'Tis
but shutting your eyes, and supposing instead of man's flesh you were
eating an hundred sesterces. Some sauce may be added to vary the
tast; for no flesh pleases alone, but is prepar'd by art to commend it
to the stomach. If you desire instances of this kind, to make ye
approve my advice; the Saguntines when they were besieg'd by Hannibal
eat humane bodies, without the hopes of an estate for doing it. The
Petavii reduc'd to the last extremity did the like; nor had they
further hopes in this banquet than to satisfie nature. When Scipio
took Numanita, mothers were found with their children half eaten in
their arms. But since the thoughts only of eating man's flesh create
the lothing; 'tis but resolving, and you gain the mighty legacies I
leave you."
Eumolpus recounted these shameless inhumanities with so much
confusion, that his parasites began to suspect him, and more nearly
considering our words and actions, their jealousie encreas'd with
their observation, and they believ'd us perfect cheats. Upon which
those who had receiv't us most nobly, resolv'd to seize us, and lustly
take their revenge; but Chrysis, privy to all stratagems, gave me
notice of their designs; the frightful news so struck me, that I made
off with Gito immediately, and left Eumolpus to the mercy of his
enemies; and in a few days we heard the Crotonians raging, that that
old rascal shou'd live so long at such a sumptuous rate on the publick
charge, sacrific'd him the Massilian way.
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