4. Pellonia is a goddess
mighty to drive back enemies. Whose enemies, say, if it is
convenient? Opposing armies meet, and fighting together, hand to
hand, decide the battle; and to one this side, to another that, is
hostile. Whom, then, will Pellonia turn to flight, since on both
sides there will be fighting? or in favour of whom will she incline,
seeing that she should afford to both sides the might and services of
her name? But if she indeed4094
| 4094
In the first sentence the ms.
reads utrique, and in the second utique, which is
reversed in most edd., as above. |
did so, that is, if she gave her
good-will and favour to both sides, she would
destroy the meaning of
her name, which was formed with regard to the beating back of one
side. But you will perhaps say, She is
goddess of the
Romans
only, and, being on the side of the Quirites alone, is ever ready
graciously to help them.
4095
| 4095 Lit.,
“ever at hand with gracious assistances.” |
We wish, indeed, that it were so,
for we like the name; but it is a very doubtful matter. What! do
the
Romans have gods to themselves, who do not help
4096
other
nations? and how can they be gods,
if they do not
exercise their
divine power impartially towards all
nations everywhere? and where, I
pray you, was this
goddess Pellonia
long ago, when the national honour was brought under the yoke at the
Caudine Forks? when at the Trasimene
lake the
streams ran with
blood?
when the plains of Diomede
4097
| 4097
i.e., the field of Cannæ. |
were heaped up with dead
Romans when a
thousand other blows were sustained in countless disastrous
battles? Was she snoring and sleeping;
4098
or, as the base often do, had she
deserted to the enemies’ camp?
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