17. Or if the things which
we say are not so, declare, say yourselves—those effeminate and
delicate men whom we see among you in the sacred rites of this
deity—what business, what care, what concern have
they there; and why do they like mourners wound their arms and4380
breasts, and
act as those dolefully circumstanced? What
mean the
wreaths, what the violets, what the swathings, the coverings of soft
wools? Why, finally, is the very pine, but a little before
swaying to and fro among the shrubs, an utterly inert log, set up in
the
temple of the Mother of the gods next, like some propitious and
very venerable
deity? For either this is the cause which we have
found in your writings and treatises, and
in that case it is
clear that you do not celebrate
divine rites, but give a representation
of
sad events; or if there is any other reason which the darkness of
the mystery has withheld from us, even it also must be involved in the
infamy of some shameful deed. For who would believe that there is
any honour in that which the worthless
Galli begin, effeminate
debauchees complete?
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
