19. But you err, says my
opponent, and fall into mistakes; for in sacrificing female victims
to the female deities, males to the male deities, there is a
hidden and very secret
reason, and one beyond the reach of the mass. I do not inquire, I
do not demand, what the sacrificial laws teach or contain; but if
reason has demonstrated, and truth declared, that among the
gods there is no difference of species, and that they are not
distinguished by any sexes, must not all these reasonings be set at
nought, and be proved, be found to have been believed under the most
foolish hallucinations? I will not bring forward the opinions of
wise men, who cannot restrain their laughter when they hear
distinctions of sex attributed to the immortal gods: I ask of
each man whether he himself believes in his own mind, and persuades
himself that the race of the gods is so distinguished that they are
male and female, and have been formed with members arranged suitably
for the begetting of young?
But if the laws of the sacrifices enjoin that like
sexes should be sacrificed to like, that is, female victims to
the female gods, male victims, on the contrary, to the male
gods, what relation is there in the colours, so that it is right and
fitting that to these white, to those dark, even the blackest victims
are slain? Because, says my opponent, to the gods above, and those who have power to give favourable omens, the cheerful colour is acceptable and propitious from the pleasant appearance of pure white; while, on the contrary, to the sinister deities, and those who inhabit the infernal seats, a dusky colour is more pleasing, and one tinged with gloomy hues. But if, again, the reasoning holds good, that the infernal regions are an utterly vain and empty name, and that underneath the earth there are no Plutonian realms and abodes, this, too, must nullify your ideas about black cattle and gods under the ground. Because, if there are no infernal regions, of necessity there are no dii Manium also. For how is it possible that, while there are no regions, there should be said to be any who inhabit them?