Plutarch's Romane Questions · Plutarch
65.
_What is the reason that the Bridegrome commeth the first time to lie with his new wedded bride, not with any light but in the darke?_ IS it because he is yet abashed, as taking her to be a stranger and not his owne, before he hath companied carnally with her? Or for that he would then acquaint himselfe, to come even unto his owne espoused wife with shamefacednesse and modestie? Or rather, like as _Solon_ in his Statutes ordeined, that the new married wife should eat of a quince before she enter into the bride bed-chamber, to the end that this first encounter and embracing, should not be odious or unpleasant to her husband? even so the Romane law-giver would hide in the obscuritie of darkenesse, the deformities and imperfections in the person of the bride, if there were any. Or haply this was instituted to shew how sinfull and damnable all unlawfull companie of man and woman together is, seeing that which is lawfull and allowed, is not without some blemish and note of shame. _Why is one of the races where horses use to runne, called the_ Cirque _or_ Flaminius. IS it for that in old time an ancient Romane named _Flaminius_ gave unto the citie, a certeine piece of ground, they emploied the rent and revenues thereof in runnings of horses, and chariots: and for that there was a surplussage remaining of the said lands, they bestowed the same in paving that high way or causey, called _Via Flaminia_, that is to say, _Flaminia_ street?
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