§7Communis igitur origo ludorum utriusque generis, communes et tituli, ut de Communibus causis.
Therefore, the origin of both kinds of games is common, and their titles are common as well, as is the case with their common causes.
perinde apparatus communes habeant necesse est de reatu generali idololatriae conditricis suae.
In the same way, they must have common preparations, deriving from the general guilt of idolatry, their founder.
sed circensium paulo pompatior suggestus, quibus proprie hoc nomen: pompa praecedens, quorum sit in semetipsa probans de simulacrorum serie, de imaginum agmine, de curribus, de tensis, de armamaxis, de sedibus, de coronis, de exuuiis.
But the display of the chariot races is somewhat more pompous, to which this name properly belongs: the preceding procession (pompa), proving in itself whose it is by the line of idols, the train of images, the chariots, the tensae, the armamaxae, the seats, the crowns, and the spoils.
quanta praeterea sacra quanta sacrificia praecedant, intercedant, succedant, quot collegia, quot sacerdotia, quot officia moueantur, sciunt homines illius urbis, in qua daemoniorum conuentus consedit.
Furthermore, how many sacred rites and how many sacrifices precede, intervene, and succeed, how many colleges, how many priesthoods, how many offices are set in motion, is known to the inhabitants of that city in which the assembly of demons has settled.
ea si minore cura per prouincias pro minoribus uiribus administrantur, tamen omnes ubique circenses illuc deputandi, unde et petuntur, inde inquirantur, unde sumuntur.
If these are administered with less care throughout the provinces according to smaller resources, nevertheless all chariot races everywhere must be referred to that place from which they are sought, and be traced back to that place from which they are taken.
nam et riuulus tenuis ex suo fonte et surculus modicus ex sua, fronde qualitatem originis continet.
For even a slender stream contains the quality of its origin from its spring, and a modest twig from its branch.
uiderit ambitio siue frugalitas eius ** sit.
Let ambition or frugality see to whose it is.
deum offendit qualiscumque pompa circi: etsi pauca simulacra circumferat, in uno idololatria est; etsi un am tensam trahat, Iouis tamen plaustrum est; quaeuis idololatria sordide instructa uel modice locuples et splendida est censu criminis sui.
Any procession of the circus whatsoever offends God: even if it carries around few idols, in a single one there is idolatry; even if it draws but one tensa, it is still Jupiter's wagon; any idolatry, whether meanly equipped or moderately rich and splendid, is rated the same by the assessment of its crime.
§8Ut et de locis secundum propositum exequar, circus Soli principaliter consecratur.
To proceed also concerning places according to my plan, the circus is principally consecrated to the Sun.
cuius aedes in medio spatio et effigies de fastigio aedis emicat, quod non putauerunt sub tecto consecrandum quem in aperto habent.
His temple stands in the middle of the space, and his image shines forth from the pediment of the temple, because they did not think that he whom they have in the open air should be consecrated under a roof.
qui spectaculum primum a Circa [habent] Soli patri suo, ut uolunt, editum affirmant, ab ea et circi appellationem argumentantur.
Those who affirm that the first spectacle was exhibited by Circe in honor of her father, the Sun, as they will have it, argue from her also the name of the circus.
plane uenefica eis utique negotium gessit hoc nomine, quorum sacerdos erat, daemoniis et angelis scilicet.
Clearly the sorceress did their business for them under this name—of those, namely, whose priestess she was, to wit, the demons and angels.
quot igitur in habitu loci illius idololattias recognoscis? singula ornamenta circi singula templa sunt.
How many idolatries, therefore, do you recognize in the very appearance of that place? Every single ornament of the circus is a temple in itself.
oua honori Castorum adscribunt qui illos otio editos credendo de cygno Ioue non erubescunt.
They attribute the eggs to the honor of the Castors, not blushing to believe that they were produced from the swan Jupiter.
delphines Neptuno uomunt, columnae Sessias a sementationibus, Messias a messibus, Tutulinas a tutela fructuum sustinent; ante eas [tres arae, trinis deis parent, Magnis Potentibus Valentibus.
The dolphins vomit for Neptune; the columns support Sessia (from sowing), Messia (from harvesting), and Tutulina (from the protection of fruits); before them, three altars do service to three deities, the Great, the Mighty, the Strong.
eosdem Samothracas existimant.
They consider these to be the same as the Samothracian gods.
obelisci enormitas, ut Hermateles affirmat,, Soli prostituta.
The huge size of the obelisk, as Hermateles asserts, is prostituted to the Sun.
scriptura eius unde eius et census: de Aegypto superstitio est.
Its inscription shows its origin and assessment: its superstition is from Egypt.
frigebat daemonum concilium sine sua Matre Magna; ea itaque illic praesidet euripo.
The assembly of the demons would have been chilly without their Great Mother; therefore she presides there over the euripus.
Consus, ut diximus apud metas, sub terra delitescit Murcias.
Consus, as we have said, hides underground near the metae; so does Murcia.
eas quoque idolum fecit: Murciam enim deam amoris uolunt, cui in illa parte aedem uouerunt.
An idol made those turning-posts its own as well: for they will have Murcia to be the goddess of love, to whom they vowed a temple in that part.
animaduerte, Christiane, quot nomina inmunda possederint circum.
Observe, O Christian, how many unclean names have possessed the circus!
aliena est tibi religio, quam tot diaboli spiritus occupauerunt.
Alien to you is that religion which so many spirits of the devil have occupied.
de locis quidem locus est retractandi ad praeueniendam quorundam interrogationem.
Regarding places indeed, there is place for treating the matter again, in order to forestall the questioning of some.
quid enim, inquis, si alio in tempore circum adiero, periclitabor de inquinamento? nulla est praescriptio de locis.
For you say, 'What if I enter the circus at another time, shall I risk defilement?' There is no prohibition regarding places.
nam non sola ista conciliabula spectaculorum, sed etiam templa ipsa sine periculo disciplinae adire seruus dei potest urguente causa simpli ci dumtaxat, quae non pertineat ad proprium eius loci negotium uel officium.
For not only those assembly-places of spectacles, but even the temples themselves, a servant of God may enter without danger to his discipline, provided that a simple and urgent cause impels him, one which has no relation to the proper business or office of that place.
ceterum et plateae et forum et balneae et stabula et ipsae domus nostrae sine idolis omnino non sunt: -totum saeculum satanas et angeli eius repleuerunt.
Otherwise, both the streets, the forum, the baths, the stables, and our very houses are not entirely without idols; Satan and his angels have filled the whole world.
non tamen quod in saeculo sumus, a deo excidimus, sed si quid de saeculi criminibus attigerimus.
However, it is not because we are in the world that we fall from God, but only if we touch any of the world's sins.
proinde si Capitolium, si Serapeum sacrificator uel adorator intrauero, a deo excidam, quemadmodummodum circum uel theatrum spectator.
Therefore, if I enter the Capitol or the Serapeum as a sacrificer or a worshipper, I shall fall from God, just as I would if I entered the circus or the theater as a spectator.
loca nos non contaminant per se, sed quae in locis fiunt, a quibus et ipsa loca contaminari altercati sumus: de contaminatis contaminamur.
Places do not contaminate us by themselves, but the things done in those places, by which we have argued that the places themselves are contaminated; we are contaminated by what is contaminated.
propterea autem commemoramus, quibus eiusmodi loca dicentur, ut eorum demonstremus esse quae in iis locis fiunt, quibus ipsa loca dicantur. ,
Moreover, we mention to whom such places are dedicated, in order to show that the things done in those places belong to those to whom the places themselves are dedicated.