BOOK VIII.] History of Nature. 43 



that there was a certain Race of the Antaei, out of which one 

 must be chosen by Lot, to be conveyed to a Pool in the 

 Country ; and when all his Clothes are taken off and hung 

 upon an Oak, he swimmeth across the Lake, and goeth 

 away into the Wilderness to be turned into a Wolf, and so to 

 keep company with others of that Kind for the space of nine 

 Years ; during which time, if he forbear to eat Man's Flesh, 

 he returneth again to the same Pool, and having swam back 

 over it, he receiveth his former Shape, except that he shall 

 look nine Years older than before. Fabius addeth one thing 

 more, that he findeth again the same Garment. It is won- 

 derful to what extent Grecian Credulity can proceed ; so that 

 there is not so impudent a Lie but it findeth some one to 

 bear Witness to it. And therefore Agriopas, who wrote the 

 Olympionicse, telleth of one Dcemcenetus Parrhasius, who at a 

 Sacrifice of a Human Being, which the Arcadians celebrated 

 to Jupiter Lyccens, tasted of the Inwards of a Boy, and was 

 turned into a Wolf; and the same Man ten Years after was 

 changed to a Man again, became a Wrestler, contended in 

 Boxing, and went away home again with Victory from 

 Olympia. Besides, it is commonly believed that in the 

 Tail of this Animal there is a little Hair that is effectual to 

 procure Love ; and that when he is taken he casteth it away, 

 because it is of no Force unless it is taken from him while 

 he is Alive. He goeth to rut in the whole Year no more 

 than twelve Days. When he is very hungry he devoureth 

 Earth. Among Auguries, if a Wolf, in going about, turn to 

 their Right Hand, with the Interruption of his Journey, it is 

 good ; but if his Mouth be full when he doth so, there is 

 not a better Sign in the World. There are some of this 

 Kind that are called Stag- Wolves, 1 such as we have said 

 that Pompey shewed in the Circus, brought out of Gallia. 

 This Animal, they say, however hungry he may be when 

 he is eating, if he chance to look backward, forgetteth his 

 Meat, and wandereth away to seek for some other Prey. 



1 Lib. viii. c, 19. Wern. Club. 



