Than those who live a gentle pious life;
And cities small, I know, which reverence gods,
Submissive bend before the many spears
Of larger impious ones; yea, and methinks
If any man lounge idly, and abstain
From working with his hands for sustenance,
Yet pray the gods; he very soon will know
If they from him misfortunes will avert."
And Menander in Diphilus:[1]
"Therefore ascribe we praise and honour great
To Him who Father is, and Lord of all;
Sole maker and preserver of mankind,
And who with all good things our earth has stored."
The same also in the Piscatores:
"For I deem that which nourishes my life
Is God; but he whose custom 'tis to meet
The wants of men,—He needs not at our hands
Renewed supplies, Himself being all in all."[2]
The same in the Fratres:
"God ever is intelligence to those
Who righteous are: so wisest men have thought."
And in the Tibicinæ:
"Good reason finds a temple in all things
Wherein to worship; for what is the mind,
But just the voice of God within us placed?"
And the tragedian in Phrixus:
"But if the pious and the impious
Share the same lot, how could we think it just,
If Jove, the best, judges not uprightly?"
