Seven Books of Arguments Against the Pagans, Vol. II

concerns the testimony of the soul, about which Tertullian wrote a singular book. Meursius conjectures Ad verum judicium to the true judgment. But I much prefer da (that is, place, imagine for yourself) puerum judicem a boy as judge. [O.]

et quasi nos cernat, faciem sublevemus ad caelum and as if he sees us, let us lift our face to heaven] Tertullian, Apology, Chapter XVII. Finally, pronouncing these things, "he looks not to the Capitol, but to the heaven. For he knows the seat of the living God: he descended from him and from there." [Herald.]

Chapter III. — Quod si non mentis elatio, et typhus, qui appellatur a Graecis, obstaret, etc. But if the elation of the mind, and the pride, which is called by the Greeks typhus, did not stand in the way, etc.] Typhus, τῦφος pride/arrogance = ἀλαζονεία boastfulness, ἔπαρσις elation, κενοδοξία vainglory, arrogance, pride, most frequently among Arnobius. See below, Chapters 12, 19, 29, 63 of this book. It is no less frequent among other writers of a later age, for example, Augustine, De Civitate Dei The City of God, XI, penultimate chapter: "one enjoying God, the other swelling with pride." [O.]

quid, aut quare prohibuerit fieri what, or why he forbade it to be done] We have already noted before that among these writers, disjunctive particles are very frequently found in place of copulative ones. [Herald.]

Chapter IV. — cum ulterius prorsus fuerimus evecti when we shall have been carried further forward] Stewechius conjectures that we should read ulterius prorsus from prorsus, -a, -um: hence the boundaries prorsi according to Festus. Prorsum, that is, porro versum turned forward, antrorsum forward: opposed to rursum backward. Terence joined both in Hecyra (III, 1, 35):

But although examples of prorsus used as an adjective can be found among the ancients, the comparative prorsior, -us is clearly unused, and such formations should not be accepted as they are based on no example. Furthermore, prorsus, an adverb of place, for porro versus (see Festus), already involves a comparative. [O.]

sed ab latronibus pessimis but by the worst robbers] Arnobius understands the false teachers, of whom Christ speaks in Matthew 7:15: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." [O.]

imminentia et nondum cassa impending and not yet empty] That is, not yet vain, void, κενά empty. Thus, very often in Tertullian and other ecclesiastical writers, for example, Minucius Felix, Chapter 12: "How the empty vows of a vain promise deceive you." (Where see Ouzelius, page 117, Gronovius edition). A little later: "if that which is said to be impending becomes empty and void." Below, Chapter XII: "or who would listen to one boasting of empty and bare things." Cujacius reads passa suffered/past, interpreting it as "past"; but without example. [Herald.]

in illo enim periculi nihil est — — — in hoc damnum est maximum for in the former there is no danger — — — in the latter the loss is greatest] In the former, namely, "that it brings no hope at all": in the latter, "that it brings some hope." Thus, the Latins very often refer ille to that which is closest, and hic to that which is more remote, which is known even to beginners.