Apologetical Works; Octavius

OCTAVIUS

OCTAVIUS Chapter 1 I!S I WAS CONTEMPLATING and refreshing in my mind ~ the memory of my good and most faithful companion , Octavius, such a sweet affection for the man remained with me that I myself seemed in some way to return to the past and not merely to recall things which were passed and gone. 2 So deeply did his image, though removed from my eyes, remain engraved in my breast and, so to speak, in my innermost senses. 3 And, not without good reason, did this distinguished and saintly man leave with us on his departure an immense feeling of longing for him, since he himself always burned with such affection for us that both in our amusements and serious occupations we were in perfect accord with regard to our likes and dislikes, so that you would think that one mind had been divided between two men. 4 Thus, he who alone shared my tastes was also the companion of my errors, and, when the mist had been dispelled and I came forth from the very depths of darkness into the light of true wisdom,l he did not reject my accompanying him, but, the more to his honor, led the way. 5 Therefore, when my thoughts were roving over the entire period of our intimate association, my attention settled particularly on that remarkable discourse in which, by sheer weight of his reasoning, he converted to the true religion Caecilius, who was still clinging to the folly of superstitions. 1 Cf. I Peter 2.9. 321 322 MINUCIUS FELIX Chapter 2 He had come to Rome on business and to see me, leaving his home, wife, and children. The children were still at the age of innocence when they are most lovable, trying to utter nalf-words, a language more sweet because of the broken sounds of a stumbling tongue. 2 I cannot express in words how great and boundless my joy was at his arrival, since my happiness was increased beyond measure by the fact that this visit of my dearest friend was unexpected. 3 So, after a day or two, when constant companionship had satisfied the eagerness of our longing, and when, by exchanging our experiences, we had learned what we did not know about each other because of our mutual separation, we decided to visit Ostia,1 a most charming town. The sea baths would be a pleasant and appropriate cure for drying the humors from my body. Besides, the vintage holidays had just relieved me from the duties of the law court. It was the time when, after the heat of the summer, the autumn weather was turning into a season of mildness. 4 So, we started out at daybreak for the sea, to take a walk along the shore, so that the breeze as it gently blew might invigorate our limbs and the sand as it yielded to our soft footsteps might give us delightful pleasure. It was then that Caecilius2 noticed an image of Serapis,3 and, as is the superOstia ('river mouth'). the ancient seaport of Rome at the mouth of the Tiber. for some eight centuries lived the same life as Rome and shared in the good and ill fortunes of the Republic and the Empire. forming. as it were, part of the Eternal City. Like Baiae in the Gulf of Naples. it was a favorite resort of the wealthy Romans. 2 Caecilius had joined Minucius and Octavius on this excursion. 3 Ostia offers a good example of the religious syncretism of the Roman Empire. There have been found there the Oriental cults of Cybele of Asia Minor, the Egyptian divinities Isis. Serapis. Bubastis. the Syrian Jupiter Heliopolitanus and Dolichenus, Maiumas. and the cult of Mithras. Because of their mysterious melancholy. the cults of Isis and Serapis were widespread among the upper classes of Rome. OCTAVIUS 323 StltlOUS custom of the vulgar, raised his hand to his mouth and blew a kiss from his lips. Chapter 3 1 Then Octavius said: 'Brother Marcus,l it is not becoming for a good man to forsake so far in this blind stupidity of vulgar ignorance a friend who does not budge from your side in private or in public as to allow him in broad daylight to dash himself on stones, however well carved, anointed and crowned with garlands they may be. Surely, you know that this disreputable error is laid to your door no less than to his.' 2 While he...