17. We may say the very same things of the Mercuries, the Suns,—indeed of all the others whose numbers you increase and multiply. But it is sufficient to know from one case that the same principle applies to the rest; and, lest our prolixity should chance to weary our audience, we shall cease to deal with individuals, lest, while we accuse you of excess, we also should ourselves be exposed to the charge of excessive loquacity. What do you say, you who, by the fear of bodily tortures, urge us to worship the gods, and constrain us to undertake the service of your deities? We can be easily won, if only something befitting the conception of so great a race be shown to us. Show us Mercury, but only one; give us Bacchus, but only one; one Venus, and in like manner one Diana. For you will never make us believe that there are four Apollos, or three Jupiters, not even if you were to call Jove himself as witness, or make the Pythian god your authority.

XVII. Possumus haec eadem de Mercuriis, Solibus, immo de aliis omnibus quorum numeros tenditis et multiplicatis, expromere. Sed satis est ex uno rationem in caeteris eamdem esse scire: et ne forte prolixitas 1037A fastidium audientiae pariat, cessabimus ire per singula, ne dum vos arguimus nimietatis, loquacitatis immodicae suscipiamus et nos culpam. Quid dicitis o isti, qui ad deorum nos cultus membrorum laniatibus invitatis, et suscipere nos cultum vestrorum compellitis numinum? Possumus difficiles non esse, si modo aliquid nobis dignum tanti nominis opinione monstretur. Ostendite nobis Mercurium, sed unum: date Liberum, sed unum: unam Venerem, atque unam similiter Dianam. Nam esse Apollines quatuor, aut tres Joves, numquam nobis facietis fidem: nec si testem ipsum citetis Jovem, aut Pythium constituatis auctorem.