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Apologetic
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[563] Talia factitare.
[564] We read “quo,” and not “quod,” because.
[565] Conversatio.
[566] This refers to a calumny which the heathen frequently spread about the Christians.
[567] Detrectem or simply “treat of,” “refer to,” like the simple verb “tractare.”
[568] The irony of all this passage is evident.
[569] Diversum opus.
[570] Subjiciuntur “are stealthily narrated.”
[571] Inducunt.
[572] It is difficult to see what this “tacent igitur” means without referring to the similar passage in The Apology (end of c. viii.), which supplies a link wanted in the context. “At all events,” says he, “they know this afterward, and yet submit to it, and allow it. They fear to be punished, while, if they proclaimed the truth, they would deserve universal approbation.” Tertullian here states what the enemies of the Christians used to allege against them. After discovering the alleged atrocities of their secret assemblies, they kept their knowledge forsooth to themselves, being afraid of the consequences of a disclosure, etc.
[573] We have for convenience treated “protrahunt” (q.d. “nor do they report them”) as a neuter verb.
[574] Even worse than Thyestean atrocities would be believed of them.
[575] Miseræ atque miserandæ.
[576] Viderimus.
[577] See below, in c. xix.
[578] Animam.
[579] Rudem, “hardly formed.”
[580] Extraneam.
[581] Immo idcirco.
[582] Quanto constare.
[583] “An alii ordines dentium Christianorum, et alii specus faucium?” (literally, “Have Christians other sets of teeth, and other caverns of jaws?”) This seems to refer to voracious animals like the shark, whose terrible teeth, lying in several rows, and greediness to swallow anything, however incongruous, that comes in its way, are well-known facts in natural history.
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