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"To be unacquainted with the events which have taken place before you were born, is to continue to live in childish ignorance; for where is the value of human life, unless memory enables us to compare the events of our own times with those of ages long gone by ?"-CICERO.

HARVARD
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
MAR 5 1941

[ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1844, by

WILLIAM GOODMAN,

in the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New York.]

Stereotyped by Vincent L. Dill,
Sun Building, N. Y.

INTRODUCTION.

"Whatever men do, vows, fears, ire, in sport,
Joys, wanderings, are the summ of my report;
No Centaurs here, or Gorgons look to find,
My subject is of man, and human-kind."

THE Second Volume is now, with much respect and diffidence, offered to the public; it was prevented from coming out with the first by circumstances over which the author had no control.

He has pursued the same system in this volume as in the first, by giving the opinions, the maxims, the sayings, and the doings, of many of the most eminent men of the period, presuming that the reader would thereby better understand the several subjects treated of, and that they would carry greater weight and authority than any remarks he could offer purely his own.

"Child of my love, go forth and try thy fate,

Few are thy friends, and manifold thy foes;
Whether or long or short will be thy fate,

Futurity's dark volume only knows."-PINdar.

The author closes, wishing the compliments of the season, with health and better times, to all his readers.

December 30, 1843.

THE FRONTISPIECE-represents a view of the city of London, before the great fire of 1666, taken by Hollar, from the borough of Southwark. Londonbridge was, at that time, covered with buildings, except where there were draws to let the shipping pass westward up the river. The large building, nearly in the centre, was old St. Paul's Cathedral: it had formerly a very tall wooden spire, covered with lead, which had been struck with lightning, reducing it to an unsightly stump. The building on the right is the Tower; the church near the bottom is St. Mary Overies, in the borough of Southwark.

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THE

SOCIAL HISTORY

OF

GREAT BRITAIN.

DANCING.

"Man should be called a dancing animal." OLD FLORENTINE.

"THE innate feelings of man, which desires to manifest the sentiment of joy, throws the voice into song, the speech into verse, and our gestures into dance.” Simonides defines " роеtry an eloquent dance, and dancing silent poetry." With these remarks, I think proper to introduce Dancing, Kissing, Gallantry, and Marriage, each of which, as the reader may have been prepared to expect, underwent great alteration, and much dis

cussion.

Dancing met with much opposition from the Puritans, and other serious people. Sir T. Elyot, observes, “I am not of that opinion, that all dancing is repugnant unto virtue, although some persons, excellently learned, especially divines, so do affirm it." So late as the time of the "Spectator," (No. 67,) a writer states, "I am of Mr. Cowley's opinion, that so much of dancing at least, as belongs to the behaviour, and an handsome carriage of the body, is extremely useful, if not absolutely necessary."*

Heutzner (1598) states, "The English excel in dancing.” Burton, in his "Anatomy of Melancholy," (1621,) says, “young

"To teach a young man motion and carriage, a drill-serjeant, is preferable to a dancing-master. Those retailers of steps and bows, have no idea of planting the form; they require the toes to be reverted, which causes a seeble position; whereas, the feet in moving, should deviate just so much from parallel lines, as to free the toe from the ankle; should any obstruction incline it from its right direction. The body should not be thrown back, which destroys the balance; it should be nearly erect, but a little inclining forward." ENSOR.

lasses are never better pleased, than when, upon an holiday, after even-song, they may meet their sweet-hearts, and dance about a May-pole, or on a town green, under a shady elm."

No instance can be produced to prove the love of dancing so strong as "Kemp's Nine Daies Wonder-performed in a daunce from London to Norwich," (1599,) a distance of 108 miles. "This man was a comic actor, of high reputation; he usually played the clown, and was greatly applauded for his buffoonery, his extemporal wit, and his performance of the jig." Printed by the Camden Society, edited by the Rev. A. Dyce.

Every day's journey is minutely detailed, and although the dance was performed in nine days; the performer took several long rests from his violent exertions, being altogether twentyfour days on the road. He was detained five days at Bury St. Edmunds, from the snow.

I give the following account of the fifth day, because he 66 partner; sure such a

then met with both a male and a female pair was never seen."

"In this towne of Sudbury, there came a lusty tall fellow, a butcher by his profession, that would in a Morice keepe mee company to Bury. I being glad of his friendly offer, gave him my thanks, and forward we did set; but 'ere ever we had measur'd half a mile of our way, he gave me over in the plaine field, protesting, that if he might get a £100, he would not hold out with me; for indeed, my pace in dauncing is not ordinary." "As he and I were parting, a lusty country lasse being among the people, call'd him faint-hearted lout, saying: 'If I had begun to daunce, I would have held out one myle, though it had cost my life,' at which wordes many laughed. 'Nay,' saith she' if the dauncer will lend me a leash of his belles, Ile ventur to treade one mile with him my selfe.' I look't upon her, saw mirth in her eies, heard boldness in her wordes, and beheld her ready to tucke up her russet petticoate. I fitted her belles, which she merrily taking, garnish't her thicke short legs, and with a smooth brow, bad the Tabrer begin. The drum strucke; forwarde march't I, with my merry Maydemarian, who shooke her fat sides, and footed it merrily to Melford, being a long myle. There parting with her, I gave her, (besides her skinful of drinke,) an English crowne (5s.) to buy more drinke; for good wench, she was in a piteous heate: my kindness, she requited with dropping some dozen of short courtsies, and bidding God bless the dauncer. I bade her adieu; and to give her her due, she had a good ear. Daunst truly, and wee parted friendly. But 'ere I part with fellow, my friend, havin writ an odde rime of her. bold to set it downe."

her, a good I will make

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