LIBER DE SPECTACULIS.

 I. CYPRIANUS plebi in Evangelio stanti salutem. Ut me satis contristat et animum meum graviter affligit cum nulla mihi scribendi ad vos porrigitur occ

 II. Non pudet, non pudet, inquam, fideles homines et christiani sibi nominis auctoritatem vindicantes, superstitiones vanas gentilium cum spectaculis

 III. Argumentum est ergo excitandae virtutis, non permissio sive libertas spectandi gentilis erroris, ut per hoc animus plus accendatur ad evangelicam

 0782D IV. Quid Scriptura interdixit? Prohibuit enim spectari quod prohibet geri. Omnia, inquam, ista spectaculorum genera damnavit quando idololatriam

 V. Plura prosequi quid est necesse, vel sacrificiorum 0783C in ludis genera monstruosa describere, inter quae nonnumquam et homo fit hostia latrocinio

 VI. Sed, ut de hoc scenae inquinamento inverecundo jam transitum faciam, pudet referre quae dicuntur, pudet etiam accusare quae fiunt, argumentorum st

 VII. Non est libidini satis malis suis uti praesentibus, nisi suum de spectaculo faciat in quo etiam superior aetas erraverat. Non licet , inquam, ade

 VIII. Nam illa altera reliquorum dementia est manifesta otiosis hominibus negotiatio et prima victoria est ut ultra modum humanum venter esurire potu

 IX. Habet Christianus spectacula meliora, si velit habet veras et profuturas voluptates, si se recognoverit. Et, ut omittam illa quae nondum contempl

 0786C X. Scripturis, inquam, sacris incumbat Christianus fidelis et ibi inveniet condigna fidei spectacula. Videbit instituentem Deum mundum suum, et

8. Now that other folly of others is an obvious source of advantage to idle men; and the first victory is for the belly to be able to crave food beyond the human limit,—a flagitious traffic for the claim to the crown of gluttony: the wretched face is hired out to bear wounding blows, that the more wretched belly may be gorged. How disgusting, besides, are those struggles! Man lying below man is enfolded in abominable embraces and twinings. In such a contest, whether a man looks on or conquers, still his modesty is conquered. Behold, one naked man bounds forth towards you; another with straining powers tosses a brazen ball into the air. This is not glory, but folly. In fine, take away the spectator, and you will have shown its emptiness.  Such things as these should be avoided by faithful Christians, as I have frequently said already; spectacles so vain, so mischievous, so sacrilegious, from which both our eyes and our ears should be guarded. We quickly get accustomed to what we hear and what we see. For since man’s mind is itself drawn towards vice, what will it do if it should have inducements of a bodily nature as well as a downward tendency in its slippery will? What will it do if it should be impelled from without?13    There is much confusion in the reading of this passage, which in the original runs, according to Baluzius: “Nam cum mens hominis ad vitia ipsa ducatur, quid faciet, si habuerit exempla naturæ corporis lubrica quæ sparta corruit? Quid faciet si fuerit impulsa?” Therefore the mind must be called away from such things as these.

VIII. Nam illa altera reliquorum dementia est manifesta otiosis hominibus negotiatio; et prima victoria est ut ultra modum humanum venter esurire potuisse super titulo coronatae edacitatis flagitiosae nundinae; ictibus vulnerum infelix facies locatur, ut infelicior venter saginetur. Quam foeda praeterea ista luctamina, vir infra virum jacens amplexibus inhonestis et nexibus implicatur! In tali certamine viderit vel vincat, pudor tamen victus est. Ecce tibi alter nudus salit, alter orbem aereum contentis in aerem viribus jactat. Haec gloria non est, sed dementia. Denique remove spectatorem, reddideris vanitatem. Fugienda sunt ista a Christianis fidelibus, ut jam frequenter 0785D diximus, tam vana, tam perniciosa, tam sacrilega spectacula, a quibus et oculi nostri et aures essent custodiendae. Cito in hoc assuescimus quod audimus, quod videmus. Nam, cum mens hominis ad vitia ipsa ducatur, quid faciet, si habuerit exempla naturae corporis lubrica quae sponte corruit? quid faciet, 0786A si fuerit impulsa? Avocandus est igitur animus ab istis.