| Citation |
IL.783.100
8 Dec 1783:13 (6/306)
The most illustrious old Bachelors in Great-Britain are the
Duke of Q--y, the Duke of D---t Lord T---w, and Lord ---
It is remarkable that the laws of Lycurgus, so much
commended for their singular wisdom, were exceedingly severe
against bachelors. In the coldest days of winter they were
forced to run naked through a peculiar square, and to sing
at the same time some ballads full of poignant sarcasms and
raillery against themselves. Athantus reports on this
subject a laughable custom, which is, that every year a
great festival was celebrated in one of the temples of
Sparta, were all men of a certain age who were not married,
were obliged to attend. The ladies then were allowed to
taunt them with the bitterest language, and to slap their
faces as much as they pleased.
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