OiV THE PUBLIC SHOWS. 225 delightof the eyes and the ears. Romulus was the firstwho consecratedthe games of the circusto Consus as the god of counsel,in referenceto the rape of the Sabine women. But the restof the scenic amusements were provided to distractthe attentionof the peoplewhilefamine invaded the city,and were subsequentlydedicatedto Ceres and Bacchus, and to the restof the idolsand dead men. Those Grecian contests,whether in poems, or in instrumentalmusic, or in words, or in personalprowess,have as theirguardians various demons ; and whatever else there is which either attractsthe eyesor alluresthe earsof the spectators,ifitbe investigatedin referencetoitsoriginand institution,presents as itsreason eitheran idol,or a demon, or a dead man. Thus the devil,who is theiroriginalcontriver,because he knew thatnaked idolatrywould by itselfexciterepugnance, associateditwith publicexhibitions,thatforthe sake of their attractionitmight be loved. 5. What is the need of prosecutingthe subjectfurther, or of describingthe unnatural kinds of sacrificesin the public shows,among which sometimes even a man becomes the victimby the fraud of the priest,when the gore,yet hot from the throat,isreceivedin the foaming cup whileitstill steams,and,as ifitwere thrown intothe faceof the thirsting idol,isbrutallydrunk in pledge to it; and in the midst of the pleasuresof the spectatorsthe death of some iseagerly besought,so that by means of a bloody exhibitionmen may learn fierceness,as if a man's own privatefrenzy were of littleaccountto him unlesshe shouldlearnitalsoin public? For the punishment of a man, a rabidwild beastisnourished with delicacies,that he may become the more cruellyfero cious under the eyesof the spectators.The skilfultrainer instructsthe brute,which perhaps might have been more merciful had not itsmore brutalmaster taught itcruelty. Then, to say nothing of whatever idolatrymore generally recommends, how idlearethe conteststhemselves!— strifesin colours,contentionsin races,acclamationsin mere questions of honour; rejoicingbecause a horse has been more fleet, grieving because it was more sluggish,reckoning up the err.— vol. n. p