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Lactantius
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Introductory Notice To Lactantius.
[364] [A modest confession of his desire to “find out acceptable words.” Eccles. xii. 10. His success is proverbial.]
[365] Stained, counterfeit.
[366] Embellished.
[368] [i.e., false sophia = “philosophy falsely so called.” Vol. v. p. 81.]
[369] Aliter. This word is usually read in the former clause, but it gives a better meaning in this position.
Chap. II.—Of Philosophy, and How Vain Was Its Occupation in Setting Forth the Truth.
[370] [Religionum falsitas. He does not here employ superstitio By the way, Lactantius derives this word from those “qui superstitem memoriam hominum, tanquam deorum, colerent.” Cicero, however, derives it from those who bother the gods with petitions,—”pro superstite prole.” See note of the annotator of the Delphin Cicero, on the Natura Deor., i. 17.]
[371] A joint or fastening.
[372] What he professed—gave himself out to be.
[373] Subjaceret.
Chap. III.—Of What Subjects Philosophy Consists, and Who Was the Chief Founder of the Academic Sect.
[374] It is evident that the Academy took its rise from the doctrine of Socrates. Plato, the disciple of Socrates, founded the Academy. However excellent their system may appear to many, the opinion of Carneades the Stoic seems just, who said that “the wise man who is about to conjecture is about to err, for he who conjectures knows nothing.” Thus knowledge is taken from them by themselves.—Betul.
[375] With nothing but an inner wall between.
Chap. IV.—That Knowledge is Taken Away by Socrates, and Conjecture by Zeno.
[376] Terent., Heautont., iii. sec. 97.
[377] σπαρτοί, those who sprung from the dragon’s teeth.
[379] Distrahi, which is the reading of some editions, is here followed in preference to the common reading, detrahi.
Chap. VI.—Of Wisdom, and the Academics, and Natural Philosophy.
[380] The master of ignorance.
[381] Erutam.
[382] The New Academy.
[383] In Greek, ἀσύστατον, “without consistency, not holding together;” in Latin, “instabile” or “inconstans.”
[384] Versutus, one who turns and shifts.
Chap. VII.—Of Moral Philosophy, and the Chief Good.
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