“I don’t believe in god or goddess, emperor or Rome, or in any philosophy, or in any religion at all,” said Arnobius.
“What!” cried Jucundus, “you’re not going to desert the gods of your ancestors?”
“Ancestors?” said Arnobius; “I’ve no ancestors. I’m not African certainly, not Punic, not Libophœnician, not Canaanite, not Numidian, not Gætulian. I’m half Greek, but what the other half is I don’t know. My good old gaffer, you’re one of the old world. I believe nothing. Who can? There is such a racket and whirl of religions on all sides of me that I am sick of the subject.”
“Ah, the rising generation!” groaned Jucundus; “you young men! I cannot prophesy what you will become, when we old fellows are removed from the scene. Perhaps you’re a Christian?”
Arnobius laughed. “At least I can give you comfort on that head, old grandfather. A pretty Christian I should make, indeed! seeing visions, to be sure, and rejoicing in the rack and dungeon! I wish to enjoy life; I see wealth, power, rank, and pleasure to be worth living for, and I see nothing else.”
“Well said, my lad,” cried Jucundus, “well said; stick to that. I declare you frightened me. Give up [pg 88]all visions, speculations, conjectures, fancies, novelties, discoveries; nothing comes of them but confusion.”
“No, no,” answered the youth; “I’m not so wild as you seem to think, Jucundus. It is true I don’t believe one single word about the gods; but in their worship was I born, and in their worship I will die.”
“Admirable!” cried Jucundus in a transport; “well, I’m surprised; you have taken me by surprise. You’re a fine fellow; you are a boy after my heart. I’ve a good mind to adopt you.”
“You see I can’t believe one syllable of all the priests’ trash,” said Arnobius; “who does? not they. I don’t believe in Jupiter or Juno, or in Astarte or in Isis; but where shall I go for anything better? or why need I seek anything good or bad in that line? Nothing’s known anywhere, and life would go while I attempted what is impossible. No, better stay where I am; I may go further, and gain a loss for my pains. So you see I am for myself, and for the genius of Rome.”
“That’s the true principle,” answered the delighted Jucundus. “Why, really, for so young a man, surprising! Where did you get so much good sense, my dear fellow? I’ve seen very little of you. Well, this I’ll say, you are a youth of most mature mind. To be sure! Well! Such youths are rare now-a-days. I congratulate you with all my heart on your strong sense and your admirable wisdom. Who’d have thought it? I’ve always, to tell the truth, had a little suspicion of you; but you’ve come out nobly. [pg 89]Capital! I don’t wish you to believe in the gods if you can’t; but it’s your duty, dear boy, your duty to Rome to maintain them, and to rally round them when attacked.” Then with a changed voice, he added, “Ah, that a young friend of mine had your view of the matter!” and then, fearing he had said too much, he stopped abruptly.