Plutarch's Romane Questions · Plutarch
31.
_How commeth it, that they use to chaunt ordinarily at Weddings_, _this word so much divulged_, Talassio? IS it not of _Talasia_, the Greeke word, which signifieth yarne: for the basket wherein women use to put in their rolles of carded wooll, they name _Talosos_ in Greeke, and _Calathus_ in Latine? Certes they that lead the bride home, cause her to sit upon a fliece of wooll, then bringeth she foorth a distaffe and a spindle, and with wooll all to hangeth and decketh the dore of her husbands house. Or rather, if it be true which historians report: There was sometime a certeine yoong gentleman, very valiant and active in feats of armes, and otherwise of excellent parts and singular wel conditioned, whose name was _Talasius_: and when they ravished and caried away the daughters of the Sabines who were come to _Rome_, for to behold the solemnitie of their festivall games and plaies: certaine meane persons, such yet as belonged to the traine & retinue of _Talasius_ aforesaid, had chosen foorth & were carying away, one damosel above the rest most beautiful of visage, and for their safety and securitie as they passed along the streets, cried out aloud _Talasio_, _Talasio_, that is to say, for _Talasius_, for _Talasius_; to the end that no man should be so hardy as to approch nere unto them, nor attempt to have away the maiden from them, giving it out, that they caried her for to be the wife of _Talasius_; and others meeting them upon the way, joined with them in company for the honour of _Talasius_, and as they followed after, highly praised their good choice which they had made, praying the gods to give both him and her joy of their marriage, and contentment to their hearts desire. Now for that this marriage prooved happy and blessed, they were woont ever after in their wedding songs to rechant and resound this name, _Talasius_, like as the maner is among the Greeks to sing in such carrols, _Hymenæus_.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.