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It is recorded that the very learned pontiff Scaevola had
distinguished about three kinds of gods, one introduced by the poets,
another by the philosophers, another by the statesmen. The first kind
he declares to be trifling, because many unworthy things have been
invented by the poets concerning the gods; the second does not suit
states, because it contains some things that are superfluous, and
some, too, which it would be prejudicial for the people to know. It
is no great matter about the superfluous things, for it is a common
saying of skillful lawyers, "Superfluous things do no harm." But
what are those things which do harm when brought before the multitude?
"These," he says, "that Hercules, Æsculapius, Castor and
Pollux, are not gods; for it is declared by learned men that these
were but men, and yielded to the common lot of mortals." What else?
"That states have not the true images of the gods; because the true
God has neither sex, nor age, nor definite corporeal members." The
pontiff is not willing that the people should know these things; for he
does not think they are false. He thinks it expedient, therefore,
that states should be deceived in matters of religion; which Varro
himself does not even hesitate to say in his books about things divine.
Excellent religion! to which the weak, who requires to be delivered,
may flee for succor; and when he seeks for the truth by which he may be
delivered, it is believed to be expedient for him that he be deceived.
And, truly, in these same books, Scaevola is not silent as to his
reason for rejecting the poetic sort of gods, to wit, "because they
so disfigure the gods that they could not bear comparison even with good
men, when they make one to commit theft, another adultery; or,
again, to say or do something else basely and foolishly; as that three
goddesses contested (with each other) the prize of beauty, and the
two vanquished by Venus destroyed Troy; that Jupiter turned himself
into a bull or swan that he might copulate with some one; that a
goddess married a man, and Saturn devoured his children; that, in
fine, there is nothing that could be imagined, either of the
miraculous or vicious, which may not be found there, and yet is far
removed from the nature of the gods." O chief pontiff Scaevola,
take away the plays if thou art able; instruct the people that they may
not offer such honors to the immortal gods, in which, if they like,
they may admire the crimes of the gods, and, so far as it is
possible, may, if they please, imitate them. But if the people
shall have answered thee, You, O pontiff, have brought these things
in among us, then ask the gods themselves at whose instigation you have
ordered these things, that they may not order such things to be offered
to them. For if they are bad, and therefore in no way to be believed
concerning the majority of the gods, the greater is the wrong done the
gods about whom they are feigned with impunity. But they do not hear
thee, they are demons, they teach wicked things, they rejoice in vile
things; not only do they not count it a wrong if these things are
feigned about them, but it is a wrong they are quite unable to bear if
they are not acted at their stated festivals. But now, if thou
wouldst call on Jupiter against them, chiefly for that reason that
more of his crimes are wont to be acted in the scenic plays, is it not
the case that, although you call him god Jupiter, by whom this whole
world is ruled and administered, it is he to whom the greatest wrong is
done by you, because you have thought he ought to be worshipped along
with them, and have styled him their king?
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