Borborites
According to Epiphanius Panarion/Adversus Haereses chapter xxv, xxvi and Theodorets Haereticarum Fabularum Compendium the borborites (or barbelos, barbelites, phibionites, stratiotici, coddians etc) were a extraordinarily filthy and evil Gnostic sect. The word "borborite" comes from the greek word borboros which means "mud[?]".Epiphanius says the borborites were inspired by Sethianism, and had as a distinct feature of their rituals elements of sexual sacramentalism, including homosexual intercourse, smearing of hands with menstrual blood and semen, and consumption of the same as a variant of eucharist. They were also said to extract fetuses from pregnant women and consume them.
As all these tellings about the borborites come from their opponents, we don't know for sure if they are true or exaggerated. This concerns especially Epiphanius.
I take advice.html">advice.html">advice! and from whom? You shall hear.
First let me suppose, what may shortly be true,
All smirking, and pleasant, and big with adventure,
Round and round.html">round.html">round go the cards, while I inwardly damn 5
I lay down my stake, apparently cool,
I fret.html">fret in my gizzard, yet, cautious and sly,
Yet still they sit.html">sit snug, not a creature will aim
'Tis in vain that at niggardly caution I scold,
All play their own way, and they think me an ass, -- 15
'pray.html">Pray what does Miss Horneck? Take courage.html">courage, come do,' --
Mr. Bunbury frets, and I fret like the devil,
Yet still I sit snug, and continue to sigh on,
I venture at all, -- while my avarice regards
'well.html">Well done!' cry the ladies; 'Ah, Doctor, that's good.html">good! 25
Thus foil'd in my courage, on all sides perplex'd,
'Pray, Ma'am, be so good as to give your advice;
'I advise,' cries the lady, 'to try it, I own. --
Thus, playing, and playing, I still grow more eager,
Now, ladies, I ask, if law-matters you're skill'd in, 35
For giving advice that is not worth a straw,
And picking of pockets, with which I now charge ye,
What justice, when both to the Old Bailey brought!
Both are plac'd at the bar, with all proper decorum,
Both cover their faces with mobs and all that; 45
When uncover'd, a buzz of enquiry runs round, --
'But, pray, whom have they pilfer'd?' -- 'A Doctor, I hear.'
'The same.' -- 'What a pity! how does it surprise one!
Then their friends all come round me with cringing and leering,
First Sir Charles advances with phrases well.
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