Note 23 — FIRST SECTION.

Histor. Bk. I. ch. 199. Ἐπεὰν δὲ μιχθῇ, ἀποσιωσαμένη τῇ θεῷ, ἀπαλλάσσεται ἐς τὰ οἰκία· καὶ τὠπὸ τούτου οὐκ οὕτω μέγα τί οἱ δώσεις ὥς μιν λάμψεαι. (But after she has gone with a man, and so acquitted her obligation to the goddess, she returns to her home; and from that time forth no gift however great will prevail with her.) The same thing is related also by Baruch VI. 42, 43. Comp. Voss on Virgil, Georgics, II. 523 sqq. To this day we find amongst the bold sons of the Desert, the Arabians, some trace of this devotion of their fathers, Niebuhr writes (“Beschreibung von Arabien”—(Description of the Arabians), Copenhagen 1772, p. 54. note.): “I read that the Europeans have investigated with great erudition and eloquence the question, Num inter naturalis debiti et conjugalis officii egerium liceat psallere, orare, etc.? (Whether in the performance of the debt of nature and the conjugal office it is lawful to sing, to pray, and so on?) I do not know what the Mohammedans have written on this matter. I have been assured that it is their custom to begin all their occupations with the words; Bismallâh errachmân errachhîm (in the name of the merciful and gracious God), and that they must say this also “ante conjugalis officii egerium (before the performance of the conjugal office), and that no reputable man omits this.” So at the present day in Italy the courtesan bows before the image of her Madonna, before she gives herself, and says to her, “Madonna, mi ajuta!” or “Madonna, mi perdonna!” (Madonna, be my aid!, Madonna, pardon me!) whilst she draws a veil over her picture, and calls this Christianity! For the rest Constantine abolished the custom in question at Babylon and at Heliopolis, and destroyed the Temples of Venus at those places. Eusebius, Life of Constantine, III. p. 58. Socrates, Eccles. Hist. I. 18.