67. Therefore, when you urge
against us that we turn away from the religion3867
| 3867
So the later edd., reading aversionem ex (LB., and preceding
edd. a) religione for the ms. et religionem—“against us the
hatred and religion of past ages.” |
of past
ages, it is fitting
that you should
examine why it is done, not what is done, and not set
before you what we have left, but observe especially what we have
followed. For if it is a fault or
crime to change an opinion, and
pass from ancient
customs to new conditions and desires, this
accusation holds against you too, who have so often changed your
habits
and mode of
life, who have gone over to other
customs and ceremonies,
so that you are
condemned by
3868
| 3868
Lit,, “with the condemnation of.” |
past ages
as well as
we. Do you indeed have the people distributed into
five
3869
| 3869
This shows that the division of the people into classes was obsolete in
the time of Arnobius. |
classes, as
your ancestors once had? Do you ever
elect magistrates by vote of
the people? Do you know what military, urban, and common
3870
| 3870
Turnebus has explained this as merely another way of saying the
comitia centuriata, curiata and tributa. |
comitia are? Do you watch the
sky, or put an end to
public business because
evil omens are
announced? When you are preparing for
war,
3871
| 3871
So the edd. reading cum paratis bella (Oehler reads
reparantes) for the ms.
reparatis. |
do you hang out a flag from the
citadel, or practise the forms of the Fetiales, solemnly
3872
| 3872
i.e., per clarigationem, the solemn declaration of war, if
restitution was not made within thirty-three days. |
demanding
the return of what has been carried off? or, when encountering the
dangers of
war, do you begin to
hope also, because of favourable omens
from the points of the
spears?
3873
| 3873
This seems the most natural way to deal with the clause et ex
acuminibus auspicatis, looking on the last word as an adjective,
not a verb, as most edd. seem to hold it. There is great
diversity of opinion as to what this omen was. |
In entering on
office, do you
still observe the
laws fixing the proper times? with regard to
gifts
and presents
to advocates, do you observe the Cincian and the
sumptuary
laws in restricting your expenses? Do you maintain
fires, ever burning, in gloomy sanctuaries?
3874
| 3874
The ms. reads in penetralibus
et coliginis. LB., followed by Orelli, merely omits
et, as above while the first five edd. read in pen.
Vestæ ignis—“do you maintain the hearths of
Vesta’s fire.” Many other readings and many
explanations of the passage are also proposed. |
Do you
consecrate tables by
putting on them
salt-
cellars and images of the gods? When you
marry, do you spread the couch with a toga, and invoke the
genii
of
husbands? do you arrange the
hair of
brides with the
hasta
cælibaris? do you bear the maidens’
garments to the
temple of Fortuna Virginalis? Do your matrons
work in the halls
of your houses, showing their industry openly do they refrain from
drinking wine? are their friends and relations allowed to kiss them, in
order to show that they are sober and temperate?
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
