The inhabitants of _Falerii_ were so struck with the just conduct of the Dictator (Livy adds) that a total change of their dispositions towards the Romans was the consequence; and the Senate having been assembled thereupon by the Magistrates, they came to the resolution of opening their gates, and surrendering to the Romans; which was soon after effected. [27] From the above-mentioned passages of king Solomon, Livy, and other antient authors, down to Petrarch, we may safely conclude that the practice of flagellating children has been followed in the world during a number of successive centuries; and we know from undoubted authorities, that the same practice continues in our days to prevail, especially among Schoolmasters. Nay more, very respectable Writers inform us, that Schoolmasters still possess the same strong inclination to exert their authority that way, as they did in the times of Horace and Quintilian. Thus, Mr. _Henry Fielding_, a Writer who, better than most others, knew the manners of Men, in his _History of a Foundling_, represents _Thwackum_ the Schoolmaster, as having, upon every occasion, recourse to his rod, and describes him to us as a true successor of the _plagosus Orbilius_. Mr. Gay, another writer, who, too, was deeply versed in the knowledge of Mankind, expresses himself with still more precision on that head, and lays it down as an undoubted maxim, that the delight of a Schoolmaster is to use his whip. The opinion of that Author on the subject is contained in a song written by him: this song was composed in honour of _Molly Mog_, an Innkeeper’s daughter, at Oakingham in Berkshire: the verses are fifteen in all; and the name of _Molly Mog_ is to be found in each of them, with a rhyme to it. The School-boy’s desire is a play-day, The Schoolmaster’s joy is to flog, The milk-maid’s delights are on May-day; But mine are in sweet Molly Mog. However, the researches of our Author on the present deep subject, as well as mine in my humble capacity of Commentator, can bear no comparison, I think, in point of sagaciousness, with the discovery made by Thomas Perez, the Uncle of Diego, who relates his own history in the third volume of the Adventures of Gil Blas, and who takes that occasion to mention the great abilities of his Uncle as an Antiquary. “If it had not been for him (says he) we should still be ignorant that children, in Athens, cried when their Mothers whipped them.” CHAP. VI. _Flagellations of a religious and voluntary kind were practised among the ancient Heathens._ We have hitherto only treated of involuntary Flagellations, and such as were in all cases inflicted by force on those who suffered them. But besides Flagellations of this kind, there were others of a voluntary sort among the Heathens, to which those who underwent them, freely and willingly submitted, and which may indeed create our surprise in a much greater degree than the former.