9. What then? you say; do you declare that these gods exist nowhere in the world, and have been created by unreal fancies? Not we alone, but truth itself, and reason, say so, and that common-sense in which all men share. For who there who believes that there are gods of gain, and that they preside over the getting of it, seeing that it springs very often from the basest employments, and is always at the expense of others? Who believes that Libentina, who that Burnus,888    So the ms., both Roman edd., Hild., and Oehler; the others reading Liburnum, except Elm., who reads -am, while Meursius conjectured Liberum—“Bacchus.” is set over those lusts which wisdom bids us avoid, and which, in a thousand ways, vile and filthy wretches889    Lit., “shameful impurity seeks after;” expetit read by Gelenius, Canterus, and Oberthür, for the unintelligible ms. reading expeditur, retained in both Roman edd.; the others reading experitur—“tries.” attempt and practise? Who that Limentinus and Lima have the care of thresholds, and do the duties of their keepers, when every day we see the thresholds of temples and private houses destroyed and overthrown, and that the infamous approaches to stews are not without them? Who believes that the Limi890    The ms. reads Lemons; Hild. and Oehler, Limones; the others, Limos, as above. watch over obliquities? who that Saturnus presides over the sown crops? who that Montinus is the guardian of mountains; Murcia,891    The ms., LB., Hild., and Oehler read Murcidam; the others, Murciam, as above. of the slothful? Who, finally, would believe that Money is a goddess, whom your writings declare, as though she were the greatest deity, to give golden rings,892    i.e., equestrian rank. the front seats at games and shows, honours in the greatest number, the dignity of the magistracy, and that which the indolent love most of all,—an undisturbed ease, by means of riches.

IX. Quid ergo, inquitis, hos deos nusquam esse gentium judicatis, sed falsis opinationibus constitutos? Non istud nos soli, sed veritas ipsa dicit, et ratio: et ille communis, qui est cunctis in mortalibus, sensus. Qui est enim qui credat esse deos Lucrios, et lucrorum consecutionibus praesidere, cum ex turpibus causis frequentissime veniant, et aliorum semper ex dispendiis constent? Quis Libentinam, quis Liburnum libidinum superesse tutelis, quas jubet sapientia fugere, et quas mille per species 1018B propudiosa experitur et exercet obscoenitas? Quis Limentinum, quis Limam custodiam liminum gerere, 1019A et janitorum officia sustinere: cum fanorum quotidie videamus, et privatarum domorum convelli et subrui: nec sine his esse flagitiosos ad lupanaria commeatus? Quis curatores obliquitatum Limos ? quis Saturnum praesidem sativis? quis Montinum montium? quis segnium Murciam? quis ad extremum Deam Pecuniam esse credat, quam velut maximum 1020A numen vestrae indicant litterae donare annulos aureos, loca in ludis atque in spectaculis priora, honorum suggestus summos, amplitudinem magistratus, et quod maxime pigri ament, securum per opulentias otium.