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What is the reason why the Eleans lead their
mares outside the boundaries of their country to mate
them with asses?1
Is it because of all kings Oenomaüs was the most
fond of horses, and, since he particularly loved
[p. 241]
this animal, he laid many terrible curses upon any
that should thus mate horses in Elis ; and it is in fear
of that curse that they endeavour to keep clear of it?
1 Cf. Herodotus, iv. 30; Pausanias, v. 5. 2; 9. 2; mules were not bred in Elis because of a curse, and this, seemingly, should be the meaning here; but the corruption in the text of one word, which should have designated asses, has made the mules somewhat dubious.
Plutarch. Moralia. with an English Translation by. Frank Cole Babbitt. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. London. William Heinemann Ltd. 1936. 4.
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