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PUBLIC FESTIVALS

“ intervals, till the whole number had again“ formed a circle about the chorus.

“ Their manner of dancing was now changed“ to a quicker measure, in which they made a“ kind of half turn by leaping, and clapped“ their hands, and snapped their fingers, re-“ peating some words in conjunction with the“ chorus. Toward the end, as the quickness“ of the music increased, their gestures and“ attitudes were varied with wonderful vigour“ and dexterity; and some of their motions,“ perhaps, would with us be reckoned rather“ indecent. Though this part of the perform-“ ance, most probably, was not meant to con-“ vey any wanton ideas: but merely to dis-“ play the astonishing variety of their move-“ ments*.

“ To this grand female ballet succeeded one“ performed by fifteen men. Some of them“ were old; but their age seemed to have al-“ tered little of their agility or ardour for the“ dance. They were disposed in a sort of circle,“ divided at the front, with their faces not“ turned out toward the assembly, nor inward“ to the chorus j but one half of the circle“ faced forward as they had advanced, and the“ other half in a contrary direction. They

• * Our accurate observer is perfectly correct.