20. 32    The ms. reads at, “but.”Do they on this account wreak their wrath on you too, in order that, roused by your own private wounds, you may rise up for their vengeance? It seems, then, that the gods seek the help of mortals; and were they not protected by your strenuous advocacy, they are not able of themselves to repel and to avenge33    Defendere is added in the ms., but marked as a gloss. the insults offered them. Nay rather, if it be true that they burn with anger, give them an opportunity of defending themselves, and let them put forth and make trial of their innate powers, to take vengeance for their offended dignity. By heat, by hurtful cold, by noxious winds, by the most occult diseases, they can slay us, they can consume34    Consumere is in like manner marked as a gloss. us, and they can drive us entirely from all intercourse with men; or if it is impolitic to assail us by violence, let them give forth some token of their indignation,35    So Orelli, for the ms.judicationis, “judgment.” by which it may be clear to all that we live under heaven subject to their strong displeasure.

XX. An numquid idcirco in vos etiam saeviunt, ut intestinis vulneribus concitati in ultionem consurgatis illorum? Ergo humana patrocinia dii quaerunt, et nisi vestra fuerint assertione protecti, idonei non sunt ipsi, qui propulsare, defendere suas valeant contumelias. Quinimmo si verum est ardere illos ira, permittite illis potestatem sui, defendant se ipsi: atque in ultionem majestatis offensae intestinas exerant, experianturque virtutes. Possunt nos, si voluerint, aestu, possunt nocentissimo frigore, possunt auris pestilibus, possunt morborum obscurissimis causis enecare, consumere , atque ab omni penitus coetu exterminare mortalium , aut si malum 0741B consilium est aggredi nos vi, emittant aliquod indignationis 0742A signum, per quod esse liquidum cunctis possit, invitissimis nos eis habitare sub coelo.