he was told they meant as an expression of joy, but which had nothing joyful or even pleasing in his ear. The royal preacher seems to allude to this singular custom in these words: wisdom hath "sent forth her maidens," she "crieth upon the highest places of the city." In this passage, the invitation is given by a number of female servants, as in Egypt; and it was not a private message, but a kind of public proclamation, in which the table is represented as furnished, and every preparation made: "Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled." งาน The Persians send a deputation to meet their guests: this deputation are called openers of the way; and the more distinguished the persons sent, and the greater the distance to which they go, so much greater is the honour. So it is proclaimed; " Go forth and behold king Solomon, with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him. The bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him." The names of the persons to be invited, were inscribed upon tablets, and the gate was set open to receive those who had obtained them; but to prevent any getting in that had no ticket, only one leaf of the door was left open; and that was strictly guarded by the servants of the family. Those who were admitted, had to go along a narrow passage to the room; and after all who had received tickets of admission were assembled, the master of the house rose and shut to the door; and then the entertainment began. V The Greeks also issued tickets of admission to their en • Trav. p. 56. + Prov. ix, 1, &c. p. 142. Potter's Grecian Antiq. vol. ii, p. 365, et seq. " Morier's Trav. vol. i, p. 128. ▾ Ibid. tertainments, although relations often went without invitation; thus in Homer, the valiant Menelaus went to an entertainment in Agamemnon's tent, without being invited: Αυτοματος δε οι ηλθε βοήν αγαθος Μενέλαος. Il. lib. ii, 1. 408. It appears from this statement, that the Jews were much stricter in admitting persons to their tables than the Greeks, although both used the formality of written invitations. Our Lord evidently refers to the custom of his own nation, in his answer to one who idly inquired, Are there few that be saved? "Strive," said he, " to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us: and he shall answer and . say unto you, I know you not whence ye are.”w The first ceremony, after the guests arrived at the house of entertainment, was the salutation performed by the master of the house, or one appointed in his place. Among the Greeks, this was sometimes done by embracing with arms around; but the most common salutation was by the conjunction of their right hands, the right hand being reckoned a pledge of fidelity and friendship. Sometimes they kissed the lips, hands, knees, or feet, as the person deserved more or less respect. The Jews welcomed a stranger to their house in the same way; for our Lord complains to Simon, that he had given him no kiss; had welcomed him to his table with none of the accustomed tokens of respect.y In Hindostan, when a person of rank and opulence receives a guest, whom he wishes to distinguish by peculiar Luke xiii, 24. - Odyss. lib. xxi, 1. 223, 224. y Matt. vii, 44. marks of regard, he pours upon his hands and arms, in the presence of the whole company, a delightful odoriferous perfume, puts a golden cup into his hand, and pours wine into it till it run over; assuring him at the same time, that it is to him a great pleasure to receive him into his house, and that he shall find under his roof every comfort which he could bestow,a The reference to this custom, which at one time was probably general throughout the east, in the twenty-third Psalm, is at once beautiful and striking: "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest mine head with oil, my cup runneth over." The Lord had early received the Psalmist into favour; raised him to the highest honours from a very humble condition; and, what was infinitely better, he set before him the inestimable blessings of redeeming love, prepared him by a copious unction of the holy Spirit to enjoy them, and welcomed him in the most honourable manner, by putting the cup of salvation into his hand, in the presence of all his people, and pouring into it with unsparing liberality, the wine of heavenly consolation.b Ho The ancient Greeks and Romans sat at meals. mer's heroes were ranged on separate seats along the wall, with a small table before each, on which the meat and 'drink were placed. This custom is still observed in a Memoirs of Captain Wilson, p. 80. b The flat roof of the house is often used, in the east, as the drawingroom in which they receive company, till supper is ready. Forbes's Orient. Mem. vol. iii, p. 82. c Æneid. lib. vii, 1. 176. d Odyssey, lib. xvii, 1. 447. Στην έτως ες μέσσον, εμης απάνευθε τραπέζης. From these words, which the poet puts into the mouth of Antinous, the custom of every one in company eating by himself seems to be clearly ascertained. See also lib. xx, 1, 259. China, and perhaps some other parts of the greater Asia. When Ulysses arrived at the palace of Alcinous, the king displaced his son Laodamas, in order to seat Ulysses in á magnificent chair. The same posture was preferred by the Egyptians and the ancient Israelites. But, afterwards, when men became soft and effeminate, they exchanged their seats for beds, in order to drink with more ease; yet even then, the heroes who drank sitting were still thought entitled to praise; and those who accustomed themselves to a primitive and severe way of living, retained the ancient posture. This was done by the cynic philosophers, as we learn from Plautus: "potius in subsellio Cynice accipiemur, quam in lectis." The custom of reclining was introduced from the nations of the east, and particularly from Persia, where it seems to have been adopted at a very remote period. The Old Testament Scriptures allude to both customs: but they furnish undeniable proofs of the sitting posture, long before common authors took notice of the other. It was the custom in Isaac's family to sit at meat; for Jacob thus addressed his aged father: "Arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me." At the entertainment which Joseph gave his brethren, on their return to Egypt, they seem to have followed the custom of their fathers; for "they sat before him, the first-born according to his birth-right, and the youngest according to his youth." In the court of Saul, many ages after this, Abner sat at table by his master's side; and David also had his place allotted to him, which is emphatically e Iliad, lib. ix, 1. 220. Odyssey, lib. i, 1. 3; lib. vii et viii. called his seat. As this is undoubtedly the most natural and dignified posture, so it seems to have been universally adopted by the first generations of men; and it was not till after the lapse of many ages, and degenerate man had lost much of the firmness of his primitive character, that he began to lie flat upon his belly. The tables were constructed of three different parts or separate tables, making but one in the whole. One was placed at the upper end crossways, and the two others joined to its ends, one on each side, so as to leave an open space between, by which the attendants could readily wait at all the three. Round these tables were placed beds or couches, one to each table; each of these beds was called clinium; and three of these being united, to surround the three tables, made the triclinium. At the end of each clinium was a footstool, for the convenience of mounting up to it. These beds were formed of mattresses, and supported on frames of wood, often highly ornamented; the mattresses were covered with cloth or tapestry, according to the quality of the entertainer. At the splendid feast which Ahasuerus made for the nobles of his kingdom, beds of silver and gold were placed round the tables; according to a custom in the east of naming a thing from its principal ornament; these must have been couches profusely ornamented with the precious metals. To this day, the cushions in the hall of audience, and also in the room for receiving guests in private houses, are placed round the carpet in cases of gold and silver kincol, or of scarlet cloth embroidered: these are occasionally moved into the courts and gardens and placed under the canopy for the accommodation of company. Each guest inclined the su Esth. i, 5, 6. Forbes's Orient. Mem. vol. iii, p. 192. |