41. It was once usual, in
speaking allegorically, to conceal under perfectly decent ideas, and
clothe4531
with the
respectability of decency, what was base and horrible to speak of
openly; but now venerable things are at your instance vilely spoken of,
and what is quite pure
4532
| 4532
Lit., “strong in chastity.” |
is related
4533
| 4533
The ms., first three edd., Elm., and
Oehler read commorantur—“lingers,”
i.e., “continues to be spoken of;” the other edd. receive
commemorantur, as above, from the errata in the 1st
ed. |
in
filthy language, so that that
which vice
4534
| 4534
The ms., first four edd., and Oehler
read gravitas—seriousness; corrected pr. as
above, in all edd. after Stewechius. |
formerly
concealed from
shame, is now meanly and basely spoken of, the mode of
speech which was fitting
4535
| 4535
So, perhaps, the unintelligible ms. dignorum should be emended digna
rerum. |
being changed. In speaking of
Mars and Venus as having been taken in
adultery by Vulcan’s art,
we speak of
lust, says
my opponent, and
anger, as restrained by
the force and purpose of reason. What, then,
hindered, what
prevented you from expressing each thing by the words and terms proper
to it? nay, more, what necessity was there, when you had
resolved4536
| 4536 So
all edd. since Stewechius, adding s to the ms. voluisse. |
to declare
something or other, by means of treatises and writings, to
resolve that
that should not be the meaning to which you point, and in one narrative
to take up at the same time opposite positions—the eagerness of
one wishing to
teach, the niggardliness of one reluctant to make
public?
4537
| 4537
i.e., the mere fact that the stories were published, showed a wish to
teach; but their being allegories, showed a reluctance to allow them to
be understood. |
Was
there no risk in speaking of the gods as unchaste? The mention of
lust and
anger,
my opponent says, was likely to
defile the
tongue and mouth with foul contagion.
4538
| 4538
The edd. read this sentence interrogatively. |
But, assuredly, if this were
done,
4539
| 4539
i.e., “if you said exactly what you mean.” The
reference is not to the immediately preceding words, but to the
question on which the chapter is based—“what prevented you
from expressing,” etc. |
and the
veil
of allegorical obscurity were removed, the matter would be easily
understood, and by the same the
dignity of the gods would be maintained
unimpaired. But now, indeed, when the restraining of vices is
said to be signified by the binding of Mars and Venus, two most
inconsistent
4540
things are done
at the very same time; so that, on the one hand, a description of
something vile suggests an honourable meaning, and on the other, the
baseness occupies the mind before any regard for religion can do
so.
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