Be their vile Names in Execration held,
Who with foul Glutt'ny firſt the World defil'd:
Parent of Vice, and all Diſeaſes ſince,
With ghaſtly Death ſprung up alone from thence.
Ah, from ſuch reeking, bloody Tables fly,
Which Death for our Deſtruction does ſupply.
In Health, if Sallet-Herbs you can't endure;
Sick, you'll deſire them; or for Food, or Cure.
As to the other part of the Controverſie, which concerns us, αιματοφαγοι,
and Occidental Blood-Eaters; ſome Grave and Learn'd Men of late ſeem to ſcruple the preſent Uſage, whilſt they ſee the Prohibition appearing, and to carry ſuch a Face of Antiquity, [95]Scripture, [96]Councils, [97]Canons, [98]Fathers; Imperial Conſtitutions, and Univerſal Practice, unleſs it be among us of theſe Tracts of Europe, whither, with other Barbarities, that of eating the Blood and Animal Life of Creatures firſt was brought; and by our Mixtures with the Goths, Vandals, and other Spawn of Pagan Scythians; grown a Cuſtom, and ſince which I am perſuaded more Blood has been ſhed between Chriſtians than there ever was before the Water of the Flood covered this Corner of the World: Not that I impute it only to our eating Blood; but ſometimes wonder how it hap'ned that ſo ſtrict, ſo ſolemn and famous a Sanction not upon a Ceremonial Account; but (as ſome affirm) a Moral and Perpetual from Noah, to whom the Conceſſion of eating Fleſh was granted, and that of Blood forbidden (nor to this Day once revok'd) and whilſt there alſo ſeems to lie fairer Proofs than for moſt other Controverſies agitated among Chriſtians, ſhould be ſo generally forgotten, and give place to ſo many other impertinent Diſputes and Cavels about other ſuperſtitious Fopperies, which frequently end in Blood and cutting of Throats.