45. Judge fairly, and you are deserving of censure in this,1316    Lit., “are in this part of censure.” that in your common conversation you name Mars when you mean1317    Lit., “for.” fighting, Neptune when you mean the seas, Ceres when you mean bread, Minerva when you mean weaving,1318    Lit., “the warp,” stamine. Venus when you mean filthy lusts. For what reason is there, that, when things can be classed under their own names, they should be called by the names of the gods, and that such an insult should be offered to the deities as not even we men endure, if any one applies and turns our names to trifling objects? But language, you say, is contemptible, if defiled with such words.1319    i.e., if things are spoken of under their proper names. O modesty,1320    The ms. reads ac unintelligibly. worthy of praise! you blush to name bread and wine, and are not afraid to speak of Venus instead of carnal intercourse!

XLV. Da veram judicii formam, et in illa estis reprehensionis parte, quod in usu sermonis vestri Martem pro pugna appellatis, pro aquis Neptunum, Liberum patrem pro vino, Cererem pro pane, Minervam pro stamine, pro obscoenis libidinibus Venerem. Quae enim est ratio, ut cum suis censeri appellationibus res possint, nominibus cognominentur deorum, et ea fiat numinibus contumelia, quam nec homines sustinemus, si nostra quis nomina res ducat atque invertat in frivolas? Sed oratio sordida est, verbis fuerit polluta si talibus. Verecundia laude condigna, erubescitis panem et vinum nominare, 1160B et pro coitu Venerem non metuitis dicere.