1they took great Care that the firſt Soldier had
not an unlucky Name; which was a Rule they
alſo obſerved in the Ceremony of purifying their
Soldiers and their Colonies, wherein, the Per
ſon that was to lead the Beaſt to the Sacrifice
muſt have a fortunate Name. And the Cen
ſors, in framing out the publick Revenues and
Eſtates, always began with the Lake Lucrinus,
becauſe of the Lucrativeneſs of its Name, So
likewiſe, being terrified with the diſmal Name
of Epidamnus, that ſuch as went thither might
not be ſaid to be gone a damnable Voyage,
they changed its Name into Dyrraehium; ſo
likewiſe they ſerved Beneventum, which before
was called Maleventum. Neither, on the other
Hand, can I forbear laughing at their Conceit,
that in beginning Undertakings of this Sort it
was good to repeat certain favourable Words
and Charms.
not an unlucky Name; which was a Rule they
alſo obſerved in the Ceremony of purifying their
Soldiers and their Colonies, wherein, the Per
ſon that was to lead the Beaſt to the Sacrifice
muſt have a fortunate Name. And the Cen
ſors, in framing out the publick Revenues and
Eſtates, always began with the Lake Lucrinus,
becauſe of the Lucrativeneſs of its Name, So
likewiſe, being terrified with the diſmal Name
of Epidamnus, that ſuch as went thither might
not be ſaid to be gone a damnable Voyage,
they changed its Name into Dyrraehium; ſo
likewiſe they ſerved Beneventum, which before
was called Maleventum. Neither, on the other
Hand, can I forbear laughing at their Conceit,
that in beginning Undertakings of this Sort it
was good to repeat certain favourable Words
and Charms.
AND there are ſome that affirm, that Men's
Words are ſo powerful, that they are obey'd
even by Beaſts and Things inanimate. I omit
Cato's Fancy, that Oxen when fatigued may
be refreſh'd by certain Words. They tell us
too, that they uſed with certain Prayers and
Forms of Words to entreat and beſeech their
Mother Earth to give Nouriſhment to foreign
Trees, and ſuch as ſhe was not accuſtom'd to
bear; and that the Trees alſo were to be
humbly pray'd to ſuffer themſelves to be re
mov'd, and to thrive in another Ground. And
ſince we are got into this fooliſh Strain of re
cording the Follies of other Men, I will alſo
mention, for Diverſion Sake, what they tell us,
that the Words of Mankind are of ſuch Effect,
that Turnips will grow incredibly, if when we
ſow them we at the ſame Time pray them to
be gracious and lucky to us, our Families, and
our Neighbourhood. But if theſe be ſo, I can't
imagine why the Baſilico-root ſhould, as they
ſay, grow the faſter for being curſt and abuſed
when it is ſown. But let us leave this idle Sub
ject. It is undoubtedly proper, omitting all
theſe uncertain Superſtitions, to ſet about our
Work with a holy and religious Preparation.
Words are ſo powerful, that they are obey'd
even by Beaſts and Things inanimate. I omit
Cato's Fancy, that Oxen when fatigued may
be refreſh'd by certain Words. They tell us
too, that they uſed with certain Prayers and
Forms of Words to entreat and beſeech their
Mother Earth to give Nouriſhment to foreign
Trees, and ſuch as ſhe was not accuſtom'd to
bear; and that the Trees alſo were to be
humbly pray'd to ſuffer themſelves to be re
mov'd, and to thrive in another Ground. And
ſince we are got into this fooliſh Strain of re
cording the Follies of other Men, I will alſo
mention, for Diverſion Sake, what they tell us,
that the Words of Mankind are of ſuch Effect,
that Turnips will grow incredibly, if when we
ſow them we at the ſame Time pray them to
be gracious and lucky to us, our Families, and
our Neighbourhood. But if theſe be ſo, I can't
imagine why the Baſilico-root ſhould, as they
ſay, grow the faſter for being curſt and abuſed
when it is ſown. But let us leave this idle Sub
ject. It is undoubtedly proper, omitting all
theſe uncertain Superſtitions, to ſet about our
Work with a holy and religious Preparation.
Ab Jove principium, Muſæ;—
Jovis omnia plena.
Jovis omnia plena.
We ought therefore to begin our Undertaking
with a clean Heart, and with devout Oblati
ons, and with Prayers to Almighty God to
implore his Aſſiſtance, and Bleſſing upon the
Beginnings of our Labours, that it may have
a happy and proſperous Ending, with Strength
and Happineſs to it and its Inhabitants, with
Content of Mind, Encreaſe of Fortune, Succeſs
of Induſtry, Acquiſition of Glory, and a Suc
ceſſion and Continuance of all good Things.
So much for our Preparation.
with a clean Heart, and with devout Oblati
ons, and with Prayers to Almighty God to
implore his Aſſiſtance, and Bleſſing upon the
Beginnings of our Labours, that it may have
a happy and proſperous Ending, with Strength
and Happineſs to it and its Inhabitants, with
Content of Mind, Encreaſe of Fortune, Succeſs
of Induſtry, Acquiſition of Glory, and a Suc
ceſſion and Continuance of all good Things.
So much for our Preparation.
The End of Book II.
12[Figure 12]
12[Figure 12]