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And they produce a host of books written by Musaeus and Orpheus,

who were children of the Moon and the Muses-that is what they

say-according to which they perform their ritual, and persuade

not only individuals, but whole cities, that expiations and

atonements for sin may be made by sacrifices and amusements which

fill a vacant hour, and are equally at the service of the living

and the dead; the latter sort they call mysteries, and they

redeem us from the pains of hell, but if we neglect them no one

knows what awaits us.