Arnobius

“ For what about them, pray, have we indeed ever either imagined which was unbecoming, or put forth in shameful writings that the troubles which assail men and the loss of the blessings of life [2] should be used to excite a prejudice against us? ”

“ If you will open your minds’ eyes, and see the real [1] truth without gratifying any private end, you will find that the causes of all the miseries by which, as you say, the human race has long been afflicted, flow from such beliefs which you held in former times about your gods ”

“ Do we say that certain gods were produced from eggs, [3] like storks and pigeons? Do we say that the radiant Cytherean Venus grew up, having taken form from the sea’s foam and the severed genitals of Cœlus? that Saturn was thrown into chains for parricide, and relieved from their weight only on his own days? [4] that Jupiter was saved from death [5] by the services of the Curetes? that he drove his father from the seat of power, and by force and fraud possessed a sovereignty not his own? ”