Proofread and pages added by Jonathan Perry, March 2001. It was, therefore, before all the creeds, a natural religion, which troubled man's heart when in his ignorance or in his hastiness he had committed an inhuman action. The head of a nation condemned a virtuous man, a useful citizen. These are men in despair, if they have sensibility. Only two choices remain, either reparation, or a settling in crime.
All sensitive souls choose the first, monsters choose the second.
We have already remarked this excess of aberration and absurdity, of imagining that he who washes his body washes his soul, and wipes away the stains of bad actions. The Egyptians took two goats, and drew lots for which of the two should be thrown below, charged with the sins of the guilty. Jason, having killed Absyrthe his step-brother, comes, it is said, with Medea, more guilty than he, to have himself absolved by Circe, queen and priestess of Aea, who ever after passed for a great magician. Circe absolves them with a sucking-pig and salt cakes. That may make a fairly good dish, but can barely either pay for Absyrthe's blood or render Jason and Medea more honourable people, unless they avow a sincere repentance while eating their sucking-pig.