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Apologetic
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[630] Gulæ, “Depraved taste.”
[631] Prope religionem convenire, “to have approximated to.”
[632] Quatenus.
[633] Credunt, one would expect “creduntur” (“are supposed”), which is actually read by Gothofredus.
[634] Or, “circumstances” (casibus).
[635] Fortasse periturum.
[636] Traducit, perhaps “degrades.”
[637] Ut dei præfarentur. Oehler explains the verb “præfari” to mean “auctorem esse et tanquam caput.”
[638] Denique.
[639] Stili.
[640] Tertullian gives the comic plural “Juppiteres.”
[641] Ingenia.
[642] Because appropriating to themselves the admiration which was due to the gods.
[643] Cujuslibet dei.
[644] Sustinetis modulari.
[645] It is best to add the original of this almost unintelligible passage: “Plane religiosiores estis in gladiatorum cavea, ubi super sanguinem humanum, supra inquinamenta pœnarum proinde saltant dei vestri argumenta et historias nocentibus erogandis, aut in ipsis deis nocentes puniuntur.” Some little light may be derived from the parallel passage of the Apology (c. xv.), which is expressed somewhat less obscurely. Instead of the words in italics, Tertullian there substitutes these: “Argumenta et historias noxiis ministrantes, nisi quod et ipsos deos vestros sæpe noxii induunt”—“whilst furnishing the proofs and the plots for (executing) criminals, only that the said criminals often act the part of your gods themselves.” Oehler refers, in illustration of the last clause, to the instance of the notorious robber Laureolus, who personated Prometheus; others, again, personated Laureolus himself: some criminals had to play the part of Orpheus; others of Mutius Scævola. It will be observed that these executions were with infamous perverseness set off with scenic show, wherein the criminal enacted some violent death in yielding up his own life. The indignant irony of the whole passage, led off by the “plane religiosiores estis,” is evident.
[646] Censentur.
[647] Factitant.
[648] i.e., the gods themselves.
[649] Redimitis.
[650] Redimitis.
Chapter XI.—The Absurd Cavil of the Ass’s Head Disposed of.
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