heavy, as if she were approaching certain tyrants or cruel
torturers; but on the contrary, where she is most apprehensive and
fullest persuaded the divinity is present, there she most of all
throws off sorrows, tears, and pensiveness, and lets herself loose
to what is pleasing and agreeable, to the very degree of tipsiness,
frolic, and laughter. In amorous concerns, as the poet said once,

When old man and old wife think of love's fires,
Their frozen breasts will swell with new desires;

but now in the public processions and sacrifices not only the old
man and the old wife, nor yet the poor and mean man only, but also

The dusty thick-legged drab that turns the mill,

and household-slaves and day-laborers, are strangely elevated and
transported with mirth and joviality. Rich men as well as princes
are used at certain times to make public entertainments and to keep
open houses; but the feasts they make at the solemnities and
sacrifices, when they now apprehend their minds to approach nearest
the divinity, have conjoined with the honor and veneration they pay
him a much more transcending pleasure and satisfaction. Of this,
he that hath renounced God's providence hath not the least share;
for what recreates and cheers us at the festivals is not the store
of good wine and roast meat, but the good hope and persuasion that
God is there present and propitious to us, and kindly accepts of
what we do. From some of our festivals we exclude the flute and
garland; but if God be not present at the sacrifice, as the
solemnity of the banquet, the rest is but unhallowed, unfeast-like,
and uninspired. Indeed the whole is but ungrateful and irksome to