Chapter VI.

To the testimony of antiquity is added that of later games instituted in their turn, and betraying their origin from the titles which they bear even at the present day, in which it is imprinted as on their very face, for what idol and for what religious object games, whether of the one kind or the other, were designed. You have festivals bearing the name of the great Mother9    [Cybele.]and Apollo of Ceres too, and Neptune, and Jupiter Latiaris, and Flora, all celebrated for a common end; the others have their religious origin in the birthdays and solemnities of kings, in public successes in municipal holidays.  There are also testamentary exhibitions, in which funeral honours are rendered to the memories of private persons; and this according to an institution of ancient times. For from the first the “Ludi” were regarded as of two sons, sacred and funereal, that is in honour of the heathen deities and of the dead. But in the matter of idolatry, it makes no difference with us under what name or title it is practised, while it has to do with the wicked spirits whom we abjure.  If it is lawful to offer homage to the dead, it will be just as lawful to offer it to their gods: you have the same origin in both cases; there is the same idolatry; there is on our part the same solemn renunciation of all idolatry.

CAPUT VI.

Accedit ad testimonium antiquitatis subsecuta posteritas, formam originis de titulis hujus quoque temporis praeferens, per quos signatum est, cui 0638A idolo, et cui superstitioni utriusque generis ludi notarentur, Megalenses et Apollinares, item Cereales et Neptunales, et Latiares , et Florales in commune celebrantur: reliqui ludorum, de natalibus et solemnitatibus regum, et publicis prosperitatibus et municipalibus fastis superstitionis caussas originis habent. Inter quos etiam privatorum memoriis legatariae editiones parentant, id quoque secundum institutionis antiquitatem. Nam et a primordio bifariam ludi censebantur, sacri et funebres , id est, diis nationum et mortuis. Sed de idololatria nihil differt apud nos, sub quo nomine et titulo, dum ad eosdem spiritus perveniat, quibus renuntiamus , licet mortuis, licet diis suis faciant. Proinde mortuis suis ut 0638B diis faciant , una conditio partis utriusque est, una idololatria, una renuntiatio nostra adversus idololatriam.