Minucius Felix — Octavius 8
VIII. "And so, since among all nations concerning the immortal gods, although the reason or origin is uncertain, a firm consensus nevertheless remains, I bear no one swelling with such boldness and with I-know-not-what so irreligious prudence who strives to dissolve or weaken this religion so ancient, so useful, so wholesome. Be he that Theodorus of Cyrene, or Diagoras of Melos before him, to whom antiquity attached the nickname Atheon, who both by asserting there are no gods thoroughly removed all fear by which humanity is ruled and all veneration: yet never will they prevail in this discipline of impiety under the name and authority of pretended philosophy.
When the Athenian men both expelled from their borders Protagoras of Abdera disputing about divinity advisedly rather than profanely and burned his writings in assembly—what then? Is it not to be groaned over that humans (for you will bear me exercising more freely the thrust of the action undertaken)—humans, I say, of a deplorable, illicit, and desperate faction—rage against the gods?
Who, from the lowest dregs having collected the more ignorant and credulous women slipping by the weakness of their sex, set up a people of a profane conspiracy, which is covenanted by nocturnal gatherings and solemn fasts and inhuman foods not by some sacred bond but by a piacular rite—a shadowy and light-fleeing nation, mute in public, talkative in corners; they despise temples as tombs, spit on the gods, laugh at rites, pity—wretches themselves (if it is lawful)—the priests; they despise honors and purple, themselves half-naked!
O marvelous folly and incredible boldness! They scorn present torments while they fear uncertain and future things, and while they fear to die after death, meanwhile they do not fear to die: so deceptive hope flatters them with revived consolations of fear!"
Latin
VIII. "Itaque cum omnium gentium de dis inmortalibus, quamvis incerta sit vel ratio vel origo, maneat tamen firma consensio, neminem fero tanta audacia tamque inreligiosa nescio qua prudentia tumescentem, qui hanc religionem tam vetustam, tam utilem, tam salubrem dissolvere aut infirmare nitatur. Sit licet ille Theodorus Cyrenaeus, vel qui prior Diagoras Melius, cui Atheon cognomen adposuit antiquitas, qui uterque nullos deos adseverando timorem omnem, quo humanitas regitur, venerationemque penitus sustulerunt: numquam tamen in hac impietatis disciplina simulatae philosophiae nomine atque auctoritate pollebunt. Cum Abderiten Protagoram Athenienses viri consulte potius quam profane de divinitate disputantem et expulerint suis finibus et in contione eius scripta deusserint, quid? homines (sustinebitis enim me impetum susceptae actionis liberius exerentem) homines, inquam, deploratae, inlicitae ac desperatae factionis grassari in deos non ingemescendum est? Qui de ultima faece collectis imperitioribus et mulieribus credulis sexus sui facilitate labentibus plebem profanae coniurationis instituunt, quae nocturnis congregationibus et ieiuniis sollemnibus et inhumanis cibis non sacro quodam, sed piaculo foederatur, latebrosa et lucifuga natio, in publicum muta, in angulis garrula, templa ut busta despiciunt, deos despuunt, rident sacra, miserentur miseri (si fas est) sacerdotum, honores et purpuras despiciunt, ipsi seminudi! Pro mira stultitia et incredibilis audacia! spernunt tormenta praesentia, dum incerta metuunt et futura, et dum mori post mortem timent, interim mori non timent: ita illis pavorem fallax spes solacia rediviva blanditur!