ^are they took of t!.e':r youth, s'ndflic morii iuftrtciloa iLoy&aTe thein.inisLi uiiU tiicm aL-iinr the crinie,s• 1 jJi'ir sjaftnjis. perfojas

Sig. Gaudentìo di Lucca. 199perfons to avoid him, left he fhould inftilhis principles into others. All other mattersare regulated rather by cuftorn, than bylaws, which Vvill be feen, when I come tothe form of their government, and otherparticular inftitutions. Of their form of Government. Their form of government, as T had thehonour toacquaint your Reverences before,is patriarchal, which they prelerve inviola-bly, being the moft tenacious people in theworld of their primitive inllitutions. But.the order of the fucceiTion is extremely par-ticular, in order to keep up tlie equality o£brotherhood and dignity as exact as theycan. Your Reverences, I prefame, remeiti-ber that they all fprung from one family,f and lived as fuch when they were drivenout of Egypt\"), the head of which waspried of the fun. This government theyhad obferved ever fmce mifraim took pof-fcflion of that land for his habitation. Butwhen they were fccured from all the worldin the hril vale, as was m.entionid before,they eftabiiilicd that foi'm of governmientafter a particular manner. The iirft Popharfettling in that vale vvith his five fans, andas many daughter's with their hufbands, go-verned them during life, ;is father or patri-arch of them all. Their prodigious vene- ration

zoo The Adventures of ration for their parents, and feparation:. from ali other people, render this form in- finitely more practicable than can well be im.agined. As they were children of oneman, the intereft of the whole v/as the in- terdi of every particular. All the nation, of the fird tranfmigration were- children,grandchildren, or great-grandchildren ofthe good old man who conducted themthither. • Having no wars, or voyages atfea, nor commerce v/ith the diftempers aswell as vices of other nations, who gene-rally differ in their way of living as v*ell astheir climate ; having nothing of this, 1fay, to deilroy their people, they not onlyincreafed prodigioufly, without plurality ofwives, but by that and their almoft primi-tive way of living, they prcferved their livesto a great old age, moftof them living abovehundred- and fifty years. The iirlt Ponlrar(iay their memoirs lived till an hundredandfifty-iive, and his eldeit fon his fuccclT-or, more robufi Rill, to a hundred and lix-ty. Prefendy after his ellabiif!.iment in theiirft vale,, he divided his fmall domiinionsinto five Nomes, or governments^ underiiis five fons, as u-as obferved before. AILwere to be fubord-inate to the eldcO: ; butit was opslya patriarchal fubordination, re-lating to the whole. The ether governors,.and indeed all fathers of families, weroen-.tire mlniiiers of the laws in their refpcaive. families v

Sig. Gaudentio di Lucca, 201families ; but thefe lafl: were liable to theinfpeclion ot the more iin mediate fuperiors,and all to that of the Grand Pophar, afllft-ed with fuch a number of counfeliors aswere ellablifhed afterwards. To give yourReverences a more diftincl idea (jf this won-derful government, it will come much tothe fame, whether we dcfcend from thechief Pophar to every refpecdve family ,• orfrom thcfe upwards. The particularitiesof the fucceilion I (lÀallconllder p.fterwards.Howiever, it Vv'ili be eafier feen if we takethem when their numbers were lot fogreatjat the firfl beginning of their elt-dbìrlli-ment. The Pophar, then, having diftinguilhedthe bounds of every Nome, I mean in theirfirft tranfmigration, each fon took pof-feffion of it for him.felf and pofterity. Whileeach fc;n*ò children were unmarried, theycontinued under the government of theirfather, who made ufe of as m.uch land aswas fufficient for the conveniendes andpleafures, as well as the neceflaries of life.But as foon as any fon was married, or atIcail when he could be called a father of afamily, the father, with confent of the Po'phar, alloted him likewife a fuflicient quan-tity for the fame end : fo they fpread andenlarged themfelves as it were from the cen-tre to a f^ither extent, much in the famemanner as they build their towns, till they had

202 The Adventures ofhad occi^pied the whole Nome. Here yoiswill £.ij', thife- people muft in proceis oftime iiicrcaft Ird injlniiuni, witiiout landii\".i::^kicDt'tp^ maintain them. This was real-iy ihc cafe in the lirft plantation, whichvvr-3 io cnrircly ocoiipied by them, that ifthe /.iiiiouh Pcjpiiiir. wh';^ brought them in-nowto the v.\'i; cor.iiiicnt they enjoy, hiidnot madi that glorious dilcoVei^y with thedanger of H'.s^lil-c, they mv.^.t have returnedinto Kgyi't, or .ilc vd c^c another ; bur.where they are ar preientj they haveifoom'enough, notvvilhltanding their numberSjior fev'eral ages. Il-rv/ever, 1 often repre-fented to the Fc./us:-, that itTnuft come toth:it dthift : the thought ma^de him uneaiyat firfr, and at length put him on a furtherdifcovery, risyour Reverences will fee inthe fcquei. But fuch vafl numbers of thembetaking themielves to arts and manufac-ture?, and the country being fo prodigi-cufly fcrtiia, there does not arppear anygreat di^culty in that refpecT:. Of all artsthey look upon agriculture as the firft indignity next to the liberal fciences, fmcb^that nourifhes all the reft ; but it cornea foeafily, and the fruits and legumes are forich and delicious, that they have little-more trouble than to gather them : be-iides,ira ving twofummiers,>and two fpriwg?,each different fea fon produces its peculiarfruits. But to return to the idea of their

\"Sig. Gaudentio di Lucca. 203government, each- father of a family go-verns all his dcfcendentSy married or iln-married, xs long' as he lives. If his fonsare fathers, they have a fubordinate povv'-er under him ; if he dies before he comesto fuch an age, the ekieft fen, or the eldeftuncle, takes care of them, till they are fuf-ficient to fet up a family of themfe'vves.The father, on extraordinary pccafions, isliable to be inipcclcd by five of tht moftprudent heads of that di'lricc ; thefe bylive of the five adJAcent diftricls chofen bycommon confer: t ; thefe lail, by the heads•of the five Nomes, and all the Nomes bythe Grand Pophar, afTiited with three hun- dred fixty-five ciders, or fcnators, chofen• Gut of every Isfome. What is mofl parti- cular in this government h, that they are all abfolute in fomc manner, and independ- ent, as locking on themfelves as, all equal in birth yet in an entire dependency of ; natural fubordinat-ion or elderfhip, which runs through the whole G:conomy,*as your Reverences will fee wis ?n I come to the fuccefiìon. They are intheiame mannerJords and proprietors of their own pollef- ilons, yet the Pophar and governors, can-allot and difpofeof all for the public emo- lument, becanfe they look on him to^eas uvc^ch the fitliex of all, asithe immediate natural father is of Jds proper children, ^.lid even in fomeic-nfi their natural father

204 The Adventures ofby riglit of clderfhip, becaufe they fprungorigincilly from one man, whom the GrandToPophar repreients. this, that natural,ór politic, or even fuperflitious reipeclthey fliew to their parents, contributes fomuchj that they never difpute, but, onthe contrary, revere, the regulations madeby their fuperiors ; being iatisfied that theyare not only jull and good, but that it istheir own acl, fince it is done by virtue ofafubordinationto which they all belong.The fucccfiion of elderfliip has iome-thing very particular, •and eyen intricatein it. To exprefs at the fame time the fu-periority of the elder fon and the equalityof independence, I fhall endeavour to ex-plain to your Reverences, as' well as lean,the right thereof. The elded fon of the firilPophar is always Grand Pophar, when heis of age to govern, v/hich, as I faid, is atfifty at fooneft ; but if the direcl line fails,not the uncle's ion, nor any one in thatNome, but the right ]ieirof thenext Nome ;and fo of all the five Nom.es. If they fhouldfail in all the Nomes, the right heir of thefecond fon of the fir ft Nome, and fo of allthe reft. This, they fay, has happened fe-veral times fince their firft eftablifhrnent,which is not miUch to be wondered at, ifthey are fo ancient as they pretend. Thus,though the grand popharlhip be confinedto the elded in fome icrSe, in effect it be- longs

Sig. Gaudentio di Lucca. 205. to them all ; but if the next heir be a minor, as he is a'ways judged to be till he is fifty years of age, the eldeft of rhat age of the fecond fon of ihe nest Nome,. is regent till the heir be out of his minority, and fo on : info much that, in order to di- v'de thefaperiority among t;iem as equally as poilible, he who has the next rignt to be Grand Pophar, is never to be regent. All'other piH)^ic officers, teachers of arts and fcicncts, overfecriyGf ali the public employ-ment:?, oic. are conilituted by the Grand Pophar, and fanhcdrim, with ailociates ofevery Nome, - M^jrc particular: cf their public ccconcmy, ' Though, as Ifaid, the Pophar is in fome: 'fenfe the proprietor of the whole country,as head of the government and cliief pa-triarch yet the paradox^ of this govern- ;ment conilits hi thi-^, that they are jointlords, acknowledging no inecpjuiity, butraerely elder&ip, and the refpecl due todignitaries., which they ePLeeiii 2^ theirown^ or redounding to themfelves, becaufcthey all give their confent to their eleclion-for the public good.- I]\ a word, the wholecountry is only o-ne great fam'ily governedriby the kw& of nature, with proper officer*,conftituted by the wholev. for osder and -lemmon ord-'civation^ Hvery individual S: looki:>

2o6- The Adventures oflooks on himfclf\" as a part of that greatfamily. The Grand Pophar is the com-inon father, efteeming all the reft as child-ren and brothers, calling them univerfallyby that name, as they all call one anotherbrothers, bartering and exchanging their«.ommodiiles as one brother would do withanother ; and not only fo, but they all join-in building, their towns, public places,ichools, ccQ. laying up all the ftores andi.pruviiians. over and above the prefent con-Ibuiption, in public places, for the ufe ofthe whole, with overieers and inspectors,conilituted by the common confent, who^are to take care, chiefly, that no diforder-be committed. Thus CA'ery one contri-butes to all public expenfes, feafls, and thelike, which on fome occafions are extreme-ly magnificent iiffecling external grandeur ;:in ali reipects. Thus aifo every man,,jvvhere-ever he goes, enters into wha.t hcufe |he pleafes, as if it were his own home ;Jthis they are doing perpetually throughoutthe whole country, rather viriting thanmerchandiung : -exchanging the rarities ofeach refpedive place with thofe of otherparts, juit Hke friends making prefeuts toone another j. fo that all the roads are likeitreets of great towns,, with people goingbackward and forward perpetually. Theydo this the- mor€ frequently to keep up a^aorxefpondiince. betweea. the Nomes, lefe diikncs;

Si'iTG. Gaudentio di Lucca. i:; diftance of place fliould^csuf^ ariv firgct- fulnefs of their being of one famiiy. 'iije plenty of the country alTnrds them cjcrjmdthing that nature can call deiighrfc^ that with fuch eafe, that infinite n\i:.\\'.ir>- are employed in trades and arts, accordi r,^-to their genius, or inclinations ; which, bytheir conunual peace and plenty, thoir•long ellabliihnaeiit in one countrj-, andunder one form of government, the.natu- ral ingenuity of the people, the earl}''knowledge of arts, which tliey bron^^ht:with them out of Egypt; by the improvc-iTients their wife men make in thcni fromlime to time-; and from what they learnw^hen they pay their vifits to their deceafedanceftors, they have brought to prodigiousperfection. One may fay of tliem-, thatthey are ail mafters, and all fervants every ;one has his employment-; generally ipeak-ing, the younger fort wait on the elder:uchanging their offices as is thought properby their fuperiors, as in a well-regulated^community. All their children univerfailyare taught at the public expcnfe, as child-ren of the government, without any dif-\"tlnci-.ion but that of perfonal merit. Asthe perfons deputed for that end, judge<si their genius, or any particular inclina^-tion, they are difpofed after vv-ards to thcie-arts and caUing^^ for which tliey feem moTtl^roper,; the moll iublime felences are tlie moft

2o8 The AdventuTvES ofmofl in refpecr with ihciii, and are chiefiythe employment of their great men andgovernors, contrary to the cuilom of othercountries the rcafun of which is. becàufe ;thcfe being never chofen till they are fiftyycais of age, they have had more time toimprove themfelves, and generally areper Tons of more extenfive capacities. Theyrightly fuppofe, that perfons who excelothers in the moft rational fciences, arenot only fitteft to govern a rational people,but alfo moft capable of making them-felves mafters of what they undertake ; no£but fuch m*n, knowing^the governors arechol'cn out of that rank, have an eye intheir ftufiics to the rules and arts of go-verning, which are communicated at adiftance by them, according to the talentsthey remark in the fubjccis. They do notdo.this out of anyfpirit of ambition, cm-fioyiTients being rather an honorary trou-ble than an advantage, but for the realgood of the whole. Agriculture, as I-faid,haf, the next place in honour after the libe-ral arts ; and next to that, thofe arts arcmolt cfteemed which are moft neceflary ;rhe h'.ft of all are thofe which arc of leaftufe, though perhaps the moft delightful. Since every one is employed for thecommon good more than for themfelves,perhaps perfons may apprehend that thisgives a check to induftry, not having that fpur

SÌ2\"o Gaudentio di Lucca-,Tpur of private interefl:, hoarding up riches,•or aggrandizing their Tamilies, as is to befound in other nations. 1 was apprehen-five of this myfelf, wheii I came to under-lland their government^ but fo far fromit, thatpoffibly there is not fwch an induf-trious race of people in^he aniv^rle. Theyplace their gre-at ambition in the grandeurof the country, looking on thofe as narro v/and mercenary fpirits, wlio can prefer apart to the whole : they pride themfelvesover othg: nation'^ on that account ; eachman having a proportionable {hare in thepublic grandeur, the love of glory andpraiie leems to be their greateft -pathon .Befides, their v/ife gcwernors have fuchways of ftirring up their emulation by pub-lic honours, harangues, and panegyrics intheir aff^rnblies, with a thoufand otherways of fliew and peagantry, and this forthe moil minute arts, that were it not forthat fraternal love ingrafted in them fi omtheir infancy, they would be in danger ofraihno; their emulation to too (iTeat aheighc. 'rhofe Vv^ho give indicati(;ns ofgreater wifdom and prudence in tiitir c' ri-duci than others, are marked <.mt Uv f^'j-mavernoVs, gradually raifed according totheir merit. Whoever invents a ncv/ arthas a ftatue erected accai-ding to the ufe-fulnefs of ir, with his name 3nd familyinfertcd in public records. V/hoever dif- S3 -tinguiOies

210 The Adventures oftinir^uiPaes himfclf by any particular excel-lency, has fuitable marks of diftinctionpaid liim on public occafions, as garlands,crowns, accinmations, fongs, or hymns inhis pralfe, &c. I« is incredible how fuchrewards as thefe encourage induflry and'arts in minds fo affecled with glory as thefepeople are : on the other hand, their great-efc puniih.ments, except for capital crimes,which are punifheJ as above, are by pub-lic difgraces. But now I am fpeaking of their youth;as they look upon them as feeds of thecommonwealth, which if corrupted in thebud will never bring forth fruit, fo theirparticular care is laid out in their educati-on, in which I believe they excel all nations*One cannot fay there is one in the wholenation who may be called an idle perfon,though they indulge their youtii verymuch in proper recreations, endeavouringto keep them as gay as they can, bccaufethey are naturaUy inclined to gravity^ Be-fide?; daily recreations, they have fet timesand fealbns for public exercifcs, as riding,vaulting, running, but particularly hunt-ing wild beaiis, and fifhiiTg for crocodilesand alligators, in their great lakfs, which Ifhali defcribe to your Reverences en ano-ther occafion yet they are never fufTered ;^o go alone, that is, a company of youngmen togeth<>r without grave men and per- sons

Sig. Gaudentio DI Lucca. siaCons in authority along with them, whoare a guard to them in all their actions.:nay, they are never fuffered'to ileep toge-gether, each lying in a fmgle bed, thoughin a public room, mth/ome grave perfonin the fame room with them. Their wo-men arc kept much in theiame manner, toprevent inconveniences which 1 {hail touchupon Vv'hen I coir.e to the education of theirwomen : and this fo univerfally, that asthere are nofidle companions to lead theminto extravagancies, fo there are no idleand loofe women to be found to corrupttheir minds. Their whole time, both formen and women, is taken up in employ-ments, or public. recreations, which, withthe early care to inftruct them in the fun-damental principles of the morality of thecountry, prevents all thole diforders ofyouth we fee elfewliere. Hence too comesthat ftrength of body and mdnd in theirmen, and modeil blooming beauty in their\^'omen ; fo that among this people naturefeems to have kept up to its primitive andoriginal perfccrion. Befides, that univer-fal likenefs in them, proceeding from theirconjugal fideiity and exclufion of all foreignmixture in their breed, (where all the line-aments of their anceilors, direct and col-lateral, meet at iafr in their of]^^pring\gives 'the parents the comfort of feeingt:.::r own bloom and youth renewed in their

2 li The Adveistures ofmytheir children ; though in opinion this-imiverfal likenefs is rather a defect ; notbut the treafures of nature are fo inex-liautlible, that there are fome difiinguilhingbeauties in every face. Their young menand women meet frequently, but thea itis in their public affemblies, with gravepeople mixed along with them. At allpubhc exercifes the women are placed inview to fee and be feen, in order to infpij-ethe young men with emulat^n in theirperformances. They are permitted to bedecently farniiier on thofe public occaiions,and can chufe their lovers refpeclively, ac-cording to their liking, there being no fuchthing as dov/eries, or int-erefl, but merepcrfonal merit in the cafe ; but miore ofthis afierwards when I Ihallfpcak moreparticularly of the education oi their wo-<nen and marriage?;. This is a fhort (ketchof the government and ceconomy of a peo-ple, Vv'ho are as much diilin2;uiihed fromthe cuftoms of others, as they are feparatedby their habitation and country.Jnquifjor. You feem, >Sir, to have a very'high idea of this patriarchal govern-ment, and look upon it according tothe lav/ of nature ; I hope you don'tdeny but perfons may be obhged bythe law of nature to obey their form'sof government, as well as a patriarchal Gaudcniio.

Sig. Gaudentio di Lucca. 213Gaudeniìo, No, Reverend Fathers, by no means, I don't enter into compa- risons, but relate matter of faft. It is not to be doubted, but different forms of government may be proper for di-fl^crent nations : and where once a form of govern liiciit is lawfully eila- bliflied, perions are obliged to obey, to avoid anarchy and confulion ; as for example, wlioever ihould endea- vour to flibvert a monarchical go- vernment once lawfully ettabliflied, muil: break in upon the laws of right and juftice, which are obligations of the law of nature.Inquifttor. Read on.Second Inqnifitor. Under favour, I naufl: afk him a queftion or two firft. I think Signor Gaudentio, you make •the Grand Pophar to be both prince and prieft; that is, to be vefted both with temporal and fpirltuai power. Is it yo-ur opinion that the fpintual power is fubjecl: to the temporal?Gaudc?itio. I fpeak .of Heathens, Reve- rend Fathers, and a Heathc niih wor- Ihip, where the Grand Pophar was both prince of the people, and chief prieft of the fun by his place. I ac- knowled2:e no head of the church but nis Holinefs, as moil: agreeable to the primitive inftitution of our religion. Here

3214 The Adventures ofHere he 'went on in his exalted notions of the fovcreign Pontiff, partly being a Ro- man Catholic, but cbicfij, in all appear-ance, became he ivas before the Inquifition;for which reafon the publijher thought fitlo lea-ve it out.Gaudentio. Is it your Reverences plea-myllire that. I go on with hitlory ?Jnqu'ifitor. Ay, ay, read on.The education of their 'women, and raarriagcs-. As for their women, the Pcpliar toldme it was what gave them the moft troubleof any thing in their whole government;that by their records their anceftors hadheld frequent confukations after whatmanner they were to be managed, therebeing great difficulties to be feared eitherfrom allov^ing them liberty, or keepingthem under reftraint. If you allow themliberty, you m.uft depend on their honour,or rather caprice, for your own ; if youkeep them under confinement, they willbe fure to revenge themfelves the firft op-portunity ; vvhich they will find in fpiteof all you can clo. The rules, faid he, bywhich men are governed-, will* not holdwith v/omen ; folid reafon, if you cmmake them fenhble of it, will fome tim.cor other have an influence on moil men ;whereas humo'jr is what predominates in v/omen.

3ig. Gaudkntio di Lucca- sr^,women. Hit that, you have them ; mifsit, you do nothing : and yet they are lo farfrom being an indifferent thing in thecommonwealth, that much more dependson the right management of them thanpeople imagine. Licentioufaefs of youth,draws innumerable misfoutunes 'on anygovernment, and what greater incentives-tor licentioufnefs than lewd women, whe--ther com.mon proilitutco, wanton ladie\", or-aci uitcrciies ? For all ioofe women belongto one of thcfc claflcs-. Our women, con-tinu.ed. he, are extremely beautiful, as you.fee , our men ftrong and vigoi'GUs ; con-jugal iidclity therefore and chaility muftbe the iirongeft bonds to keep them in-their duty. As for cur young men, -wefiecp them in perpetual employment, . and'animate them to glory by every thlrg thatcm move generous minds ; with our \\ o-me;i, we endeavour the iAvac by M'ays.adapted to their genius. But our grcateil.Qisc of all is, to make m-arriage eileem.ecl-by both parties the happiefl ilate that canbe wilhed for ia this life,. This wc believe-i.j deoend on makinir the woman, ratherthan the rnan,. happy aiid fixed in herchoice ; becaufe, if the perfon be impofedupon her, 'contrary to her ov/n inv/ard in-elination, diilike,. or revengC;».. ar perhaps;a more fhameful pailionj.. will make herwo-:S:£k.fjQr r.diei'. dfcw,.har.ej; and. Vvdicrc m.si£

2i6 The Adventures ofrrjn are not virtuous, men will be lewd*vVe therefore permit the woman to chufeentirely for herielf, and the men to maketheir addrefies where they pleafe : but thewoman is to diftinguiili her choice by fomefignal oceafion or other, and that too notwithout great difficulties en both fides,,which being furmounted, they efieem*themfelves arrived at the happy part of ailtheir wiihes. The moft ardent and triedlove determines the choice : this endearsthe man to her on the one hand, and the.difficulty of fmding any v/onian who has.not the lame inducements to iove her huf-band, leaves him no encouragement for his.lawlefs defires am.ong married v/cmen ; andthe fingle women are either lb early en-gaged with their lovers, or lo punelledwith the notion that a married man cannotbelong to her, that his fuit would be en-tirely vain. In a word, we do not allowthe leali temporal intereft to interfere in.tiie choice, but rather wiffi our young peo-ple iliould be mutually attracted by eiteem<and affeclion'.. The whole bufmefs ofcoLirtHiip is to. prove their conRancy, anito m-'.ke them Ìo : when we are well allur-td of this,, ali obftacles are removed. We:fo^ind this method to. have the leaft inc:on-venienciss ot any, and the bell means to=preferve conjugal fideiityy on which the:t^ood of f?j.iiiUei lii much depends».

Sig. Gaudentio di Lucca. .V;When our nation, continued h.:, beganto grow very populous, and the countryfull of riches and plenty ; the promifcuousconverfation of our young men and wo-men, with fonie neglect on the part of thegovernors, was the fKcafion that the boundscf our innocent anceftors were not fu fH ci-ent to keep them in their duty flrange ;diforders were crept in among our youthof both fexes ; our men grew enervatedand effeminate, our women wanton andinflamed ; unnatural abufes wafted theirconflitution ; fo that we loll ihoufand. ofour young men and women, withoutknowing what was the caufe ; even in themarried ftate, the women began not to becontented with one man : on which ac-count our anceftors had almod refolvcd tokeep all our women from the fight of mentill they were married, and then to deliverthem up to their huibands, who fiiouldhave a defpotic right over them, as I aminformed they have in other nations.They imagined this to be a certain meansto afcertain thelegitimacy of their child en,and to prevent jealoufy, the firft caufe^,however diffembled, of the man's difliketo his wi e. Others objected againft thisfeverc difciple,- and faid it was making themou beautiful part of the creation mereflaves, or at leali mere properties ; that itwas to give a fatal check to the glory of a T free

821 The Adventures offree people, to deprive the hufband of thevoluntary love of his moiety, and take a-way the moft endearing part of conjvigalhappinefs. To this the feverer fide anfwer-ed, that their abufes of liberty fhewedthey were fcarce capable of making a properlife of it. However a medium betwixtboth carried it for that time. The injuriesof the married Hate, and the corruption ofyouth, which was the occafion of it, werejudged to be of fuch confequence to thecommonwealth, that, refolved to put ailop to it at any rate, menall the vA'ife andgovernors conlulted together, and refolvedunanimouily to put the laws I mentionedagainfl adultery and whoredom in executi-on, caufing proclamations to be made forthat intent throughout the whole empire.All corruptors of youth of both fe^es wereIhut up immediately, with the regulationsI related above, of having grave per fon salways in the company of young people,whether men or women. They m.arriedoft all that were of age for it, as fad asthey could ; but quickly found the num-ber of inhabitants did not increafe asufual, their native vigour being exhauftedor debelitated by their unnatural abufes.^Some paragraphs fecm -wanting in this part of Gaiideiitio's narrative which' doubtlefs . ivere very curious.'] T here

Sig. Gaudehtio di Lucca. 219 There is one peculiar method allowedby them, in which they ditTer from all o-ther nations ; for whereas this lati endea-vor to preferve their young people fromlove, left they ftioald throw thcmlelves a-way, or make difadvantageous matches ;the former, having no interefted views inthat refpecl, encourage a generous andhonourable love, and make It their care, tofix them in the llri6ieil bonds they can, asfoon as they judge, by their age anpl con-ftitution, of their inclinations : this theydo fometimes by applauding their choice,but moftly by raifmg vaft difficulties, con-trived on purpofej both to try and inhancetheir conftancy. They have hiiiories and(lories of heroic examples of fidelity andconftancy in both fexes ; but particularlyfor the young women, by vdiich they aretaught rather to fuffer ten thoufand deatlis,than violate their plighted faith. Onemay fay they are a nation of faithful lov-ers ; the longer they live together, themore their friendfhipincreafes, and infide*lity in either fex is looked upon as a capitalcrime. Add to this, that being all ct thefame rank and quality, except the regardpaid to elder Ihip, and public employments ;!iothing but perfonal merit, and a liking;of each other, determines the choice ; theremuft be fignal proofs produced, that thewoman prefers the man before ail ethers, as

2 30 The Advektup.es of 3S tlie fervice mufi: be diftinguifhed in thefame manner. Where this is approved of by the governors or elders, if the woman iiilifts on her demands, it is an inviolablelaw that that man muft be her hufband. Their hands are firft joined together inpublic, then they clafpe each other in theclofcft embrace, in which poilure the elder of the place, to iliew that this union is ne-ver to be diffolved, takes a circle of thefineil tempered fleel, v/oven with flowers,and firft lays it over their necks, as theyare thus clafping each other, then roundtheir breads, or hearts, to fignify that theardency of their love mufc terminate in anindilToluble friendlhip ; which is followedby infinite acclamations and congratulati-ons of the whole aflembly. I believe theworld cannot furniih fuch examples of con-jugal challity as are preferved betweenthem by thefe means. Widowers and wi-dows never marry Angle perfons, and butrarely at all, except left young ; when theyare to gain each oiher as before. By fuchprudent precautions infinite diforders andmisfortunes to the comimonweaith are pre-vented, proceeding not only from difpro-portionate and forced marriages, but from^he licentioufnefs of idle perfons, who eitherjnnrry for money, or live on the fpoil ofother people, till they can get an advanta-geous match. This is a fliort fketch of their

Sig. Gaudentio di Lucca. 221their government and cuitoms, which Ithought would not be unacceptable to yourReverences, though a great many othercuftoms of lefs moment vv^ill occur in thefequel of my life, to which I now return. The Pophar regent made choice of me for one of his attending companions, withthe other young men who came home withus ; he had a great many other attendantsand officers, dtputed by common confentto wait his orders as regent -, thefe werechanged every five years, as were thofe at-tending the governors of the other Nomes,on account of improvement ; for, being allof equal quality, they end.avour to giyethem as equal an education as is péffible,changing their employments, and waitingon one another in th^ir turns, by tlie ap-pointment of their refpective governors,except thofe vvhofe genius or choice deter-mines them to arts and (ciences, accordingto their CEconomy defer ibed before. I muftonly add, that having fuch a high valuefor their race, no one thinks it a difgraceto perform the mieaneft ofHces, being all tobe attend-d in like manner themfelvesv/hen it comes to their turns, each lookingon the honours done to every branch oftheir government, as their own. Henceall their public ranks and ceremonies arethe moil magnificent that can be imagined j T 2 there

222 Ths Adventures ofthere is fcarce any thing done even in en-tertainments between the private tribes,but there are proper officers deputed for it,imd ali expenfes paid out of the commonilock, with deputies and overfeers for eve-ry thing. Their houfes are all oj^cn to oneanother with a long gallery, which runsfrom the end of one range of building tothe other. The women's apartments jointogether ; with the men of each fajnilyjoining to their own women, that is. theirwives, fifierSjand dau,t.hters. The womenhave their fubaltern, officers liiie the men.The firil apartment of every break of ailreet belongs to the m.en, then the wo-rnens belonging to them, then the women of the next family joining to them, andtheir men beyond them, and fo on, wi;hl^rge public h.iils at proper diftances for public affiembiies ; fo that every thing they do is a fort of paradox to us, for «h-y are the freeft and yet ftricteii people in the w<.vrld ; the whoie nation, as 1 obferved beiorc being mòre like one univerfal regu- lar college, or community, than any thing elfe. The women are perpetually employ- ed as well as the m,en ; it is their bufinefs to work ah the fme garments for th-^m- felvss and the men, which being much the fame except devices and flowers for their fi lends and lovers, are made with lefs difficulty J the chi^f difference is in the wearing

Sig. Gaudentio di Lucca 223wearing them. But the chief diflinftionof fexes is in the ornaments of their necks,and hair. Crowns and fillets are worn byall, ]u^\ after the model of the little pidureyour Reverences faw in the cabinet ; alltheir tapeftry^ embroidery, and the like,with infinite other curiofities, are theworks of th?i;- women, fo that the chiefqidiucation of their women or ladies, forthey are all fuch, is to excel at the loom,neeiil •, or diitaff. Since I came there, bythe Popbar's defire, they have added thatof painting, in v»?hich I believe, the viva-city of their genius will make them excelall the red of the world. Not teaching forhire, I thougit it no difgrace in me to in-ftruci: fuch amiaWe fcho'sars in an art noman ought^to be aihamed of. It is a thingunknown withthefe people for young ladiesof any degree, or even young men, to haveDOthing clfe to mind or think of but viiitsand drcfs When 1 gave them an accountof the lives of our quality and gentry, theycried out. What barbarians ! Can any thingbecome beauty more than knowledge andingenuity ? They leemcd to have luch acontempt, and even a horror for a life ofthat nature, that the young ladies aikedme v/lth great concern, if our ladies hadany lovers ? as if it v/ere impoffible to lovea woman who had nothing to recomm.end her, but what nature gave her. Infine, by

224 The Adventures ofby the defcription V gave of the idle life ofour ladies, they judged them to be nomore than beautiful brutes. They' aikedme alfo, if I did not think myfelf fortunateby my capii vity, where I met with ladies,who thought the ornaments of the mindmore defirable thanthofe of the body, andtold me they imputed what' they faw inme, to my good fortune of being borne oftheir race by the mother's fide ; nay, couidfcarce believe but my father had a mixtureof their blood fome way or other. I aiTur-ed them, I efteemed myfelf very happy tobe in the midft of fo many charms of bodyand mind ; and added, that though theyhad the ineUimable happinefs of being boraall of one race, wirhout any mixture off)eign vices, yet, in effecf, all the world.were originally brothers and fifters, asfpringing from one pair, lince men andwomen did not rife out of the ground likemuilirooms. This I faid, to give them alittle hint of natural and revealed religion,which are infeparably Hrked together^ Butto return to myfelf: I he Pophar being mynearefl relation, took me into hisi own fa-family, as his conftant companion and at-tendant^ when he was not an the puoliccon erns : where 1 likewife accompaniedfometimes, and received mod diftingoiih-ing marks of hisfavour. He would oftencoiiier widi ine, and infìrufl me in their v/ays

Sig\". GaudììNTio di Lucca, 22^ways and cufloms, and the polity of theirgovernment, inquiring frequently into theparticularities ot our governments, bothcivil and religious. He never endeavouredto perfuade me to conform to their religi-ous ceremonies, and my own good fenfetold m^e it was prudence not to meddlewith them. ' I raiher thought he feem^edincUned to have more favourable fentimentsof our religion, as ftich, than his own,though he was prodigiouily bigotted totheir civil cuftoms ; faying, it v/as im.pcf-fible ever to preferv^e a commonwealth,when they did not live up to their laws ;which would be as few, and as fim.ple aspoffible. For when once people com.e tobreak in upon fundamentals, all fubfequentlaws would not have half the flrength asprimary ones. To thefe he added manyother reflections, that ihewed him a manofconfurnmate wifdom, and worthy thehigh poft he bore, lie ha^ had two fons,both dead, and two daughters living ; theone was about ten years old, when i arriv-ed there, (it is we your Reverences fawin that piciure), the other born the yearbefore the Pophar fet out for Grand Cairo.His lady, much younger than himfelf,n.ewed fuch frefli remains of beauty, asdemonftrated that nothing but what fprungfrom herfclf, could equal her ; both thePophar and his confort looked on me as their

226 The Adventures oftheir own fon, nor could T expeiH: greaterfavour had I really been fo. I took ail thecare imaginable not to render myfelf un-worthy of it, and both revered and lovedthem beyond what I am able to exprcfs ^though indeed, as I obferved, the wholerace of them was nothing but a kingdomof brothers and friends ; no man havingthe lead fufpicion or fear of one another»They were fo habituated to the obfervanceof their laws, by their natural dlf^DoIitionsand the never-ceafing vigiiancy of their go-vernors, that they feemed to have a great-er horror for the breach of their laws, thanthe punidiments attending it faying, that Iinfinite diforders ^iiight be committed bythe malicious inventions of men, if therewas nothing but fear to keep them in theirduty. Such force has education and thelight of namre rightly cultivated ; for my-felf I was left tofollow what liberal employ*,ment I had a -mind to. Philofophy, mu-11c, and painting had been the chief partof my (ludy and diverfion, till my unhap-py captivity and the lofs of my bro her ;but as Iv/as fallen among a nation of phi-lofopherSj that noble fcience, the miilrefsof all others, made up the more feriousparr, of my employment ; though at fome-times, by the Pophar regent's earneft de-fire, 1 applied myfelf to the other two, par-ticularly painting. They had a great many old'

\"Sig. Caudentio di Lucca. 227old.fafliioned mufic^l inflruments, and anhifinite number of performers in their way,who attended their feails ard public re-joicings 5 but their mufic, both vocai andinftrumental, was not near fo perfect as onemight have expeftcd of fo pohte a people,and did not come up to the elevated geniusof our Italians, 'i heir philofophy chieflyturned on the more ufefvd part of it, thatis, the mathematics and dire£^tion of na-ture : in the moral part of it they have afyfiem, or rather notion, of which I forgotto acqaint your Reverences before ; it isa too high and exalted notion of provi-dence, if that exprefilon may be allowed,by which they imagine all things to be fogoverned in this world, that \^h ate ver inju-ry a m^an does to another, it will be return-ed upon him or his poflerity, even in thisworld, in the fame manner, or even in agreater degree, than what he did to others.You\_Iqulfitor. will be pleafed to ex-plain your own fentiments inthis par-ticular, lince we hope yon don't denythat fundamental law of nature andrehgion, 'v'lz. That the divine provi-dence prefides over all things ; and asfor fublu nary things, we prefume youbelieve that providence does not onlyfhew itfelf in the wonderful produéli-on and harmony confpicuous in allnatural cauks and effecls, beyond all the

ii8 The Adventures ofthe wk- and art of men ; but alfo o-ver the moral part, that is, the- freeaclions of men, by fuitable rewardsand punidiments in this v/orld or thenext, to make an equal and juft com-penfition for all the good and evil ofthis lire, a> God is the juil and equalfather of ail. So pray explain your-felf, that we may know your real fen-timents on that head.CauJtnfio. I hope. Reverend Fathers, Imyfliail convince yo j, fentiments aremre-iily ortho^l )\ this point ; no manhas more r£if)a to magnify Provid-ence th.m myfelf; but Heathenifhpeople n^ay carry a juft behef to fuper-ftillon. That there is a providenceover the phy ficai part of the world,no man who has any juft knowledgein nature can be ignorant, fince he'may be convinced by the leaft infecl,every thing being adapted to its pecu-liar ends, with fuch art and know-ledge in the author of it, that allart and knowledge of men cannotdo the like; and ' by confequencenot being able to make itfclf, it muilbe produced by a caufe infinitelyknowing and forefecing. Then,as to the moral part of the world, thefame reafon fhews, that ilnce the greatcreator defcends fo low as to take care cf

Sig. Gaudentio di Lucca. 229 of the ìeail infeci, it is incredible to .think that the nobleft part of the world, that is, the free adions of men fhould be without his care. But as , he has given them the glorious endow- ments of free will, the fame provi- dence knows how to adapt the direcci- on of them by ways and means fuit« able to their beings j that is, by Ict- ing them know his will, and propof- ing fuitable rewards and punifliments for their good and bad adlions ; which rewards and punilhments, it is evi- dent, are not always feen in this life, iince the wicked often profper, and the good fuffer, but by confequence . muft be referred for another ftate.But thefe people not having; a juft notiori of the next life, though they believe a future ftate, carry matters fo far, that they think every i^ijury done to another, will be fome way or other retaliated upon the aggreifor, or his pofterity, in this life; only they fay, the puniftiment always falls the heavi- er the longer it is deferred. In this manner do they accouit for all the revolutions of the earrh, that one wicked a(5tion is puniihed by apolher; that the defcendcnts of i.he grcateft monarchs have been loi^ in beggary U f(?/-

230 The Adventures of '^for almoft endlefs generations, and theperfons that difpoffelTed them treatedafter the fame manner by fome of thedefcendents of the former ; and fo on:which notion, in my opinion, is notjuft, fmce a fincere repentance maywipe off the moll grievous offences.But as perfons, generally fpeaking,are more fenfibly touched with thepuniflimcnts of this life, it is not tobe doubted but there are often moflfignal marks of avenging providencein this life, in order to deter thewicked.Goinqu'ipAot. on.]Finding the Pophar had a prodigiousfancy for painting, by fome indifferentpieces he had picked up, I applied myfelf,with extraordinary diligence, to that art,particularly fince he would have me teachhis daughter, whofe unparalleled charms,though but in the bud, made mc infenfibleto all others. By frequent drawing, I notonly pleafcd \"nim and others, but almoftmyfelf ; every one there men and women,were to follow fome art or fcience j thePophar delire d me to impart ny art tofome of the }foung people of both fexes,iit;nng there Were very great encourage-ments for the ^inventors of any new arts,which I might juftly claim a title to.^ I didfo, and be^re I left the place, I had the pleafure

Slg. Gaudentio di LuncA. 231pleafure to fee fome of them equal, or evenexcelling their mailer. Thefe were the chief employments of meleifure-hours ; though I was forced to leavythem for conilderable intervals, to attendthe ilegent in the private vifitations of hischarge, which he did frequently from timeto time, fometimes to one Nome, fome-times to another, having an eye over all,both officers and people. Thefe vifitationswere rather prefervatives againft, than re-medies for, any diforders. He ufed to fay,that the commonwealth was like a greatmachine with diffei-ent movements, whichif frequently viiitcd by the arcift, the leaiiflaw being taken notice of in time, was notonly foon remedied, but was a means ofprefer ving all the reft in a conftant and re-gular motion ; but if neglected, wouldfoon diforder the motions of the otherparts, and either coft a great deal to repairor bring the whole machine to deftruclion.Unlefs on public folemnities, which werealways very magnificent, the Pophar (notto burden his people) went about withoutany great train, accompanied by only anaffifting elder or two, the young Pophar,and myfelf. He had frequent converfati-ons with the fubalterns, and even with themeanefl artifans, calling them his children;and they having recourfe to him as theircommon father. For the firft five years of his

232 The Adventures of his regency, the only difficulty we had of any moment to determine was an affair of the mxoft delicate nature I ever heard :though u doss not concern myfelf, I fliall relate it to your Reverences for the peculiarcircumftances of it, being a cafe entirelynew, as well as unprovided for by the laws of their confìitution. The cafe was this : Two twin-brothershad fallen in love with the fame woman,and Ihe with them. The m>cn and thewoman lived in different parts of the fameNome, and met accidentally at one of theirgreat folemnities; it was at the feafl of thefun, which is kept twice a year, becaufe,as I inform.ed your Reverences, their king-dom lies betwean the tropics, but more onthis fide the line than the other. This li-tuation is the occafion that they have twofprings and two fummers. At ihe begin-ning of each fpring there are great feaftsin every Nome, in honour of the fun; theyare held iu the open fields, in teftimony ofhis i:^eing the immediate caufe (in theiropimon) of the production of all things.All the facriiice they offer to him are fivelittle pyramids of incenfe, according to thenumber of their Nomes, placed on the al-tar in plates of gold till they take fire ofthemfelves. Five young men and as manywomen are deputed by the governors toperform the oflice of placing the pyramids of

Sig. Gaudentio di Lucca. 233of ÌBcenfe on the altar: they are clad intheir fpangled robes of the colour of theNome, with crowns on their heads, march-ing up two by two, a man and a woman,between two rows of young men and wo-men, placed theatre-wife one above ano-ther ; and make the moft beautiful fliowthat eyes can behold. It happened thatone of the twin. brothers was deputed, withthe young lady I am fpeaking of, to makfthe firil couple for the placing the incenfeon the altar- They marched up on differ,ent fides till they came to the altar : whenthey have placed the incenfe, they faluteeach other, and crofs down, the men bythe ranks of the women, and the womenby the men, which they do with a wonder-ful grace becoming fuch an auguft alTembly.The defign of this is to encournge a deco-rum in the carriage of the young people,and to give them a fight of each other intheir greatefl luRre. When the five couplehave performed their ceremony, the otherranks corns two by two to the altar, falut-ing each other, and croiTing as before : bywhich means the young people have anopportunity of leeing every man and wo-man of the whole company, thuugli theplacing of them is done by lot. If theyhave not any engagement before, they ge-nerally take tlie firil likirg to one anollitrat iu^-h interviews, and the woman's love U 2 and

-234 '^^'^ Adventures ofand choice belns: v/hat determines the mar-riage, without any view of intereft, being,as i laid, all equal in quality, the younggallants make it their bufinefs to gain theaffecHon of the perfon they like by theirluture fervices. To prevent inconvenien-cies of rivalfiiip at the beginning, if theman be the perfon the woman likes, heprefcnts her with a flower juft in the bud,w^hich flie takes and puts in her bread. Iffhe is engaged before, flie Ihews him one,to iignify her engagement ; wKich if in thebud only, fhews the courtlhip is gone nofurther than the firll propofal and liking ;if half blown, or the like, it is an emblemof further progrefs ; if full blown, it fignifies that her choice is determined, fromwhence they can never recede j that is, Ihecan change the man that prefènts it, but hecannot challenge her til Ihe has worn itpublic]3% If any diflike fliould happen af-ter that, they are to be fhut up, never tohave any hufband. If fl.e has no engage-ment, but does not approve of the perfon,ihe makes him a low courtefy, with hereyes fhut till he is gone away. The wo-men, it is true, for all »this, have fomelittle coquetifli arts, difTembling their af-feAions now and then, but not often. Ifthe man be engaged, he wears fome favouror other tofhew it ; if he likes not the wo-man, he prefents her with nothing ; if the woman

Sig. Gaudentio di Lucca. 535woman faoiild make fome extraordinary-advances, without any of his iide, lie hasliberty to live a maid, or to be difpofed ofamong the widows, being looked upon asfuch, who, by the by, marry none butwidowers. But to return to the twins.It happened that the brother Vv'ho wentwith the lady to the altar, feeing flie hadno bud upon her breaft, fell in love withher, and ine with him ; the awe of the ce-remony hindered them from taking anyfurther notice of one another at that time.As file went down the ranks, the otherbrother faw her, and fell in love with herlikewife, and contrives to meet her with a^bud in his hand, juft as the ceremony end-ed ; which Ine accepts of taking him tobe the per Ion who had marched up withher to the altar ; but being obliged to gooff vv^ith the other young ladies, whetherthe concern (lie had been in, in performingthe ceremony before fuch an iiluUrlous al-fembly, or the heat of the weather, or thejoy (lie conceived in finding her aueclionreciprocal, or ail together, had fuch aneffed, that llie fell into a fainriiig-ht amongher companions ; v.ho opening her bofomin hade, not mindijig the flo^'er, it feiidown, and was trod under foot. Juft asflie was recovcied, the brother who per-form.ed the ceremony, came up and pre-fented his bud j fhe thinking it had been that

236 The Adventures ofthat flie had loft,» received it with a lookthat fliewed he had made a greater progrefsin her affeélions than what that flower ex-preffed. The laws not permitting any fur-ther converfation at the jundure, they re-tired to their refpective habitations. Sometime after, the brother who had the luckwhomto prefent the firft flower, for dillinc-tion I fhall call the younger brother, as hereally was, found a w.iy to make her a vifitby ftealth, at a grated window which, as Iobferved, was publicly prohibited by thewife governors, but privately connived atto enhance their love. He came to her,and, after fome amorous converfation,makes bold to prefent her the more advanc-ed mark: of his affe<5iion ; which ibe accept-ed of, and gave him in return a fcarf work-ed with hearts leparated by little brambles,to Ihew there w«ere fome difficulties for himto overcome yet : however, they gave oneanother mutual afiurances of love, and hewas permitted to profefs himfelf her lover,without declaring her name, for feme pri-vate reafons Ihe had. Not long after, theelder brother came, and procured an op-portunity of meeting her at the fame win-dow. The night was very dark, fo thathe could not fee the fecond flower whichfr.e had in her bofoniC : only )>,e receivedhim with greater figns of joy and freedomthan he expeiTted j but refieding on the ligns

Sig. Gaudentio di Lucca. 237 figns he had remarked in her countenance,and after her illnefs by a fort of natural va-nity for his own merits, flattered himfeifthat her paffion was rather greater than his,excufed himfeif for being io long withoutfeeing her, and added, that if he were tobe guided by the height of his flame, hewould fee her every night. She relìecìinghow lately fhe had feen him, thought hisdiligence was very extraordinary, but im»puted it to the ardour of his pallion ; infine, Ihe gave him fuch aiuired figns oflove, that he thought in himfeif he mightpafs the middle ceremony, and prefent herwith the full-blown flower, to make fureof her. She took it ; but told him fiiewould not wear it for fome time, till fliehad paffed fome forms, and had furtherproof of his conftancy ; but, for his con-firmation of her affection, llie put out herhand as far as the grate would permit,which he kiffcd with all the ardour of aninflamed lover, giving her a thoufand af-furances of his fidelity, and ihe in returngave him a riband with two hearts inter-woven with her own hair, feparated onlywith a little hedge of pom.egranates almoftripe, to fliew that the time of gatheringthe fruit was nigh at hand. Thus werethe three lovers in the greateft degree o£happinefs imaginable ; the brothers woreher favours on all public occafions, congra- t ulating

,23'8 The Adventures oftulating each other for the fuccefs in theiramours ; but, as lovers affect a fecrecy inall t:.ey do, never telling one another whowere the objects of their affeclion. Thenext great feail drew on, when the young-er brother thought it was time to prefentthe lall mark of his affection in order todemand her in marriage, which was ufuallyperformed in thofe public folemnities. Hetold her he hoped it was now time to re-ward his flame, by wearing the open flow-er, as a full fign of her confent, and gaveher a full-blown artificial carnation, withgold flames and little hearts on the leaves,interwoven with wonderful art and inge-nuity. She thinking it had been a repiti-tion of the ardour of his affedion, tookit, and put i: in her bofom with all themarks of tendernefs, by which the fairfex in all countries know how to rewardall the pains of their lovers in a moment.Upon this he refolved to aflc her of her pa-rents ; which was the only thing neceffaryon his fide, the woman having right to de-mand any man's fon in the kingdom, ifhe had but prefented her with the laftmark of his affeclion. The elder brotherhaving given in his fome time before,thought the parents approbation was theonly-.tking wanting on his fide, and reiolvesthe fame day on the fame thing. Theywere ftrangely furprifed to meet one ano-.ii ther j

Sìg. Gaudentio di Lucca. 239ther ; but feeing the dìiTerent favours, theydid not know what to make of it. Whenthe father came, they declared the caufe oftheir coming, in terms which fully expreff-ed the agony of their minds: the fatherwas in as great concern as they were, affur-ing them he had but one daughter, who,he was confident, would never give fuchencouragement to two lovers at the fametime, contrary to their laws ; but feeingtheir extreme likenefs, he gueiled theremuft be fome miftake. Upon this thedaughter v/as fent for ; who, being inform-ed it was to declare her confent in thechoice of her lover, came down with fourflowers in her bofom, not thinking but thetwo full blown had belonged to the fameperfcn, fmce ihe had received two beforeIhe had worn the firft. The defcriptionthe poets give of the goddefs Venus rifingout of the fea, could not be more beautifulthan the bloom that appeared in her cheekswhen Ihe came into the room. I happen-ed to be there prefent, being fent beforeby the Pophar, to let the father knovr ofthe regent's intended vifit; that being aconfiderable oflicer, he might order hisconcerns accordingly. As foon as theyoung lady heard the caufe of their com-ing, and faw them indiftinguifhably hkeeach other, with the public figns of herfavours wrought with her own hand, which

240 The Adventures ofwhich they brought along with them, fhecreamed out, \"I am betrayed !\" and im-mediately fell in a fwoon, Sit on the floor,almoft between ItertAO lovers. 1 he fa-ther, in a condition very little better, felldown by his daughter, and bathing herv/ith his tears, called to her to open hereyes, or he niuft die along with her. Theyoung men iiood like llatues, with rageand defpair in their looks at the fametime. I being the only indifferent perfoain the room, though extremely furprifedat the event; called her mother and wo-men to come to her aliìRance ; who car-ried her into another room, undrelledher, and, by proper remedies, broughther at lati to herfelf The firft word fhefaid was, \" Oh ! Berilla, what have youdone ? All the reft was nothiing but fobsand fighs, enough to melt the hardeftheart. When flie was in a condition toexplain herfelf, fhe declared, fhe liked theperfon of the man who went up withher to the altar j that fome time afterthe fame perfon, as fhe thought, had pre-fentcd her with the firlt marks of hisaffection, which flie accepted of, and infine had given her confent by wearingthe full-blown flower ; but which of thetwo brotheps it belonged to, fhe couldnot tell adding, that fhe was willing to ;fubmit to the decifioa of the elders, or to

Sig. Gaudentio DI Lucca. 241to undergo what punifhment they thoughtfit for her heedleis indifcretion ; but pro-tefted, that flie never defigned to enter-tain two perfons at the fame time, buttook them to be the fame perfon. Thecare of their marriages beting one of thefundamentals of their government, andthere being no provi/Ion in the iaw forthis extraordinary caie, the matter w^asreferred to the Pophar regent, who v/asto be there in a few days guards in the ;mean time were fet over the brothers,for fear of mifchief, till a full iiearing.The affair was difcuffed before the Popharregent, and the reft of the elders of theplace. The three lovers appeared beforethem, each in fuch agony as cannot beexpreffed. The brothers were fo alike,it was hard to diftinguiih one from theother. The regent aiked them, v^^hich ofthe two went up to the altar with theyoung lady ; the elder faid it was he ;which the younger did not deny. Thelady being interrogated, owned flie defign-ed to entertain the perfon that went upwith her to the altar, but went no fur-ther than the firft liking. Then they a(k-ed which of the two brothers gave thefirft flower ; the younger faid, he prefuni-ed he did, fmce he fell in love with heras fhe went down the ranks, and con-trived to give her the flower as foon as V - the

142 The Adventures ofthe ceremony was over, not knowing othis brother's affection, neither did ihebear any mark of engagement, but ac-cepted of his fervice ; the lady Oikewifeowning the receipt of fuch fiower, butthat file lofi it, fainting away in the croud ;but when, as fhe thought, he rcilored itto her, fhe did not like him quite fo well,as when fhe received it the fir it time, fup-pofmg them to be the fame pcrfon. Beingafked who gave her the fecond, third, ai^dlafl mark of engagement, it appeared to bethe younger brother, whole flower Hiewore publicly in her bofom ; but then fliereceived the full-blown flower from theelder brother alfo. The judges looked atone another for fome time, not knowingwell what to fay to the matter. Then theregent afked her, when fhe gave her con-fent, if fhe did not underftand the perfonto be him that went up with her to thealtar ? She owned (lie did ; which was theelder : but in fa6t had placed her affeclionson the perfon who gave her the firft fiower,which was the younger. Then the twobrothers were placed before her, and fhewas afked, that, fuppohng fhe were nowat liberty, without any engagement, whichof the two brothers fiie would chufe forher hufband ? fhe flopped, and bluflied atthe queftion, but af length fud, the young-er had been more afllduous in his court- fhip;