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The Divine Institutes
Lactantius
Book 6 · Chapter 20 About this work A large Latin presentation of Christian teaching that criticizes pagan religion and philosophy while treating justice, God, creation, Christ, worship, ethics, and the final destiny of humanity.
Author Lactantius
Date c. AD 303–311
Origin North Africa and Nicomedia
Genre Apology Chap. XX.—Of the Senses, and Their Pleasures in the Brutes and in Man; And of Pleasures of the Eyes, and Spectacles. It remains that I should speak against the pleasures
‹ Book 6 · Chapter 19 Book 6 · Chapter 21 ›
of
the
five
senses
,
and
this
briefly
,
for
the
measure
of
the
book
itself
now
demands
moderation
;
all
of
which
,
since
they
are
vicious
and
deadly
,
ought
to
be
overcome
and
subdued
by
virtue
,
or
,
as
I
said
a
little
before
respecting
the
affections
,
be
recalled
to
their
proper
office
.
The
other
animals
have
no
pleasure
,
except
the
one
only
which
relates
to
generation
.
Therefore
they
use
their
senses
for
the
necessity
of
their
nature
:
they
see
,
in
order
that
they
may
seek
those
things
which
are
necessary
for
the
preservation
of
life
;
they
hear
one
another
,
and
distinguish
one
another
,
that
they
may
be
able
to
assemble
together
;
they
either
discover
from
the
smell
,
or
perceive
from
the
taste
,
the
things
which
are
useful
for
food
;
they
refuse
and
reject
the
things
which
are
useless
,
they
measure
the
business
of
eating
and
drinking
by
the
fulness
of
their
stomach
.
But
the
foresight
of
the
most
skilful
Creator
gave
to
man
pleasure
without
limit
,
and
liable
to
fall
into
vice
,
because
He
set
before
him
virtue
,
which
might
always
be
at
variance
with
pleasure
,
as
with
a
domestic
enemy
.
Cicero
says
,
in
the
Cato
Major
:
“
In
truth
,
debaucheries
,
and
adulteries
,
and
disgraceful
actions
are
excited
by
no
other
enticements
than
those
of
pleasure
.
And
since
nature
or
some
God
has
given
to
man
nothing
more
excellent
than
the
mind
,
nothing
is
so
hostile
to
this
divine
benefit
and
gift
as
pleasure
.
For
when
lust
bears
sway
there
is
no
place
for
temperance
,
nor
can
virtue
have
any
existence
when
pleasure
reigns
supreme
.
”
But
,
on
the
other
hand
,
God
gave
virtue
on
this
account
,
that
it
might
subdue
and
conquer
pleasure
,
and
that
,
when
it
passed
the
boundaries
assigned
to
it
,
it
might
restrain
it
within
the
prescribed
limits
,
lest
it
should
soothe
and
captivate
man
with
enjoyments
,
render
him
subject
to
its
control
,
and
punish
him
with
everlasting
death
.
The pleasure arising from the eyes is various and manifold , which is derived from the sight of objects which are pleasant in intercourse with men , or in nature or workmanship . The philosophers rightly took this away . For they say that it is much more excellent and worthy of man to look upon the heaven rather than carved works , and to admire this most beautiful work adorned with the lights of the stars shining through , as with flowers , than to admire things painted and moulded , and varied with jewels . But when they have eloquently exhorted us to despise earthly things , and have urged us to look up to the heaven , nevertheless they do not despise these public spectacles . Therefore they are both delighted with these , and are gladly present at them ; though , since they are the greatest incitement to vices , and have a most powerful tendency to corrupt our minds , they ought to be taken away from us ; for they not only contribute in no respect to a happy life , but even inflict the greatest injury . For he who reckons it a pleasure , that a man , though justly condemned , should be slain in his sight , pollutes his conscience as much as if he should become a spectator and a sharer of a homicide which is secretly committed . And yet they call these sports in which human blood is shed . So far has the feeling of humanity departed from the men , that when they destroy the lives of men , they think that they are amusing themselves with sport , being more guilty than all those whose blood - shedding they esteem a pleasure . I ask now whether they can be just and pious men , who , when they see men placed under the stroke of death , and entreating mercy , not only suffer them to be put to death , but also demand it , and give cruel and inhuman votes for their death , not being satiated with wounds nor contented with bloodshed . Moreover , they order them , even though wounded and prostrate , to be attacked again , and their caresses to he wasted with blows , that no one may delude them by a pretended death . They are even angry with the combatants , unless one of the two is quickly slain ; and as though they thirsted for human blood , they hate delays . They demand that other and fresh combatants should be given to them , that they may satisfy their eyes as soon as possible . Being imbued with this practice , they have lost their humanity . Therefore they do not spare even the innocent , but practice upon all that which they have learned in the slaughter of the wicked . It is not therefore befitting that those who strive to keep to the path of justice should be companions and sharers in this public homicide . For when God forbids us to kill , He not only prohibits us from open violence , which is not even allowed by the public laws , but He warns us against the commission of those things which are esteemed lawful among men . Thus it will be neither lawful for a just man to engage in warfare , since his warfare is justice itself , nor to accuse any one of a capital charge , because it makes no difference whether you put a man to death by word , or rather by the sword , since it is the act of putting to death itself which is prohibited . Therefore , with regard to this precept of God , there ought to be no exception at all ; but that it is always unlawful to put to death a man , whom God willed to be a sacred animal .
Therefore let no one imagine that even this is allowed , to strangle newly - born children , which is the greatest impiety ; for God breathes into their souls for life , and not for death . But men , that there may be no crime with which they may not pollute their hands , deprive souls as yet innocent and simple of the light which they themselves have not given . Can any one , indeed , expect that they would abstain from the blood of others who do not abstain even from their own ? But these are without any controversy wicked and unjust . What are they whom a false piety compels to expose their children ? Can they be considered innocent who expose their own offspring as a prey to dogs , and as far as it depends upon themselves , kill them in a more cruel manner than if they had strangled them ? Who can doubt that he is impious who gives occasion for the pity of others ? For , although that which he has wished should befall the child — namely , that it should be brought up — he has certainly consigned his own offspring either to servitude or to the brothel ? But who does not understand , who is ignorant what things may happen , or are accustomed to happen , in the case of each sex , even through error ? For this is shown by the example of Œdipus alone , confused with twofold guilt . It is therefore as wicked to expose as it is to kill . But truly parricides complain of the scantiness of their means , and allege that they have not enough for bringing up more children ; as though , in truth , their means were in the power of those who possess them , or God did not daily make the rich poor , and the poor rich . Wherefore , if any one on account of poverty shall be unable to bring up children , it is better to abstain from marriage than with wicked hands to mar the work of God .
If , then , it is in no way permitted to commit homicide , it is not allowed us to be present at all , lest any bloodshed should overspread the conscience , since that blood is offered for the gratification of the people . And I am inclined to think that the corrupting influence of the stage is still more contaminating . For the subject of comedies are the dishonouring of virgins , or the loves of harlots ; and the more eloquent they are who have composed the accounts of these disgraceful actions , the more do they persuade by the elegance of their sentiments ; and harmonious and polished verses more readily remain fixed in the memory of the hearers . In like manner , the stories of the tragedians place before the eyes the parricides and incests of wicked kings , and represent tragic crimes . And what other effect do the immodest gestures of the players produce , but both teach and excite lusts ? whose enervated bodies , rendered effeminate after the gait and dress of women , imitate unchaste women by their disgraceful gestures . Why should I speak of the actors of mimes , who hold forth instruction in corrupting influences , who teach adulteries while they feign them , and by pretended actions train to those which are true ? What can young men or virgins do , when they see that these things are practised without shame , and willingly beheld by all ? They are plainly admonished of what they can do , and are inflamed with lust , which is especially excited by seeing ; and every one according to his sex forms himself in these representations . And they approve of these things , while they laugh at them , and with vices clinging to them , they return more corrupted to their apartments ; and not boys only , who ought not to be inured to vices prematurely , but also old men , whom it does not become at their age to sin .
What else does the practice of the Circensian games contain but levity , vanity , and madness ? For their souls are hurried away to mad excitement with as great impetuosity as that with which the chariot races are there carried on ; so that they who come for the sake of beholding the spectacle now themselves exhibit more of a spectacle , when they begin to utter exclamations , to be thrown into transports , and to leap from their seats . Therefore all spectacles ought to be avoided , not only that no vice may settle in our breasts , which ought to be tranquil and peaceful ; but that the habitual indulgence of any pleasure may not soothe and captivate us , and turn us aside from God and from good works . For the celebrations of the games are festivals in honour of the gods , inasmuch as they were instituted on account of their birthdays , or the dedication of new temples . And at first the huntings , which are called shows , were in honour of Saturnus , and the scenic games in honour of Liber , but the Circensian in honour of Neptune . By degrees , however , the same honour began to be paid also to the other gods , and separate games were dedicated to their names , as Sisinnius Capito teaches in his book on the games . Therefore , if any one is present at the spectacles to which men assemble for the sake of religion , he has departed from the worship of God , and has betaken himself to those deities whose birthdays and festivals he has celebrated .
Notes 1 C. 12.
2 Cœlum potius quàm cœlata. There appears to be an allusion to the supposed derivation of “cœlum” from “cœlando.”
3 [Intermicantibus astrorum luminibus. It does not seem to me that the learned translator does full justice here to our author’s idea. “Adorned with the twinkling lights of the stars” would be an admissible rendering.]
4 [It is unbecoming for a Christian, unless as an officer of the law or a minister of mercy, to be a spectator of any execution of criminals. Blessed growth of Christian morals.]
5 Dissipari. [A very graphic description of the brutal shows of the arena, which were abolished by the first Christian emperor, perhaps influenced by these very pages.]
6 Lactrocinari.
7 i.e., without reference to the manner in which death is inflicted. [Lactantius goes further here than the Scriptures seem to warrant, if more than private warfare be in his mind. The influence of Tertullian is visible here. See Elucidation II. p. 76, and cap. xi. p. 99, vol. iii., this series.]
8 [Sanctum animal. See p. 56, supra. But the primal law on this very subject contains a sanction which our author seems to forget. Because he is an animal of such sacred dignity, therefore “whoso sheddeth man’s blood,” etc. ( Gen. ix. 6 ). The impunity of Cain had led to bloodshed ( Gen. vi. 11 ), to which as a necessary remedy this sanction was prescribed.]
9 Oblidere.
10 They thought it less criminal to expose children than to strangle them.
11 Sanguinem suum.
12 i.e., by exposing them, that others may through compassion bring then up.
13 Ab uxoris congressione.
14 i.e., at the shows of gladiators.
15 [How seriously this warning should be considered in our days, when American theatricals have become so generally licentious beyond all bounds, I beg permission to suggest. See Elucidation I. p. 595, vol. v.; also Ibid., pp. 277, 575, this series.]
16 Cothurnata scelera.
17 Mentiuntur.
18 The mimus was a species of dramatic representation, containing scenes from common life, which were expressed by gesture and mimicry more than by dialogue.
19 Præfigurat, not a word of classical usage.
20 [see Tertullian, vol. iii cap. 25, p. 89, this series.]
21 See p. 27, supra; also vol. vi. pp. 487, 488.]
