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The Octavius of Minucius Felix

Minucius Felix

Chapter 4

About this work

A polished Latin dialogue in which pagan and Christian friends debate providence, Roman religion, accusations against Christians, resurrection, and the philosophical credibility of Christian monotheism.

Author: Minucius Felix
Date: Late 2nd or early 3rd century
Origin: Rome or North Africa
Genre: Dialogue

The work’s date relative to Tertullian and the author’s geographical setting remain debated.

Chapter IV.—Argument: Cæcilius, Somewhat Grieved at This Kind of Rebuke Which for His Sake Minucius Had Had to Bear from Octavius, Begs to Argue with Octavius on the Truth of His Religion. Octavius with His Companion Consents, and Minucius Sits in the Middle Between Cæcilius and Octavius.

And thus, while we were all

‹ Chapter 3 Chapter 5 ›

engaged

in

the

enjoyment

of

this

spectacle

,

Cæcilius

was

paying

no

attention

,

nor

laughing

at

the

contest

;

but

silent

,

uneasy

,

standing

apart

,

confessed

by

his

countenance

that

he

was

grieving

for

I

knew

not

what

.

To

whom

I

said

:

“

What

is

the

matter

?

Wherefore

do

I

not

recognise

,

Cæcilius

,

your

usual

liveliness

?

and

why

do

I

seek

vainly

for

that

joyousness

which

is

characteristic

of

your

glances

even

in

serious

matters

?

”

Then

said

he

:

“

For

some

time

our

friend

Octavius

’

speech

has

bitterly

vexed

and

worried

me

,

in

which

he

,

attacking

you

,

reproached

you

with

negligence

,

that

he

might

under

cover

of

that

charge

more

seriously

condemn

me

for

ignorance

.

Therefore

I

shall

proceed

further

:

the

matter

is

now

wholly

and

entirely

between

me

and

Octavius

.

If

he

is

willing

that

I

,

a

man

of

that

form

of

opinion

,

should

argue

with

him

,

he

will

now

at

once

perceive

that

it

is

easier

to

hold

an

argument

among

his

comrades

,

than

to

engage

in

close

conflict

after

the

manner

of

the

philosophers

.

Let

us

be

seated

on

those

rocky

barriers

that

are

cast

there

for

the

protection

of

the

baths

,

and

that

run

far

out

into

the

deep

,

that

we

may

be

able

both

to

rest

after

our

journey

,

and

to

argue

with

more

attention

.

”

And

at

his

word

we

sat

down

,

so

that

,

by

covering

me

on

either

side

,

they

sheltered

me

in

the

midst

of

the

three

.

Nor

was

this

a

matter

of

observance

,

or

of

rank

,

or

of

honour

,

because

friendship

always

either

receives

or

makes

equals

;

but

that

,

as

an

arbitrator

,

and

being

near

to

both

,

I

might

give

my

attention

,

and

being

in

the

middle

,

I

might

separate

the

two

.

Then

Cæcilius

began

thus

:

—

Notes

1
“Ita ut me ex tribus medium lateris ambitione protegerent."