Übersetzung
ausblenden
The Soul's Testimony
Chapter III.
But when we say that there are demons--as though, in the simple fact that we alone expel them from the men's bodies, 1 we did not also prove their existence--some disciple of Chrysippus begins to curl the lip. Yet thy curses sufficiently attest that there are such beings, and that they are objects of thy strong dislike. 2 As what comes to thee as a fit expression of thy strong hatred of him, thou callest the man a daemon who annoys thee with his filthiness, or malice, or insolence, or any other vice which we ascribe to evil spirits. In expressing vexation, contempt, or abhorrence, thou hast Satan constantly upon thy lips; 3 the very same we hold to be the angel of evil, the source of error, the corrupter of the whole world, by whom in the beginning man was entrapped into breaking the commandment of God. And (the man) being given over to death on account of his sin, the entire human race, tainted in their descent from him, were made a channel for transmitting his condemnation. Thou seest, then, thy destroyer; and though he is fully known only to Christians, or to whatever sect 4 confesses the Lord, yet, even thou hast some acquaintance with him while yet thou abhorrest him!
-
[The existence of demoniacal possessions in heathen countries is said to be probable, even in our days. The Fathers unanimously assert the effectual exorcisms of their days.] ↩
-
[e.g. Horace, Epodes, Ode V.] ↩
-
[Satanan, in omni vexatione...pronuntias. Does he mean that they used this word? Rather, he means the demon is none other than Satan.] ↩
-
[I have been obliged, somewhat, to simplify the translation here.] ↩
Edition
ausblenden
De Testimonio Animae
III.
[1] Enimuero cum daemonia affirmamus esse, sane, quasi non et probemus, qui ea solis de corporibus exigimus, aliqui Chrysippi adsentator inludit. Ea et esse et abominationem sustinere execrationes tuae respondent. Daemonium uocas hominem aut immunditia aut malitia aut insolentia aut quacumque macula quam nos daemoniis deputamus ad necessitatem odii inportunum. [2] Satanan denique in omni uexatione et aspernatione et detestatione pronuntias, quem nos dicimus malitiae angelum, totius erroris artificem, totius saeculi interpolatorem, per quem homo a primordio circumuentus, ut praeceptum dei excederet, et propter ea in mortem datus exinde totum genus de suo semine infectum suae etiam damnationis traducem fecit. [3] Sentis igitur perditorem tuum, et licet soli illum nouerint Christiani uel quaecumque apud dominum secta, et tu tamen eum nosti, dum odisti.