A Year's Journey through France and Part of Spain, Volume II (of 2) eBook

Philip Thicknesse
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 132 pages of information about A Year's Journey through France and Part of Spain, Volume II (of 2).

A Year's Journey through France and Part of Spain, Volume II (of 2) eBook

Philip Thicknesse
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 132 pages of information about A Year's Journey through France and Part of Spain, Volume II (of 2).

After all the blood of the victim animals was discharged, the Priests and Cybils retired beneath the theatre, and he who had received the bloody sacrifice, came forth and exposed himself, besmeared with blood, to the people, who all prostrated themselves before him, with reverential awe, as one who was thereby particularly sanctified, and whose person ought to be regarded with the highest veneration, and looked upon with holy horror; nor did this sanctification, I think, end with the ceremony, but rendered the person of the sanctified holy for twenty years.  An inscription cited by Gruter, seems to confirm this matter, who, after speaking of one Nepius Egnatius Faventinus, who lived in the year of Christ 176, says,

"Percepto Taurobolio Criobolioque feliciter,

Concludes with these words,

    "Vota Faventinus bis deni suscipit orbis,
    Ut mactet repetens aurata fronte bicornes.

The bis denus orbis seems to imply, the space of twice ten years.

And here I cannot help making a little comparison between the honours paid by the Roman citizens to their Emperors, and those of the present times to the Princes of the Blood Royal.  You must know that the present King’s brother, came to Lyons in the year 1775, and thus it is recorded in letters of gold upon their quay: 

LOUIS XVI.  REGNANT. 
EN MEMOIRE DE L’HEUREUX JOUR CINQ. 
SEPTEMBRE M,DCC,LXXV. 
OU
MONSIEUR FRERE DU ROI
ET MADAME
SONT ARRIVES EN CETTE VILLE
CE QUAI
DE L’AGREMENT DU PRINCE
ET PAR ORDONNANCE DU CONSULAT
DU DOUZE DU MEME MOIS
A ETE NOMME A PERPETUITE
QUAI MONSIEUR.

If the Bourgeoise of Lyons, however, are not men of genius, they are ingenious men, and they have a most delightful country to dwell in.  I think I may say, that from the high hills which hang about this city, and taking in the rivers, fertile vales, rude rocks, vine-yards, and country seats, far and near, that Lyons and its environs, afford a greater variety of natural and artificial beauties, than any spot in Europe.  It is, however, by no means a place for the winter residence of a stranger.  Most of the natives advanced in years, were carried off last winter.  The surly winds which come down the Rhone, with impetuous blasts, are very disagreeable and dangerous.  I found the cold intolerable in the beginning of May, out of the sunshine, and the sun intolerable in it.  In England I never wore but one under waistcoat; in Spain, and in the south of France, I found two necessary.  The Spaniards wear long cloaks, and we laugh at them; but the laugh would come more properly from them.  There is in those climates a vifness in the air that penetrates through and through; and I am sure that such who travel to the southward for the recovery of their health, ought to be ten times more upon their guard, to be well secured against the keen blasts the south of France, than even against an easterly wind in England.

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A Year's Journey through France and Part of Spain, Volume II (of 2) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.