An Older Man.
Do you call that sport? How many hungry mouths could be fed with what is wasted here?
Julian.
[Approaching the statue.] Oh, this sight! It fills my heart with rapture and my eyes with tears of sorrow.
Yes, I must indeed weep, when I remember that this awe-inspiring goddess’s statue, overthrown by impious and audacious hands, has lain so long as if in a sleep of oblivion—and that, moreover, in a place I loathe to mention.
[Suppressed laughter among the listeners. Julian turns angrily.
But I feel no less rapture when I remember that to me it was vouchsafed to rescue the Divine Mother from so unworthy a situation.
May I not well be enraptured by this thought?—Men say of me, that I have won a few victories over the barbarians, and praise me for them. For my part, I set more value on what I am doing for the gods; for to them we owe all our strength and all our care.
[To those by the stone basin.
It pleases me, however, to find that there are some in this stiff-necked city who are not deaf to my exhortations, but have come forth with seemly piety—and, I doubt not, have brought with them suitable offerings.