lot of a mock
king, to preside over the revels. His word was law, and he was able to
lay ridiculous commands upon the guests; "one," says Lucian, "must shout
out a libel on himself, another dance naked, or pick up the flute-girl
and carry her thrice round the house."{12} This king may have been
originally the representative of the god Saturn himself. In the days of
the classical writers he is a mere "Lord of Misrule," but Dr. Frazer has
propounded the very interesting theory that this time of privilege and
gaiety was once but the prelude to a grim sacrifice in which he had to
die in the character of the god, giving his life for the world.{13} Dr.
Frazer's theory, dependent for its evidence upon the narrative of the
martyrdom of a fourth-century saint, Dasius by name, has been keenly
criticized by Dr. Warde Fowler. He holds that there is nothing whatever
to show that the "Saturn" who in the fourth century, according to the
story, was sacrificed by soldiers on the Danube, had anything to do with
the customs of ancient Rome.{14} Still, in whatever way the king of the
_Saturnalia_ may be explained, it is interesting to note his existence
and compare him with the merry monarchs whom we shall meet at Christmas
and Twelfth Night.

How far the Saturnalian customs in general were of old Latin origin it is
difficult to say; the name Saturnus (connected with the root of _serere_,
to sow) and the date point to a real Roman festival of the sowing of the
crops, but this was heavily overlaid with Greek ideas and practice.{15}
It is especially important to bear this in mind in considering Lucian's
statements.

The same is true of the festival of the January Kalends, a few days after
the _Saturnalia_. On January 1, the Roman New |168| Year's Day, the new
consuls were inducted into office, and for at least three days high
festival was kept. The houses were decorated with lights and
greenery--these, we shall find, may be partly responsible for the modern
Christmas-tree. As at the _Saturnalia_ masters drank and gambled with
slaves. _Vota_, or solemn wishes of prosperity for the Emperor during the
New Year, were customary, and the people and the Senate were even
expected to present gifts of money to him. The Emperor Caligula excited
much disgust by publishing an edict requiring these gifts and by standing
in the porch of his palace to receive them in person. Such gifts, not
only presented to the Emperor, but frequently exchanged between pr