The Society for Ancient Languages
Week Two
IULIANUS A. CULTUM DEORUM, ANTEA DISSIMULATUM, PALAM ET LIBERE PROFITETUR, ET CHRISTIANORUM ESPISCOPOS INTER SE COMMITTIT |
JULIANUS AUGUSTUS OPENLY AND FREELY PROFESSES THE WORSHIP OF THE GODS, WHICH HE HAD PREVIOUSLY PRACTISED SECRETLY, AND SETS THE BISHOPS OF THE CHRISTIANS AT ODDS |
| 1. Et quamquam a rudimentis pueritiae primis, inclinatior erat erga numinum cultum, paulatimque adulescens, desiderio rei flagrabat, multa metuens tamen agitabat quaedam ad id pertinentia, quantum fieri poterat, occultissime. | 1. Although Julian from the earliest days of his childhood had been more inclined towards the worship of the pagan gods, and as he gradually grew up burned with longing to practise it, yet because of his many reasons for anxiety he observed certain of its rites with the greatest possible secrecy. |
| 2. Ubi vero abolitis quae verebatur, adesse sibi liberum tempus faciendi quae vellet advertit, pectoris patefecit arcana, et planis absolutisque decretis, aperire templa arisque hostias admovere, et restituere deorum statuit cultum. | 2. But when his fears were ended, and he saw that the time had come when he could do as he wished, he revealed the secrets of his heart and by plain and formal decrees ordered the temples to be opened, victims brought to the altars, and the worship of the gods restored. |
| 3. Utque dispositorum roboraret effectum, dissidentes Christianorum antistites cum plebe discissa in palatium intromissos, monebat civilius, ut discordiis consopitis, quisque nullo vetante, religioni suae serviret intrepidus. | 3. And in order to add to the effectiveness of these ordinances, he summoned to the palace the bishops of the Christians, who were of conflicting opinions, and the people, who were also at variance, and politely advised them to lay aside their differences, and each fearlessly and without opposition to observe his own beliefs. |
| 4. Quod agebat ideo obstinate, ut dissensiones augente licentia, non timeret unanimantem postea plebum, nullas infestas hominibus bestias, ut sunt sibi ferales plerique Christianorum expertus. | 4. On this he took a firm stand, to the end that, as this freedom increased their dissension, he might afterwards have no fear of a united populace, knowing as he did from experience that no wild beasts are such enemies to mankind as are most of the Christians in their deadly hatred of one another. |