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Philosophers, or lovers of wisdom—they with whom all
that distinguished Greek intellect was a special study and
profession ; who were in fact the most civilized portion of
the community.
From the time of the Emperor Justinian the Greeks
resumed the Beard, which was worn hy all the Greek
Emperors down to the last, the unfortunate Paleologus,
who died fighting bravely at the takiug of Constantinople
hy the Turks. It was hy these Emperors regarded as an
ensign of royalty—an attribute of kingly majesty.
Etruscans—Eomans.
The Etruscans represented their gods with Beards, and
wore them themselves; as did the Eomans. Every school-
boy recollects the awe inspired to the invading Gauls when,
on entering the Senate-house, they saw the conscript
Fathers sitting calm and immovable as the gods, for which
the Barbarians at first view took them, till one bolder than
the rest plucked at the Beard of the noble Marcus Papirius,
who by indignantly raising his staff, unconsciously gave
the signal for the murder of himself, and his venerable
compatriots.
During all the best ages of the Bepublic, while the old
Roman virtue retained something of its original vigour,
and before it had been sapped and undermined by the im-
ported vices and effeminate customs of conquered nations,
