was an admirer of them, because the Greeks enjoyed the advantage of
their courage, and had the very same opinion about the gods which they
had. This last was exemplified in the temples which they burnt, and
their courage in coming, and almost entirely enslaving the Grecians.
However, Apollonius has imitated all the Persian institutions, and that
by his offering violence to other men's wives, and gelding his own sons.
Now, with us, it is a capital crime, if any one does thus abuse even a
brute beast; and as for us, neither hath the fear of our governors, nor
a desire of following what other nations have in so great esteem, been
able to withdraw us from our own laws; nor have we exerted our courage
in raising up wars to increase our wealth, but only for the observation
of our laws; and when we with patience bear other losses, yet when any
persons would compel us to break our laws, then it is that we choose to
go to war, though it be beyond our ability to pursue it, and bear the
greatest calamities to the last with much fortitude. And, indeed, what
reason can there be why we should desire to imitate the laws of other
nations, while we see they are not observed by their own legislators
[27] And why do not the Lacedemonians think of abolishing that form of
their government which suffers them not to associate with any others,
as well as their contempt of matrimony? And why do not the Eleans and
Thebans abolish that unnatural and impudent lust, which makes them lie
with males? For they will not show a sufficient sign of their repentance
of what they of old thought to be very excellent, and very advantageous
in their practices, unless they entirely avoid all such actions for the
time to come: nay, such things are inserted into the body of their laws,
and had once such a power among the Greeks, that they ascribed these
sodomitical practices to the gods themselves, as a part of their good
character; and indeed it was according to the same manner that the gods
married their own sisters. This the Greeks contrived as an apology for
their own absurd and unnatural pleasures.

39. I omit to speak concerning punishments, and how many ways of
escaping them the greatest part of the legislators have afforded
malefactors, by ordaining that, for adulteries, fines in money should be
allowed, and for corrupting [28] [virgins] they need only marry them
as also what excuses they may have in denying the facts, if any one
attempts to inquire into