10. But perhaps some one
will say, We give to the gods sacrifices and other gifts, that, being
made willing in a measure to grant our prayers, they may give us
prosperity and avert from us evil, cause us to live always happily,
drive away grief truly, and any evils which threaten us from
accidental circumstances. This point demands great care; nor is
it usual either to hear or to believe what is so easily said. For
the whole company of the learned will straightway swoop upon us,
who, asserting and proving that whatever happens, happens according to
the decrees of fate, snatch out of our4812
| 4812
Lit., “from the hands to us,” nobis, the
reading of the ms., both Roman edd., Gelenius,
LB., and Oehler; for which the rest give
vobis—“out of your hands.” |
hands that opinion, and assert that
we are putting our
trust in
vain beliefs. Whatever, they will
say, has been done in the
world, is being done, and shall be done, has
been settled and
fixed in time past, and has causes which cannot be
moved, by means of which events have been linked together, and form an
unassailable
chain of unalterable necessity between the past and the
future. If it has been determined and
fixed what
evil or good
should
befall each person, it is already certain; but if this is
certain and
fixed, there is no
room for all the help given by the gods,
their
hatred,
and favours. For they are just as unable to
do for you that which cannot be done, as to prevent that from being
done which must happen, except that they will be able, if they choose,
to depreciate somewhat powerfully that belief which you
entertain, so
that they
4813
| 4813
i.e., the learned men referred to above. |
say that
even the gods themselves are worshipped by you in
vain, and that the
supplications with which you address them are superfluous. For as
they are unable to turn aside the course
of events, and change
what has been appointed by fate, what reason, what cause, is there to
wish to weary and deafen the ears of those in whose help you cannot
trust at your utmost need?
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