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Proserpinae nuptiarum demeacula, et cetera, quae silentio tegit Eleusis, Atticae sacrarium; miserandae PSyches animae, Supplicis tum, subsiste. ' Althra, in the Supplianis of Euripides, makes her earliest prayer to Her as the Protectress Of Eleusis. In-deed she was alWays figured as the heli' and coinsorter of the amicted, an impersonation of the most indulgent mercy. It isoston dissiculi to restrain the milid, amidst these descriptions, froni thinking in tho most solemn directiori ; for the Goddess is involiod with much of that sentimental devotion whicli the Μ donna so widely receives as the Refugium et Consolatrix amic
The great poticy of the Μysteries WaS to Secure SecreSy. This Was in every Way induced by horiour and by fear. Thetraitor, could he even have eXpected impunity, levelled himsolfWith the common vulgar of mankind. Bayle, in his Historical
Dictionary, states that red-haired men were offered to the manes of Osiris: and according to Horace, in his seventeenth Epistio of the si si book, the common beggars and impostors of Romema de their last appetit to charitable credulity per sanctum juratus dicat Osirim. V The rose garland was an emblem os siletice. We have the common phrase, dolabiless of Such origin, ρ under tho rose biit I hesitate to determine Whether it Wastho sigii of considelice Dom iis use in the mysteries, or Dombeing Woria on the head at private Dasis, the conversation ut
which in ali civilised countrios has besen held sacred. But Whythis secrosy 8 It is almost incredibie, but it admits not of any
doubi, that it a rose hom tho seisistiness os a destred monopoly. So mean was the common opinion of the deities, entertained by thogreat und devout as Woli as the obscure and ignorant, that theyRarod lo bo supplanted in the divine regariis by Other nations. They droaded the transfer of these regards on inducements of
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by richor bribes and aliena ted to the de Iace and aggrandise-ment of their Dos lWe may noW enquire into the architecture Which Would admit of ali the wondrous illusions Whicli initiation required. There Was a SucceSSion os platsermS. Immense perspectives strotched out to the eye. Perhaps there Was a solid perspective, liko that os Palladio's theatro at Vicen ga. The actors musthave been numerou8, and the scenery could only be of the most curious und sumptuous description. D kness gave Way besore the sui deii blage of Νaptha, and the sostest solands of musicstole tapon the sense. Withia there Was a facility, a naturainess, in these changes, so that the strongest minds could not resist theaWe and rapture Whicli attended them. Eleusis stood admir lysor the purpose. It looked immediately upon Salamis in the Saronio Gulf: it Was abolat Inid-Way between Athens and Nisaea. The extent os Grecian bulldings Was nevor their distinguishingproperty. Their proportion, their sinisti, their lighiness, combi-ned with certain though unobtruding strength, constitute thoircharm. But in this templo of the Μysteries, we must thin k of
penetralia Were in a finali stirino at iis end, where the deityunsolded her veil to the votary. These measiarements generally
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twenty-one. This os Eleusis, in iis reach Dom north to solith, was three hundred and fixty, Doni east to west three hundredand one. We must compensate sor their comparative diminutiveness by every beauty of design and decoration. The SNeeping perystyle, the nobie pillar, the exquisite intercolumniation lΝor must the trea fures of gold be sorgoiten in the celebration ofiliose of art. Tho Phocians piundered Delphi of two militonstwo hundred and fifty thousand potands sterting. Shakspeare has Woli seigod the spirit of the scene in his se Winter's Talo.
dition os offerings was sited out for it. It reposed on those pure Walers, the most beauti ful of the Cyclades. Tho spol isnow covered With ruitis, but Cynthus stili rises, and Inopus stili flows, to recati the iaste of the Worshippers and pilgrinis ultra ted to these lovely shores. Aulilo, in his Iournal os a Visit to Constantinople, says of the ruitis on this istanti, με thos
lie mini ed in undistinguished confusion; and froin their si geand number they had more the appearance of the fragments of some fallen molintain, than the remains of man, handiWork. Stili, is Wo traco the Μysteries to their Solarce, We Deed offer no apology for the dimensions of the structuros in Whichthey Were celebrated. Herodotus describes a labyrinth near
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so vast that miles mu si talie the place of seet, und enumerationmost cautious leaves uniold the Vista of colon ades. Philam, in the stream of the Nile, Was an istand bulli up into onetemple. Ιt Was a principat Sacrarium, a metropolitic stirine. Amasis is recorded to have bulli a stupendous one ut Μemphis.
And indesed Rome constructed many large but stili greatly
inferior edifices. Ono was dedica ted to Venus and Nome. Iis columns Were siXty feet high, eighteen Dei in circumferetice, oscii fluting eight inches right across. It was bulli by Adrian. Perhaps tho Isiac Rule was not the most savourable to architecture. It wanted much contrivarico in iis bulldings for thopurpose of esse t. The temple of this divinity is the most perfect work in Pompsit: but it is not grand. Nor does it seemto have cared very anxiousty for the more beautiful of the aris; for the frescoes talien Dom it, and whicli are noW in the museum of Naples, are considerod very inferior to the design and mana gement of the mosaics of Herculaneum.-It shali now be mybusiness to attempt a generat harmony of the Eleusinian Μystories With those Whicli preceded this particular institute. With the Egyptian they have a natural Connection aSweli as strict identity. Some of these coincidences have been remarked. The ship, and the ark in Whicli Osiris Was enclosed,
buit answers to the apis : the dog-headed Alercvry appears in both and Ospocialty the mystic dea th of the initiatod, thoirsight of the futuro Worid, their presentation to the Inferi, theirretum to lila, invariably recur. Is We have a just representationof tho tomb of Psammis opened by Belgoni, by that we might justify the analogy. But Without that, sussicient is known. Tho ferry-boat of the initiatod, his introduction to Osiris whorialed heaven, earth, and heli, he being the Dis of Tartarus, the lotos, the emblem os life and morat progression,-are familiarpictures. And the honour is piat iapon Isis that she perfecis all
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by touching the candidate With the Alatheia, the breastplate of truth l Μuch information, though not falling Under my plan, may be obtained on the Egyptiali character of this Ordor Domthe learnsed and adorned Work of Laurentius Pignorius. Thatos Aloursius I have not been able to consuli. Perhaps We may go even higher than Egyptian lore. The Cabiri wero considered a fori os demigods. Esculapius Was oneos them. The name, is a synonym os later times, seems taken om Cabea, the original mode of SPelling cavea, a caVern, a recess in the earth. Almost ali divinities had such an origin. This Worship ovidently existed in the time of Cambyses, for heprofaned iis temple and statues. These founders Were Ship-builders according to Sanchonia thon; Ι renounce, hoWeVer, aliconnection with Ephraim Jenkinson, though Ι have pronouncediliat name besore. They Were early historians. They Were universat fabricators and artisans. They more the sathors os
ali suci, ' as apply science to practical utility. They Were dolabiless Phenicians. The ship HWays held a place in their mysteries; but What is most convincing is, that Cabiria is oneof the names of Ιsis lThere can bo no doubi that the tradition os a DolugeWaS PreSerVed among these symbols. Though the Arkito allusion, and the exploits of the Νoachidae, are osten resolved intonStronomic Phenomena, he crescent boat of the inoon with iis double sit ver proWs, the glories of the principat constellations,-yet this was the subsequent Use of the legend. ThUS Were pre-SerVed some remains os truth, fome archives of history. Themourning, With Whicli the rites Were beguia, eXpressed the fato of the worid submerged, and tho danger of the family that WastosSed Upon the superincumbent Waves. The wanderings Whichwere depicted,-Wanderings of incertitude, bereaVement, and deSPair,-denoted the erratio courses and drises of the diluvianship. The image, Which was laid out as in death, represente lthe generat extinctiori of the species, together With the probabie destruction os all. Wallings and shrielis, as of a funerat, riangthrough each recess. The reviviscation was the subject of themost rapturous delight and pratse. Μ an was restored. The
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race Was perpetuated. Sudden Shouis of joy Were raised. Thetrumpset peHed and the cymbal clashed. Darkness was turnedinto light, and the sacellum blaged with spontaneous illuminations. Processions Wound into VieW, Wreathed With vernat gar-lands and bursting into lyric Songs. Α strong similitude prevatis belween ali the mystic rites. Tho story varies, and Sometimes the divine patrons are changed. The emblems are commonly the Same. Whether the scena boin Eleusis or in Samothrace,-in the chambers of sculptured Workmanship and around the altar of classical device, or amid sttho Trophonian den, the Μithratio grotio, and tho Hermaiccave, Whether the dilaceration be of an Osiris, a Bacchus, oran Adonis, - the legend8 refer to a common origin, and the
ceremontes adumbrate a Common QVent.
It will be necessary for the student of the hidden doctrinoto be very caresul as to his system of hermaneutics. Etymologyshould be, almost, his last refource. But chiesy let him bo on his guard against the strange opinion of Faber and others, that there may be compotand etymons of disserent langu es. Is ono language Will not serve, the adduction os a second can but bemost arbitrary and perplexing. And let him boware how hoyields to soland : and scarcely Iess hoW, in reducing Words Domtheir accidenis to their radicias, he seelis the simple retention of the tollers whicli his theory Wants. Criticism-should bo thohighest couri os truth, alas, hoW osten is it operi to trich
proved by a referetice to the Druids. Phenicia, at the time of their influenco in Britain, osten sent her Ships to oiar inoreS.
This country Was the principat school of the superstition, and in iis colleges educated tho Belgian and tho Gaul. The Scythians gere of the fame religion. ΝοW Herodotus spealis os certain Hyperboreans who Were peculiar favolarites With the inhabitants of Delos. These, it is morally certain, Were OUruncestors. The barley-staik was their mutuat symbol. The PrieSts of our colantry Wore the fame amulet With the Egyptian Priesis. The Steer Was the sacrod animal. The mystic pall
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contained nearly the fame symbols as the Isiac cista. There Was initiation. There Was the common sitirk that an ultimate poWer, called Esus, received the worship paid to subordinategods. In Μona Was the sacred retreat, and thither Dom alicountries of the noriti pressed the rich and poWerfui, that theymight hecome versed in these mysterieS.
I have purposely avoided, hi therio, the ingenious speculationos Warbitrion, that the descent of AEneas, in the fixili book of the Eneid, is a description of the Eleusinian rites. He bendsit to a particular argument to whicli ali Will not consent. It is this, that every epic must be conducted on the rule of teachingone great leading morat. To this We cannot subscribe. Wedo not discover it in Homer and Virgil. We bellove that mysuch vieW suggested by this critic, might be mel by another assound invented by that Ιs not AEneas initiatod in the lessermySteries, those of Hercules, by Evander in tho eighth book of tho AEnoid 8 Both theso optes are certain kinds of history, and the poets havo done their best to clotho them With the adorn-ments of their art. That Virgil wrote sor the inculcation os pietyto the gods seems very questionabis; sor though he constantlygives his hero the epithet ερ pius, ' he as constantly exhibiis him the spori of the principat deities, who porsecuto him With tholoWest Spite, and never sor a moment pretend to chasten him forthe purpose of eliciting and proving his virtve. Μay not this epithet design his filial ploty rather than that whicli WarinstoWards gods 8 Tho main design is apparent in every line, toflatior the Roman nation by the character of iis presumed anceStor, and to justify the gross usurpations of iis arnis. And VirgilWaS not a probabie party to such a morat. I e Was a Stoic. Athorough bellevor in the mysteries Would scarcely have Spolien, as lis spealis, of the illaudati Busiridis aras ' in the ope ingos his third book of Georgics. Νor are his Well-known lines in the second book quito a manual os devotion: happy is hewho dives into the reasoris of things, Who trampleS Upon eVery
Τo fhow what any ingenious scholiast may do, let the reader turn to the Paper son the Prometheus of 2Eschylus,) in the Transactions of the Royal Societyof Literature ; Vol. I.
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fear, even upon inexorabie late itself, and not less do*ing thoroar of the insatiable Acheron. And is the descont of his hero into the shades, denote his initiation, the very fame mightho said of tho intention of Homer in respect to Ulysses. In theolovonth book of the Odyssey he enters the Cimmerian cave, visits tho dark abolles Where lis finds heroines and heroes, tantilat tengili, scared by the cries of the lost, he hurries to his stips. It is an opisodo in both poenis. Biat could Homer, in his age, have dared thus to ianveil the mysteries, is his descriptions Were intended to represent them Θ Or is Virgil, froin the countryand period in Which he lived, ran not the fame haZard, hoW after his publication could the mysteries be mysteries any longer ZYet he can speak of the mystica vannus Iacchi, '-an inferior instituto to that os Ceres. But they continued about four hundred years after the Christian aera, and Julian was initiatod in them, repatring to Eleusis for the eXpreSS Purpose, and after-Wards inviting the supreme pontisr of that Worshil' into Gaul. Nothing sooner dissolves the charm of poetic composition thanthe baro suspicion that the bard has never felt the fine enthusiasm, that he is only taking ad vantage of excited Deling to impress particular opinion8, that he is Setting politios to Verse, that ho is a Μachiavol With a laurei on his brow and a tyro in
his hand. The mysteries could not have contained those particular revelations und apparitions which wero disclosed to thohero, Unless arranged for the occasion : and the apostrophe toΜarcellus, so eXquisite on the supposed reality of this vision, is quite destroyed When it occurs in the midst of suci, ceremontes. The horn and ivory doors are borroWed froni Homer, Whoascribes similis language to Penelope: and as the ivory dooropens to the dreams Whicli are only imaginary, AEneas, on that principie, by coming out of it anil not the gate of horn, Would represent the whole secret, is initiation Wore intended, to bosabulous and nugatory. As it is, it fornis a delicate key whichthe poet puis into the hand of his reader.
Felix, qui potuit rerum cognOScere caUSaS, Atque metus omnes et inexorabile fatum Subjecit pedibus, strepitumque Acherontis avari.
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man, or Class of men ; but that the institute arose, and accidentally, froin the change in Writing. The symbol Was leti onthe temples and in the sacred books: but an arbitrary character Was introduced in every other connection. In a seW generations the symbolic became the sacred character exclusively : and was
Understood only by sacred persons. Sigris, like these, Wouldsoon striko the multitude With an obscure blind a We, and onlythe priesis could interpret them. Theti occurred the doubio temptation, avari e to make sain os them, and ambition to turn them into means of in ence. As the most wealthy and intellectual Would bo the most curious to pry into them, So it becameneceSSary to Support the claim to superior insight by the glossos sophistry and plausibility. Thore Was littis dissicut ty in thopreServation os secresy; sor on iis violation, the mystagoguestost their spoli, and the initiated their distinction. And thenas priesthoods Were Wanted for the more popular rites, and governnients found the influence to be great exerted by themoVer the populace,-Statesmen and kings thought favourably of the Alythic institute, hecauso it kept the inserior religious functionaries in check. I there re conclude, Whatever of deceptionthere Was in it, it Was not the effect os an original plan todeceive, but of a yielding to circumstance and a compliance With temptation. Nor is it probabio that in the Greater Μysteries there Was any low debauchery. Being sanctioned by the Public magistrate and the virtuous philosopher, this Would beRn Unreasona te suspicion. The symbols, hoWever, Were of thegrossest hind. And in the ordinary services of Isis,-the constant ministry of her various temples,-We have the Strongestproose of the most profligate excesses and cruei seductionstaking place. The impression produced by the Alysteries on differens
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sacred emblems Were of such a loathsome character that themost passing allusion could not be endured to them. Thescenes Dom Whicli profligacy turns aWay, Were the deepest type, and the holy ground, of Paganism. It is of these mysteries
in their former stato that we speak: there is a sequel os astili darker character to their history.-ΝeVer Was there a more
un&unded assumption than that they taught the Unity of tho Divine poWer, the sirst clites cause. Taylor, the translator os Plato, than whom Plato never had a stalancher and more loyaldisciple, maintains that it is evident that he was a real belleverin his country's gods. Socrates Would Surely never have refused to bo initiatod had he expected this doctrine as the result. Cicero, in his Νatura Deorum, though he had been educated at Athens, never clearly concludes it. It would have been tholoud boast of the philosophers Who thronged the colari and camp of the Apostate, When he had biotted the cross Dom the