468 THE OCTAVIUS OF isnot willingor not able to assistHis people; and thus He is eitherweak or inequitable.Thou, who dreamest over a posthumous immortality,when thou art shaken by danger,1 when thou artconsumed with fever,when thou arttorn with pain,dostthou not then feelthy realcondition? Dost thou not then acknowledge thy frailty? Poor wretch,art thou unwillinglyconvinced of thine infirmity,and wilt not con fessit? But I omit matters that are common to allalike. Do, for you there are threats,punishments,tortures,and crosses; and that no longer as objectsof adoration,but as torturesto be undergone ; firesalso,which you both predict and fear. Where is thatGod who isableto help you when you come to lifeagain,sincehe cannot help you while you are in this life? Do not the Romans, without any help from your God, govern, reign,have the enjoyment of the whole world,and have dominion over you ? But you in the meantime, in suspense and anxiety,are abstaining from respectableenjoyments. You do not visitexhibitions; yoa have no concern in public displays; you rejectthe public banquets,and abhor the sacred contests; the meats previ ouslytastedby, and the drinksmade a libationof upon, the altars.Thus you stand in dread of the gods whom, you deny. You do not wreath your heads with flowers; you do not graceyour bodieswith odours; you reserveunguents for funeralrites; you even refusegarlandsto your sepulchres— pallid,tremblingbeings,worthy of the pityeven of our gods ! Thus, wretched as you are,you neitherriseagain,nor do you livein the meanwhile. Therefore,if you have any wisdom or modesty, cease from prying into the regions of the sky, and the destiniesand secretsof the world : it is sufficientto look before 3rourfeet,especiallyfor untaught, uncultivated,boorish,rusticpeople: they who have no capa cityfor understandingcivilmatters,are much more denied the abilityto discussdivine. 1Some read," withshivering."