of the most serious character. Plutarch says, that Cato went regularly after dinner to exercise himself at ball, in the Campus Martius; and that he diverted himself as usual with this exercise, that very day the people had refused to choose him consul,

After what has been said, let us a little consider a London day; and see what account we can give of our hours, for the information of future ages, when we may be no longer a free people,

Be it known then to my readers in futurity (if they happen to understand English), that formerly our day, as in other ancient nations, began with the rising of the sun: but, about the latter end of the sixteenth century, the wise men observed a visible change in our time, which has ever since gone on for the worse; insomuch, that of late years we have altered our manner of computing so far, that our morning begins precisely at the noon of our ancestors; and our noon corresponds with the evening of those plain folks, who lived by the light of nature, and saved fire and candle. In other words, let us suppose an hour-kalendar, and then our new style will be found to differ just six hours from the old.

We perform our exercises (such as they are) mostly by candle-light: sedentary sports are

most fashionable; such as enfeeble the body, and render it listless and delicate in all its motions. We have indeed a few robust, clownish gentlemen; but in general they are thoughtdisqualified for any considerable posts, whether civil or military; and they are seldom or never promoted to any titles of honour above knighthood. The only exercise now practised, that seems to require some force of arm, and a lively spring in the wrist, is the violent rattling of two little square bones, in a small cylindrical box, about five inches deep, and two and a half diameter.

FREE-THINKER, No. 122, May 22, 1719.

No. XV.

Non illa loco, neque origine gentis

Clara, sed arte fuit.

OVID

She was illustrious neither for her rank nor family, but for her learning and accomplishments.

WHEN the Emperor Theodosius (the younger) had resolved upon making choice of a consort, he would often advise with his sister Pulcheria Augusta concerning a proper person. Pulcheria gave up her whole time and attention to inquire out a worthy partner of her brother's bed, amongst the number of young ladies of noble, or of royal blood, whom she (in this view) educated within the palace, under her own inspection. Theodosius had declared to his sister, that his desire was to have a virgin of such extraordinary beauty as might eclipse the lustre of all the bright damsels of Constantinople; and if, besides, she was of a royal lineage, that he should be the better pleased; but that, in his estimation, neither nobleness of birth, nor royal descent, nor the addition of wealth, should come in competition with beauty; for that, upon the whole, let her family be never so obscure, the virgin of the most finished charms should

be his bride. The Emperor's resolution being fully known in this particular, Pulcheria dispatched persons of judgment into all parts of the world, in quest of beauty: and Paulinus, a young favourite courtier (who had been educated in the palace with Theodosius) studied likewise to gratify his master's inclinations, and made addresses every where amongst the ladies,

to find out a matchless maid.

About this time it came to pass, that Athenais (a, Greek virgin, of exquisite make and feature, and extraordinary learning) came to Constantinople upon the following occasion. Her father, who was a very learned man, had inserted the subsequent clause in his will: "I give to my dearly beloved daughter only one hundred pieces of money; because her beauty, and her erudition, in which she excels her whole sex, will be a sufficient portion to her." When the will came to be opened, upon the father's decease, and Athenais saw she was in express words cut off from her full share of the inheritance; she applied herself for redress to her two brothers, who were made co-heirs. She hung upon their knees, beseeching them that they would not insist upon the inequality of the will, but suffer her to come in for a third part of the father's estate; since they knew she did

not deserve to be disinherited, by the least for feiture in her duty towards him. Nevertheless, her brothers were inexorable: they not only slighted the petition of their sister; but, in their anger, turned her out of her father's house.

Hereupon, Athenais fled to her aunt by the mother's side; who not only entertained her, as her ward; but gave her protection, as a virgin. This lady conducted her to her father's sister; and both the aunts agreeing to undertake the cause of their fair niece, they commenced a suit against her brothers, They acquainted the most religious Princess Pulcheria of the severe usage she had met with from her own brothers, and at the same time took an opportunity to com mend Athenais for her eloquence.

When Pulcheria found she was a damsel of extraordinary beauty, learning, and eloquence; she asked her relations whether she was a virgin? The Princess being thoroughly informed of the great care the father of Athenais had taken of her chastity, and how she had been trained up by him in a long and regular institution of philosophy; orders were given, she should be entertained in the palace amongst the ladies whom Pulcheria had assembled; and her aunts were dismissed with an assurance that their petitions should be granted. When the

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