39.4957
| 4957 36
in Orelli. [See note 1, Appendix, p. 539, infra.] |
We have come, then, in speaking,
to the very point of the case, to that on which the
question hinges, to
the real and most intimate
part of the discussion, which it is
fitting that, laying aside superstitious dread, and putting away
partiality, we should
examine whether these are gods whom you assert to
be furious when offended, and to be rendered mild by sacrifices;
or whether they are something
far different, and should be separated from the notion of this name and
power. For we do not deny that all these things are to be found
in the writings of the annalists which have been brought forward by you
in opposition; for we ourselves also, according to the measure and
capacity of our abilities, have read, and know, that it has been
recorded that once at the
ludi circenses, celebrated in honour
of
Jupiter the
supreme, a master dragged across the middle of the
arena, and afterwards, according to
custom,
punished with the
cross, a
very worthless
slave whom he had beaten with
rods. Then,
when the games were ended, and the races not long
finished, a
pestilence began to
distress the
state; and when each day brought
fresh
ill worse than what was before,
4958
| 4958
Lit., “added evil heavier than evil.” |
and the people were perishing in
crowds, in a
dream Jupiter said to a certain rustic, obscure from the
lowliness of his lot, that he should go
4959
| 4959 So
later edd., reading vaderet from the margin of Ursinus,
while the first three retain the ms.
reading suaderet—“persuade.” |
to the consuls, point out that the
dancer
4960
had displeased
him, that it might be better for the
state if the respect due to the
games were paid to them, and they were again celebrated afresh with
assiduous care. And when he had utterly neglected to do this,
either because he supposed it was an empty
dream, and would find no
credence with those to whom he should tell it, or because, remembering
his
natural insignificance, he
avoided and dreaded approaching those
who were so
powerful,
4961
| 4961
Lit., “of so great power.” |
Jupiter was rendered hostile to the
lingerer, and imposed as
punishment on him the
death of his
sons. Afterwards, when he
4962
threatened the man himself with
death
unless he went to
announce his disapproval of the
dancer,—overcome by
fear of dying, since he was already himself
also burning with the
fever of the
plague, having been infected, he was
carried to the
senate-
house, as his neighbours wished, and, when his
vision had been declared, the contagious fever passed away. The
repetition of the games being then decreed, great care was, on the one
hand, given to the shows, and its former good health was restored to
the people.
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