| Citation |
PP-P.783.210
13 Nov 1783:22 (13/1620)
London, Sept. 7. The most illustrious old bachelors in
Great Britain, are the Duke of Q-----y, the Duke of D-----t,
Lord T-----w, and Lord E----d. It is remarkable that the
laws of Lycuigus, so much commended for their singular
wisdoms, were exceedingly severe against bachelors. In the
coldest days of winter they were forced to run naked through
a peculiar square, and to sing at the same time some ballads
full of poignant sarcasms and raillery against themselves.
Authaneus reports on this subject a laughable custom, which
is, that every year a great festival was celebrated in one
of the temples of Sparta, where all those men of a certain
age, who were not married, were obliged to attend. The
ladies were then allowed to taunt them with the bitterest
language, and to slap their faces as much as they pleased !
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