 daughter, and, plunging a dagger into her breast,
said, 'Your child was only four years old, mine was nine years old. Give
me a victim to equal her.' 'Certainly,' replied the other, and seeing at
his side his eldest son, who was ready to be married, he stabbed him four
or five times with his dagger; and, not content with shedding the blood of
his two sons, he killed his wife too, in order to oblige his enemy to
murder his wife in like manner. Lastly, a little girl and a baby at the
breast had also their throats cut, so that in a single day seven persons
were sacrificed to the vengeance of two bloodthirsty men, more cruel than
the most ferocious brutes. I have actually in my church a young man who
sought refuge among us, wounded by a spear-thrust which his father
inflicted on him in order to kill him and thus oblige his foe to slay his
own son in like manner. The barbarian had already stabbed two of his
children on other occasions for the same purpose. Such atrocious examples
will seem to you to partake more of fable than of truth; but believe me
that far from exaggerating, I could produce many others not less
tragical."(393)

(M113) The same contempt of death which many races have exhibited in
modern times was displayed in antiquity by the hardy natives of Europe
before Christianity had painted the world beyond the grave in colours at
which even their bold spirits quailed. Thus, for example, at their
banquets the rude Thracians used to suspend a halter over a movable stone
and cast lots among themselves. The man on whom the lot fell mounted the
stone with a scimitar in his hand and thrust his head into the noose. A
comrade then rolled the stone from under him, and while he did so the
other attempted to sever the rope with his scimitar. If he succeeded he
dropped to the ground and was saved; if he failed, he was hanged, and his
dying struggles were greeted with peals of laughter by his fellows, who
regarded the whole thing as a capital joke.(394) The Greek traveller
Posidonius, who visited Gaul early in the first century before our era,
records that among the
daughter, and, plunging a dagger into her breast, 
 said,' Your child was only four years previous, mine was nine days old. Give 
 me a victim to equal her.'' Certainly,' answer the other, and seeing at 
 his side his firstborn son, who was quick to be married, he stabbed him four 
 or five times with his dagger; and, not content with shedding the lineage of 
 his two sons, he killed his wife besides, in club to oblige his foe to 
 murder his wife in like manner. last, a small girl and a baby at the 
 breast had besides their throats cut, so that in a individual day seven person 
 were sacrificed to the vengeance of two bloodthirsty men, more cruel than 
 the most ferocious brutes. I own actually in my church a young man who 
 sought refuge among us, injure by a spear - thrust which his father 
 inflicted on him in order to kill him and thus oblige his foe to slay his 
 own son in like manner. The barbarian had already knife two of his 
 children on other occasion for the like purpose. Such atrocious examples 
 will seem to you to partake more of fable than of truth; but believe me 
 that far from exaggerating, I could produce many others not less 
 tragical. "(393) 

 (M113) The like contempt of death which many races have exhibited in 
 modern times was displayed in antiquity by the hardy natives of Europe 
 before Christianity had painted the world beyond the grave in color at 
 which even their bluff intent quailed. Thus, for example, at their 
 banquet the rude Thracians used to suspend a hangman's rope over a movable stone 
 and hurl lots among themselves. The man on whom the draw fell climb the 
 stone with a scimitar in his hand and lunge his head into the snare. A 
 comrade then rolled the stone from under him, and while he did indeed the 
 other attempted to sever the rope with his scimitar. If he succeeded he 
 fell to the ground and was keep open; if he failed, he was hanged, and his 
 dying struggles were greeted with peal of laughter by his fellows, who 
 see the whole thing as a capital joke.(394) The Greek traveller 
 Posidonius, who visited Gaul early in the first hundred before our era, 
 records that among the
 dakghter, and, plunging a danger into her brgawt,
said, 'Your dhild war only four years old, mine wes nune ytcrs old. Give
me a vicgim to eqlal her.' 'Cwrtamnly,' replied the other, akb seejkg at
kiw side his eldgst son, who fas ready to ba oaxried, he stabbed him four
or five timqs with hls dagger; and, got bogtenf with shedding the blood of
his twk sons, ie killed his wofe too, in order to oblige his enemy to
murder hid wife in luke iqnner. Lastly, a little girl and a bzby at the
breast had also their throcts cut, so jkqt lt a single vay senen persons
wevv sacrixiced tp the vengeancc of vwo vloodthirsty men, more cruel than
the mosj ferociouv yrutes. I have actuallt un my chusch x yojng men sho
souhht refuge amkng us, wouneed by a spear-thrusu wrpvh his fathed
inflistqd on him in order to kill him and thus obmige his foe to slay hiw
own son in like manngr. The barfarian had already stabbed two of his
children on mther ucccwions dog the same purpose. Such atrocious examples
wilj stem to you to parbake more of fable tjam of truth; but beliers je
that far from exwggeratyng, I could prjducr many others not less
tragixal."(393)

(M113) The samv cobtempt of death whnch many raczs havg exhinited in
modern times war diaplayed in wntiquity cy the hardy natkvex mf Europt
cefore Christianiey had pamnted the wofld neyond the grave in colours at
which even theit bold spirits qkailed. Thus, for example, at theic
uanquets the tuda Tvracians used to suspend a halter over a movablz stond
and cast mots ammng themseldes. The man ot whom the lov fell motntee thw
stone dkth a scimitar in his hcud and theust his head into thg hoose. A
comrade ckeb rolled the stpne frjm uider rhm, and while he aid xo thd
other attenoted to sever the rope whth gis scimitar. If he smcceeded ye
droppeq to the groumd and was saved; iv he hailed, he wss ranged, and his
dying struggles sere greehed with peals jf lqughter by hns fellows, who
regarded the whole thing aw a capital joke.(394) Jhe Greek traveller
Poxldonius, who tisiteq Gaul easly in the first cenrury before our eva,
records that among tge
daughter, and, plunging a dagger into her 'Your was only years old, mine me victim to equal 'Certainly,' replied the and seeing at his side his son, who was ready to be married, he stabbed him four or five with his dagger; and, not content with shedding the blood of his two he his too, order to oblige his enemy to murder his wife in like manner. Lastly, a little girl a baby at the breast had also their cut, so that in single day seven persons were to vengeance of bloodthirsty more than the most brutes. I have actually in my church a young man who sought refuge among us, wounded by spear-thrust which inflicted on in to him and thus foe to slay his own son The barbarian had already stabbed two of his on other for the same purpose. Such atrocious will seem to you to partake more of than of truth; but believe me that far from exaggerating, I could produce many others tragical."(393) (M113) The same of death which races exhibited modern was displayed antiquity by the hardy natives of Europe before Christianity had painted world beyond the grave in colours at which even their quailed. for example, at banquets the rude Thracians to a halter over a and lots man whom lot fell mounted the with a scimitar in his and thrust his head then rolled the stone from under him, and he did so the other attempted to the rope with his scimitar. If he succeeded he dropped to the and was he failed, he was hanged, and his dying were greeted with peals laughter by his fellows, who regarded the whole thing a joke.(394) The traveller Posidonius, who Gaul early in first century before records that the
 daughter, and, plunging a daggeR into her brEast,
sAid, 'youR cHild Was oNly four years olD, Mine Was nine years old. Give
me a VictiM tO EquaL HeR.' 'CertAinly,' rePLiED The OtHeR, anD sEEiNg at
hIs sIde his eLdest son, whO waS rEady to be marrIEd, He stabbed hIm fOur
or five timEs wIth his DaGgeR; And, noT coNtent With shEDding tHe blood of
HiS Two sonS, He killeD HIs Wife Too, in order to obligE HiS Enemy to
murder hIs wife In LIkE MAnnEr. LAstly, a littLe Girl aND a baby aT ThE
BREasT Had also their tHroats cut, so THat In a sinGlE daY Seven pErsonS
wERe sAcrificed to The vEngeance oF two blOOdthirsTY men, morE cruel ThaN
thE mosT FeRoCioUs BRutES. I HavE ActUally in mY cHuRch a yOung MAN WHo
soUghT refUge amOng us, wounded bY a sPear-THruSt whiCh his FathEr
InfliCted on Him in OrDer to kill him and Thus Oblige his Foe To SlaY hIs
own SOn in liKe mAnnEr. The baRbarian HAd aLrEADY sTabbed two of his
chilDrEN On Other occAsions FOr ThE Same purpOsE. SuCh atROCious ExamPLeS
will seeM to you TO pArTake morE oF fable ThAn oF trUth; buT BeliEve me
tHat far frOm exaGGerating, I could PRoduce many othERs NOT lESs
trAgiCal."(393)

(M113) The same ContEMpt oF deaTH wHicH Many rAces hAvE ExHIbited in
modern times WaS displAyed iN antiquity by tHe hardy natIVES of EuropE
befORe cHristianity had PaintEd the world BEyond the Grave In colourS at
which eVEN their boLd sPirIts QuaILEd. thus, for examplE, AT theIr
BanquetS thE rude ThRacIanS usEd tO sUspend a haLter over A mOvAbLe StoNe
and CAst lots aMoNg tHeMseLves. THE man on Whom tHe loT fElL MouNted the
SToNE With A sCiMitaR in HiS hand And tHRusT his heaD into the nOosE. a
comRaDe Then rolLed the stone frOm Under him, anD wHilE he did SO The
other Attempted to sever the rope WIth his sCimItar. IF he sUcceeded hE
drOpped tO thE Ground And was Saved; If He fAILed, he WAS hAngEd, And his
dyinG STruGgles WeRe grEeted wiTh peals of laughter bY His Fellows, who
regArdEd thE WHoLe tHInG As a CaPItaL JOke.(394) The Greek travEller
PosidOnIUs, Who visited gAul EaRly in thE first cEnturY Before oUr era,
recoRds that amOnG the
 daughter, and, plunging a  dagger in to he r b rea st ,
sa id,'Your child wa s  onl y four years old, mine  wasni n e ye a rs  old.  Give
m e  a v ict im  t o e qu a lher.'  'C ertainl y,' replie d t he  other, ands ee ing at
his  si de his eldes t s on, wh owas ready  to  be m arried ,  he st abbed him  f o ur
orf ive tim e s  w ithhis dagger; and,n ot content with s heddin gt he b loo d o f
his twoso ns, h e  killed hi s w ife too, in order  to obligeh isenemyto 
mu r der hi s wif ei n l ike manner.  Las tly, a li ttle g i rl anda  baby a t thebre ast  had al so  th ei r  th r oa tsc ut,  so that  i na sin gled a y seve n p erso ns
we re sacrificed  to  the ven geanc e oftwobl oodth irstymen,mo re cruel than
t he m ost feroc iou sbru te s. Ih ave ac tua lly  in mychurcha  yo un g m an  who
sought refuge  a m o ng  us, wou nded b y  a  s p ear-thru st  wh ichh i s fat heri nf licted o n himi nor der toki ll him  a ndthu s obl i ge h is foe  to slay  hiso wn son in like manner. The b a rb a r ia n  had  al ready stabb ed t w o of  his ch ild r en on  othe ro cc a sions for the samepu rpose.  Such  atrocious ex amples
wil l s eem to y ou t o  p a rtake more offable  than of t r uth; but  beli eve me
t hat far f r o m exagge rat ing , I  co u l dproduce manyo t hers  n ot less 
tr agical. "(3 93) 

( M11 3)  The same  contemp tof  d ea thwhich many rac es  ha ve  ex hibit e d in
m odern  tim es  w a s d isplaye d  i n anti qu it y by  th ehardy  nat i ves  of Eur ope
befor e C h rist ia ni ty hadpainted the w or ld beyondth e g rave i n coloursat
which even their bol d  spirit s q uaile d. T hus, forexa mple,att heir
b anquet s the  r ude T hraci a n suse dto suspend a  ha lterov er a  movabl e stone
and cast l o tsamong themsel ves . Th e ma n o n  w h omth e  lo t fell mounted th e
stone wi th ascimitar i n  hi shand an d thrus t his head in to the no ose. A
co mr adet h enrolled the  stone f rom under him,a nd  whil e h e didso  th e
oth er att e mpt ed to  sever  t he rop e wit hhis scim itar. If he succeeded h e
drop ped t o t he ground  an d  wa s saved;if h e failed,hewas  hang ed, and h is
d y in g s t ruggl es w e re greete d  w ith p ea ls of laugh t e r  by  hisfel l ows, w ho
r egarded the whole thing as a cap ital j oke .(3 9 4) T he  Greek travell erPo s i donius,wh o visited G aul earl yi n the  first  centu ry befo r e  o u r era, 
rec ord s that am ong  t h e
 daughter,_and, plunging_a dagger into her_breast,
said, 'Your_child_was only_four_years old, mine_was nine years_old. Give
me a victim_to equal her.'_'Certainly,'_replied the other, and seeing at
his side his eldest son, who was ready to_be_married, he_stabbed_him_four
or five times with his_dagger; and, not content with_shedding the_blood of
his two sons, he killed his wife_too,_in order to_oblige his enemy to
murder his wife in like manner._Lastly, a little girl and a_baby at the
breast_had_also_their throats cut, so_that in a single day seven_persons
were sacrificed to the vengeance of_two bloodthirsty men, more cruel than
the most_ferocious brutes. I have actually in_my church a young man_who
sought refuge_among us, wounded by a_spear-thrust which his_father
inflicted on_him in order_to kill him and thus oblige_his foe to_slay his
own son in like manner._The_barbarian had already_stabbed_two_of his
children_on other occasions_for_the same_purpose._Such atrocious examples
will seem to you_to_partake more of fable than of truth;_but believe me
that far_from_exaggerating, I could produce_many others not less
tragical."(393)

(M113) The_same contempt of death which many_races have_exhibited in
modern_times was displayed in antiquity by the hardy natives of Europe
before_Christianity had painted the world beyond_the grave in colours_at
which even_their_bold spirits quailed._Thus,_for example,_at their
banquets the rude Thracians used to_suspend a_halter over a movable stone
and cast_lots among themselves. The_man_on whom the lot fell mounted_the
stone with a scimitar in his_hand and thrust his head_into_the_noose. A
comrade then rolled the_stone from under him, and while_he did so_the
other attempted to sever the rope with_his_scimitar. If he succeeded he
dropped to_the_ground and was saved; if he_failed,_he_was hanged, and his
dying struggles_were greeted with peals of laughter_by his fellows, who
regarded the whole thing as a_capital joke.(394) The_Greek traveller
Posidonius, who visited Gaul_early_in_the first century before our era,
records that among the