The Nature of the Gods (Oxford World's Classics) by Cicero

Author:Cicero [Cicero]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Published: 2016-12-01T16:00:00+00:00

Book Three

At these words of Balbus, Cotta smiled and said: ‘Your advice to me, Balbus, on the position I should defend has come too late, for in the course of your disputation I have been pondering my possible response, seeking not so much to refute you as to ask about points which I failed to understand. Each of us must make his own assessment, so I find it difficult to embrace the view which you would prefer.’ 1

Velleius interposed: ‘Cotta, you cannot imagine how much I look forward to hearing you. Your criticism of Epicurus was music to our friend Balbus’ ears, so I in turn shall eagerly listen to your attack on the Stoics. I hope that you come well prepared for this, as you usually do.’ 2

To this Cotta replied: ‘I certainly need to be, Velleius, for my debate with Lucilius is on a different plane from that which I conducted with you.’ 3

‘How so?’ asked Velleius.

‘Because in my view your teacher Epicurus does not grapple seriously with the problem of the immortal gods. His sole concern is not to presume to deny their existence, in case he incurs some odium or indictment. Indeed, when he maintains that the gods are wholly inactive and inattentive, and that though endowed with human limbs they make no use of them, he seems to trivialize the argument, regarding it as sufficient to say that there exists some blessed and eternal nature.

‘But I am sure that you appreciated the wide range of Balbus’ observations, which even if untrue are supportive of and consistent with each other. This is why it is my intention, as I have said, not so much to refute his discourse as to seek guidance on the points I did not understand. So I leave it to you, Balbus, whether you prefer to answer my queries individually on the questions I did not clearly follow, or to hear out my whole discourse.’ 4

At this Balbus replied: ‘Well now, if you would really like an explanation of any individual point, I am happy to supply it. But if you want to question me not so much to elicit information as to refute me, I shall do whatever you prefer, either responding to the individual queries as you raise them, or to your entire argument when you have rounded it off.’

‘Fine,’ said Cotta, ‘so let us proceed as the discussion leads us. But before I broach the topic, let me say a word about my own position. I take considerably to heart your authority, Balbus, and the comments at the close of your discourse, in which you urged me to remember that I am not just Cotta, but also a priest. The point you were making, I imagine, was that I should defend the beliefs about the immortal gods which we have inherited from our ancestors, together with our sacrifices, ceremonies, and religious observances. I shall indeed defend them,* and I have always done so; no words from any person, whether

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