8. We have
therefore—as I suppose—shown sufficiently, that to the
immortal gods temples have been either reared in vain, or built in
consequence of insulting opinions held to their dishonour and to
the belittling4617
| 4617
[“Belittle.” This word here is noteworthy.
President Jefferson is said to have coined it, and I have never before
seen it in a transatlantic book.] |
of the
power believed
to be in their hands. We have next to say
something about statues and images, which you form with much skill, and
tend with
religious care,—wherein if there is any credibility, we
can by no amount of consideration settle in our own minds whether you
do this in earnest and with a serious purpose, or amuse yourselves in
childish
dreams by mocking at these very things.
4618
| 4618
i.e., “which you pretend to worship.” |
For if you are assured that the
gods exist whom you suppose, and that they
live in the highest
regions
of
heaven, what cause, what reason, is there that those images should
be fashioned by you, when you have true beings to whom you may pour
forth prayers, and
from whom you may ask help in trying
circumstances? But if, on the contrary, you do not believe, or,
to speak with
moderation, are in doubt, in this case, also, what reason
is there,
pray, to fashion and set up images of doubtful
beings,
and to form
4619
| 4619 So
the edd., reading formar-e, except Hild. and Oehler, who
retain the ms. reading
i—“that images be formed.” |
with
vain
imitation what you do not believe to exist? Do you perchance say,
that under these images of deities there is displayed to you their
presence, as it were, and that, because it has not been given you to
see the gods, they are worshipped in this fashion,
4620
| 4620
The ms. and both Roman edd. read
corruptly insolidi, corrected ita or sic
coli, as above, in all except the last two edd. |
and the
duties owed
to them
paid? He who says and asserts this, does not believe that the
gods exist; and he is proved not to put faith in his own religion, to
whom it is necessary to see what he may hold, lest that which
being obscure is not seen, may happen to be
vain.
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
