登陆注册
5214200000128

第128章

But, on the other hand, we find, as the same most learned man has related, that the causes of the sacred rites which were given from the books of Numa Pompilius could by no means be tolerated, and were considered unworthy, not only to become known to the religious by being read, but even to lie written in the darkness in which they had been concealed.For now let me say what I promised in the third book of this work to say in its proper place.For, as we read in the same Varro's book on the worship of the gods, "A certain one Terentius had a field at the Janiculum, and once, when his ploughman was passing the plough near to the tomb of Numa Pompilius, he turned up from the ground the books of Numa, in which were written the causes of the sacred institutions; which books he carried to the praetor, who, having read the beginnings of them, referred to the senate what seemed to be a matter of so much importance.And when the chief senators had read certain of the causes why this or that rite was instituted, the senate assented to the dead Numa, and the conscript fathers, as though concerned for the interests of religion, ordered the praetor to burn the books."(1) Let each one believe what he thinks; nay, let every champion of such impiety say whatever mad contention may suggest.For my part, let it suffice to suggest that the causes of those sacred things which were written down by King Numa Pompilius, the institutor of the Roman rites, ought never to have become known to people or senate, or even to the priests themselves; and also that Numa himself attained to these secrets of demons by an illicit curiosity, in order that he might write them down, so as to be able, by reading, to be reminded of them.However, though he was king, and had no cause to be afraid of any one, he neither dared to teach them to any one, nor to destroy them by obliteration, or any other form of destruction.Therefore, because he was unwilling that any one should know them, lest men should be taught infamous things, and because he was afraid to violate them, lest he should enrage the demons against himself, he buried them in what he thought a safe place, believing that a plough could not approach his sepulchre.But the senate, fearing to condemn the religious solemnities of their ancestors, and therefore compelled to assent to Numa, were nevertheless so convinced that those books were pernicious, that they did not order them to be buried again, knowing that human curiosity would thereby be excited to seek with far greater eagerness after the matter already divulged, but ordered the scandalous relics to be destroyed with fire; because, as they thought it was now a necessity to perform those sacred rites, they judged that the error arising from ignorance of their causes was more tolerable than the disturbance which the knowledge of them would occasion the state.

CHAP.35.--CONCERNING THE HYDROMANCY THROUGH WHICH NUMA WAS BEFOOLEDBY

CERTAIN IMAGES OF DEMONS SEEN IN THE WATER.

For Numa himself also, to whom no prophet, of God, no holy angel was sent, was driven to have recourse to hydromancy, that he might see the images of the gods in the water (or, rather, appearances whereby the demons made sport of him), and might learn from them what he ought to ordain and observe in the sacred rites.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 废妾惹桃花

    废妾惹桃花

    现代豪门千金冷书蝶因车祸魂飞异时空,附身南夏国卫王府侍妾姜云蕊身上。前姜云蕊清冷高傲,被人陷害偷窃卫王徐侧妃翡翠手镯而遭三十鞭毒打而死。当姜云蕊的身体里装着冷书蝶的灵魂后,因为她的与众不同,而吸引了众多“桃花”他,卫王夏候锦煜,有花心王爷之称,知道她是被人陷害,竟冷眼看着妻妾之间争斗,不管她的死活,只因他最爱的女子已经为他而死,他以为他今生不再动心,然碰到了被鞭打后苏醒过来的她,不一样的她,令他的心弦慢慢的被拨动了。他,夏候锦霖,一代君主,英明睿智,偶遇不一样的她,一点点的迷失了自己,然执着于儿女情长,如何计谋天下?他,东方邪,南夏国第一世家家主,在算计她的同时,却算漏了自己的心!他,慕容雪飒,出身高贵,她再多的冰冷言辞拒绝,也打消不了他誓必娶她为妻的念头!他,南宫昭延,温和有礼乃谦谦君子,甘心为她抛却第二世家家主身份,却只为了她无意中的一句戏言!他,齐之傲,乃他国之君,夺得了天下,却失去了让他魂牵梦萦的绝色红颜!他,顾斓秋,纵横四海,乃他国冷血战神,某天救了她之后,渐生情愫,何意百炼钢,化为绕指柔!他…她,不信感情,却被一缕又一缕的悠悠情愫所纠缠,繁华过后,是谁陪看夕阳彩虹,闲听雨打芭蕉?男主腹黑,女主聪明,宝贝可爱,加油收藏阅读哦,谢谢支持!
  • 打造金牌店长

    打造金牌店长

    卓越店长能力升级的阶梯,打造黄金门店的实战指南。金牌店长提升教程。该书适合于传统超市、电器卖场、服装卖场、玩具卖场、珠宝卖场、IT卖场,各类专卖店等店长、储备店长以及致力于未来成为店长的有志之士兵自我提高之用。零售终端是矩兵相接、刺刀相向的主战场,面店长则是现场指挥官,带领自己的部队,占领别人的高地。一线店长专用实战宝典一流店长精英训练手册一级店铺成功运作指南。
  • 吴光禄使闽奏稿选录

    吴光禄使闽奏稿选录

    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。
  • 梦鸳录

    梦鸳录

    文鸳,是从现代穿越到修仙界的一名女孩,生活在兰江靠近江边吊脚楼的地方,一次苏氏门派招徒,文鸳参加了,可惜被认定为最没有仙灵低灵人,低灵人要么退出,要么做打杂、厨客、为人包扎伤口的医客。文鸳最后选择了做厨客。和高大娘一起在厨房工作,文鸳的母亲很高兴,自己的女儿终于进入了苏氏……书友小可爱们,记得推荐和收藏哦~
  • 昨梦录

    昨梦录

    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。
  • 世界最具推理性的侦破故事(3)

    世界最具推理性的侦破故事(3)

    我的课外第一本书——震撼心灵阅读之旅经典文库,《阅读文库》编委会编。通过各种形式的故事和语言,讲述我们在成长中需要的知识。
  • 首富的初恋:双面女友

    首富的初恋:双面女友

    世界首富,游荡在花丛中的花花公子申仲磊,对待商业对手冷酷无情,对待美丽女人占有多情...冷傲多智,却放荡不羁的单小雅.究竟是天使还是魔鬼?温文尔雅,风流倜傥的张世杰...帅气十足,叱咤风云的韩永吉...爱一个人可以爱多久?恨一个人可以恨多久?生生世世,天荒地老,海枯石烂?由爱生恨~那是虐的开始;由恨生爱~那是悲的开始;爱恨皆无~那是空的开始;爱恨皆有~那是喜的开始...内容回顾:张世杰从不相信自己对女人会有心跳的感觉,游戏花丛的自己更不相信一见钟情.可是当自己看清那个妆扮特别女子的长相时,心跳却在加速,它所发出的'怦怦'声是自己有生以来认为最好听的声音.她的美貌和灵动把自己征服,愣在当场......一种不真实的感觉充满心头.她是真实的吗???单小雅没想到他竟会这样认真.止住了脚步,沉默的盯着他好半天...最终无情的说:"我是一个超现实的女孩,喜欢有身份地位,财富背景的男人,你只是一个学生,远达不到我的标准.所以你放弃吧!"韩永吉很受伤的看着单小雅...最终想要拍上她肩膀的手停在了空中,尴尬且有风度的说:"谢谢你对我说实话,祝你幸福!我们永远是朋友."说完便快速跑开...单小雅看着他落漠的背影,忍不住叹了口气......她突然的顺从与热情令申仲磊有些措手不及.不适应的搂住了怀中的柔软.想到她的这种热情曾在无数个男人的身前释放,心中有着及陌生的不舒服...不自觉的皱起了眉头,若有所思且嫉妒的抱起怀中的她.把头埋进她的颈间.要挟道:"我知道你想干什么,你的这种小伎俩对付别人还行.如果你想继续下去,我奉陪."说着便要吻上她的香唇...申仲磊看着她停滞而空洞的眼眸;听着她悠远而飘渺的声音;感觉她像是一缕幽幽孤魂,仿佛不曾真实的存在过,随时都有有可能被风卷走...心脏猛然一缩,心疼与不舍就这么从心底溢出...抓不住她的感觉无助而恐怖...抱住她的双手不断的收紧......~~~~~~香烟的内容简介写的不好,请大家多多原谅.走过,路过的亲们别忘了留下你们的足迹...在移动手机阅读平台上使用的名称为《首富的初恋:双面女友》
  • 三句半搞定商务英语口语

    三句半搞定商务英语口语

    本书涵盖了大部分的商务情景——商务交往、外贸业务、谈判、公司事务及商务旅行等,每个情景你仅需掌握“三旬半”——“半”是指最常用简单的句型。“三句”是最简洁实用的三个交流短句。如果你按照模仿、复述的学习方法。不断熟练运用到实践中,一回生。二回熟。来来回回想忘都难。三句半搞定你的商务英语口语,助你完成由菜鸟到高手的完美蜕变。
  • 太上洞玄灵宝十号功德因缘妙经

    太上洞玄灵宝十号功德因缘妙经

    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。
  • Cap'n Eri

    Cap'n Eri

    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。