Monday, 13 June 2016

Belgians according to Strabo

According to Strabo, the Belgians ( long before the country of Belgium was formed from the Spanish Netherlands )  had assemblies and were under Roman occupation. The people wore sagos made from rough lamb's wool that was wrapped around the body a bit like a toga. Well, a most peculiar thing can happen. If a person in the audience starts talking, coughs or farts while the speaker is in full flow, and the speaker is interrupted by the noise, an official draws his sword and threatens the miscreant to hush. If he doesn't take heed the sword is redrawn more aggressively and the miscreant is given a final warning. If the miscreant makes another noise the official proceeds to cut away his clothing so that not much remains to be of any use. The miscreant then usually leaves the assembly room and the speaker continues with his oration. The miscreant goes home and knits another sago! On  some occasions the miscreant never learns because he returns to the assembly a few days later. He lets out an almighty burp and the official draws his sword and warns him most sternly not to interrupt the speaker again. The miscreant obviously has the devil in him  because he shouts out "bullocks" so the swordsman points his sharpened sword at him and offers a final warning. The miscreant shouts "Campania!" Very very loud. The official approaches the miscreant without further ado and cuts away his clothing so that not much remains that is of any use, so the miscreant goes home and knits another sago. These were the things officials at assemblies had to deal with on a regular basis.

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