登陆注册
5413400000066

第66章

For, having considered all the offices which their fancy has distributed among the various gods and goddesses, let them find out, if they can, anything which could be bestowed by any god whatever on a man possessing virtue, possessing felicity.What instruction could be sought either from Mercury or Minerva, when Virtue already possessed all in herself? Virtue, indeed, is defined by the ancients as itself the art of living well and rightly.Hence, because virtue is called in Greek a?reth, it has been thought the Latins have derived from it the term art.But if Virtue cannot come except to the clever, what need was there of the god Father Catius, who should make men cautious, that is, acute, when Felicity could confer this? Because, to be born clever belongs to felicity.Whence, although goddess Felicity could not be worshipped by one not yet born, in order that, being made his friend, she might bestow this on him, yet she might confer this favor on parents who were her worshippers, that clever children should be born to them.What need had women in childbirth to invoke Lucina, when, if Felicity should be present, they would have, not only a good delivery, but good children too? What need was there to commend the children to the goddess Ops when they were being born; to the god Vaticanus in their birth-cry; to the goddess Cunina when lying cradled; to the goddess Rimina when sucking; to the god Statilinus when standing; to the goddess Adeona when coming; to Abeona when going away; to the goddess Mens that they might have a good mind; to the god Volumnus, and the goddess Volumna, that they might wish for good things; to the nuptial gods, that they might make good matches; to the rural gods, and chiefly to the goddess Fructesca herself, that they might receive the most abundant fruits; to Mars and Bellona, that they might carry on war well; to the goddess Victoria, that they might be victorious; to the god Honor, that they might be honored;to the goddess Pecunia, that they might have plenty money;to the god Aesculanus, and his son Argentinus, that they might have brass and silver coin? For they set down Aesculanus as the father of Argentinus for this reason, that brass coin began to be used before silver.But I wonder Argentinus has not begotten Aurinus, since gold coin also has followed.Could they have him for a god, they would prefer Aurinus both to his father Argentinus and his grandfather Aesculanus, just as they set Jove before Saturn.Therefore, what necessity was there on account of these gifts, either of soul, or body, or outward estate, to worship and invoke so great a crowd of gods, all of whom I have not mentioned, nor have they themselves been able to provide for all human benefits, minutely and singly methodized, minute and single gods, when the one goddess Felicity was able, with the greatest ease, compendiously to bestow the whole of them?

nor should any other be sought after, either for the bestowing of good things, or for the averting of evil.For why should they invoke the goddess Fessonia for the weary; for driving away enemies, the goddess Pellonia; for the sick, as a physician, either Apollo or AEsculapius, or both together if there should be great danger?

Neither should the god Spiniensis be entreated that he might root out the thorns from the fields; nor the goddess Rubigo that the mildew might not come,--Felicitas alone being present and guarding, either no evils would have arisen, or they would have been quite easily driven away.Finally, since we treat of these two goddesses, Virtue and Felicity, if felicity is the reward of virtue, she is not a goddess, but a gift of God.But if she is a goddess, why may she not be said to confer virtue itself, inasmuch as it is a great felicity to attain virtue?

CHAP.22.--CONCERNING THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORSHIP DUE TO THE GODS, WHICH VARROGLORIES IN HAVING HIMSELF CONFERRED ON THE ROMANS.

What is it, then, that Varro boasts he has bestowed as a very great benefit on his fellow-citizens, because he not only recounts the gods who ought to be worshipped by the Romans, but also tells what pertains to each of them? "Just as it is of no advantage," he says, "to know the name and appearance of any man who is a physician, and not know that he is a physician, so," he says, "it is of no advantage to know well that AEsculapius is a god, if you are not aware that he can bestow the gift of health, and consequently do not know why you ought to supplicate him."He also affirms this by another comparison, saying, "No one is able, not only to live well, but even to live at all, if he does not know who is a smith, who a baker, who a weaver, from whom he can seek any utensil, whom he may take for a helper, whom for a leader, whom for a teacher;" asserting, "that in this way it can be doubtful to no one, that thus the knowledge of the gods is useful, if one can know what force, and faculty, or power any god may have in an thingFor from this we may be able," he says, "to know what god we ought to call to, and invoke for any cause; lest we should do as too many are wont to do, and desire water from Liber, and wine from Lymphs." Very useful, forsooth ! Who would not give this man thanks if he could show true things, and if he could teach that the one true God, from whom all good things are, is to be worshipped by men?

CHAP.23.--CONCERNING FELICITY, WHOM THE ROMANS, WHO VENERATE MANY GODS, FOR ALONG TIME DID NOT WORSHIP WITH DIVINE HONOR, THOUGH SHE ALONE WOULDHAVE

SUFFICED INSTEAD OF ALL.

同类推荐
  • 困学纪闻

    困学纪闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 幽闲鼓吹

    幽闲鼓吹

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 議處安南事宜

    議處安南事宜

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大川普济禅师语录

    大川普济禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Pollyanna

    Pollyanna

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 弃妃倾世

    弃妃倾世

    谁说穿越后宫就是圣宠不衰、六宫无妃的幸福生涯?她保证不打死他!“过来,朕不打你。”“放屁!”“渺渺,过来朕抱。”“谁信!”“苏渺,再不过来打断你的狗腿!”“皇上~~~”苏渺一睁眼就是冷宫的四堵灰墙,简直凄凄惨惨戚戚!为了保住她的腿,只好狗腿的腻在皇帝陛下身边,惹得众人纷纷嫉恨白眼,直骂妖妃。可惜皇帝陛下不知怎的就宠上了这个冷宫弃妃,明明一开始恨不得将她千刀万剐,如今却大有昏聩独宠的意思。前朝后宫无不盼着她失宠的那一天,可是等着等着……她似乎就此长盛不衰了!等他们反应过来,哪儿还有什么后宫啊?六宫粉黛,就剩她一人了!【1v1,身心干净】
  • 迷失的那些年

    迷失的那些年

    物质、金钱、名利、爱情,甚至健康,这几点最容易让人迷失。当无底的欲望倾斜心中的天平时,人就会抛弃道德的修养,被心中虚无所驱使。当醒过来时才知道,正义只是迟到,永远不会缺席。程可可被爱迷住双眼,忍受不了魏子明出轨,选择离婚,可婚后确沦为小三,而且还是和魏子明在一起……魏子明是个花心的富二代,那么他又被什么迷住心智呢?那么身为官二代的安哲轩呢?————————PS:这是一本言情小说,也是一本很现实、很接地气的小说。希望小天使们多多鼓励,赶紧加入书架吧。谢谢大家!
  • 医生手记

    医生手记

    午后的天空乍然放晴,让宋祥贵的人生拐了弯。多天的阴雨像是下倦了,终于停下疲沓的脚步,太阳一头钻了出来,把暮春时节的乡村照得清清亮亮。宋祥贵双手插着裤兜,课本夹在胳肢窝里,匆匆走在村头的小道上。冷冽的空气随风灌进鼻腔,让人周身清爽,就为这清爽他临时改变了线路,往村西头绕了一段路,顺便去堂哥家看看。很快来到堂哥家院门前,宋祥贵推门就闯了进去。一只正觅食的芦花鸡被他踢飞,惊起更多鸡鸭四处逃散,团团烟尘裹着鸡毛鸭绒飘到空中,好一会儿才尘埃落定。宋祥贵还没来得及责怪自己莽撞,先愣在了那里。
  • 成语接龙游戏

    成语接龙游戏

    成语接龙是一种以游戏形式帮助孩子记忆成语的学习方式,能够在短时间内帮助孩子迅速记忆大量成语,了解成语含义,并达到熟练运用的目的。对于孩子来说,成语是一座桥梁,孩子们可以通过学习和掌握它提高自己的语言表达能力。我们这本流年编的《成语接龙游戏》中所有的成语全部首尾相接,每个成语都有具体的解释。为凸显成语的可读性、趣味性,在每组成语接龙当中,还附加了有趣的成语故事,这些故事内容深入浅出、生动有趣、通俗易懂,读后耐人寻味、启迪智慧。这是一本趣味十足、样式新颖的成语书,能让孩子在轻松愉快的阅读氛围中,领略中华语言文字之美,积累词汇量,提高语言表现力。
  • 斗帆

    斗帆

    美丽的远海上,是密布阴谋的云。坐落的海岛,浮夸着一段段人生传奇。阴谋善变,真爱永恒。波澜不惊的躯体,心内也有独特的感情。十年屈辱,到底是成了曾经沧海,还是时过境迁。一朝回眸,竟然成了绝命的相见。我想我念,我费尽心思,望断情肠,却终究,抵不过,命运。你走还留,你是倾城的绝色,可惜相见在这个岛上。当初,你走,我笑;而今,我走,你笑。别说有缘无分,一刻拥有便好。
  • 1984:汉英对照

    1984:汉英对照

    本书是一部政治寓言小说,也是一部幻想小说。在书中作者为我们展现了他惊人的想象力、伟大的创造力、深邃的洞察力,用他独有的风格和高超的技巧为我们描绘了一个恐怖世界。故事讲述的是1984年的世界被三个大国瓜分后的社会场景,主人公正处在三国之一“大洋国”,此时的世界战火纷飞,国家高度集权,以统一历史和语言、拆散家庭等方式维持运转,监视人们的行为,控制人们的思想。书中的每一个场景都触目惊心。
  • 窗外鱼肚白

    窗外鱼肚白

    窗外泛起了鱼肚白,于渡,于渡,你为什么不白?
  • 天书奇谭

    天书奇谭

    “用清水蒸,肥嫩绵软好生吞;用热油烹,爆鲜酥脆一口闷;没味须腌制,三泡三晒配菜羹……”“茉莉!这歌词太奇怪了!你的三观有问题啊!”立志改邪归正重新做人的吴解大声喊道,“我们这本书是正派的仙侠小说,不是黑暗流啊!”
  • 驰骋昭和

    驰骋昭和

    当新人逆袭成为球场王牌;当前锋堕落沦为看门之犬。佛系社长,受命组建球队;劳心相方,暗中守护团魂!这是一个发生在昭和年间,足球社团误打误撞成为足球校队,最终挑战足坛顶峰的故事。Hey!Say!JUMPX足球(励志、纪实、青春、治愈) ☆星号篇☆剧情相对独立,可直接食用。
  • 魔武横歌

    魔武横歌

    魔帝猖獗出乱世,狼烟四起为八方。武帝雄威震四方,踏足顶峰两相忘。横扫天武谁能敌,风云涌动震八荒。歌唱别曲相思雨,欢聚离别天地殇。修炼一途哪有聚,九死一生英雄场。消沉渡日梦何在,平定乱世自逍遥。