VI. [1] While this
vigorous one was reigning, a certain Recaranus16, of Greek origin, a
herdsman of an enormous Body and of great strengths, who was surpassing other
ones by stature and courage, called Hercules16, came to the same
place.
[2] While his herd were grazing around the river Albula, Cacus, a
slave of Evander, a planner of bad things and above all of thievery, stole cows
of the guest Recaranus and, so that there was no trace, pulled them backwards
into a cave.
[3] When Recaranus had scoured and examined all the hideouts in the
neighbouring regions, 17 he eventually despaired of finding
them and bore the loss with an even mind, and decided to leave these regions.
[4] But when Evander, a man of excelling justice, discovered how
things had gone, had the slave punished and made him return the cows.
[5] Recaranus then dedicated an altar for Father Inventor beneath the
Aventine and called it the Great [Altar], and on it offered one tenth of his
herd.
[6] It had been the habit before, that men gave up one tenth of their
productions to the king; but he said it seemed to him that he had better give
that same part to the gods than to kings. Therefrom then is clearly derived the
habit of consecrating the tenth to Hercules, according to what Plautus says in
'In the part of Hercules', meaning the tenth.
[7] After consecrating the Great altar and offering on it his tenth,
Recaranus ordained, because Carmentis was invited but not present at that
sacrifice, that no woman was allowed to eat from that what was sacrificed on
that altar: and from these holy things women are completely removed.
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