And here, indeed, we can show that all those whom you represent to us as and call gods, were but men, by quoting either Euhemerus of Acragas, [4229] whose books were translated by Ennius into Latin that all might be thoroughly acquainted with them; or Nicanor [4230] the Cyprian; or the Pellæan Leon; or Theodorus of Cyrene; or Hippo and Diagoras of Melos; or a thousand other writers, who have minutely, industriously, and carefully [4231] brought secret things to light with noble candour. We may, I repeat, at pleasure, declare both the acts of Jupiter, and the wars of Minerva and the virgin [4232] Diana; by what stratagems Liber strove to make himself master of the Indian empire; what was the condition, the duty, the gain [4233] of Venus; to whom the great mother was bound in marriage; what hope, what joy was aroused in her by the comely Attis; whence came the Egyptian Serapis and Isis, or for what reasons their very names [4234] were formed.

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Footnotes:

[4229] Lit., "Euhemerus being opened."

[4230] So Elm. and Orelli, reading Nicanore for the ms. Nicagora, retained by all other edd.

[4231] Lit., "with the care of scrupulous diligence."

[4232] Meursius would join virginis to Minerva, thinking it an allusion to her title Parthenos.

[4233] These terms are employed of hetæræ.

[4234] Lit., "the title itself of their names was."