5. Now, if this be not the
case, all hope of help is taken away, and it will be doubtful whether
you are heard4592
| 4592 So
the margin of Ursinus, Elm., LB., and Orelli, with Meursius, reading
audiamini for the ms.
audiamur—“we are heard,” which does not
harmonize with the next clause. |
by the gods or
not, if ever you perform the
sacred rites with due ceremonies.
For, to make it clear,
4593
| 4593
Lit., “for the purpose of coming to know the thing.” |
let us suppose that there is a
temple
of some
deity in the Canary
Islands,
another of the same
deity in remotest Thyle, also among the Seres, among the tawny
Garamantes, and any others
4594
| 4594
Lit., “if there are any others.” |
who are debarred from knowing each
other by
seas,
mountains, forests, and the four quarters of the
world. If they all at one time beg of the
deity with sacrifices
what their wants compel each one to think about,
4595
| 4595
So the ms., reading
c-ogitare, corrected r-—“to beg,”
in the margin of Ursinus and Elm. For the preceding words the
ms. reads, poscantque de
numine. The edd. omit que as above, except Oehler, who
reads quæ—“what hope will there be, what, pray,
to all,” etc. |
what
hope,
pray, will there be to all of
obtaining the benefit, if the
god does not hear the
cry sent up to him
everywhere, and
if there shall be any distance to which the
words of the suppliant for help cannot penetrate? For either he
will be nowhere present, if he may at times not be anywhere,
4596
| 4596
So the ms., reading si uspiam
poterit aliquando non esse, which may be understood in two senses,
either not limited by space, or not in space, i.e., not existing; but
the reading and meaning must be regarded as alike doubtful. |
or he will be
at one place only, since he cannot give his attention generally, and
without making any distinction. And thus it is brought about,
that either the
god helps none at all, if being busy with something he
has been unable to hasten to give ear to their cries, or one only goes
away with his prayers heard,
while the rest have effected
nothing.
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