North Carolina Gazette

              November 15, 1751          The Noth Carolina Gazette  Where the freshest advices, foreigh and Domestic. All Persons may be supplied with this paper, at four shillings, proclaimation money, per Quarter by James Davis, at the printing office in Newburn; where all manner of printing- work , and book binding, is done reasonably. Advertisements of a moderate length, are inserted for three shillings the first week, and two shillings for every week after. The Temple of Hymen. A vision. A few days ago I had an account of the marrage of a friend. When occurences of this nature make an impresion upon the mind, it is insensibly betrayed into little  nimadversions upon them. This was my case in an extraordinary manner; for having mised some time on this incident, I fell into an easy slumber, when            the subject and sally'd out in the following excurtion.          ught I was in an instant placed on the boundaries of     stuim'd plain; in the center of which was presented to the eye a large temple conseerated to Hymen, the god of marriage. At a small distance from me I observed a giddy crowd of both sexes, who were making towards the building, in order to celebrate the ceremony of the God. There was shuffled in amoung them, a daemon whose form was so pecular, and whose sway with the mulitude so universal, that I shall here give my reader a perticular description of him: It seems the name of this Fury was Lust; in the upper part of his body, he carried the likeness of a human         from the middle downwards he     ore the resemblings of a goat, his eyes were turgid sparkling , and               , his complexion was very irregular, attended with the most sudden transitions frm a sanguine red to a livid alonses, and a tremor frequently seiz'd every member - Close followed him Distaste, with a sickly countenance and supercilious eye; and remorse, with his hat flapped over his face, and a worm gnawing his vitals. I was shocked at these monitrous appearances, and the more so to observe how readily my fellow-creatures gave into the impious suggestions of the deamon. But my surprize was somewhat abated on a nearer approach; for I took notice that his breath was of a malignant nature that all those who rashly advanced within its instuance, were presently intoxicated, and deprived of their reason. I was in such a consternation at this discovery, that I hesitated for a while, weather I should enter into conversation with the blithe adverturers formerly mentioned. In the midst of my suspence there came toward us a grave old gentleman of steddy and composed aspect, whose name was deliberation. He was one of the principal agents belonging to the temple, and so high in the Gods esteem, that Hymen was very rarely known to give his benediction at        conclusion of the ceremony to any couple who were       ushered into his presence, by this venerable officer, Upon his joining the company (to the majority of which I foumd he was a perfect stranger) There was expressed an universal uneasiness and discontent; and many of themindustriously avoided all conversation with him. But it was very remarkable that all those, who thus imprudently turned their backs on this valuable Monitor, in their return from the temple, were seized by one or both of the melancholy attendents of the fury. At my enterance into the building I observed the deity marching at a small distance towards it.- The first in the procession was Love, in the form of Cupid, who waas continually practsing a thousand little arts and graces, to draw upon him the smiles of God; and by the tender regards which Hyman cast upon the child, I found he was verygreat Favourite. The God followed next, holding in his hand a flaming torch, which shone the brighter the longer it burn'd; he approached    supper.     by virtue, a lady of the most engaging form that I had ever beheld. She was clothed in white resulgent garment, and her head was encircled with glory. The Next attendent was Beauty, arrayed in the most gorgeous apparel, and full of herself, even to distraction. She was handed along by youth, a gay stripling, wearing a chaplet of flowers on his head, and wings on his shoulders. Then appeared wealth in the figure of an old man, meanly attired; his eyes were the eyes of a hawk, and his fingers curved and pionted inwards like the talons of a raven; he was noisy,impudent and presuming.  The retinue was closed by Fancy, ever varying her features and dress; and what was very extraordenary, methought she charm'd in all. The Deity immediatly after his enterance into the temple, aseened his throne; and fat with his head gently reeli'd on Vertue's bosom, Love and Beauty, took their station on the right hand; and on the left were disosed Wealth and Fancy. The God quickley proceeded to the celebration of the Nuptial rites; but there was such a confused sound of sighs and laughter, that I could not give the attention which was requisite, in order tp present my reader with the several circumstances that occured; only I notice, that many of the matches were so very unequal, that the God yoked them with reluctance, and but half consented to his own institcution. After the ceremony was over, silence was proclaimed in court; for Hymen was determined to decide a contest, which had been of long standing between personages that attented the alter. Upon this declaration, the whole multitude divided, and according to the particular impulses of their persons, took the party of the several competitors.  The Young had ranked themselves on the right hand of the throne, while others of moe advanced years had posted themselves behind the disputants on the left. Love began with entering his complaint against Wealth; setting forth, that his antagenst had seduced such large numbers to his sentiments; that as to himself; his interst very visibly declined every day to great prejudice of that state, wherein the Gods had design'd him the preheminence. While he was prusueing his arguments with great warmth, Poverty stepped forth from amid the crowd, and stared the young plainiff' said in the face; who was so frighten'd at his sorrowful countenance, that he stuttered his pinions in order for flight. When Wealth rifing up addressed the judge, with shewing the necessity of his preference to make the married state as replete with happiness, as it was originally intented by its institution; together withamny other arguments, which, if they had been delivered with the same modesty as force, could not have failed of creating a multitude of converts to his side. This his speach was followed with a thunder os applause from the company behind. Upon        incident the old Man began to triumph, and to               his discourse when through the violence of his emotions his Garment flew open, and betrayed to view, Cares in the form of Vultures, hanging at his breast. Hereupon Love stood up, and would fain have reassumed his cause. But Hymen, who knew well that the presece of both was of the utmost importance in the performance of his institution; and