Page:The Cry of Nature.pdf/161

 ſharpened, one man delivered the ax, another ſtruck the bullock, and a third cut his throat. They then ſkinned the animal, and all thoſe that were preſent tasted of his fleſh. Having done this, they ſewed up the ſkin, ſtuffing it with ſtraw, and ſetting it up as if it were alive, put a plough to his tail, and placed him as it were in act to till the ground. They then called before the tribunal of juſtice thoſe who had been guilty of the fact, in order that they might juſtify themſelves. The virgins who brought the water, threw the blame on thoſe who had whetted the ſteel; they who had whetted the ſteel blamed the perſon who delivered the hatchet; he threw the blame on the man who cut the bullock's throat, and the latter accuſed the weapon, which, as it could not defend