a-wor-fight | fille-pries | prima-zephy
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1 XIX | incomplete than set memory a-working.~
2 IV | the range of our baptismal abjuration.~
3 XIX | exhibition; though no one is more able than myself to set forth
4 XVII | year. But if we ought to abominate all that is immodest, on
5 XIII | their deities are one--we abstain from both idolatries. Nor
6 XXX | risen again, or the gardener abstracted, that his lettuces might
7 XXIX | you, we have literature in abundance of our own--plenty of verses,
8 XIV | the shows, let us now ex abundanti look at the subject in another
9 XXVII | God most pleasant and most acceptable. Everything there, then,
10 XXVI | temptations of the show become accessible also to evil spirits? We
11 XV | how shall this be made to accord with the shows? For the
12 V | say no more to prove the accusation of idolatrous origin.~
13 II | But having no intimate acquaintance with the Highest, knowing
14 XV | condemnation in the very act of taking his place among
15 VI | testimony of antiquity is added that of later games instituted
16 XIX | shall not insult them by adding another word as to the aversion
17 V | Kalends of September. In addition to this, Romulus instituted
18 XIX | always the guilty who are adjudged to the wild beasts, or to
19 II | forbids in regard to the administration of His world. They must
20 XXX | eye! What there excites my admiration? what my derision? Which
21 XVIII | But you will not refuse to admit that the things which are
22 III | general truth. When God admonishes the Israelites of their
23 XXIV | sign to them that a man has adopted the Christian faith. If
24 XX | He looks on falsehoods, adulteries, frauds, idolatries, and
25 XIX | less serious delinquency, advance to the criminality of manslayers!
26 XXIII | of infamy, losing all the advantages connected with the possession
27 XXX | is that fast-approaching advent of our Lord, now owned by
28 II | know either the will or the adversary of a God you do not know.
29 II | and not as His "friends"-afar off, and not as those who
30 VIII | huge Obelisk, as Hermeteles affirms, is set up in public to
31 VIII | spirits of evil. What an aggregation of idolatries you see, accordingly,
32 XVI | already passion-blind, already agitated about their bets. The praetor
33 XV | always leads to spiritual agitation, since where there is pleasure,
34 III | see, too, how other things agree. For at the shows they also
35 XXVII | are pleasant, things both agreeable and innocent in themselves;
36 XXV | intermingling of emotions, the very agreements and disagreements with each
37 XVIII | an artificial body which aim at surpassing the Creator'
38 XI | combats. Their origin is akin to that of the games (ludi).
39 II | cannot but be in ignorance alike of what He enjoins and what
40 XX | not look on them, lest the All-seeing see us. You are putting
41 XXIV | standards and the oath of allegiance to your chief: you cast
42 XII | places of sepulture. They alleviated death by murders. Such is
43 X | Venus and Bacchus are close allies. These two evil spirits
44 X | stage performances were allowed to escape censure, and got
45 I | perhaps, some among you are allured by the views of the heathens
46 II | the belly to be gluttony's ally, and the genitals for unchaste
47 | along
48 VIII | dwelling-places, are not altogether free from idols. Satan and
49 | am
50 VII | their pomp. But the more ambitious preliminary display of the
51 XXV | from which you uttered Amen over the Holy Thing, to
52 XXV | thought to prophetic appeals? Amid the measures of the effeminate
53 V | games were established, ample information is to be fount
54 X | also to other theatrical amusements--which besides being consecrated
55 VI | according to an institution of ancient times. For from the first
56 XII | as well as "munus." The ancients thought that in this solemnity
57 V | then Tullus Hostilius; then Ancus Martius; and various others
58 XXX | What that exultation of the angelic hosts! What the glory of
59 XV | Him with rage, ill-nature, anger, or grief. Well, how shall
60 XVI | they exclaim; and they announce each one to his neighbour
61 XXX | the heavens was publicly announced, groaning now in the lowest
62 XXVIII| combat! I would have you answer me this question: Can we
63 VIII | occasion for some remarks in anticipation of a point that some will
64 X | the heathen, and in the anticipatory judgment of human knowledge
65 X | lute, and pipe, belong to Apollos, and Muses, and Minervas,
66 XXV | giving thought to prophetic appeals? Amid the measures of the
67 XII | souls of the departed were appeased by human blood, they were
68 VII | to whom the whole thing appertains, in the many images the
69 III | Scripture has ever far-reaching applications: after the immediate sense
70 XXIII | be pleased with him who applies the razor to himself, and
71 XXII | same time, they award their approbation; they magnify the art and
72 IX | snake. But if Trochilus the Argive is maker of the first chariot,
73 XVIII | XVIII.~But if you argue that the racecourse is mentioned
74 IV | that we are dealing in mere argumentative subtleties, I shall turn
75 I | are wont to press us with arguments, such as these: That the
76 VII | whatever, whether meanly arrayed or modestly rich and gorgeous,
77 XX | lewdness, outside the course on arrogance, and outside the amphitheatre
78 X | up for their own ends the artifice of consecration.~
79 XVIII | approval those efforts after an artificial body which aim at surpassing
80 XXII | magnify the art and brand the artist. What an outrageous thing
81 X | by bestowing on him the artistic gifts which the shows require.
82 VIII | Castors, by men who are not ashamed to profess faith in their
83 V | us that immigrants from Asia, under the leadership of
84 XXIII | the wearing of masks, I ask is that according to the
85 XXVII | where the enemies of Christ assemble, that seat of all that is
86 VIII | in open space. Those who assert that the first spectacle
87 XXX | sublunary, and were wont to assure them that either they had
88 VII | how many offices are set astir, is known to the inhabitants
89 XVII | is the vileness which the Atellan gesticulates, which the
90 XXVII | the very super incumbent atmosphere all impure with wicked cries?
91 XVII | calling to remembrance the atrocious or the vile. What you reject
92 XXVI | upbraided with having dared to attack a believer, he firmly replied, "
93 XXX | then I shall not care to attend to such ministers of sin,
94 X | immodesty of gesture and attire which so specially and peculiarly
95 XXIII | that the man is cursed who attires himself in female garments,
96 XXV | temptation than that gay attiring of the men and women. The
97 XVIII | first human beings. Its very attitude has power in it of the serpent
98 XXI | to all its vile words and attitudes; he, again, who in the streets
99 XXVII | danger you run from its attractions.~
100 XXIII | who is His own image? The Author of truth hates all the false;
101 V | remote antiquity, and our authorities be none other than books
102 IX | azure to the sky and sea, or autumn. But as idolatry of every
103 XIX | adding another word as to the aversion with which they should regard
104 XXV | moved by compassion? May God avert from His people any such
105 XXII | at the same time, they award their approbation; they
106 IX | Mother Earth, or spring, and azure to the sky and sea, or autumn.
107 XV | wrath and grief, with all bad things which flow from them--
108 XXIV | the faith's distinctive badge, he is plainly guilty of
109 XXVIII| inviter too, are theirs. Our banquets, our nuptial joys, are yet
110 IV | testimony in the layer of baptism has reference to the shows,
111 X | have gone further back, and barred all further argument by
112 IV | apparatus of the shows is based upon idolatry, beyond all
113 VIII | the market-place, and the baths, and the taverns, and our
114 V | great in counsel, Mars, in battle mighty tutelar deities."
115 VI | designed. You have festivals bearing the name of the great Mother
116 XXIX | these the spectacles that befit Christian men--holy, everlasting,
117 XV | shows in a moderate way, as befits his rank, age or nature,
118 | beforehand
119 XXIX | are not of slight account. Behold unchastity overcome by chastity,
120 XXX | his chariot of fire; of beholding the wrestlers, not in their
121 XII | character. For formerly, in the belief that the souls of the departed
122 XXX | are, they are nobler, I believe, than circus, and both theatres,
123 XXVI | having dared to attack a believer, he firmly replied, "And
124 XXX | in his munificence will bestow on you the favour of seeing
125 XXIX | exquisite pleasures God has bestowed upon you? For what more
126 X | carried out their purpose by bestowing on him the artistic gifts
127 XXV | disagreements with each other in the bestowment of their favours, where
128 VI | instituted in their turn, and betraying their origin from the titles
129 XVI | already agitated about their bets. The praetor is too slow
130 XVII | in deed, you are not to bid welcome to in word.~
131 XXX | but tossing in the fiery billows; unless even then I shall
132 X | man away from his Lord and binding him to their own service,
133 VI | religious origin in the birthdays and solemnities of kings,
134 XXV | with his eye fixed on the bites of bears, and the sponge-nets
135 XV | rivalry, you have rage, bitterness, wrath and grief, with all
136 XXII | outrageous thing it is, to blacken a man on account of the
137 XX | nowhere is that free from blame which God ever condemns;
138 XXVII | that there God's name is blasphemed--that there the cry "To the
139 XXVII | speaks and who listens to the blaspheming word, who lends his tongue
140 XVI | those who curse us we are to bless. But what is more merciless
141 III | this very sort of thing: "Blessed," he says, "is the man who
142 II | precious gift--in fact, the one blessedness of life, whether to philosopher
143 X | means of superstition he blinded the eyes of a virtuous discipline.
144 XVI | clearest evidence of their blindness; they do not see what is
145 XXVIII| in that they have their bliss; in that they find entertainment:
146 XVII | tragedies and comedies are the bloody and wanton, the impious
147 XXV | have such close communion, blow up the sparks of passion.
148 V | authorities be none other than books of heathen literature. Various
149 V | peasants, in return for the boon he conferred on them, as
150 XXX | himself, and those, too, who bore witness of their exultation;
151 X | from the first they have borne the name of "Ludi," and
152 XX | madman outside the circus boundaries? Outside the gates of the
153 XXIII | the woman ! And will the boxer go unpunished? I suppose
154 XXII | they magnify the art and brand the artist. What an outrageous
155 II | world, put in its gold, brass, silver, ivory, wood, and
156 XXVII | there, then, that is either brave, noble, loud-sounding, melodious,
157 XXI | covers with reproaches the brawling pugilist, in the arena gives
158 I | swilling ignorance, and bribes knowledge into playing a
159 X | of Venus; and, to speak briefly, it was owing to this that
160 IV | angels? from which, to speak. briefly--for I do not wish to dilate--
161 VII | little twig from its very budding, contains in it the essential
162 XVII | gesticulates, which the buffoon in woman's clothes exhibits,
163 II | all doubt, too, the very buildings connected with the places
164 XXX | How vast a spectacle then bursts upon the eye! What there
165 VIII | unconnected with their proper business and official duties. Why,
166 XII | they were in the habit of buying captives or slaves of wicked
167 XXIII | suppose he received these caestus-scars, and the thick skin of his
168 XXVII | honey drop of a poisoned cake; nor make so much of your
169 XXX | louder-voiced in their own calamity; of viewing the play-actors,
170 XVII | that there should be any calling to remembrance the atrocious
171 XV | has enjoined us to deal calmly, gently, quietly, and peacefully
172 XXIV | you go over to the enemy's camp, you throw down your arms,
173 XXI | and rewards him with the cap of liberty. Yes and he must
174 XII | were in the habit of buying captives or slaves of wicked disposition,
175 VII | more than a single sacred car, it is a chariot of Jupiter:
176 XXX | unless even then I shall not care to attend to such ministers
177 XXI | everybody; the father who carefully protects and guards his
178 XXX | shall say, "this is that carpenter's or hireling's son, that
179 VI | the same origin in both cases; there is the same idolatry;
180 IX | is regarded as sacred to Castor and Pollux, to whom, Stesichorus
181 XXVII | What will you do if you are caught in that heaving tide of
182 XVI | and reproaches, with no cause of hatred; there are cries
183 XVII | darkness and their own gloomy caves, lest they should stain
184 XXIV | baptismal pledge, when we cease to bear its testimony? Does
185 II | But in offending Him, it ceases to be His; and in ceasing
186 II | ceases to be His; and in ceasing to be His, it is in His
187 XI | the god whose festivals it celebrates. The gymnastic arts also
188 XIII | equipments, their places of celebration, their arts; and we may
189 X | fearing some time or other censorian condemnation of his memory,
190 X | world. For ofttimes the censors, in the interests of morality,
191 X | performances were allowed to escape censure, and got a footing in the
192 VI | great Mother and Apollo of Ceres too, and Neptune, and Jupiter
193 II | world, so he has entirely changed man's nature--created, like
194 XXIII | himself, and completely changes his features; who, with
195 XII | they somewhat modified its character. For formerly, in the belief
196 XV | us now contrast the other characteristics of the show with the things
197 X | specially and peculiarly characterizes the stage are consecrated
198 XIV | sufficiently established the charge of idolatry, which alone
199 XXIX | Behold unchastity overcome by chastity, perfidy slain by faithfulness,
200 XXIII | of his teaching, that the cheek is to be meekly offered
201 VIII | to Egyptian superstition. Cheerless were the demon-gathering
202 VIII | to places: the circus is chiefly consecrated to the Sun,
203 XI | crowns, with sacerdotal chiefs, with attendants belonging
204 XVII | finally is done from his childhood on the person of the pantomime,
205 XXIX | defend the societies of the churches, be startled at God's signal,
206 VIII | spectacle was exhibited by Circe, and in honour of the Sun
207 X | when he had erected that citadel of all impurities, fearing
208 XXII | loss of their rights as citizens, excluding them from the
209 XX | perfection, and gives it its claims to full mastery, unchanging
210 XVIII | firm to hold--tortures to clasp--slippery to glide away.
211 II | plotting of evil, it is clear beyond a doubt, that, of
212 XVI | what all have seen. I have clearest evidence of their blindness;
213 XII | yet, since idolatry still cleaves to the dignity's name, whatever
214 XIII | ways the sin of idolatry clings to the shows, in respect
215 XVI | They think it a "signal cloth," but it is the likeness
216 XXVI | saw in her sleep a linen cloth--the actor's name being mentioned
217 XVII | which the buffoon in woman's clothes exhibits, destroying all
218 XI | the common place for the college of the arts sacred to the
219 XI | belonging to the various colleges, last of all with the blood
220 XI | if idolatry pollutes the combat-parade with profane crowns, with
221 XVII | comic play. If tragedies and comedies are the bloody and wanton,
222 XIV | especially who keep themselves comfortable in the thought that the
223 XVII | source derive the tragic or comic play. If tragedies and comedies
224 I | clearly laid down by divine command. It were a grievous thing,
225 XVI | ground for doing so, in commanding that those who curse us
226 XVI | reason for our hating; for He commands us to love our enemies.
227 III | an idol; thou shalt not commit adultery or fraud." But
228 II | instance, murder, whether committed by iron, by poison, or by
229 XXV | where you have such close communion, blow up the sparks of passion.
230 XXVI | persons who, by keeping company with the devil in the shows,
231 XVIII | have the very opposite of complacency in the athletes Greece,
232 XXIII | the razor to himself, and completely changes his features; who,
233 XI | its sacrifices? To add a completing word about the "place"--
234 II | places of public amusement, composed as they are of rocks, stones,
235 XXX | followers that God had no concern in ought that is sublunary,
236 I | which, so far as they are concerned, they have emptied of all
237 XII | there as it holds men. To conclude with a single remark about
238 IV | that will carry with it the conclusion that our renunciatory testimony
239 XIX | now see how the Scriptures condemn the amphitheatre. If we
240 XXIII | adultery all that is unreal. Condemning, therefore, as He does hypocrisy
241 XXVII | accursed thing is put into condiments well seasoned and of sweetest
242 I | seek well to understand the condition of faith, the reasons of
243 X | evil spirits are in sworn confederacy with each other, as the
244 V | in return for the boon he conferred on them, as they say, making
245 I | Ye who have testified and confessed that you have done so already,
246 XV | disinclination to be like them, he confesses he has no sympathy. It is
247 X | of human knowledge even a confirmation of our views. Accordingly
248 XXII | might expect from men, who confuse and change the nature of
249 XV | says the Scripture, "thou consentedst with him." Would that we
250 V | However, it is of little consequence the origin of the name,
251 I | That these things are not consistent with true religion and true
252 II | them are found the various constituent elements of the public shows,
253 XX | varying judgments which constitutes its perfection, and gives
254 XXX | many products, shall be consumed in one great flame! How
255 XXX | deluded ones, as one fire consumes them! Poets also, trembling
256 XXIX | for the goal of the final consummation, defend the societies of
257 III | with a special reference contain in them general truth. When
258 VII | twig from its very budding, contains in it the essential nature
259 VIII | places in themselves do not contaminate, but what is done in them;
260 XXX | reed and fist, whom you contemptuously spat upon, to whom you gave
261 XXIII | respect for his face, is not content with making it as like as
262 XXIX | liberty, a pure conscience, a contented life, and freedom from all
263 XXIX | by modesty: these are the contests we have among us, and in
264 I | forsooth, for Christians, while continuing in the enjoyment of pleasures
265 XX | show, and no pollution is contracted." Yes, and the sun, too,
266 XV | dealt with that, let us now contrast the other characteristics
267 I | still partaking of them, it contrives to prolong swilling ignorance,
268 XXIII | gives it quietly over to contumelious blows, as if in mockery
269 VII | city in which the demon convention has its headquarters. If
270 XXI | looks with horror on the corpse of one who has died under
271 II | vast difference between the corrupted state and that of primal
272 II | that, as the prowess of the corrupting and God-opposing angel overthrew
273 III | is he who has entered any council of wicked men, and has stood
274 XXIX | holy, everlasting, free. Count of these as your circus
275 VII | all circus games must be counted as belonging to that from
276 XVIII | disfiguration of the human countenance, which is nothing less than
277 XXIX | games, fix your eyes on the courses of the world, the gliding
278 XXX | death they had left, now covered with shame before the poor
279 XXI | streets lays hands on or covers with reproaches the brawling
280 XV | lapses. These lapses, again, create passionate desire. If there
281 XXIII | many furious passions, and creates so many various moods, either
282 II | what exists by God's own creative will is either foreign or
283 II | and demons are all equally creatures of God. Has the Creator,
284 XIX | delinquency, advance to the criminality of manslayers! But I mean
285 XXX | come to no harm from the crowds of visitants!" What quaestor
286 XXIII | many various moods, either crowned like a priest or wearing
287 II | idolatry in His eyes is the crowning sin. What is there offensive
288 XVIII | devil wrestled with, and crushed to death, the first human
289 XXIII | because "none can add a cubit to his stature." His desire
290 XVIII | the blows, and kicks, and cuffs, and all the recklessness
291 XXIX | evil spirits--to perform cures--to seek divine revealings--
292 XXII | excluding them from the Curia, and the rostra, from senatorial
293 XXIII | declared that the man is cursed who attires himself in female
294 XVI | indulge in. Then there are curses and reproaches, with no
295 XX | porticoes, the tiers and the curtains, too, God has eyes? Never
296 III | ways. The place in the curve where the matrons sit is
297 XXVII | the cry "To the lions!" is daily raised against us--that
298 XXVIII| XXVIII.~With such dainties as these let the devil's
299 XXVIII| their grief. Thou art too dainty, Christian, if thou wouldst
300 XXI | protects and guards his virgin daughter's ears from every polluting
301 III | that that first word of David bears an this very sort
302 XXX | have not so much as dimly dawned upon the human heart? Whatever
303 XXVII | the devil puts into the deadly draught which he prepares,
304 XV | God has enjoined us to deal calmly, gently, quietly,
305 IV | any one think that we are dealing in mere argumentative subtleties,
306 XV | idolatry--having sufficiently dealt with that, let us now contrast
307 XVI | is forbidden us, we are debarred from every kind of spectacle,
308 II | strong dread of death as a debt he knows is due by him;
309 XXIII | wearing the colours of a pimp,decked out by the devil that he
310 XXV | When a tragic actor is declaiming, will one be giving thought
311 XIV | not involved a sufficient declaration against all these amusements.
312 XX | who, just because they decline to lose a pleasure, hold
313 VIII | see, accordingly, in the decoration of the place! Every ornament
314 XXVII | from thence persecuting decrees are wont to emanate, and
315 XXI | lion for every manslayer of deeper dye, will have the staff
316 XXIX | the final consummation, defend the societies of the churches,
317 XVII | it that the things which defile a man in going out of his
318 XIII | and belly free from such defilements, how much more do we withhold
319 VII | fountain from which they spring defiles them. The tiny streamlet
320 XII | origin of the "Munus." But by degrees their refinement came up
321 VIII | as the fruit-protecting deity--load the pillars. In front
322 III | part in the meetings and deliberations of the Jews, taking counsel
323 XXIX | literature of the stage delight you, we have literature
324 XXIX | upon you? For what more delightful than to have God the Father
325 II | fear of losing any of her delights--any of the sweet enjoyments
326 XIX | from some less serious delinquency, advance to the criminality
327 XXX | with shame before the poor deluded ones, as one fire consumes
328 VII | great city in which the demon convention has its headquarters.
329 VIII | superstition. Cheerless were the demon-gathering without their Mater Magna;
330 IX | passion upon earth, is a demon-monster, nay, the devil himself,
331 II | philosopher or fool. Now nobody denies what nobody is ignorant
332 XIX | the criminal himself will deny that? And yet the innocent
333 XXIV | he is plainly guilty of denying it. What hope can you possibly
334 XVII | which from this source derive the tragic or comic play.
335 V | from Lydi. And though Varro derives the name of Ludi from Ludus,
336 XXIV | you throw down your arms, desert the standards and the oath
337 III | how much more will he so designate so vast a gathering of heathens!
338 X | and bear like idolatrous designations--even as from the first they
339 VI | kind or the other, were designed. You have festivals bearing
340 I | have emptied of all that is desirable; and so it is thought to
341 XX | How vain, then--nay, how desperate--is the reasoning of persons,
342 XVII | who by their own gestures destroy their modesty, dreading
343 XVII | woman's clothes exhibits, destroying all natural modesty, so
344 X | the objects of your utter detestation. So we would now make a
345 XXX | Sabbath-breaker, that Samaritan and devil-possessed! This is He whom you purchased
346 VIII | tenanted by such multitudes of diabolic spirits. And speaking of
347 XII | for their patrons Mars and Diana.~
348 XXI | the corpse of one who has died under the common law of
349 I | than that of making it less difficult to despise life, the fastenings
350 XIII | through the body, but are digested in the very spirit and soul,
351 XXIII | with the possession of the dignities of life, how much more does
352 XII | idolatry still cleaves to the dignity's name, whatever is done
353 IV | briefly--for I do not wish to dilate--you have every unclean and
354 XXVII | that are excellent. Nobody dilutes poison with gall and hellebore:
355 XXX | which have not so much as dimly dawned upon the human heart?
356 X | to Bacchus (as were the Dionysia of the Greeks), were instituted
357 XII | names more numerous and more dire than is the Capitol itself,
358 X | trumpets, all under the direction of the soothsayer and the
359 III | has been exhausted, in all directions it fortifies the practice
360 XX | the servants of God are directly forbidden to have anything
361 XXV | the very agreements and disagreements with each other in the bestowment
362 XXVI | the same time with strong disapproval--and five days after that
363 XXX | drink! This is He whom His disciples secretly stole away, that
364 XVI | rages, and passions, and discords, and all that they who are
365 X | among the gods for their discoveries. Nay, as regards the arts,
366 II | of His foe--who, in our discovery of the Creator, have at
367 XXII | are not without a mark of disgrace upon them!~
368 XVII | right to look on what it is disgraceful to do? How is it that the
369 I | knowledge into playing a dishonest part. To both things, perhaps,
370 XV | those with whom, by his disinclination to be like them, he confesses
371 XIII | both idolatries. Nor do we dislike the temples less than the
372 XII | captives or slaves of wicked disposition, and immolating them in
373 XXIII | pleasure in the charioteer who disquiets so many souls, rouses up
374 XVII | repute but what elsewhere is disreputable. So the best path to the
375 XXX | play-actors, much more "dissolute" in the dissolving flame;
376 XXX | more "dissolute" in the dissolving flame; of looking upon the
377 XXI | wished torn in pieces at safe distance from him: so much the more
378 XXIX | What greater pleasure than distaste of pleasure itself, contempt
379 XXII | honours as well as certain distinctions. What perversity! They have
380 XXIV | then, puts away the faith's distinctive badge, he is plainly guilty
381 X | them, and pretend to be divine--none other than spirits
382 VIII | than Jupiter himself. The Dolphins vomit forth in honour of
383 XXVI | righteously, for I found her in my domain." Another case, too, is
384 III | out that the matter is a doubtful one, because such abstinence
385 IX | sinful in it; but when it was dragged into the games, it passed
386 X | her sex, the other by his drapery; while its services of voice,
387 XXVII | devil puts into the deadly draught which he prepares, things
388 I | Servants of God, about to draw near to God. that you may
389 X | shows, with the object of drawing man away from his Lord and
390 II | the weakling has no strong dread of death as a debt he knows
391 XIX | to need a punishment so dreadful. But who is my guarantee
392 XVII | gestures destroy their modesty, dreading the light of day, and the
393 IX | charioteers were naturally dressed, too, in the colours of
394 VII | thrones, the crowns, the dresses. What high religious rites
395 XXX | gave gall and vinegar to drink! This is He whom His disciples
396 XXI | suffer for their crime, drives the unwilling gladiator
397 XXVII | hold it but as the honey drop of a poisoned cake; nor
398 X | other, as the patrons of drunkenness and lust. So the theatre
399 XXVIII| and the stage, and the dust, and the place of combat!
400 VIII | proper business and official duties. Why, even the streets and
401 XII | highest favour. It is called a dutiful service (munus), from its
402 X | service of the beings who dwell in the names of their founders;
403 XII | demons. What need, then, of dwelling on the place of horrors,
404 VIII | the taverns, and our very dwelling-places, are not altogether free
405 XXI | every manslayer of deeper dye, will have the staff for
406 XXV | people any such passionate eagerness after a cruel enjoyment!
407 XVII | they go in at his eyes and ears--when eyes and ears are the
408 I | For such is the power of earthly pleasures, that, to retain
409 XIV | lust of money, or rank, or eating, or impure enjoyment, or
410 XII | the proclamations too, and edicts, the sacred feasts of the
411 V | with an inscription to this effect: "Consus, great in counsel,
412 XXV | Amid the measures of the effeminate player, will he call up
413 XVIII | regard with approval those efforts after an artificial body
414 VIII | their production from the egg of a swan, which was no
415 VIII | a temple by itself. The eggs are regarded as sacred to
416 VIII | like its origin, belongs to Egyptian superstition. Cheerless
417 XVI | presides as in its proper element. See the people coming to
418 XXIII | the object of taking off Elijah? Will He be pleased with
419 XXVII | persecuting decrees are wont to emanate, and temptations are sent
420 II | various things for the earth's embellishment; nay, the very scenes are
421 XVI | it already under strong emotion, already tumultuous, already
422 XXV | The very intermingling of emotions, the very agreements and
423 IX | service of God into the employment of demons. Accordingly this
424 I | are concerned, they have emptied of all that is desirable;
425 XI | contest and sound of trumpet emulate the circus in the arena,
426 II | nay, the very scenes are enacted under God's own heaven.
427 II | by poison, or by magical enchantments. Iron and herbs and demons
428 VIII | her. Plainly, then, the enchantress did this in the name of
429 XXI | in the arena gives all encouragement to combats of a much more
430 X | they set up for their own ends the artifice of consecration.~
431 XIX | good coming to untimely ends--if I may speak of goodness
432 XXIV | When you go over to the enemy's camp, you throw down your
433 II | ignorance alike of what He enjoins and what He forbids in regard
434 XV | even suppose one should enjoy the shows in a moderate
435 II | his own state of wicked enmity against his Maker, that
436 III | precision, "Thou shalt not enter circus or theatre, thou
437 IV | our "seal" itself. When entering the water, we make profession
438 XXVIII| bliss; in that they find entertainment: they even glory in it.
439 IV | shall be made plain that the entire apparatus of the shows is
440 IX | exhibitions. In former days equestrianism was practised in a simple
441 XIII | origins, their titles, their equipments, their places of celebration,
442 V | Thereafter Romulus dedicated the Equiria to Mars, though they claim
443 X | his theatre, when he had erected that citadel of all impurities,
444 II | violence, and the feet for an erring life; or was the soul placed
445 XXIX | truth than confession of our errors, than pardon of the innumerable
446 VII | budding, contains in it the essential nature of its origin. It
447 V | brother, settled down in Etruria. Well, among other superstitious
448 VIII | presides there over the Euripus. Consus, as we have mentioned,
449 XXI | exposing himself before everybody; the father who carefully
450 XVI | have seen. I have clearest evidence of their blindness; they
451 XIV | up the shows, let us now ex abundanti look at the subject
452 II | if God, as the righteous ex-actor of innocence, hates everything
453 XXX | owned by all, now highly exalted, now a triumphant One! What
454 XII | XII.~It remains for us to examine the "spectacle" most noted
455 II | the genitals for unchaste excesses, and hands for deeds of
456 XXX | upon the eye! What there excites my admiration? what my derision?
457 XVI | He has thrown it!" they exclaim; and they announce each
458 XVII | this ground, again, we are excluded from the theatre, which
459 XXII | their rights as citizens, excluding them from the Curia, and
460 X | authors in the names we execrate. We know that the names
461 III | immediate sense has been exhausted, in all directions it fortifies
462 XVII | buffoon in woman's clothes exhibits, destroying all natural
463 II | then, be thought that what exists by God's own creative will
464 XXIX | gods of the nations--to exorcise evil spirits--to perform
465 XXII | are just such as we might expect from men, who confuse and
466 III | Well, we never find it expressed with the same precision, "
467 V | literature. Various authors are extant who have published works
468 I | and eye we have in things external are not in the least opposed
469 X | on their wicked work, and exult in the homage rendered to
470 XXX | the favour of seeing and exulting in such things as these?
471 XXIX | proverbs; and these not fabulous, but true; not tricks of
472 XXI | he may get a sight of his face--with zest inspecting near
473 XX | unchanging reverence, and faithful obedience. That which is
474 XIII | XIII.~We have, I think, faithfully carried out our plan of
475 XXIX | chastity, perfidy slain by faithfulness, cruelty stricken by compassion,
476 XXVI | devil in the shows, have fallen from the Lord! For no one
477 XXIII | Author of truth hates all the false; He regards as adultery
478 XX | robberies too; He looks on falsehoods, adulteries, frauds, idolatries,
479 III | divine Scripture has ever far-reaching applications: after the
480 XXVII | Christian; but think how it fares with you in heaven. For
481 XII | for the purple robes, the fasces, the fillets the crowns,
482 XXX | what a spectacle is that fast-approaching advent of our Lord, now
483 I | difficult to despise life, the fastenings to it being severed as it
484 XXV | the bestowment of their favours, where you have such close
485 X | citadel of all impurities, fearing some time or other censorian
486 XXVIII| let the devil's guests be feasted. The places and the times,
487 XII | and edicts, the sacred feasts of the day before, are not
488 XVIII | foolish racing and throwing feats, and yet more foolish leapings;
489 XXIII | and completely changes his features; who, with no respect for
490 XVIII | the inactivity of peace, feeds up. And the wrestler's art
491 II | deeds of violence, and the feet for an erring life; or was
492 XVI | spare even their rulers and fellow-citizens? If any of its madnesses
493 XXIII | cursed who attires himself in female garments, what must be His
494 V | games in honor of Jupiter Feretrius on the Tarpeian Hill, according
495 V | belongs, in his view, to festal days and temples, and objects
496 V | Bacchus; for to Bacchus these festivities were first consecrated by
497 XXII | inconstancy of feeling and fickleness in judgment. Why, the authors
498 XXX | gymnasia, but tossing in the fiery billows; unless even then
499 XXIII | might be knocked out in fighting! I say nothing of him who,
500 XXIX | realities. Would you have also fightings and wrestlings? Well, of
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