Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VI/Arnobius/Adversus Gentes/Book V/Chapter XLI

by Arnobius

41. It was once usual, in speaking allegorically, to conceal under perfectly decent ideas, and clothe^[1] with the respectability of decency, what was base and horrible to speak of openly; but now venerable things are at your instance vilely spoken of, and what is quite pure^[2] is related^[3] in filthy language, so that that which vice^[4] formerly concealed from shame, is now meanly and basely spoken of, the mode of speech which was fitting^[5] being changed. In speaking of Mars and Venus as having been taken in adultery by Vulcan’s art, we speak of lust, says my opponent, and anger, as restrained by the force and purpose of reason. What, then, hindered, what prevented you from expressing each thing by the words and terms proper to it? nay, more, what necessity was there, when you had resolved^[6] to declare something or other, by means of treatises and writings, to resolve that that should not be the meaning to which you point, and in one narrative to take up at the same time opposite positions—the eagerness of one wishing to teach, the niggardliness of one reluctant to make public?^[7] Was there no risk in speaking of the gods as unchaste? The mention of lust and anger, my opponent says, was likely to defile the tongue and mouth with foul contagion.^[8] But, assuredly, if this were done,^[9] and the veil of allegorical obscurity were removed, the matter would be easily understood, and by the same the dignity of the gods would be maintained unimpaired. But now, indeed, when the restraining of vices is said to be signified by the binding of Mars and Venus, two most inconsistent^[10] things are done at the very same time; so that, on the one hand, a description of something vile suggests an honourable meaning, and on the other, the baseness occupies the mind before any regard for religion can do so.

Footnotes

1. Passivè.
2. Lit., “strong in chastity.”
3. The ms., first three edd., Elm., and Oehler read commorantur—“lingers,” i.e., “continues to be spoken of;” the other edd. receive commemorantur, as above, from the errata in the 1st ed.
4. The ms., first four edd., and Oehler read gravitas—seriousness; corrected pr. as above, in all edd. after Stewechius.
5. So, perhaps, the unintelligible ms. dignorum should be emended digna rerum.
6. So all edd. since Stewechius, adding s to the ms. voluisse.
7. i.e., the mere fact that the stories were published, showed a wish to teach; but their being allegories, showed a reluctance to allow them to be understood.
8. The edd. read this sentence interrogatively.
9. i.e., “if you said exactly what you mean.” The reference is not to the immediately preceding words, but to the question on which the chapter is based—“what prevented you from expressing,” etc.
10. Lit., “perverse.”