7. Does Venus Militaris,
also, preside over the evil-doing4112
| 4112
So the ms. reading
flagitiis, followed by all edd. except LB. and Orelli, who read
plagiis—“kidnapping.” |
of
camps, and the debaucheries of young
men? Is there one Perfica,
4113
| 4113 Of
this goddess, also, no other author makes mention but the germ may be
perhaps found in Lucretius (ii. 1116–7), where nature is termed
perfica, i.e., “perfecting,” or making all things
complete. [The learned translator forgets Tertullian, who
introduces us to this name in the work Arnobius imitates
throughout. See vol. iii. p. 140.] |
also, of the
crowd of deities, who
causes those base and
filthy delights to reach their end with
uninterrupted
pleasure? Is there also Pertunda, who presides over
the
marriage4114
| 4114
i.e., in cubiculis præsto est virginalem scrobem effodientibus
maritis. |
couch? Is
there also Tutunus, on whose huge members
4115
| 4115 The
first five edd. read Mutunus. Cf. ch. 11. [I think
it a mistake to make Mutubus = Priapus. Their horrible
deformities are diverse, as I have noted in European collections
of antiquities. The specialty of Mutunus is noted by our
author, and is unspeakably abominable. All this illustrates,
therefore, the Christian scruples about marriage-feasts, of which see
vol. v. note 1, p. 435.] |
and horrent
fascinum you think it
auspicious, and desire, that your matrons should be borne? But if
facts themselves have very little effect in suggesting to you a right
understanding of the
truth, are you not able, even from the very names,
to understand that these are the inventions of a most meaningless
superstition, and the false gods of fancy?
4116
| 4116
Lit., the “fancies” or “imaginations” of false
gods. Meursius proposed to transpose the whole of this sentence
to the end of the chapter, which would give a more strictly logical
arrangement; but it must be remembered that Arnobius allows himself
much liberty in this respect. |
Puta, you say, presides over the
pruning of
trees, Peta over prayers; Nemestrinus
4117
| 4117 Of
these three deities no other mention is made. |
is the
god of groves; Patellana is a
deity, and Patella, of whom the one has been set over things brought to
light, the other over those yet to be disclosed. Nodutis is
spoken of as a
god, because he
4118
| 4118
The ms., LB., Hild., and Oehler
read qui—“who brings;” the other edd.,
as above, quia. |
brings that which has been sown to the
knots: and she who presides over the treading out of
grain,
Noduterensis;
4119
| 4119
So the ms. (cf. ch. 11), first five edd.,
Oberth., Hild., and Oehler; the other edd. read Nodutim
Ter. |
the
goddess
Upibilia
4120
| 4120
So the ms., both Roman edd., and Oehler;
the other edd. reading Vibilia, except Hild.,
Viabilia. |
delivers from
straying from the
right paths;
parents bereaved of their
children are under the care of Orbona,—those very near to
death,
under that of Nænia. Again,
4121
| 4121
The ms. reads
nam—“for,” followed by all edd. except Orelli,
who reads jam as above, and Oehler, who reads
etiam—“also.” |
Ossilago herself is mentioned
as
she who gives firmness and solidity to the
bones of young
children. Mellonia is a goddess, strong and powerful in regard to
bees, caring for and guarding the sweetness of their
honey.
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