Leo. My friend here and I would very much like to see over your house.
Vitr. Why, haven’t you seen it before now?
Leo. No, not all of it.
The Vestibulum—The Door—The Threshold
Vitr. Come in. Eh! boy, bring me the key for the doors of the house. First, this is the entrance-hall (vestibulum). It stands open the whole day, without guard, for it is not within the house, yet also it is not outside, though it is closed at night. Observe the magnificent door, the leaves of which are of oak and fitted with brass, and both the foot-piece and head-piece of the doorway are made of alabaster marble. In former times Hercules was set up at the door of the house to ward off mischief (ἀλεξίκακος). But here we place Christ, the true God, for Hercules was but a cruel and evil man. With Christ as guard no evil will enter into the house.
Joc. Οὐδὲ οὖν δεσπότης αὐτός (so not even its master).
Vitr. What is that he said in Greek?
Joc. Why should so many evil persons enter in?
Vitr. Well, if evil persons do get in, they can then bring nothing evil in with them.
Leo. Don’t you have any door-angels?