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Therefore such gods, who are propitiated by such honors, or rather
are impeached by them (for it is a greater crime to delight in having
such things said of them falsely, than even if they could be said
truly), could never by any means have been able to increase and
preserve the Roman empire. For if they could have done it, they
would rather have bestowed so grand a gift on the Greeks, who, in
this kind of divine things, that is, in scenic plays, have worshipped
them more honorably and worthily, although they have not exempted
themselves from those slanders of the poets, by whom they saw the gods
torn in pieces, giving them licence to ill-use any man they pleased,
and have not deemed the scenic players themselves to be base, but have
held them worthy even of distinguished honor. But just as the Romans
were able to have gold money, although they did not worship a god
Aurinus, so also they could have silver and brass coin, and yet
worship neither Argentinus nor his father Æsculanus; and so of all
the rest, which it would be irksome for me to detail. It follows,
therefore, both that they could not by any means attain such dominion
if the true God was unwilling; and that if these gods, false and
many, were unknown or contemned, and He alone was known and
worshipped with sincere faith and virtue, they would both have a better
kingdom here, whatever might be its extent, and whether they might
have one here or not, would afterwards receive an eternal kingdom.
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