74
MARRIAGE.
Aiiopu ffoi, wKt7fE,«vT>iv rUv yuvauxa SuyaTi'fa te acrav e/*w, im&$ufxai? auTrt iyii xai Qepvriv MrS'iav Trciaav. i. e. I give you, Cyrus, thiswoman, who is my daughter, with all Media for her dowry.The persons to be married plighted their faith to each other,or to their relations. Thus Clitophon and Leucippe swearto each other , 36 the former to be constant and sincere in hislove, the latter to marry him and make him master of all shehad. Ovid makes the next ceremony after betrothing, thevirgin’s oath to her lover.
Promisit pater hanc, her eijuravit amanti.
“ Her father promised, she an oath did take
“ Her faithful lover never to forsake.” Potter.
The ceremony in promising fidelity was kissing eachother, or joining of their right hands, which was the usualform of ratifying all agreements. Hence Clytemnestra , inEuripides , calls for Achilles’ right hand, to assure her of hisintention to marry her daughter . 37
■-■- At£txv y ijxri XtTpx
Evra'v]/ov, aLf.fr,v fj.anapla* Wfj.lptvijLa.T6)*.
“ Join your right hand to mine, a sacred tie
“ Of this our compact.” Potter.
Many more instances might be given, were not thosealready adduced, conceived sufficient; but thus much may beobserved, that after civility and good manners came to beestablished in any place, the usual practice of purchasingwives was laid aside ; 38 then, upon the contrary, it was usualfor wives to bring a dowry . 311 Accordingly, we find the mostessential distinction between yo*ri and TraKKaxif, wife andconcubine, consisted in this,—wives generally bringingdowries, and concubines coming without; whence one inPlautus, the scene of whose actions lie often in Greece , 40thus speaks:
' Sed ut inops,
Info mis ne sim, ne mihi hancfomam differant , neGermanam meam sororem m roncubinatum tibiSic sine dote dedisse magis , quam in matrimonium.
“ Though I am low i' th* world, and am but mean,u Til offer some small matter for her dowry,
“ Lest this aspersion should be thrown abroad,
“ That she as mistress not as zrife is to you.” Potter.
Hence men who were content to marry wives who had noportion, commonly gave them TrpotuZa., an instrument in
30 Achill. Tat. lib. v.
38 Aristotle Politic, lib. ii. cap. 3.+° Trinununo.