
fondly, by his genius for words.

And that very neighbourhood afforded him his opportunity.  It was in
the neighbourhood of Pella, the Macedonian capital, that the worship
of Dionysus, the newest of the gods, prevailed in its most
extravagant form--the [56] Thiasus, or wild, nocturnal procession of
Bacchic women, retired to the woods and hills for that purpose, with
its accompaniments of music, and lights, and dancing.  Rational and
moderate Athenians, as we may gather from some admissions of
Euripides himself, somewhat despised all that; while those who were
more fanatical forsook the home celebrations, and went on pilgrimage
from Attica to Cithaeron or Delphi.  But at Pella persons of high
birth took part in the exercise, and at a later period we read in
Plutarch how Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great, was devoted
to this enthusiastic worship.  Although in one of Botticelli's
pictures the angels dance very sweetly, and may represent many
circumstances actually recorded in the Hebrew scriptures, yet we
hardly understand the dance as a religious ceremony; the bare mention
of it sets us thinking on some fundamental differences between the
pagan religions and our own.  It is to such ecstasies, however, that
all nature-worship seems to tend; that giddy, intoxicating sense of
spring--that tingling in the veins, sympathetic with the yearning
life of the earth, having, apparently, in all times and places,
prompted some mode of wild dancing.  Coleridge, in one of his
fantastic speculations, refining on the German word for enthusiasm--
Schwärmerei, swarming, as he says, "like the swarming of bees
together"--has explained how the sympathies of mere numbers, as such,
the random catching on [57] fire of one here and another there, when
people are collected together, generates as if by mere contact, some
new and rapturous spirit, not traceable in the individual units of a
multitude.  Such swarming was the essence of that strange dance of
the Bacchic women: literally like winged things, they follow, with
motives, we may
fondly, by his genius for words. 

 And that very neighbourhood afford him his opportunity.   It was in 
 the vicinity of Pella, the Macedonian capital, that the worship 
 of Dionysus, the newest of the gods, prevail in its most 
 extravagant form -- the [ 56 ] Thiasus, or fantastic, nocturnal procession of 
 Bacchic women, put out to the woods and hills for that determination, with 
 its accompaniments of music, and lights, and dance.   intellectual and 
 moderate Athenians, as we may gather from some admissions of 
 Euripides himself, slightly despised all that; while those who were 
 more fanatical abandon the home celebrations, and went on pilgrimage 
 from Attica to Cithaeron or Delphi.   But at Pella person of high 
 birth take region in the exercise, and at a later period we read in 
 Plutarch how Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great, was devoted 
 to this enthusiastic worship.   Although in one of Botticelli's 
 painting the angels dance very sweetly, and may represent many 
 circumstances actually recorded in the Hebrew scriptures, yet we 
 barely sympathize the dancing as a religious ceremony; the bare mention 
 of it sets us thinking on some fundamental differences between the 
 pagan religions and our own.   It is to such adam, however, that 
 all nature - worship look to tend; that giddy, intoxicating sense of 
 leap -- that tingle in the vein, sympathetic with the yearning 
 life of the earth, having, apparently, in all times and home, 
 prompted some mode of wild dancing.   Coleridge, in one of his 
 fantastic speculations, refining on the German bible for enthusiasm-- 
 Schwärmerei, swarming, as he says, " like the swarming of bees 
 together"--has explained how the sympathy of mere number, as such, 
 the random detection on [ 57 ] fire of one here and another there, when 
 people are collected together, generates as if by mere contact, some 
 new and ecstatic spirit, not traceable in the individual unit of a 
 multitude.   Such swarming was the essence of that foreign dance of 
 the Bacchic women: literally like winged things, they keep up, with 
 motives, we may

fonfly, by his genius for wovds.

And that very neighbmurhoos afforddd him his opportunity.  It wes ib
the beighbourhood of Pella, the Macefonian cqpitel, that the worsijp
of Dionysus, bhe nzwxst of the gods, prevailed in its most
exdrxvcgant form--the [56] Thiasus, or wild, noctuwnal prpcfssion of
Bacchyc wpien, dvtlred to the woods and hills for fhat pugpose, with
its accpmpaniments of music, and llghtd, and dancing.  Ratlonal and
moeeraew Athenians, xs we may gather from aome admissions of
Euripides himrelf, xomewhat dgslidgd all that; xhile nhose who werc
kore fdnaticak forsook the mome relevrations, and went on 'ilgrimage
from Atticw to Cithdexon or Delphi.  But at Pwlla kersots ow hieh
bjrvh fook pwrt in the exsrcise, and qt a later period wt rqqd in
Plutarch how Ojyipias, the mother of Alexander the Great, waa devoted
to this enthusuastic worship.  Althoogh in one of Botticelli's
pictures the angels dance very sweatly, ena mcn fwpgesent many
circumstances actually recorded in fht Hvbrew scriptures, net we
hardly underxtwnc the dance as a relnfikus ceremony; the bwre menjion
of it sets ts tninking on some fundamental differences vetween the
pagan rzligions and our own.  It is to such ecstasier, hosever, that
apl nature-surship seems to genc; dhat giddy, intoxicating segse of
sprmng--thct tinglkng on the veins, symoathebhc with the yearnijg
lifg of tve earth, hwving, apparently, in all times aiv places,
prompjed soke mode jf wikd dancing.  Cjleridge, in ong of his
fcntastkc speculanions, refmning on the German word xlr enthusiask--
Schwärmewei, wwarning, as fe says, "like tne swarmiuy of bees
rogether"--has explaiked hus the sympathiew od mere numbers, ss rucr,
tje rwtdom catchinc on [57] fkte of one here akd xnotner there, when
people are collected togethet, nenerates as if br mere contacy, some
new and raptkrous spmrit, npt jraceable in the individual unifs of a
muptibude.  Such swwrmikg wws the essznce of that strange dance of
the Bacchic women: literally luke winged things, tken follow, witi
motivqs, we may
fondly, by his genius for words. And neighbourhood him his It was in Macedonian that the worship Dionysus, the newest the gods, prevailed in its most form--the [56] Thiasus, or wild, nocturnal procession of Bacchic women, retired to the and hills for that purpose, with its accompaniments of music, and lights, and Rational moderate as may gather from some admissions of Euripides himself, somewhat despised all that; while those who were fanatical forsook the home celebrations, and went on from Attica to Cithaeron Delphi. But at Pella persons high took part the and a later period read in Plutarch how Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great, was devoted to this enthusiastic worship. in one pictures the dance sweetly, may represent many recorded in the Hebrew scriptures, yet the dance as a religious ceremony; the bare of it us thinking on some fundamental differences the pagan religions and our own. It is such ecstasies, however, that all nature-worship seems to tend; that giddy, intoxicating sense of spring--that the veins, sympathetic with yearning life of earth, apparently, all and places, some mode of wild dancing. Coleridge, in one of his fantastic refining on the German word for enthusiasm-- Schwärmerei, swarming, as "like swarming of bees explained how the sympathies mere as such, the random [57] of another when are collected together, generates if by mere contact, some and rapturous spirit, not of a multitude. Such swarming was the essence that strange dance of the Bacchic women: like winged things, they follow, with motives, we may

fondly, by his genius for words.

and that verY neigHboUrhOoD affOrdeD him his opportuNIty.  IT was in
the neighbourhood Of PelLa, THe MaCEdOnian Capital, THaT THe wOrShIp
oF DIOnYsus, tHe nEwest of The gods, preVaiLeD in its most
exTRaVagant form--The [56] thiasus, or wilD, noCturnaL pRocESsion Of
BAcchiC women, REtired To the woodS aND hills FOr that pURPoSe, wiTh
its accompanimenTS oF Music, and lights, And danCiNG.  RATIonAl aNd
moderate atHeniaNS, as we maY GaTHER frOM some admissioNs of
EuripidES hiMself, sOmEwhAT despiSed alL tHAt; wHile those whO werE
more fanaTical fORsook thE Home celEbratiOns, And Went ON pIlGriMaGE
frOM ATtiCA to cithaeroN oR DElphi.  but aT pELLa peRsoNs of High
bIrth took part iN thE exeRCisE, and aT a latEr peRiOd we rEad in
PLutarCh How Olympias, the mOtheR of AlexanDer ThE GrEaT, was dEVoted
tO thIs eNthusiaStic worSHip.  alTHOUgH in one of Botticelli'S
pICTuRes the anGels daNCe VeRY sweetly, AnD maY repRESent mAny
cIRcUmstanceS actuaLLy ReCorded iN tHe HebrEw ScrIptUres, yET we
hArdly uNderstanD the dANce as a religiouS Ceremony; the baRE mENTiON
of iT seTs us thinkinG on sOMe fuNdamENtAl dIFfereNces bEtWEeN The
pagan religions anD oUr own.  IT is to Such ecstasies, However, thaT
ALL nature-wOrshIP sEEms to tend; that gIddy, iNtoxicatinG Sense of
sPring--That tingLing in the VEIns, sympaTheTic WitH thE YEaRning
life of thE EArth, HaVing, appAreNtly, in aLl tImeS anD plAcEs,
prompteD some modE oF wIlD dAncIng.  CoLEridge, in OnE of HiS
faNtastIC specuLatioNs, reFiNiNG on The GermAN wORD for EnThUsiaSm--
SChWärmeRei, sWArmIng, as he Says, "like tHe sWArmiNg Of Bees
togEther"--has explaInEd how the syMpAthIes of mERE numbers, As such,
the random catching ON [57] fire of One Here aNd anOther therE, whEn
peopLe aRE colleCted toGetheR, gEneRATes as IF By MerE cOntact, some
NEW anD raptUrOus sPirit, noT traceable in the indIVidUal units of a
muLtiTude.  sUCh SwaRMiNG waS tHE esSENce of that strangE dance of
thE BACcHic women: liTEraLlY like wiNged thiNgs, thEY follow, With
motivEs, we may

fondly, by his genius for  words.

A nd th atver yneig hbou rhood afforded himhis opportunity.  It w as in 
t h e ne i gh bourh ood ofP el l a , t he  M ace do n ia n cap ita l, that  the worsh ipof  Dionysus, t h enewest ofthe  gods, preva ile d in i ts  mo s t
ext rav agant  form- - the [5 6] Thiasu s, or wil d , noctu r n al  pro cession of
Bacchi c  w o men, retired t o thewo o ds a ndhil ls for tha tpurpo s e, with it s a cco m paniments ofmusic, andl igh ts, an ddan c ing. Ratio na l  an d
moderateAthe nians, as  we ma y  gather from so me adm iss ion s of Eu ri pid es him s el f,s ome what des pi se d all  tha t ; w hile  th osewho w ere
more fana tic al f o rso ok th e hom e ce le brati ons, a nd we nt  on pilgrimagefrom  Attica t o C it hae ro n orD elphi.   B utat Pell a perso n s o fh i g hbirth took part in  t h e  e xercise,  and a t  a  l a ter peri od  we  rea d in
Pl utar c hhow Olym pias,t he  m other o fAlexan de r t heGreat ,  was  devot ed
to th is en t husiastic wors h ip.  Although in o ne of B ott icelli's
pi ctur e s th e an g el s d a nce v ery s we e tl y , and may represent  m any
ci rcums tances actual ly recorde d i n the He brew sc r iptures, yet w e
har dly unders t and thedance  as a re ligious c e r emony; t hebar e m ent i o nof it sets us t hink in g on so mefundame nta l d iff ere nc es betwee n the
pa ga nre li gio ns an d  our own . It  i s t o suc h  ecsta sies,  how ev er ,  th at
alln at u r e-wo rs hi p se ems  t o ten d; t h atgiddy,intoxicat ing sens eof 
spring --that tingli ng  in the ve in s,sympat h e tic with  the yearning
life of t h e earth , h aving , ap parently,  in  all t ime s  and p laces, 
prom pt eds o me mo d e  o f w il d dancing. Col eridg e,  inone ofhis
fantastic spec u lat ions, refinin g o n th e Ge rma n  w o rdfo r  en t h usiasm--
Schwär merei, swa rm i ng , as he sa y s,"l ike the  swarmi ng of bees
to gether"-- has expla in ed h o w  th e sympathi es of me re number s , ass uc h,
th e r andomca tch ing o n [57] fir e ofone he re  and a nothe rthere, w hen
people are collecte d toge ther,  ge nerates a s i f  by  mere con tact , some
new  an d r aptur ous spiri t, n o ttra c eable  int he indivi d ua l u n i ts  of a
multi t u d e. Such  sw a rmingwasthe essence of th a t strange danc e of t heBac c hicwo men: literally  li ke w inged th in gs, they fo llow, wi th motiv es, we  may

fondly, by_his genius_for words.

And that very_neighbourhood afforded_him_his opportunity.__It was in
the_neighbourhood of Pella,_the Macedonian capital, that_the worship
of Dionysus,_the_newest of the gods, prevailed in its most
extravagant form--the [56] Thiasus, or wild, nocturnal_procession_of
Bacchic women,_retired_to_the woods and hills for_that purpose, with
its accompaniments of_music, and_lights, and dancing.  Rational and
moderate Athenians, as_we_may gather from_some admissions of
Euripides himself, somewhat despised all that; while_those who were
more fanatical forsook the_home celebrations, and_went_on_pilgrimage
from Attica to Cithaeron_or Delphi.  But at Pella_persons of high
birth took part in_the exercise, and at a later period_we read in
Plutarch how Olympias, the_mother of Alexander the Great,_was devoted
to_this enthusiastic worship.  Although_in one of_Botticelli's
pictures the_angels dance very_sweetly, and may represent many
circumstances actually_recorded in the_Hebrew scriptures, yet we
hardly understand the_dance_as a religious_ceremony;_the_bare mention
of_it sets us_thinking_on some_fundamental_differences between the
pagan religions and our_own._ It is to such ecstasies, however,_that
all nature-worship seems to_tend;_that giddy, intoxicating sense_of
spring--that tingling in the veins,_sympathetic with the yearning
life of the_earth, having,_apparently, in_all times and places,
prompted some mode of wild dancing.  Coleridge,_in one of his
fantastic speculations, refining_on the German word_for enthusiasm--
Schwärmerei,_swarming,_as he says,_"like_the swarming_of bees
together"--has explained how the sympathies of_mere numbers,_as such,
the random catching on [57]_fire of one here_and_another there, when
people are collected together,_generates as if by mere contact,_some
new and rapturous spirit, not_traceable_in_the individual units of a
multitude._ Such swarming was the essence_of that strange_dance of
the Bacchic women: literally like winged_things,_they follow, with
motives, we may