48. Here, too, in like manner, when we deny that souls are the offspring of God Supreme, it does not necessarily follow that we are bound to declare from what parent they have sprung, and by what causes they have been produced. For who prevents us from being either ignorant of the source from which they issued and came, or aware that they are not God’s descendants? By what method, you say, in what way? Because it is most true and certain 3739 that, as has been pretty frequently said, nothing is effected, made, determined by the Supreme, except that which it is right and fitting should be done; except that which is complete and entire, and wholly perfect in its 3740 integrity. But further, we see that men, that is, these very souls—for what are men but souls bound to bodies?—themselves show by perversely falling into 3741 vice, times without number, that they belong to no patrician race, but have sprung from insignificant families. For we see some harsh, vicious, presumptuous, rash, reckless, blinded, false, dissemblers, liars, proud, overbearing, covetous, greedy, lustful, fickle, weak, and unable to observe their own precepts; but they would assuredly not be so , if their original goodness defended 3742 them, and they traced their honourable descent from the head of the universe. 3739     Omni vero verissimum est certoque certissimum —the superlative for the comparative. 3740     Lit., “finished with the perfection of.” 3741     Lit., “by perversity”— s-c-ævitate , the reading of the ms. , LB., Orelli, Hild., and Oehler, all others omitting c —“by the rage;” except Stewechius, who reads servitute —“slavery.” 3742     Or, perhaps, “the goodness of the Supreme planted”— generositas eos adsereret principalis.