M1NUCIUS FELIX. 515 flowers. Stillwe adorn our obsequieswith the same tran quillitywith which we live;and we do not bind to us a withering garland,but we wear one living with eternal flowersfrom God, sincewe, being both moderate and secure in the liberalityof our God, areanimated to thehope of future felicityby the confidenceof His presentmajesty. Thus we both riseagain in blessedness,and are alreadylivingin con templationof the future. Then let Socratesthe Athenian buffoon seeto it,confessingthat he knew nothing,although boastfulin the testimony of a most deceitfuldemon ; let Arcesilausalso,and Carneades,and Pyrrho, and allthe mul titudeof theAcademic philosophers,deliberate; letSimonides alsoforever put offthe decisionof hisopinion. We despise the bent brows of the philosophers,whom we know to be corrupters,and adulterers,and tyrants,and ever eloquent against theirown vices. We who1 bear wisdom not in our dress,but in our mind, we do not speak greatthings,but we live them ; we boast that we have attainedwhat they have sought forwith the utmost eagerness,and have not been able to find. Why are we ungrateful? why do we grudge ifthe truth of divinityhas ripenedin the age of our time? Let us enjoy our benefits,and letus in rectitudemoderate our judg ments; letsuperstitionbe restrained;letimpietybe expiated; lettruereligionbe preserved." CHAPTER XXXIX. AeGUMENT. — When Octaviushad finishedthisaddress,Minu- ciusand Cceciliussatefor some timein attentiveand silent wonder. And Minucius indeedkeptsilencein admiration of Octavius,silentlyrevolvingwhat he had heard. When Octaviushad brought his speech to a close,forsome time we were struck intosilence,and held our countenances fixedin attention; and as forme, I was lostin the greatness 1 "We who do not,"etc.,isa conjecturalreading,omittingthesub sequent" we."