rite at funerals. The Romans had the same custom, which they called _decursio._ Plutarch states that Alexander, in after times, renewed these same honours to the memory of Achilles himself. 282 --_And swore._ Literally, and called Orcus, the god of oaths, to witness. See ****mann, Lexilog, p. 436. 283 "O, long expected by thy friends! from whence Art thou so late return'd for our defence? Do we behold thee, wearied as we are With length of labours, and with, toils of war? After so many funerals of thy own, Art thou restored to thy declining town? But say, what wounds are these? what new disgrace Deforms the manly features of thy face?" Dryden, xi. 369. 284 --_Like a thin smoke._ Virgil, Georg. iv. 72. "In vain I reach my feeble hands to join In sweet embraces--ah! no longer thine! She said, and from his eye