LIBER DE SPECTACULIS.

 I. CYPRIANUS plebi in Evangelio stanti salutem. Ut me satis contristat et animum meum graviter affligit cum nulla mihi scribendi ad vos porrigitur occ

 II. Non pudet, non pudet, inquam, fideles homines et christiani sibi nominis auctoritatem vindicantes, superstitiones vanas gentilium cum spectaculis

 III. Argumentum est ergo excitandae virtutis, non permissio sive libertas spectandi gentilis erroris, ut per hoc animus plus accendatur ad evangelicam

 0782D IV. Quid Scriptura interdixit? Prohibuit enim spectari quod prohibet geri. Omnia, inquam, ista spectaculorum genera damnavit quando idololatriam

 V. Plura prosequi quid est necesse, vel sacrificiorum 0783C in ludis genera monstruosa describere, inter quae nonnumquam et homo fit hostia latrocinio

 VI. Sed, ut de hoc scenae inquinamento inverecundo jam transitum faciam, pudet referre quae dicuntur, pudet etiam accusare quae fiunt, argumentorum st

 VII. Non est libidini satis malis suis uti praesentibus, nisi suum de spectaculo faciat in quo etiam superior aetas erraverat. Non licet , inquam, ade

 VIII. Nam illa altera reliquorum dementia est manifesta otiosis hominibus negotiatio et prima victoria est ut ultra modum humanum venter esurire potu

 IX. Habet Christianus spectacula meliora, si velit habet veras et profuturas voluptates, si se recognoverit. Et, ut omittam illa quae nondum contempl

 0786C X. Scripturis, inquam, sacris incumbat Christianus fidelis et ibi inveniet condigna fidei spectacula. Videbit instituentem Deum mundum suum, et

1. Cyprian to the congregation who stand fast in the Gospel, sends greeting. As it greatly saddens me, and deeply afflicts my soul, when no opportunity of writing to you is presented to me, for it is my loss not to hold converse with you; so nothing restores to me such joyfulness and hilarity, as when that opportunity is once more afforded me. I think that I am with you when I am speaking to you by letter. Although, therefore, I know that you are satisfied that what I tell you is even as I say, and that you have no doubt of the truth of my words, nevertheless an actual proof will also attest the reality of the matter. For my affection (for you) is proved, when absolutely no opportunity (of writing) is passed over. However certain I may be, then, that you are no less respectable in the conduct of your life than faithful in respect of your sacramental vow;2    “In sacramento.” still, since there are not wanting smooth-tongued advocates of vice, and indulgent patrons who afford authority to vices, and, what is worse, convert the rebuke of the heavenly Scriptures into an advocacy of crimes; as if the pleasure derived from the public exhibitions might be sought after as being innocent, by way of a mental relaxation;—for thereby the vigour of ecclesiastical discipline is so relaxed, and is so deteriorated by all the languor of vice that it is no longer apology, but authority, that is given for wickedness,—it seemed good in a few words not now to instruct you, but to admonish you who are instructed, lest, because the wounds are badly bound up, they should break through the cicatrix of their closed soundness. For no mischief is put an end to with so much difficulty but that its recurrence is easy, so long as it is both maintained by the consent, and caressed by the excuses3    Elucidation I. of the multitude.

I. CYPRIANUS plebi in Evangelio stanti salutem. Ut me satis contristat et animum meum graviter affligit cum nulla mihi scribendi ad vos porrigitur occasio, 0781B detrimentum est enim meum vobiscum non colloqui, ita nihil mihi tantam laetitiam hilaritatemque restituit quam cum adest rursus occasio. Vobiscum me esse arbitror cum vobis per litteras loquor. Quamquam igitur ita se haec habere quae dico certos vos esse sciam nec quicquam de verborum meorum veritate dubitare, tamen etiam argumentum sinceritatem rei asserit. Nam, cum nulla prorsus praeteritur occasio, probatur affectio. Quamvis ergo certus sim vos non minus esse in vitae actu graves quam in sacramento fideles, tamen, quoniam non desunt vitiorum assertores blandi et indulgentes patroni qui praestant vitiis auctoritatem et, quod est deterius, censuram Scripturarum coelestium in advocationem criminum convertunt, quasi sicut innocens spectaculorum ad remissionem 0781C animi appetatur voluptas: nam et eo usque enervatus est ecclesiasticae disciplinae vigor et ita omni languore vitiorum praecipitatur in pejus, ut jam non vitiis excusatio sed auctoritas detur, placuit paucis vos nunc non instruere, sed instructos admonere, ne, quia male sunt vincta vulnera, sanitatis obductae perrumpant cicatricem. Nullum enim malum difficilius extinguitur quam quod faciles reditus habet, dum et multitudinis consensu asseritur, et excusatione blanditur.