Wine upon the Sacrifice. See Homer. It may be perhaps fuggefted, that Neftor was a King, and a Prieft too; and that in this latter capacity He did the feveral Offices he did, just as Anius in Virgil, was at the fame time, Rex idem hominum Phæbique Sacerdos. Not only King, but likewife Priest of Apollo. But 1. This would be gratis faid: And were it true, yet 2. Homer has defcribed the Sacrifice made by Eumaus, the Hogherd, exactly in the fame manner as he did that of King Neftor; fo as to fhew that Private Perfons, and not Priefts, performed the whole Service. Eumaus bids, is εTάpolov, his companions, to bring him the BEST of his Hogs: He cleft the wood himself; and whilst he was doing That, They brought a fat Hog, five years old, and placed it at the Hearth. Eumaus threw the Hair into the Fire, (a circumstance which always attended these Sacrifices) and then He prayed to all the Gods, that Ulyffes Ulysses might return home fafe: Then He killed the Hog with a Club, and They [his Companions, the under people, whom he ordered to fetch the Hog] τοὶ δ ̓ ἔσφαξαν Te voy evoar, Thefe cut the Throat, and burnt it, and presently divided it. But Eumaus the Hogherd took the pieces, Καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν πυρὶ βάλλε, παλύνας ἀλφίτε auty, and having covered them with meal, caft them into the fire. It was He, who, σπείσας δ ̓ ἄιθοπα οίνον, that made the Libation of wine, and indeed perform'd the whole facrificial Service. So that no doubt can be made, but that every body that would, performed this Office in those days. The fame manner is fully described in Apollonius Rhodius. Jafon's Herdsmen brought a Couple of Bullocks, which the Younger of his Companions led to the Altar: "Then they fet the Basons and "the Salted Meal, and Jafon prayed to Apollo; and as he prayed he caft the Homer. Ody. xiv. v. 418-447. 0 3 προχύτας, ་་་ poxiras", i. e. the Meal, as fome say, or Water, into the Ears of the Victim, as Others. "Then Hercules knocked "down with his Club the Ox; and "Ancæus cut the Mufcles of the Neck: "Then the Companions cut its Throat, "and flayed it, and cut it in pieces, and “divided it, and cut the thighs, and covering them with fat, they burnt "them; and Jafon himself made the "Libation of Wine." The fame too was the ufual practice for every one to facrifice among the Romans. When a Sacrifice was offer'd to the Lares, the Mafter of the House, or whoever it was, threw whatever it was that he offered, into the Fire, upon his Hearth, which was called the Focus. And hence came the Proverbial Expreffion, Pro Aris et Focis pugnare; By which is meant, not to fight for the maintenance * Τὲς δ ̓ ἔταξοι σφάξανε θοῶς, δεῖραν σε βοείας Αισωνίδης. Apollon. Rhod 1. i. 432, &c. of of Religious and Civil Rights, or for private Property, but it wholly relates to Religion, Public and Private. And as This comprehended every thing that was deem'd worthy an Honest man's regard, hence it came to be applied to fuch cafes, where a man thought himfelf obliged to exert his utmost ; His Religion being the chief Object of his Care. Every Country man, whether he were a Slave or a Freeman, could make the following Address to Mars Sylvanus for the preservation of his Cattle *. He "was to go into a Wood, in the day "time; and to take a certain quantity, e. g. Three pound of Barley Meal, "Four pound and half of Bacon; four pound and half of mere flesh without "Bones; and near Four Pints of Wine. * Votum pro bubus ut valeant fic facito. Marti fylvano in fylva interdius in capita fingula boum votum facito farris adorei libras tres, et Lardi P. iv. s. et Pulpæ P. iv. s. Vini Sextarios iii. Id in unum vas liceto conjicere; et vinum item in unum vas liceto conjicere. Eam rem divinam vel Servus vel Liber licebit faciat. Ubi res divina facta erit, ftatim ibidem confumito. Mulier ad eam rem divinam ne adfit, neve videat quomodo fiat. Cato. de R. R. c. 84. "Wine, He was to put the Solids into a Veffel; and the Wine likewise into a "Veffel. As foon as this religious Act "was done, This was all upon the Spot "immediately to be confumed. No wo<< man was to be prefent at this, nor fee "how it was done." I know not whe ther this ridiculous fuperftitious Whimsy may be reckoned as a Sacrifice, or whether it may not come under the Notion of a Charm. It was plainly deem'd a fort of Sacred Act, join'd to a certain address to Mars Sylvanus for his preservation of the Herd. But tho' Women were prohibited either to be prefent at, or to fee That Solemnity, be it called by what name you please, yet They could Sacrifice to their Lares, as well as the Men. This the Lar himself tells us in Plautus, Huic filia una eft, ea mihi cotidie Aut Thure, aut Vino, aut aliqui femper fupplicat. Aul. Prol. v. 23. And it is certain that religious perfons at Rome did not only offer Incenfe, and |