When the Spaniards got access to the western world, there were to be observed many rites, and many terms, similar to those, which were so common among the sons of Ham. Among others was this particular custom of making the person, who was designed for a victim, engage in fight with a priest of the temple. In this manner he was slaughtered: and this procedure was esteemed a proper method of [[769]]sacrifice.
The histories of which I have been speaking were founded in truth, though the personages are not real. Such customs did prevail in the first ages: and in consequence of these customs we find those beggarly attributes of wrestling and boxing conferred upon some of the chief Divinities. Hercules and Pollux were of that number, who were as imaginary beings, as any mentioned above: yet represented upon earth as sturdy fellows, who righted some, and [[770]]wronged many. They were in short a kind of honourable Banditti, who would suffer nobody to do any mischief, but themselves. From these customs were derived the Isthmian, Nemean, Pythic, and Olympic games, together with those at Delos. Of these last Homer gives a fine description in his Hymn to Apollo.
[[771]]Αλλα συ Δηλῳ, Φοιβε, μαλιστ' επιτερπεαι ητορ.
Ενθα τοι ἑλκεχιτωνες Ιαονες ηγερεθονται,
Αυτοις συν παιδεσσι, και αιδοιῃς αλοχοισι.
Ὁιδε σε ΠYΓΜΑΧΙΗι τε, και ορχηθμῳ, και αοιδῃ
Μνησαμενοι τερπουσιν, ὁταν στησωνται αγωνα.
These contentions had always in them something cruel, and savage: but in later times they were conducted with an appearance of equity. Of old the whole ceremony was a most unfair and barbarous process.