[204] It has indeed been questioned whether the overturned salt-cellar in Da Vinci's picture, as shown in many an engraving of it, was in the original painting, as it is not to be seen there now. But it would seem clear that the copy of this painting by Da Vinci's pupil, Marco d'Oggoni, in the Brera, shows the overturned salt-cellar, while the original painting has had several retouchings and renovations. (See _Notes and Queries_, 6th Series, Vol. X., p. 92 f.) Gayton, describing two friends (who were proof even against this ill sign), says: "I have two friends of either sex, which do Eat little salt, or none, yet are friends too; Of both which persons I can truly tell, They are of patience most invincible,-- When out of temper no mischance at all Can put,--no, not if towards them the salt should fall."[205] [205] Thistleton Dyer's _Domestic Folk-Lore_, p. 104. In both the Old Testament and the New faithlessness to a formal covenant is reckoned a crime of peculiar enormity as distinct from any ordinary transgression of a specific law. Transgressing a covenant with the Lord is counted on the part of Israel much the same as worshiping the gods of the heathen. This is shown in repeated instances in the Old Testament.[206] In the New Testament, Paul includes among the grossest evil-doers of paganism those who are "filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, hateful to God," and so down to "covenant-breakers," and those "without natural affection," as among the lowest and worst of all.[207] This idea shows itself continually in records and traditions, sacred and secular. [206] Gen. 17 : 14; Deut. 17 : 2-7; Josh. 7 : 11-15; Judg. 2 : 20-23; 2 Kings 18 : 11, 12; Psa. 55 : 19-21; Isa. 24 : 5, 6; Jer. 11 : 9-11; 34 : 17-20; Hosea 6 : 4-7; 8 : 1. [207] Rom. 1 : 31. XII SUBSTITUTE TOGETHER WITH REALITY Primarily it is the blood, as the life, of two persons entering into a covenant with each other and with the Author of life, that is the nexus of the enduring covenant.[208] Secondarily, it is the blood, or life, of a substitute victim offered as a sacrifice to God, or to the gods, that is accepted as such a nexus,--the blood being shared by the contracting parties, or being poured out as an oblation to God, and the flesh being eaten conjointly by the parties covenanting.[209] [208] _Blood Covenant_, pp. 5-86; _Threshold Covenant_, pp. 193-202. [209] Gen. 4 : 2-5; _Blood Covenant_, pp. 134-136.