16. For suppose that it had occurred to us, moved either by suitable influence or violent fear of you, 4158 to worship Minerva, for example, with the rights you deem sacred, and the usual ceremony: if, when we prepare sacrifices, and approach to make the offerings appointed for her on the flaming altars, all the Minervas shall fly thither, and striving for the right to that name, each demand that the offerings prepared be given to herself; what drawn-out animal shall we place among them, or to whom shall we direct the sacred offices which are our duty? 4159 For the first one of whom we spoke will perhaps say: “The name Minerva is mine, mine 4160 the divine majesty, who bore Apollo and Diana, and by the fruit of my womb enriched heaven with deities, and multiplied the number of the gods.” “Nay, Minerva,” the fifth will say, “are you speaking, 4161 who, being a wife, and so often a mother, have lost the sanctity of spotless purity? Do you not see that in all temples 4162 the images of Minervas are those of virgins, and that all artists refrain from giving to them the figures of matrons? 4163 Cease, therefore, to appropriate to yourself a name not rightfully 4164 yours. For that I am Minerva, begotten of father Pallas, the whole band of poets bear witness, who call me Pallas, the surname being derived from my father.” The second will cry on hearing this: “What say you? Do you, then, bear the name of Minerva, an impudent parricide, and one defiled by the pollution of lewd lust, who, decking yourself with rouge and a harlot’s arts, roused upon yourself even your father’s passions, full of maddening desires? Go further, then, seek for yourself another name; for this belongs to me, whom the Nile, greatest of rivers, begot from among his flowing waters, and brought to a maiden’s estate from the condensing of moisture. 4165 But if you inquire into the credibility of the matter, I too will bring as witnesses the Egyptians, in whose language I am called Neith, as Plato’s Timæus 4166 attests.” What, then, do we suppose will be the result? Will she indeed cease to say that she is Minerva, who is named Coryphasia, either to mark her mother, or because she sprung forth from the top of Jove’s head, bearing a shield, and girt with the terror of arms? Or are we to suppose that she who is third will quietly surrender the name? and not argue 4167 and resist the assumption of the first two with such words as these: “Do you thus dare to assume the honour of my name, O Sais, 4168 sprung from the mud and eddies of a stream, and formed in miry places? Or do you usurp 4169 another’s rank, who falsely say that you were born a goddess from the head of Jupiter, and persuade very silly men that you are reason? Does he conceive and bring forth children from his head? That the arms you bear might be forged and formed, was there even in the hollow of his head a smith’s workshop? were there anvils, hammers, furnaces, bellows, coals, and pincers? Or if, as you maintain, it is true that you are reason, cease to claim for yourself the name which is mine; for reason, of which you speak, is not a certain form of deity, but the understanding of difficult questions.” If, then, as we have said, five Minervas should meet us when we essay to sacrifice, 4170 and contending as to whose this name is, each demand that either fumigations of incense be offered to her, or sacrificial wines poured out from golden cups; by what arbiter, by what judge, shall we dispose of so great a dispute? or what examiner will there be, what umpire of so great boldness as to attempt, with such personages, either to give a just decision, or to declare their causes not founded on right? Will he not rather go home, and, keeping himself apart from such matters, think it safer to have nothing to do with them, lest he should either make enemies of the rest, by giving to one what belongs to all, or be charged with folly for yielding 4171 to all what should be the property of one? 4158     Lit., “by the violence of your terror.” The preceding words are read in the ms. ideo motos —“so moved by authority,” and were emended idonea , as in the text, by Gelenius. 4159     Lit., “to what parts shall we transfer the duties of pious service.” 4160     The ms. reads cum numen ; Rigaltius, followed by Oehler emending, as above, meum ; the first four edd., with Oberthür, tum —“then the deity is mine ;” while the rest read cum numine —“with the deity.” 4161     So LB., Orelli, and Oehler, reading tu tinnis for the ms. tutunis . 4162     Capitoliis . In the Capitol were three shrines,—to Jove, Juno, and Minerva; and Roman colonies followed the mother-state’s example. Hence the present general application of the term, which is found elsewhere in ecclesiastical Latin. 4163     Lit., “Nor are the forms of married persons given to these by all artists;” nec read in all edd. for the ms. et —“and of married,” etc., which is opposed to the context. 4164     Lit., “not of your own right.” 4165     Concretione roris —a strange phrase. Cf. Her., iv. 180: “They say that Minerva is the daughter of Poseidon and the Tritonian lake.” 4166     St. p. 21. The ms. reads quorum Nili lingua latonis ; the two Roman edd. merely insert p., Plat. ; Gelenius and Canterus adding dicor —“in whose language I am called the Nile’s,” Nili being changed into Neith by Elmenhorst and later edd. 4167     Lit., “take account of herself.” 4168     So Ursinus suggested in the margin for the ms. si verum. 4169     The third Minerva now addresses the fourth. 4170     Lit., “approaching the duties of religion.” 4171     According to the ms. sic —“for so (i.e., as you do) yielding,” etc.