On the Pallium
Tertullian
Chapter 5
About this work
- Author
- Tertullian
Chapter V.—Virtues of the Mantle. It Pleads in Its Own Defence.
“Still,” say you, “must we thus change from
Opening the library…
Opening the library…
On the Pallium
Tertullian
“Still,” say you, “must we thus change from
Toga.
Or, “forcipes.”
Of course the meaning is, “on the doffing of which a man congratulates himself more,” etc.; but Tertullian as it were personifies the act of doffing, and represents it as congratulating the doffer; and I have scrupulously retained all his extravagances, believing them (in the present treatise at least) to be intentional.
A Cynic philosopher.
“Inhumano;” or, perhaps, “involving superhuman effort.”
Oehler attempts to defend the common reading, “humerum velans exponit vel includit;” but the correction of Salmasius and Lud. de la Cerda which he quotes, “vel exponit,” is followed in preference. If Oehler’s reading be retained, we may render: “a covering for the shoulder, it exposes or encloses it at will.”
i.e., the “shoeing” appropriate to the mantle will consist at most of sandals; “shoes” being (as has been said) suited to the gown.
“Erat.”—Oehler, who refers to “errat” as the general reading, and (if adopted) renders: “This sentiment errs (or wanders) in all directions;” making olim = passim.
Reckoning the 1000 sesterces at their pre-Augustan value, £8, 17s. 1d.
“Promulsis”—a tray on which the first course (“promulsis” or “antecœna”) was served, otherwise called “promulsidare.”
As Pliny (quoted by Oehler) tells us was the case.
Or, “adulterated.”
Reckoning the 1000 sesterces at the post-Augustan value, £7, 16s. 3d.