Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/97

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 79 ral pile^; the christian, on these interesting occasions, CHAP, was compelled to desert the persons who were the ^^' dearest to him, rather than contract the guilt inherent to those impious ceremonies. Every art and every Ans. trade that Mas in the least concerned in the framing or adorning of idols, was polluted hy the stain of idolatry'-. a severe sentence, since it devoted to eternal misery the far greater part of the community, which is em- ployed in the exercise of liberal or mechanic profes- sions. If we cast our eyes over the numerous remains of antiquity, we shall perceive, that besides the innne- diate representations of the gods, and the holy instru- ments of their worship, the elegant forms and agree- able fictions consecrated by the imagination of the Greeks, were introduced as the richest ornaments of the houses, the dress and the furniture of the pagans". Even the arts of music and painting, of eloquence and poetry, flowed from the same impure origin. In the style of the fathers, Apollo and the muses were the organs of the infernal spirit ; Homer and Virgil were the most eminent of his servants, and the beautiful mythology which pervades and animates the composi- tions of their genius, is destined to celebrate the glory of the demons. Even the common language of Greece and Rome abounded with familiar but impious expres- sions, which the imprudent christian might too care- lessly utter, or too patiently hear ^ The dangerous temptations which on every side Festivals. lurked in ambush to surprise the unguarded believer, assailed him with redoubled violence on the days of solemn festivals. So artfully were they framed and y The ancient funerals (in those of JMisenus and Pallas) are no less accu- ratelv described by Virgil, than they are illustrated by his commentator Servius. The pile itself was an altar, the flames were fed witii the blood of victims, and all the assistants v?ere sprinkled with lustral water. » See every part of Montfaucon's Antiquities. Even the reverses of the Greek and Roman coins were frequently of an idolatrous nature. Here in- deed the scruples of the christian were suspended by a stronger passion. ^ Tertullian de Idololatria, c. 20, 21, 22. If a pagan friend (on the oc- casion perhaps of sneezing) used the familiar expression of " Jupiter bless you," the christian was obliged to protest against the divinity of Jupiter.
 * Tertullian de Idololatria, c. 11.