Garrick Club.
[Our correspondent seems to have the veritable original engraving; the
nightingale or pheasant, or whatever it may he, is mounted on a branch
over a stream near to three houses, and a village on its banks is seen
in the distance.]
_Sneezing_ (Vol. viii., pp. 366. 624.).--To the very interesting
illustrations given by Mr. Francis Scott of the ancient superstitions
associated with sternutation, I should like to add one not less curious
than any which he has given. It is recorded in Xenophon's _Anabasis_, lib.
iii. cap. 2.
At the council of Greek generals, held after the death of Cyrus, Xenophon
rose and made a speech. He set before his comrades the treachery of their
late associate Ariæus; the serious difficulties attendant upon the position
of the Greeks; and the necessity for immediate and vigorous action. Just as
he had alluded to the probability of a severe conflict, and had invoked the
aid of the gods, one of the company _sneezed_. He paused for a moment in
his harangue, and every one present did reverence ([Greek: prosekonêsan])
to Jupiter. The circumstance seemed to give new spirit and fortitude to the
whole assembly; and when Xenophon resumed, he said, "Even now, my comrades,
while we were talking of safety, Zeus the saviour has sent us an omen; and
I think it would become us to offer to the god a sacrifice of thanksgiving
for our preservation." He then, in the manner of a modern chairman at
Exeter Hall, invited all of that opinion to hold up their hands. This
appeal having met a unanimous response, they all made their vows, sung the
pæan, and the orator proceeded with his discourse.
The adoration of the god, or the use of some auspicious words or religious
formulary, appears to have been designed to avert any evil which might
possibly be portended by the omen. It seems by no means certain that it was
always regarded as favourable. Xenophon, in the case referred to, contrived
very adroitly to turn the incident to good account, and to interpret it as
a sign of the divine favour. The form of one of the sentences I have
translated--
"[Greek: Epei peri sôtêrias hêmôn legontôn oiônos tou Dios tou Sôtêros
ephanê]."
affords a little illustration of the benediction in current use among the
Greeks on such occasions, "[Greek: Zeu sôson]."