28. I confess that I have
long been hesitating, looking on every side, shuffling, doubling
Tellene perplexities;4461
| 4461
This allusion is somewhat obscure. Heraldus regards tricas
Tellenas as akin in sense to t. Atellanas, i.e.,
“comic trifles;” in which case the sense would be, that
Arnobius had been heaping up any trifles which would keep him back from
the disagreeable subject. Ausonius Popma (quoted by Orelli)
explains the phrase with reference to the capture of Tellenæ by
Ancus Martius as meaning “something hard to get
through.” |
while I am
ashamed to mention those
Alimontian
4462
| 4462
The ms. reads
alimoniæ, corrected from Clem. Alex. by Salmasius,
Alimontia, i.e., celebrated at Halimus in Attica. |
mysteries in
which Greece erects
phalli in honour of
father Bacchus, and the
whole
district is covered with images of men’s
fascina. The meaning of this is obscure perhaps, and it is
asked why it is done. Whoever is ignorant of this, let him
learn,
and, wondering at what is so important, ever keep it with reverent care
in a pure
heart.
4463
| 4463
Lit., “in pure senses.” [Ironically said.] |
While Liber,
born at Nysa,
4464
| 4464
Cicero (de Nat. Deor., iii. 23) speaks of five Dionysi,
the father of the fifth being Nisus. Arnobius had this passage
before him in writing the fourth book (cf. c. 15, and n. 2), so that he
may here mean to speak of Liber similarly. |
and son of Semele, was still among
men, the
story goes, he wished to become acquainted with the shades
below, and to inquire into what went on in Tartarus; but this wish was
hindered by some difficulties, because, from ignorance of the route, he
did not know by what way to go and proceed. One Prosumnus starts
up, a base
lover of the
god, and
a fellow too prone to
wicked
lusts, who
promises to point out the
gate of Dis, and the approaches to
Acheron, if the
god will gratify him, and
suffer uxorias voluptates
ex se carpi. The
god, without reluctance, swears to put
himself
4465
| 4465
Lit., “that he will be.” |
in his
power
and at his disposal, but
only immediately on his return from the
lower
regions, having obtained his wish and desire.
4466
| 4466
So the ms., acc. to Hild., reading
expe-titionis; acc. to Crusius, the ms. gives -ditionis—“(having
accomplished) his expedition.” |
Prosumnus politely tells him the
way, and sets him on the very threshold of the lower
regions. In
the meantime, while Liber is inspecting
4467
| 4467
Lit., “is surveying with all careful examination.” |
and examining carefully Styx,
Cerberus, the Furies, and all other things, the informer passed from
the number of the living, and was buried according to the manner of
men. Evius
4468
| 4468
ms. cuius. [Retailed from Clement,
vol. ii. p. 180. As to the arguments the Fathers were compelled
to use with heathen, see note 5, same volume, p. 206.] |
comes up
from the lower
regions, and learns that his guide is dead. But
that he might fulfil his promise, and free himself from the obligation
of his oath, he goes to the place of the funeral,
and—“ficorum ex
arbore ramum validissimum præsecans dolat, runcinat, levigat et
humani speciem fabricatur in penis, figit super aggerem tumuli, et
posticâ ex parte nudatus accedit, subsidit, insidit.
Lascivia deinde surientis assumptâ, huc atque illuc clunes torquet
et meditatur ab ligno pati quod jamdudum in veritate
promiserat.”
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