Arnobius — Against the Nations 2.20
20.1. And that we may show you more clearly and manifestly of what price the human is, whom you believe to exist most like the superior power, conceive this image in your minds and, as far as it can be done if we undertake it, let us hold it by assuming a likeness as if we had undertaken it.
2. Let there be for us therefore in dug-out earth a habitable place making the form of a chamber, closed by roof and walls, not cold in frost, not of excessive heat in warmth, but so tempered and middle that we suffer neither sensation of cold nor strong heat of summer.
3. Into this let the sound of no voice at all fall—not of bird, not of beast, not of storm, not of human, finally not of any crash or of heaven terribly thundering. Let us next invent how it receives light: not from fire brought in nor from the sun seen, but let there be something bastard that feigns an image of light with darkness interposed; let there not be one door nor a straight entrance; let it be approached by winding bends and not be opened at any time except when necessary reason has demanded.
Latin
20.1. Et ut vobis clarius manifestiusque monstremus, cuius sit / f. 37b | pretii homo, quem simillimum creditis potentiae superioris existere, concipite animis hanc imaginem vestris et, quod fieri si adgrediamur potest, tamquam si simus adgressi, similitudinis adsumptione teneamus.
2. Sit igitur nobis tellure in effossa locus habitabilis formam cubilis efficiens, tecto et parietibus clausus, non algidus in frigore, non fervoris nimii in calore, sed ita temperatus et medius ut nec frigoris sensum nec ardorem validum perpetiamur aestatis.
3. In hunc sonus omnino nullius incidat vocis, non avis, non bestiae, non tempestatis, non hominis, non denique fragoris alicuius aut concrepantis terribiliter caeli. Excogitemus deinde quemadmodum lumen accipiat: non ex inlato igni neque ex sole conspecto sed nothum aliquid fiat, quod imaginem luminis caligine interposita mentiatur; ianua non una sit nec sit introitus rectus, adeatur inflexibus flexuosis nec recludatur aliquando, nisi cum necessaria ratio postularit.