2. For—that you may
learn what are our sentiments and opinions about that race—we
think that they—if only they are true gods, that the same things
may be said again till you are wearied hearing them4566
| 4566
Lit., “and to satiety.” |
—should have all the
virtues in
perfection, should be
wise, upright, venerable,—if only our
heaping upon them human honours is not a
crime,—
strong in excellences within themselves, and should not
give themselves
4567
| 4567
The ms. wants se, which was
supplied by Stewechius. |
up to
external props, because the completeness of their unbroken bliss is
made
perfect;
should be free from all agitating and disturbing
passions; should not
burn with
anger, should not be excited by any
desires; should send misfortune to none, should not find a cruel
pleasure in the ills of men; should not
terrify by portents, should not
show prodigies to cause
fear; should not hold
men responsible
and liable to be
punished for the
vows which they owe, nor demand
expiatory sacrifices by threatening omens; should not bring on
pestilences
and diseases by corrupting the
air, should not
burn
up the fruits with droughts; should take no part in the
slaughter of
war and devastation of cities; should not wish
ill to one party, and be
favourable to the success of another; but, as becomes great minds,
should weigh all in a just balance, and show
kindness impartially to
all. For it
belongs to a
mortal race and human
weakness to act
otherwise;
4568
| 4568
i.e., not act impartially and benevolently, which may possibly be the
meaning of contrariis agere, or, as Oehler suggests,
“to assail men with contrary, i.e., injurious
things.” All edd. read egere, except Oehler,
who can see no meaning in it; but if translated, “to wish for
contrary things,” it suits the next clause very well. |
and the
maxims and declarations of
wise men
state distinctly, that those who
are touched by passion
live a
life of suffering,
4569
| 4569
Lit., “whom passion touches, suffer.” |
and are weakened by
grief,
4570
| 4570
So the ms., Stewechius, Hild., and
Oehler, while the first four edd. and Oberthür merely add
m to dolore, and join with the preceding
pati—“suffer pain, are weakened.” |
and that it
cannot be but that those who have been given over to disquieting
feelings, have been bound by the laws of mortality. Now, since
this is the case, how can we be supposed to hold the gods in contempt,
who we say are not gods, and cannot be connected with the powers of
heaven, unless they are just and worthy of the admiration which great
minds excite?
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