36. If we sought to subvert
the belief in your gods in so many ways, by so many arguments, no one
would doubt that, mad with rage and fury, you would demand for us the
stake, the beasts, and swords, with the other kinds of torture by which
you usually appease your thirst in its intense craving for our
blood. But while you yourselves put away almost the whole race of
deities with a pretence of cleverness and wisdom, you do not hesitate
to assert that, because of us, men suffer ill at the hands of the
gods;4029
| 4029
Lit., “for the sake of our name, men’s affairs are made
harassing.” |
although,
indeed, if it is true that they anywhere exist, and
burn with anger
and
4030
| 4030 Lit.,
“with flames of,” etc. |
rage, there can
be no better reason for their showing anger against you,
4031
| 4031
The ms., according to Crusius,
reads nos—“us.” |
than that you
deny their existence, and
say that they are not
found in
any part of the universe.
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
