登陆注册
5214200000139

第139章

Therefore, although in many other important respects they differ from us, nevertheless with respect to this particular point of difference, which I have just stated, as it is one of great moment, and the question on hand concerns it, I will first ask them to what gods they think that sacred rites are to be performed,--to the good or to the bad, or to both the good and the bad? But we have the opinion of Plato affirming that all the gods are good, and that there is not one of the gods bad.It follows, therefore, that these are to be performed to the good, for then they are performed to gods; for if they are not good, neither are they gods.

Now, if this be the case (for what else ought we to believe concerning the gods?), certainly it explodes the opinion that the bad gods are to be propitiated by sacred rites in order that they may not harm us, but the good gods are to be invoked in order that they may assist us.For there are no bad gods, and it is to the good that, as they say, the due honor of such rites is to be paid.

Of what character, then, are those gods who love scenic displays, even demanding that a place be given them among divine things, and that they be exhibited in their honor? The power of these gods proves that they exist, but their liking such things proves that they are bad.For it is well-known what Plato's opinion was concerning scenic plays.He thinks that the poets themselves, because they have composed songs so unworthy of the majesty and goodness of the gods, ought to be banished from the state.Of what character, therefore, are those gods who contend with Plato himself about those scenic plays? He does not suffer the gods to be defamed by false crimes; the gods command those same crimes to be celebrated in their own honor.

In fine, when they ordered these plays to be inaugurated, they not only demanded base things, but also did cruel things, taking from Titus Latinius his son, and sending a disease upon him because he had refused to obey them, which they removed when he had fulfilled their commands.Plato, however, bad though they were, did not think they were to be feared; but, holding to his opinion with the utmost firmness and constancy, does not hesitate to remove from a well-ordered state all the sacrilegious follies of the poets, with which these gods are delighted because they themselves are impure.But Labeo places this same Plato (as I have mentioned already in the second book(1)) among the demi-gods.

Now Labeo thinks that the bad deities are to be propitiated with bloody victims, and by fasts accompanied with the same, but the good deities with plays, and all other things which are associated with joyfulness.How comes it, then, that the demi-god Plato so persistently dares to take away those pleasures, because he deems them base, not from the demi-gods but from the gods, and these the good gods? And, moreover, those very gods themselves do certainly refute the opinion of Labeo, for they showed themselves in the case of Latinius to be not only wanton and sportive, but also cruel and terrible.Let the Platonists, therefore, explain these things to us, since, following the opinion of their master, they think that all the gods are good and honorable, and friendly to the virtues of the wise, holding it unlawful to think otherwise concerning any of the gods.

We will explain it, say they.Let us then attentively listen to them.

CHAP.14.--OF THE OPINION OF THOSE WHO HAVE SAID THAT RATIONAL SOULSARE OF THREE

KINDS, TO WIT, THOSE OF THE CELESTIAL GODS, THOSE OF THE AERIAL DEMONS, AND THOSEOF TERRESTRIAL MEN.

There is, say they, a threefold division of all animals endowed with a rational soul, namely, into gods, men, and demons.The gods occupy the loftiest region, men the lowest, the demons the middle region.For the abode of the gods is heaven, that of men the earth, that of the demons the air.As the dignity of their regions is diverse, so also is that of their natures; therefore the gods are better than men and demons.Men have been placed below the gods and demons, both in respect of the order of the regions they inhabit, and the difference of their merits.The demons, therefore, who hold the middle place, as they are inferior to the gods, than whom they inhabit a lower region, so they are superior to men, than whom they inhabit a loftier one.For they have immortality of body in common with the gods, but passions of the mind in common with men.On which account, say they, it is not wonderful that they are delighted with the obscenities of the theatre, and the fictions of the poets, since they are also subject to human passions, from which the gods are far removed, and to which they are altogether strangers.Whence we conclude that it was not the gods, who are all good and highly exalted, that Plato deprived of the pleasure of theatric plays, by reprobating and prohibiting the fictions of the poets, but the demons.

同类推荐
  • 皇明奇事述

    皇明奇事述

    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。
  • 佛说略教诫经

    佛说略教诫经

    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。
  • The Lost Princel

    The Lost Princel

    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。
  • 普超三昧经

    普超三昧经

    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。
  • 三国演义

    三国演义

    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。
热门推荐
  • 气象:阴晴冷暖早知道(青少年科学探索·求知·发现丛书)

    气象:阴晴冷暖早知道(青少年科学探索·求知·发现丛书)

    天气的阴晴冷暖与我们的生活息息相关,气象知识是我们不能缺少的一部分。本书分为气象常识、二十四节气、气象杂谈,帮助大家理解更多气象的知识。主要内容包括:大气的分层、气压、大气的成分、气旋和反气旋、气象的主要观测项目等。
  • 腹黑将军请走开

    腹黑将军请走开

    她是沈家不受待见的二小姐,却因一连串的变故她死而复生,男扮女装,流落军营。不想竟然遇见了前任未婚夫,那鼎鼎大名的慕容将军视她为眼中钉,处处针对。她凭着自己坚强的意志,出众的智谋,让他对她刮目相看,悄无息的占据了他心底的每个角落。
  • 捡了个魔教教主

    捡了个魔教教主

    古人有云:美人都是祸水,风华绝代的美人更是祸国殃民的祸水。可惜陈阿诺没能记住这句话,不仅捡了个美人回去,还不顾众人反对为美人疗伤,更要命的是,这个美人竟然是个男的,还好像武功很高强的样子。至此,一贯逍遥自在的陈阿诺再也没能过上逍遥自在的生活。
  • 吕日周在朔州

    吕日周在朔州

    作者用质朴又平实的语言向我们描述了那样一种纯粹的生活、追求及风土人情,让我们的心不禁为之一震。
  • 你是人间千意

    你是人间千意

    宋金茉,S大女神,清冷优雅,智若近妖,但凡见过她的,莫不惊为天人,只叹是画中走出来的人物。白照清,S大金融系鼎鼎大名的才子,家世显赫,英俊多金,偏又腹黑狡诈如斯。他一步步接近,究竟是她棋高一手,还是他魔高一丈?当清冷如她碰上腹黑的他,会有什么样的火花呢?
  • 锦绣嫡妃:战神王爷宠妻无度

    锦绣嫡妃:战神王爷宠妻无度

    她前生是将军府长女,天资聪颖,武功高强,承袭镇国大将军之志。十七岁便披战袍征战杀场,平定四方,立下赫赫战功,最后战死沙场。重生后势必要避开曾经的伤痛,卷入夺嫡之争,在朝中起起浮浮,搅弄风云。手里有一批忠心的死士。重生后依旧果敢忠勇,聪慧灵动。
  • 奔赴你的城

    奔赴你的城

    如果可以,我愿陪你一起,奔赴晨与昏,看日升月落,闻四季芬芳。
  • 高道李真果

    高道李真果

    《高道李真果》是一部传记体小说,塑造了一个极富神秘色彩的传奇人物——李真果,他遍读圣贤经典,问道玄门绝学,精练各派武术,集武功、丹道、道家医术绝学于一身。本书以社会性质截然不同的几个时代为背景,通过传主所经历的清朝末年、民国时期、抗日战争、新中国成立和改革开放初期等历史巨大变迁,讲述大道士李真果穿越百年、历经艰辛磨难的传奇人生,彰显其爱国爱教、悬壶济世的美德,全面而真实生动地反映他“忧以天下,乐以天下”、载道行道的修真之旅和中华民族精神及人格风范。
  • 马云创业实录:给创业者的17堂课

    马云创业实录:给创业者的17堂课

    两年以前,我们不如腾讯的收入,我们当然嫉妒,现在好不容易赶上来了,他们又出了个微信。不过,这可能只是刚刚开始。在当年淘宝和eBay竞争的时候,我们认为eBay的思想未必会赢,他们只是希望用短暂的钱就赢得市场,但这不能长久,我们判断整个产业兴起需要10年。一直到今天为止,我们也并没有赢,我们其实只是开了个头。
  • 总裁大人不要跑

    总裁大人不要跑

    柳明悦不能接受六年前那夜荒唐的事实,却又不得不奉命贴身保护他。重点是那家伙有事没事就来一句:“你是猪吗?”靠,猪怎么了,猪也是对社会有贡献的,别出了什么事都找猪的麻烦。--情节虚构,请勿模仿