The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 3 (of 3): Everlasting Calerdar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the AlmanacHone, William
History
The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 3 (of 3): Everlasting Calerdar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac
Hone, William
Days; Great Britain -- Social life and customs
The young prince in a transport of delight, and scarcely able to believe
what he saw and heard, pressed the hand of Scipio to his heart, and
implored ten thousand blessings on his head. The parents of the happy
bridegroom had brought a large sum of money, as the price of her
redemption; Scipio ordered it to be placed on the ground, and telling
Allucius that he insisted on his accepting it as a nuptial gift directed
it to be carried to his tent.
The happy pair returned home, repeating the praises of Scipio to every
one, calling him a godlike youth, as matchless in the success of his
arms, as he was unrivalled in the beneficent use he made of his
victories.
Though the story is known to most readers, its relation, in connection
with the discovery of the valuable present from the conquered city to
its illustrious victor, seemed almost indispensable, and perhaps the
incident can scarcely be too familiar.
[Illustration: ~A Bronze Antique, found in the Thames,~
IN DIGGING FOR THE FOUNDATION OF NEW LONDON BRIDGE, JANUARY, 1827.]
It is presumed that this article, from its peculiar curiosity, will be
welcomed by every lover and preserver of antiquities.
_To the Editor._
Sir,--The remarkable vessel from which this drawing is taken, was
discovered a few days since, by a labourer employed in sinking one of
the coffer-dams for the new London bridge, embedded in clay, at a depth
of about thirty feet from the bed of the river. It is of bronze, not
cast, but sculptured, and is in so perfect a state, that the edges of
the different parts are as sharp as if the chisel had done its office
but yesterday. The only portion which has suffered decay is the pin that
attached the lid to the other part, which crumbled away as soon as
exposed to the air.
At first, it was conjectured that this vessel was used for a lamp; but
the idea was soon abandoned, as there was no part calculated to receive
the wick; and the space to contain the oil was so small that it would
not have admitted of more oil than was sufficient for one hour’s
consumption, or two, at farthest.
One of the members of the Antiquarian Society has given it as his
opinion, that it was used for sacrificial purposes, and intended to
receive wine, which, after being put in, was to be poured out through
the mouth, the under jaw being evidently protruded to an unnatural
distance on this account.
The upper part of the head forms the lid, which the horns serve as a
handle to raise; the bottom of the neck is flat, so that it may stand
securely.
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