The Ecclesiazusae, or Female Parliament (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1833 edition. Excerpt: ... ECCLESIAZUSiE. ACT I. SCENE I. The Scene lies in the suburbs of Athens. The time, an hour or two before dawn. Praxagora enters habited in male attire, and after suspending a large lamp in a conspicuous place, she thus apostrophizes it. PRAXAGORA. Thou" offspring of the potter's plastic art, Suspended now, whence best thy ray may shine, (Homage and praise most justly are thy meed, Since moulded by the whirling wheel, 'tis thine To bear a kindred office with the sun, ) Beam forth thy brightest, be our signal bearer Not undeserving of the boon are we, For thou art privy to our every act: M. le Beau here remarks, that this speech of Praxagora is probably intended as a parody on those monologues of the tragic poets, in which they apostrophize, in pompous language, some inanimate being. Mem. de Lett, de l'Acad. des Inscript. et Belles Lettres, tome xxx. Respecting the elegance and even magnificence of the ancient lamps, and the designs after which they were usually made, see Winckelman's " Decouvertes faites a Herculaneum," p. 74. B2 When in the service of the queen of love, We offer meetest incense at her shrine, O'er us is shed thy soft and chastened light, Thou at the mysteries of the toilet too, Welcome, dost aye preside; nor is this all; For if disposed to mirth and generous cheer, Our goodman's wine and garnered corn we filch, Tis thine to shew the way, and tell no tales: For these good deeds, the counsels thou shalt share, Which at Minerva's1' feast, I and my friends Devised. But how is this, not one of all Who should assemble here is come, and yet Dawn fast approaches, and at break of day Th' Assembly meets, and we must take our seats? Why this delay? They surely can't have failed To get them all false beards, as was agreed on? Or has...