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第4章

numa pompilius-第4章

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  The office of Pontifex Maximus; or chief priest; was to declare
and interpret the divine law; or; rather; to preside over sacred
rites; he not only prescribed rules for public ceremony; but regulated
the sacrifices of private persons; not suffering them to vary from
established custom; and giving information to every one of what was
requisite for purposes of worship or supplication。 He was also
guardian of the vestal virgins; the institution of whom; and of
their perpetual fire; was attributed to Numa; who; perhaps; fancied
the charge of pure and uncorrupted flames would be fitly intrusted
to chaste and unpolluted persons; or that fire; which consumes; but
produces nothing; bears an analogy to the virgin estate。 In Greece;
wherever a perpetual holy fire is kept; as at Delphi and Athens the
charge of it is committed; not to virgins; but widows past the time of
marriage。 And in case by any accident it should happen that this
fire became extinct; as the holy lamp was at Athens under the
tyranny of Aristion; and at Delphi; when that temple was burnt by
the Medes; as also in the time of the Mithridatic and Roman civil war;
when not only the fire was extinguished; but the altar demolished;
then; afterwards; in kindling this fire again; it was esteemed an
impiety to light it from common sparks or flame; or from anything
but the pure and unpolluted rays of the sun; which they usually effect
by concave mirrors; of a figure formed by the revolution of an
isosceles rectangular triangle; all the lines from the circumference
of which meeting in a centre; by holding it in the light of the sun
they can collect and concentrate all its rays at this one point of
convergence; where the air will now become rarefied; and any light;
dry; combustible matter will kindle as soon as applied; under the
effect of the rays; which here acquired the substance and active force
of fire。 Some are of opinion that these vestals had no other
business than the preservation of this fire; but others conceive
that they were keepers of other divine secrets concealed from all
but themselves; of which we have told all that may lawfully be asked
or told; in the life of Camillus。 Gegania and Verenia; it is recorded;
were the names of the first two virgins consecrated and ordained by
Numa; Canuleia and Tarpeia succeeded: Servius afterwards added two;
and the number of four has continued the present time。
  The statutes prescribed by Numa for the vestals were these: that
they should take a vow of virginity for the space of thirty years; the
first ten of which they were to spend in learning their duties; the
second ten in performing them; and the remaining ten in teaching and
instructing others。 Thus the whole term being completed; it was lawful
for them to marry; and; leaving the sacred order; to choose any
condition of life that pleased them; but this permission few; as
they say; made use of; and in cases where they did so; it was observed
that their change was not a happy one; but accompanied ever after with
regret and melancholy; so that the greater number; from religious
fears and scruples; forbore; and continued to old age and death in the
strict observance of a single life。
  For this condition he compensated by great privileges and
prerogatives; as that they had power to make a will in the lifetime of
their father; that they had a free administration of their own affairs
without guardian or tutor; which was the privilege of women who were
the mothers of three children; when they go abroad; they have the
fasces carried before them; and if in their walks they chance to
meet a criminal on his way to execution; it saves his life; upon
oath made that the meeting was an accidental one; and not concerted or
of set purpose。 Any one who presses upon the chair on which they are
carried; is put to death。 If these vestals commit any minor fault;
they are punishable by the high priest only; who scourges the
offender; sometimes with her clothes off; in a dark place; with a
curtain drawn between; but she that has broken her vow is buried alive
near the gate called Collina; where a little mound of earth stands
inside the city; reaching some little distance; called in Latin agger;
under it a narrow room is constructed; to which a descent is made by
stairs; here they prepare a bed; and light a lamp; and leave a small
quantity of victuals; such as bread; water; a pail of milk; and some
oil; that so that body which had been consecrated and devoted to the
most sacred service of religion might not be said to perish by such
a death as famine。 The culprit herself is put in a litter; which
they cover over; and tie her down with cords on it; so that nothing
she utters may be heard。 They then take her to the forum; all people
silently go out of the way as she passes; and such as follow accompany
the bier with solemn and speechless sorrow; and indeed; there is not
any spectacle more appalling; nor any day observed by the city with
greater appearance of gloom and sadness。 When they come to the place
of execution; the officers loose the cords; and then the high
priest; lifting his hands to heaven; pronounces certain prayers to
himself before the act; then he brings out the prisoner; being still
covered; and placing her upon the steps that lead down to the cell;
turns away his face with the rest of the priests; the stairs are drawn
up after she has gone down; and a quantity of earth is heaped up
over the entrance to the cell; so as to prevent it from being
distinguished from the rest of the mound。 This is the punishment of
those who break their vow of virginity。
  It is said; also; that Numa built the temple of Vesta; which was
intended for a repository of the holy fire; of a circular form; not to
represent the figure of the earth; as if that were the same as
Vesta; but that of the general universe; in the centre of which the
Pythagoreans place the element of fire; and give it the name of
Vesta and the unit; and do not hold that the earth is immovable; or
that it is situated in the centre of the globe; but that it keeps a
circular motion about the seat of fire; and is not in the number of
the primary elements; in this agreeing with the opinion of Plato; who;
they say; in his later life; conceived that the earth held a lateral
position; and that the central and sovereign space was reserved for
some nobler body。
  There was yet a farther use of the priests; and that was to give
people directions in the national usages at funeral rites。 Numa taught
them to regard these offices; not as a pollution; but as a duty paid
to the gods below; into whose hands the better part of us is
transmitted; especially they were to worship the goddess Libitina; who
presided over all the ceremonies performed at burials; whether they
meant hereby Proserpina; or; as the most learned of the Romans
conceive; Venus; not inaptly attributing the beginning and end of
man's life to the agency of one and the same diety。 Numa also
prescribed rules for regulating the days of mourning; according to
certain times and ages。 As; for example; a child of three years was
not to be mourned for at all; one older; up to ten years; for as
many months as it was years old; and the longest time of mourning
for any person whatsoever was not to exceed the term of ten months;
which was the time appointed for women that lost their husbands to
continue in widowhood。 If any married again before that time; by the
laws of Numa; she was to sacrifice a cow big with calf。
  Numa; also; was founder of several other orders of priests; two of
which I shall mention; the Salii and the Fecials; which are among
the clearest proofs of the devoutness and sanctity of his character。
These Fecials; or guardians of peace; seem to have had their name from
their office; which was to put a stop to disputes by conference and
speech; for it was not allowable to take up arms until they had
declared all hopes of accommodation to be at an end; for in Greek;
too; we call it peace when disputes are settled by words; and not by
force。 The Romans commonly despatched the Fecials; or heralds; to
those who had offered them injury; requesting satisfaction; and; in
case t

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