Women were allowed to enjoy the privileges of Athenian citizens, and, at the building of Athens, by Cecrops, they carried a point of no less importance than the choice of a name for the new city, in opposition to the votes of the men. Varro tells us that _Neptune_ wished the new-built city to be called after his name, and that _Athena_, or _Minerva_, rivalled his pretensions. The question being put by Cecrops to his people, the men all voted for _Neptune_, but the women voted for _Minerva_, and gained, by one vote, the privilege of naming the city. The women were wholly excluded from any share in the government of Athens, in later ages; though they still retained various privileges as Athenian citizens. For a further explanation of the rights of the Athenian citizens; and for some account of the city of Athens, _vide_ Notes 150, 179, 180, 181, 193, 197. NOTE 95. _Once upon a time, a certain old merchant._ The title of _merchant_ we are to suppose to be added by Davus to embellish the tale. Neither Chremes nor Phania are described as _merchants_. This addition is well managed by the author, as Davus, who thought the whole a fabrication, imagined he was more likely to gain credit by telling the tale that way; as a considerable traffick was carried on between Athens and the island of Andros, which was a very fertile spot. M. Baron has translated this scene with great fidelity and beauty. Davus developes in it a plan to break off the dreaded match with Philumena, by introducing Glycera to Chremes: which incident is substituted instead of the birth of the child. There is a break in the French lines which renders them inimitably beautiful. “De ce vieillard fougueux pour calmer la furie, Quoi! Ne pourrions nous pas résoudre Glycérie A venir à ses pieds lui demander――――? Helas! Glycérie est malade, et je n’y songe pas.” BARON. NOTE 96. _Well, I’ll betake myself to the Forum._ A forum, both in Athens and Rome, was a large open space within the city, dedicated to various purposes. The forum was a place where the people met for _public worship_, for _the administration of justice_, and to debate on the _public affairs_. In the Forum, also, were the _temples_, _hospitals_, _sanctuaries_, and the _markets of all kinds_: in short, it was a place of general rendezvous for men of all ranks and professions, and was, in many respects, very similar to those places of meeting we call by the name _Exchange_.