按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
consecrated by barbarians〃Cicero； De Natura Deor。； i。 36。＇
〃Crocodilon adorat
Pars haec； illa pavet saturam serpentibus ibin：
Effigies sacri hic nitet aurea cercopitheci；
Hic piscem flumints； illic
Oppida tota canem venerantur。〃
＇〃This place adores the crocodile； another dreads the ibis； feeder
on serpents； here shines the golden image of the sacred ape； here
men venerate the fish of the river； there whole towns worship a
dog。〃Juvenal； xv。 2。＇
And the very interpretation that Plutarch； gives to this error； which is
very well conceived； is advantageous to them： for he says that it was not
the cat or the ox； for example； that the Egyptians adored： but that they；
in those beasts； adored some image of the divine faculties； in this；
patience and utility： in that； vivacity； or； as with our neighbours the
Burgundians and all the Germans； impatience to see themselves shut up； by
which they represented liberty； which they loved and adored above all
other godlike attributes； and so of the rest。 But when； amongst the more
moderate opinions； I meet with arguments that endeavour to demonstrate
the near resemblance betwixt us and animals； how large a share they have
in our greatest privileges； and with how much probability they compare us
together； truly I abate a great deal of our presumption； and willingly
resign that imaginary sovereignty that is attributed to us over other
creatures。
But supposing all this were not true； there is nevertheless a certain
respect； a general duty of humanity； not only to beasts that have life
and sense； but even to trees； and plants。 We owe justice to men； and
graciousness and benignity to other creatures that are capable of it；
there is a certain commerce and mutual obligation betwixt them and us。
Nor shall I be afraid to confess the tenderness of my nature so childish；
that I cannot well refuse to play with my dog； when he the most
unseasonably importunes me to do so。 The Turks have alms and hospitals
for beasts。 The Romans had public care to the nourishment of geese； by
whose vigilance their Capitol had been preserved。 The Athenians made a
decree that the mules and moyls which had served at the building of the
temple called Hecatompedon should be free and suffered to pasture at
their own choice； without hindrance。 The Agrigentines had a common use
solemnly to inter the beasts they had a kindness for； as horses of some
rare quality； dogs； and useful birds； and even those that had only been
kept to divert their children； and the magnificence that was ordinary
with them in all other things； also particularly appeared in the
sumptuosity and numbers of monuments erected to this end； and which
remained in their beauty several ages after。 The Egyptians buried
wolves； bears； crocodiles； dogs； and cats in sacred places； embalmed
their bodies； and put on mourning at their death。 Cimon gave an
honourable sepulture to the mares with which he had three times gained
the prize of the course at the Olympic Games。 The ancient Xantippus
caused his dog to be interred on an eminence near the sea； which has ever
since retained the name； and Plutarch says； that he had a scruple about
selling for a small profit to the slaughterer an ox that had been long in
his service。
End