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And mendicant prophets go to rich men's doors and persuade them

that they have a power committed to them by the gods of making an

atonement for a man's own or his ancestor's sins by sacrifices or

charms, with rejoicings and feasts; and they promise to harm an

enemy, whether just or unjust, at a small cost; with magic arts

and incantations binding heaven, as they say, to execute their

will. And the poets are the authorities to whom they appeal, now

smoothing the path of vice with the words of Hesiod;-

'Vice may be had in abundance without trouble; the way is smooth

and her dwelling-place is near. But before virtue the gods have

set toil,'

and a tedious and uphill road: then citing Homer as a witness

that the gods may be influenced by men; for he also says:-

'The gods, too, may be turned from their purpose; and men pray to

them and avert their wrath by sacrifices and soothing entreaties,

and by libations and the odour of fat, when they have sinned and

transgressed.'