§10Quaerendum autem est etiam de ludimagistris, sed et ceteris professoribus litterarum. immo non dubitandum affines illos esse multimodae idololatriae.
But we must also inquire concerning schoolmasters and other professors of literature; nay, we cannot doubt that they are allied to manifold idolatry.
primum quibus necesse est deos nationum praedicare, nomina, genealogias, fabulas, ornamenta honorifica quaeque eorum enuntiare, tum sollemnia festaque eorundem obseruare, ut quibus uectigalia sua supputent.
First, because they must preach the gods of the nations, declare their names, genealogies, myths, and all their honorable ornaments; then, they must observe their solemnities and festivals, as those by which they compute their revenues.
quis ludimagister sine tabula VII idolorum Quinquatria tamen frequentabit? ipsam primam noui discipuli stipem Mineruae et honori et nomini consecrat, ut, etsi non profanatus alicui idolo uerbotenus de idolothyto esse dicatur, pro idololatra uitetur.
What schoolmaster, without a table of the seven idols, will yet attend the Quinquatria? He consecrates the very first fee of a new pupil to the honor and name of Minerva, so that, even if he is not defiled by some idol, and is not said in so many words to have to do with what is sacrificed to idols, he is avoided as an idolater.
quid? minus est inquinamenti? eoque praestat quaestus et nominibus et honoribus idolo nuncupatus? quam Minerualia Mineruae, quam Saturnalia Saturni, quae etiam seruiculis sub tempore Saturnalium celebrari necesse est.
What? Is there less defilement? And does the gain dedicated to the names and honors of an idol excel on that account? Than the Minervalia of Minerva, than the Saturnalia of Saturn, which must be celebrated even by wretched slaves at the time of the Saturnalia?
etiam strenuae captandae et septimontium, et Brumae et carae cognationis honoraria exigenda omnia, Florae scholae coronandae; flaminicae et aediles sacrificant creati; schola honoratur feriis.
Even New Year’s gifts must be caught at, and the honorary gifts of the Septimontium, of the Bruma, and of the Dear Kinsfolk must all be demanded; the schools must be crowned for Flora; the wives of the flamines and the newly elected aediles offer sacrifice; the school is honored by holidays.
idem fit idoli natali; omnis diaboli pompa frequentatur.
The same is done on the birthday of an idol; every procession of the devil is attended.
quis haec competere Christiano existimabit, nisi qui putabit conuenire etiam non magistro? scimus dici posse: si docere litteras dei seruis non licet, etiam nec discere licebit, et, quomodo quis institueretur ad prudentiam interim humanam uel ad quemcumque sensum uel actum, cum instrumentum sit ad omnem uitam litteratura? quomodo repudiamus saecularia studia, sine quibus diuina non possunt? uideamus igitur necessitatem litteratoriae eruditionis, respiciamus ex parte eam admitti [non] posse, ex parte uitari.
Who will think that these things are suitable for a Christian, unless he who will think that they also befit one who is not a teacher? We know it can be said: 'If it is not lawful for the servants of God to teach literature, neither will it be lawful to learn it; and how should anyone be trained to human wisdom for the time being, or to any understanding or action, since literature is an instrument for all of life? How do we repudiate secular studies, without which divine studies cannot exist?' Let us therefore see the necessity of literary education; let us consider that on the one hand it can be admitted, on the other hand avoided.
fideles magis discere quam docere litteras capit; diuersa est enim ratio discendi et docendi.
The believer is more capable of learning literature than of teaching it; for the principle of learning is different from that of teaching.
si fidelis litteras doceat, insertas idolorum praedicationes sine dubio, dum docet, commendat, dum tradit, affirmat, dum commemorat, testimonium dicit.
If a believer should teach literature, without doubt, while he teaches, he commends the praises of idols inserted therein; while he delivers them, he affirms them; while he mentions them, he bears witness to them.
deos ipsos hoc nomine obsignat, cum lex prohibeat, ut diximus, deos pronuntiari et nomen hoc in uano conlocari.
He seals the gods themselves by this title, though the law forbids, as we have said, that gods be named and that this name be placed in vain.
hinc prima diabolo fides aedificatur ab initiis eruditionis.
Hence the first faith is built for the devil from the very beginnings of education.
quaere, an idololatrian committat qui de idolis catechizat.
Inquire whether he commits idolatry who catechizes about idols.
at cum fidelis haec discit, si iam sapit, quid sit, neque recipit neque admittit, multo magis, si dudum sapit.
But when a believer learns these things, if he already understands what it is, he neither receives nor admits it, much more so if he has long since understood.
aut ubi coeperit sapere, prius sapiat oportet quod prius didicit, id est de deo et fide.
Or when he begins to understand, he must first understand what he learned first, that is, concerning God and the faith.
proinde illa respuet nec recipiet et erit tam tutus, quam qui sciens uenenum ab ignaro accipit nec bibit.
Therefore, he will reject those things and not receive them, and will be as safe as one who knowingly receives poison from an ignorant person but does not drink it.
huic necessitas ad excusationem deputatur, quia aliter discere non potest.
To him, necessity is imputed for an excuse, because he cannot learn otherwise.
tanto autem facilius est litteras non docere quam non discere, quanto et reliqua scholarum de publicis ac propriis sollemnitatibus inquinamenta facilius discipulus fidelis non adibit quam magister non frequentabit.
But it is as much easier not to teach literature than not to learn it, as the believing disciple will more easily not approach the other defilements of the schools concerning public and proper solemnities, than the master will not attend them.