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| Appendix.
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Appendix.5036
| 5036
This section, which is found in the ms.
after the first sentence of ch. 44, was retained in the text of both
Roman editions, marked off, however, by asterisks in that of Ursinus,
but was rejected by Gelenius and later editors as the useless addition
of some copyist. Oehler alone has seen that it is not “a
collection of words gathered carelessly and thoughtlessly”
(Hildebrand), and maintained that we have in it the corrections of
Arnobius himself. If the three paragraphs are read carefully, it
will be observed that the first is a transposition and reconstruction
of the first two sentences of ch. 39; the second a revision of the
interrogations in ch. 41, but with the sentence which there precedes
placed after them here, whilst the third is made up of the same
sentences in a revised and enlarged form. Now this must be
regarded as conclusive evidence against the hypothesis that these
sentences were originally scribbled carelessly on the margin, and
afterwards accidentally incorporated in the text. Cf. p. 532, n.
10. |
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We do not deny that all these
things which have been brought forward by you in opposition are
contained in the writings of the annalists. For we have ourselves
also, according to the measure and capacity of our powers, read these
same things, and know that they have been alleged; but the whole
discussion hinges upon this: whether these are gods who you
assert are furious when displeased, and are soothed by games and
sacrifices, or are something far different, and should be separated
from the notion even of this, and from its power.
For who, in the first place, thinks or believes
that those are gods who are lost in joyful pleasure at theatrical
shows5037
and ballets,
at horses running to no purpose; who set out from heaven to behold
silly and insipid acting, and grieve that they are injured, and that
the honours due to them are withheld if the pantomimist halts for a
little, or the player, being wearied, rests a little; who declare that
the dancer has displeased them if some guilty fellow passes
through the middle of the circus to suffer the penalty and punishment
of his deeds? All which things, if they be sifted thoroughly and
without any partiality, will be found to be alien not only to the gods,
but to any man of refinement, even if he has not been trained to the
utmost gravity and self-control.5038
| 5038
Lit. “to the heights (apices) of gravity and
weight,” i.e., of that constancy of mind which is not moved by
trifles. |
For, in the
first place, who is there who would suppose that those had been, or
believe that they are, gods, who have a nature which tends to5039
| 5039
Lit., “of hurting and raging.” | mischief and
fury, and lay these5040
| 5040 i.e.,
evil dispositions. |
aside again, being moved by a cup of blood and fumigation with incense;
who spend days of festivity, and find the liveliest pleasure in
theatrical shows5041
and ballets;
who set out from heaven to see geldings running in vain, and without
any reason, and rejoice that some of them pass the rest, that
others are passed,5042
| 5042
So the ms., according to Crusius,
inserting transiri, which is omitted by Hild.,
either because it is not in the ms., or because
he neglected to notice that Orelli’s text was deficient. If
omitted, we should translate, “that some pass, leaning forward,
and rush with their heads towards the ground.” | rush on, leaning forward, and, with
their heads towards the ground, are overturned on their backs with the
chariots to which they are yoked, are dragged along crippled,
and limp with broken legs; who declare that the dancer has displeased
them if some wicked fellow passes through the middle of the circus to
suffer the punishment and penalty of his deeds; who grieve that they
are injured, and that the honours due to them are withheld if the
pantomimist halts for a little, the player, being wearied, rests a
little, that puer matrimus happens to fall, stumbling through
some5043
| 5043
Lit., “of something.” |
unsteadiness? Now, if all these things are considered thoroughly
and without any partiality, they are found to be perfectly5044
| 5044
Lit., “far and far.” | alien not only
to the character of the gods, but to that of any man of common
sense, even although he has not been trained to zealous pursuit of
truth by becoming acquainted with what is rational.5045
| 5045 [For
puer matrimus (one whose mother is yet living), see p. 486, note
11, supra. And for the argument, here recast, turn to cap.
41, p. 534.] | E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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