152 l/-23
majesty to have difficulty carrying out their duties because of some
weakness. From these premisses our desired conclusion follows, that the
cosmos is governed by the providence of the gods.
- And yet, since there are gods (if they really exist, as they certainly
do) it is necessary that they be alive, and not only alive but also rational
and bound to each other by a kind of political bond [i.e., congeniality ]^30
and society, governing this single cosmos like some shared republic or
city. 79. It follows that they possess the same kind of reason as is present
in mankind, that the same truth is found in both [gods and men] and
the same law, which consists in injunctions to do what is right and avoid
what is wrong. From this one can see that the gods are the source of man's
prudence and intelligence; and that is why our ancestors consecrated and
publicly dedicated temples to [gods such as] Intelligence, Faith, Virtue
and Concord. How can we deny that [such things] exist among the
gods when we worship their revered and sacred images? But if mankind
possesses intelligence, faith, virtue and concord, from where could they
have come down [to us] here on earth if not from the [gods] above? And
since we have deliberative ability and reason it is necessary that the gods
have them in even greater abundance, and not just have them but also
use them in matters of the greatest value and import. 80. But nothing
is of greater value or import than the cosmos; therefore, it is necessary
that it be administered by the deliberation and providence of the gods.
Finally, since we have shown clearly enough that those whom we see to
possess remarkable power and extraordinary beauty are gods (I mean the
sun and moon and the planets and the fixed stars and the heaven and
the cosmos itself, and the multitude of things which are present through-
out the cosmos and are of great utility and convenience for mankind), it
follows that everything is ruled by the intelligence and providence of the
gods. But enough has been said about the first topic. - Next I must show that everything is subordinate to nature and is
ruled by it in the finest possible manner. But first, I must give a brief
explanation of what nature is, to facilitate the understanding of what I
want to show. For some think that nature is a type of non-rational force
which induces necessary motions in bodies; others that it is a force
endowed with reason and orderliness, proceeding methodically, as it
were, and showing what the cause of each thing brings about and what
follows upon it, [a force] whose cleverness could not be emulated by any
craft, skill or craftsman. [They say] that the power of a seed is such that,
despite its minute size, if it meets with a receptive and favourable nature,
and gets hold of the sort of matter which can nourish it and foster its - The Latin is conciliatio, usually Cicero's translation for the Greek oikeiosis.