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To a certain prieſt who aſked permiſſion to offer up ſheep on the altars of the Gods, the oracle at length gave leave, but with great circumſpection. The oracle runs thus:
"O, ſon of the prophets! it is not lawful to ſlay by violence the ſheep; but if any of them ſhould conſent voluntarily to his death, him you may with clean hands lawfully ſacrifice."
The firſt ſaughter of a bullock amongſt the Athenians is related in the followingmanner