The Ancient Mysteries.

greater part of those who were to be initiated approached with religions awe , ancl were generally induced to that step from an ardent desire of being delivered from the stings ancl horrors of conscience . The Hiero-ceryx began the initiation by repeating the customary formulas . "Hence , hence , ye profane , " cried be , " and if there is among you any impious or wicked personany sectary of Epicurus ( and afterwards they added any

, Christian ) , let him instantly retire . " The murderer of Agrippina , Avhen about to enter the sacred precincts of Eleusis , was checked by a voice which prohibited any parricide from approaching ; and he withdrew , not daring to pollute the Mysteries with his presence . The herald then continued : " Let those alone approach who are pure in heart , and ivho acknowledge one God . " After this proclamation a IIBAY and dreadful oath was required of the candidates

, and many other questions were put to them . One of the ansAvers Avas this : " I have eaten ont of the tambour , I have drank out of the cymbal , I haA r e carried the kernos , I have entered the nuptial bed . " * Tbe books containing the sacred rites ancl formulas , which were read with a loud voice to the initiated , were kept inclosed between two stones , whence they Avere only taken

on solemn occasions . When the preparatory ceremonies were concluded the trials began , which in many places were dreadful ancl often dangerous ; but in general they Avere confined to simple shows and representations , calculated , however , to produce a very great effect . Continual alternations of light ancl darkness , claps of thunder , phantoms , hideous spectres , and dreadful cries in the midst of the silence of night struck the initiated with horror and froze his blood . After

having been divested of bis garments he was girt with the skin of a fawn , to sheAV that he ought now to be separated from every thing profane . As the Mysteries were an emblem of death , or a sort of regeneration , it was necessary that be should appear to be resuscitated , as an emblem of new life . He was presented with a croivn , Avhich he trod under foot , ancl as soon as the sword Avas held over his head he feigned to fall down deadthen seemed again to return

, to life . Commodus , assisting one clay at the mysteries of Mithras , was not satisfied with this counterfeited death ; he Avas Avicked enoutb to feast his eyes with the sight of a real murder . ' After these different ceremonies , the candidate received the distinguishing robe , which be ever afterwards wore as an honourable badge .

In this condition he waited till he received permission to enter the temple . "Now , " says Claudian , " I see the sacred walls begin to shake , ancl vivid light , flashing from the lofty roof , announces the approach of the god ; already from the depths of the earth is heard the tremendous voice , and the temple reverberates tbe awful sound . " At last the portals open ; af a distance appears a statue , magnificently adorned , ancl resplendent with light , which is meant to signify Universal Nature . Now the happy candidate is surrounded only Avith

the most agreeable objects . He finds himself transported into meads enamelled with flowers , he hears on all sides a celestial harmony , and when he begins to view the horrid image of Tartarus , the scene is immediately changed , ancl the enchanting fields of Elysium open upon his sight . The sudden transition from the realms of darkness to that delightful abode forms an admirable contrast in that part of the "iEneid" Avhere the poet opens to his hero the prospect

of those blissfut mansions . That description is made with so much art , it is full of such masterly strokes of genius , that though Ave were ever so little sensible to harmony Ave may in some measure conceive from it the various impressions wliich would agitate the soul of the spectator in these Mysteries . When the aspirant arrived at the end of his labours he received his reward ; he was declared Fpoptes , and he enjoyed the Antopsia , or the contemplation ,