Romæ antiquæ descriptio a view of the religion, laws, customs, manners, and dispositions of the ancient Romans, and others : comprehended in their most illustrious acts and sayings agreeable to history / written in Latine by ... Quintus Valerius Maximus ; and now carefully rendred into English ; together with the life of the author.

CHAP. I. Of Matrimonial Ceremonies, and Duty of Re∣lations.

• 1. Good Signes prec••ding Marriage.
• 2. Marriage-Feasts.
• 3. Women praised for living Widows.
• 4. First Divorce.
• 5. Matrimonial liberty and decency.
• 6. Conjugal Love.
• 7. Modest Consanguinity.
• 8. The Feast of Charistia, or Love.
• 9. Age honoured.
• 10. Youth observed, and in∣structed by example.

WHile we are searching into the rich and potent kingdom of Nature, it will not be unseaso∣nable to take notice of the antient and memorable In∣stitutions, as well of our own City, as of other Nati∣ons. For it is worth our while to know the first ori∣ginal of those happy Manners, and that way of living which we now enjoy under the best of Princes, seeing that the consideration of them may perhaps be profi∣table to the present Customes.

1. Among the Antients there was nothing either publickly or privately undertaken, unless they had first observed the signe; from which Custome, the South∣sayers were alwaies consulted before Marriages. And though they have left off the marking of Birds, or bodings of good or bad luck, yet nominally they fol∣low the foot••••eps of the old Custome.

2. The Women supp'd with the Men sitting, but the Men lay down: which Custome among men was observed in Heaven. For Iupiter is said to sup lying on his Couch, while Iuno and Minerva are in∣vited to sit. Which kind of severe Custome our Age more diligently observes in the Capitol than in their Houses: It being more proper to adhere to the Discipline of Goddesses than Women.

3. They that were content to be married but once, were honoured with a Crown of Chastity. For they believed that Matron to have an incorrupted mind, and sincere Loyalty, that would not leave the Chamber where she had first deposited her Virginity: and e∣steemed the experience of many Matrimonies to be a signe of some Incontinency.

4. There was no Divorce between Man and Wife till Five Hundred and Twenty Years after the City was built. The first was Spurius Car••ilius, who di∣vorced his Wife for being barren. Who though he appeared to have a good excuse for what he did, yet there were that blamed him enough, being such as believed that Conjugal Loyalty was to be preferred be∣fore desire of Children.

5. But that the Honour and Modesty of Matrons might be more sacred, when they were call'd into Court, no man was permitted to touch them, that their Gar∣ments might not be defiled by the contact of a strange hand. The use of Wine was formerly unknown to the Roman Women, for fear it might bring them to any disgrace, because the first degree to forbidden V••∣nus is from father Bacchus. Yet that their Chastity might not alway occasion undecent retirement, but that they might appear in a comely Garb of converse, through the Indulgence of their Husbands they wore Purple, and ornaments of Gold. For then Corru∣pters of Marriages were not fea••'d, but Women

might modestly behold, and chastly be beheld.

6. When there was any diff••rence between Hus∣band and Wife, they went to the Chappel of the God∣dess Viriplaca, which is in the Palace: and having li∣ber••y to talk what they had a minde to, after the heat was over, they returned home very good friends. This Goddess had her name from appealing of men; wor∣thy of adoration, and to be worshipped not with choice but exquisite Sacrifices: as being the Keeper of dayly and Family-peace, rendring to men and women, under the same yoak of Peace, what is due to the Majesty of men, and the Honour of women.

7. This Modesty among Wives, is it not necessary among other Relations? for that I may by a small ex∣ample, set forth the great ••orce thereo••: formerly neither Father us'd to wash with his Son at age, no•• Father-in-law with Son-in-law. Whence it appears, there was as much Religion attributed to Kindred and Consanguinity, as to the Immortal Gods; while a∣mong those that were thus ti'd, it was no more law∣ful to strip themselves, than it was in the Temple.

8. Our Ancestors also instituted a sacr••d Feast, which was called Charistia, where none w••re admit∣ted but Kindred; that i•• there were any difference a∣mong Relations, there might be a reconcil••ation by the help of Friends, in the midst of their sacr••d Rites and holy Mir••h.

9. Y••uth gave to Old Age such circumspect and mani••old Honour, as if the elder were the common Fa∣ther of the younger. There upon Council-day, if a∣ny young man wa••ted upon any Senator, Relation, or Friend o•• his Father, to the Senate, they stay with∣out door till the other came to per••orm the same duty home again. By which voluntary attendance they ••ccustom'd their bodies and minds to undergo publick Offices, and in a short time became more experienced

in labour and meditation. Being invited to a Feast, they diligently inquired who was to be there, that they might not be forced to rise to give way to their Elder: and when the Cloth was taken away, they always rose and went away first: and all the time of Supper they were very sparing and modest in their discourse.

10. The Elder were wont to sing the famous deeds of their Ancestors, in Verse, at their Festivals, thereby to stir up Youth by imitation thereof. What m••re splendid or more profitable than this kind of Combat? Youth honour'd Gray Hairs, and superannuated Age encourag'd those who were ready to enter into Action with the nourishment of their favour. What Athens, what School, what forraign Education may I pr••••er to this Domestick Discipline? This raised the Camilli Sci∣pio's, Fabricii, Marcelli, and Fabii: and that I may not be tedious in recounting all the lights of our noble Empire, thus the most glorious part of Heaven the sa∣cred Caesars obtained their same.