Chapter 6

THE FOREST--A SOLILOQUY ON HAIR

Mille hominum species, et rerum discolor usus: Velle suum cuique est, nee voto vivitur uno. Persius.

In mind and taste men differ as in frame: Each has his special will, and few the same.

_The Rev. Dr. Opimian_. It strikes me as singular that, with such a house, you should have only female domestics.

_Mr. Falconer._ It is not less singular perhaps that they are seven sisters, all the children of two old servants of my father and mother. The eldest is about my own age, twenty-six, so that they have all grown up with me in time and place. They live in great harmony together, and divide among them the charge of all the household duties. Those whom you saw are the two youngest.

_The Rev. Dr. Opimian._ If the others acquit themselves as well, you have a very efficient staff; but seven young women as the establishment of one young bachelor, for such I presume you to be (_Mr. Falconer assented_), is something new and strange. The world is not over charitable.

The doctor could not retire to rest without verifying his question touching the hair of the Vestals; and stepping into his study, was taking out an old folio, to consult _Lipsius de Vestalibus_, when a passage flashed across his memory which seemed decisive on the point. 'How could I overlook it?' he thought--

'Ignibus Iliacis aderam: cum lapsa capillis Decidit ante sacros lanea vitta focos:{1}

says Rhea Sylvia in the _Fasti._'

He took down the _Fasti_, and turning over the leaves, lighted on another line:--

Attonitæ flebant demisso crine ministræ.{2}

With the note of an old commentator: 'This will enlighten those who doubt if the Vestals wore their hair.' 'I infer,' said the doctor, 'that I have doubted in good company; but it is clear that the Vestals did wear their hair of second growth.

1 The woollen wreath, by Vesta's inmost shrine, Fell from my hair before the fire divine.

2 With hair dishevelled wept the vestal train.

But if it was wrapped up in wool, it might as well not have been there. The _vitta_ was at once the symbol and the talisman of chastity. Shall I recommend my young friend to wrap up the heads of his Vestals in a _vitta?_ It would be safer for all parties. But I cannot imagine a piece of advice for which the giver would receive less thanks. And I had rather see them as they are. So I shall let well alone.'