37. Since these things are
so, and since there is so great difference between4948
| 4948
Lit., “of.” [Cap. 29, p. 529, supra.] |
our opinions and yours, where are
we, on the one
hand, impious, or you pious, since the decision as
to
4949
| 4949
Lit., “of.” [Cap. 29, p. 529, supra.] |
piety and
impiety must be founded on the opinions of the
two parties?
For he who makes himself an image which he may
worship for a
god,
or slaughters an
innocent beast, and
burns it on
consecrated altars,
must not be held to be
devoted to
religion.
4950
Opinion constitutes
religion, and a
right way of thinking about the gods, so that you do not think that
they desire anything contrary to what becomes their exalted position,
which is manifest.
4951
| 4951
So the ms., both Roman edd., Hild., and
Oehler, reading promptæ; corrected
præsumptæ—“taken for granted,” in
the rest. |
For since we see all the things
which are offered to them consumed here under our
eyes, what else can
be said to reach them from us than opinions worthy of the gods, and
most appropriate to their name? These are the surest
gifts, these
true sacrifices; for gruel,
incense, and flesh feed the devouring
flames, and agree very well with the
parentalia4952
| 4952
i.e., offerings to parents, as the name implies, and other relatives
who were dead. |
of the
dead.
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