Minucius Felix

Footnotes

^[1774] Virgil, Georgics, iv. 221; Æneid, i. 743.

^[1775] Otherwise, “Speusippus.”

^[1776] The ms. here inserts, “Aristoteles of Pontus varies, at one time attributing the supremacy to the world, at another to the divine mind.” Some think that this is an interpolation, others transfer the words to Theophrastus below.

^[1777] Otherwise, “Aristo the Chian.”

^[1778] [See note on Plato, chap. xxvi.]

Chapter XX.—Argument: But If the World is Ruled by Providence and Governed by the Will of One God, an Ignorant Antipathy Ought Not to Carry Us Away into the Error of Agreement with It: Although Delighted with Its Own Fables, It Has Brought in Ridiculous Traditions. Nor is It Shown Less Plainly that the Worship of the Gods Has Always Been Silly and Impious, in that the Most Ancient of Men Have Venerated Their Kings, Their Illustrious Generals, and Inventors of Arts, on Account of Their Remarkable Deeds, No Otherwise Than as Gods.

^[1779] Some editors read, “mere wonders,” apparently on conjecture only.

^[1780] Otherwise, “was pleased.”

^[1781] Four early editions read “instantius” for “in statuis,” making the meaning probably, “more keenly,” “more directly.”

Chapter XXI.—Argument: Octavius Attests the Fact that Men Were Adopted as Gods, by the Testimony of Euhemerus, Prodicus, Persæus, and Alexander the Great, Who Enumerate the Country, the Birthdays, and the Burial-Places of the Gods. Moreover He Sets Forth the Mournful Endings, Misfortunes, and Deaths of the Gods. And, in Addition, He Laughs at the Ridiculous and Disgusting Absurdities Which the Heathens Continually Allege About the Form and Appearance of Their Gods.

^[1782] Otherwise, according to some, “of the historians.”

^[1783] This treatise is mentioned by Athenagoras, Legat. pro Christ., ch. xxviii. [See vol. ii. p. 143, this series.] Also by Augustine, de Civ. Dei., lib. viii. ch. iii. and xxvii. In the fifth chapter Augustine calls the priest by the name of Leo.

^[1784] This passage is very doubtful both in its text and its meaning.

^[1785] Otherwise, “carried about.”

^[1786] Otherwise, “his approach is drowned.”

^[1787] Otherwise, “do they not show what are the sports and the honours of your gods?”

^[1788] These words are very variously read. Davis conjectures that they should be, “When Feretrius, he does not hear,” and explains the allusion as follows: that Jupiter Feretrius could only be approached with the spolia opima; and Minucius is covertly ridiculing the Romans, because, not having taken spolia opima for so long a time, they could not approach Feretrius.

^[1789] Otherwise, “pointed out,” or “designated.”

^[1790] Otherwise corrupted into Ætna.

Chapter XXII.—Argument: Moreover, These Fables, Which at First Were Invented by Ignorant Men, Were Afterwards Celebrated by Others, and Chiefly by Poets, Who Did No Little Mischief to the Truth by Their Authority. By Fictions of This Kind, and by Falsehoods of a Yet More Attractive Nature, the Minds of Young People are Corrupted, and Thence They Miserably Grow Old in These Beliefs, Although, on the Other Hand, the Truth is Obvious to Them If They Will Only Seek After It.

^[1791] Some read, “and it is marvellous how these have prejudiced,” etc.

^[1792] Some read, “the truth itself.”

^[1793] Plat., de Rep., lib. iii.

^[1794] Otherwise, “Then Vulcan fabricates,” etc.

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