this Prayer implied and encouraged Virtue in those who made it, the Philosopher proceeds to shew how the most vicious Man might be devout, so far as Victims could make him, but that his Offerings were regarded by the Gods as Bribes, and his Petitions as Blasphemies. He likewise quotes on this Occasion two Verses out of
Homer
, in which the Poet says, That the Scent of the
Trojan
Sacrifices was carried up to Heaven by the Winds; but that it was not acceptable to the Gods, who were displeased with
Priam
and all his People.
The Conclusion of this Dialogue is very remarkable.