36S

temple he would leave as he found them. Then turningto the love-sick youth, he asked him if he believed in theexistence of the Gods ? So much so, said he, as that Ihave fallen in love with them; and then he began to talkof his marriage as a matter that might be brought aboutafter the due performance of certain sacrifices. WhenApollonius heard this, he said, Thou fool, it is the poetswho have inspired you with this folly, who in their fableshave talked of the loves of Anchises and Venus, andPeleus and Thetis . But of mutual love, my opinion isthis, that Gods love Gods , men love men, and beasts lovebeasts; and that every thing loves its like, by which itproduces what is of the same nature with itself. If a be-ing of one species unites with that of a different one, itcannot render either love or marriage permanent. If youhad called to mind the story of Ixion, you would neverhave thought of falling in love with what is unlike your-self. He is whirled through the heavens like a wheel; andyou will be undone if you do not instantly quit this tem-ple : and will have no cause to complain of the injusticeof the Gods . This remonstrance extinguished the flamewith which the youth was on fire, who, instead of makinga boast of his love, went away to offer sacrifice for hispardon.

CHAP. XLI.

AT this time the towns situate on the left side of theHellespont were subject to earthquakes. Certain Egyp-tians and Chaldeans taking advantage of the alarm, wentup and down through them, collecting what money theycould, under pretence of offering to Neptune and Tellus,a sacrifice which would cost ten talents. Both towns andindividuals, whilst under the impression of terror, contri-buted what they could from their public and private