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When the wealthier Eginetans had thus obtained the victory over the
common people who had revolted with Nicodromus, they laid hands on a
certain number of them, and led them out to death. But here they were
guilty of a sacrilege, which, notwithstanding all their efforts, they
were never able to atone, being driven from the island before they had
appeased the goddess whom they now provoked. Seven hundred of the
common people had fallen alive into their hands; and they were all
being led out to death, when one of them escaped from his chains, and
flying to the gateway of the temple of Ceres the Lawgiver, laid hold
of the doorhandles, and clung to them. The others sought to drag him
from his refuge; but, finding themselves unable to tear him away,
they cut off his hands, and so took him, leaving the hands still
tightly grasping the handles.
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