Lucretius on the origin of the belief in the gods

In the closing verses of the section devoted to ‘civilization in progress’ Lucretius prepared the ground for his discussion of the origin of religion. Let me repeat those verses in Bailey’s translation:

‘Violence and hurt tangle everyman in their toils, and for the most part fall on the head of him, from whom they had their rise, nor is it easy for one who by his act breaks the common pact of peace to lead a calm and quiet life. For though he be unnoticed of the race of gods and men, yet he must needs mistrust that his secret will be kept forever; nay indeed, many by speaking in their sleep or raving in fever have often, so ‘tis said, betrayed themselves, and brought to light misdeeds long hidden.’ (1152-1160)

The next section Lucretius opens as follows:

Nunc quae causa deum per magnas numina gentis

pervulgarit et ararum compleverit urbis

suscipiendaque curarit sollemnia sacra,

quae nunc in magnis florent sacra rebu’ locisque,

und(e) etiam nunc est mortalibus insitus horror

qui delubra deum nova toto suscitat orbi

terrar(um) et festis cogit celebrare diebus,

non ita difficilest rationem reddere verbis.

‘Next, what cause spread abroad the divine powers of the gods among great nations, and filled cities with altars, and taught men to undertake sacred rites at yearly festivals, rites which are honoured to-day in great empires and at great places; whence even now there is implanted in mortals a shuddering dread, which raises new shrines of the gods all over the world, and constrains men to throng them on the holy days; of this it is not hard to give account in words.’

quippe etenim iam tum divum mortalia saecla

egregias animo facies vigilante videbant

et magis in somnis mirando corporis auctu.

‘For indeed already the races of mortals used to perceive the glorious shapes of gods with waking mind, an all the more in sleep with wonderous bulk of body.’

his igitur sensum tribuebant propterea quod

membra movere videbantur vocesque superbas

mittere pro facie praeclar(a) et viribus amplis.

‘To these they would assign sense because they were seen to move their limbs, and to utter haughty sounds befitting their noble mien and ample strength.’

aeternamque dabant vitam, quia smper eorum

suppeditabat facies et forma manebat

et tamen omnino quod tantis viribus auctos

non temer(e) ulla vi convinci posse putabant.

‘And they gave them everlasting life because their images came in constant stream and the form remained unchanged, and indeed above all because they thought that those endowed with such strength could not readily be vanquished by any force.’

fortunisqu(e) ideo longe praestare putabant,

quod mortis timor haud quemquam vexaret eorum,

et simul in somnis quia multa et mira videbant

efficer(e) et nullum capere ipsos inde laborem.

‘They thought that they far excelled in happiness, because the fear of death never harassed any of them, and at the same time because in sleep they saw them accomplish many marvels, yet themselves not undergo any toil.’

praeterea caeli rationes ordine certo

et vari(a) annorum cernebant tempora verti

nec poterant quibus id fieret cognoscere causis.

‘Moreover, they beheld the workings of the sky in due order, and the diverse seasons of the year come round, nor could they learn by what causes that was brought about.’

ergo perfugium sib(i) habebant omnia divis

trader(e) et illorum nutu facer(e) omnia flecti.

‘And so they made it their refuge to lay all to the charge of the gods, and to suppose that all was guided by their will.’

in caeloque deum sedis et templa locarunt,

‘And they placed the abodes and quarters of the gods in the sky,’

per caelum volvi quia nox et luna videtur,

‘because through the sky night and the moon are seen to roll on their way,’

luna dies et nox et noctis signa severa

‘moon, day and night, and the stern signs of night,’

noctivagaeque faces caeli flammaeque volantes,

‘and the torches of heaven that rove through the night, and the flying flames,’

nubila sol imbres nix venti fulmina grando

‘clouds, sunlight, rain, snow, winds, lightning, hail,’

et rapidi fremitus et murmura magna minarum.

‘and the rapid roar and mighty murmurings of heaven’s threats.’

(1161-1193)

 

Religion brought misery and unhappiness:

O genus infelix humanum, talia divis

cum tribuit fact(a) atqu(e) iras adiunxit acerbas!

‘Ah! unhappy race of men, when it has assigned such acts to the gods and joined therewith bitter anger!’

quantos tum gemitus ipsi sibi, quantaque nobis

vulnera, quas lacrimas peperere minoribu’ nostris!

‘what groaning did they then beget for themselves, what sores for us, what tears for our children to come!’

Nec pietas ullast velatum saepe videri

vertier ad lapid(em) atqu(e) omnis acceder(e) ad aras

‘Nor is it piety at all to be seen often with veiled head turning towards a stone, and to draw near to every altar,’

nec procumber(e) humi prostrat(um) et pandere palmas

‘no, nor to lay prostrate on the ground with outstretched palms’

ante deum delubra nec aras sanguine multo

spargere quadrupedum nec votis nectere vota,

‘before the shrines of the gods, nor to sprinkle the altars with the streaming blood of beasts, nor to link vow to vow,’

sed mage pacata poss(e) omnia mente tueri.

‘but rather to be able to contemplate all things with a mind at rest.’

nam cum suspicimus magni caelestia mundi

templa super stellisque micantibus aethera fixum,

‘For indeed when we look up at the heavenly quarters of the great world, and the firm-set ether above the twinkling stars,’

et venit in mentem solis lunaeque viarum,

‘and it comes to our mind to think of the journeyings of sun and moon,’

tunc aliis oppressa malis in pectora cura

‘then into our hearts weighed down with other ills,’

illa quoqu(e) expergefactum caput eriger(e) infit,

‘this misgiving too begins to raise up its wakened head,’

neqae forte deum nobis immensa potestas

sit, vario motu quae candida sidera verset.

‘that there may be perchance some immeasurable power of the gods over us, which whirls on the bright stars in their diverse motions.’

temptat enim dubiam mentem rationis egestas,

‘For lack of reasoning assails our mind with doubt,’

ecquaenam fuerit mundi genitalis origo,

‘whether there was any creation and beginning of the world,’

et simul ecquae sit finis, quoad moenia mundi

solliciti motus hunc possint ferre laborem,

‘and again whether there is an end, until which the walls of the world may be able to endure this weariness of endless motion,’

an divinitus aeterna donata salute

‘or whether gifted by the gods’ will with an everlasting being’

perpetuo possint aevi labentia tractu

immensi validas aevi contemnere viris.

,they may be able to glide on down the everlasting groove of time, and set at naught the mighty strength of measureless time.’

praeterea cui non animus formidine divum

contrahitur, cui non correpunt membra pavore,

‘Moreover, whose heart does not shrink with terror of the gods, whose limbs do not crouch in fear,’

fulminis horribili cum plaga torrida tellus

contremit et magnum percurrunt murmura caelum?

‘when the parched earth trembles beneath the awful stoke of lightning and rumblings run across the great sky?’

non populi gentesque tremunt, regesque superbi

corripiunt divum percussi membra timore,

‘Do not the peoples and nations tremble, and proud kings shrink in every limb, thrilled with the fear of the gods,’

nequid ob admissum foede dictumve superbe

‘lest for some foul crime or haughty word’

poenarum grave sit solvendi tempus adultum?

‘the heavy time of retribution be ripe?’

summ(a) etiam cum vis violenti per mare venti

‘Or again, when the fiercest force of furious wind at sea’

induperatorem classis super aequora vertit

‘sweeps the commander of a fleet over the waters’

cum pariter validis legionibus atqu(e) elephantis,

‘with his strong legions and his elephants, all in like case,’

non divum pacem votis adit ac prece quaesit

ventorum pavidus paces animasque secundas,

‘does he not seek with vows the peace of the gods, and fearfully crave in prayer a calm from wind and favouring breezes;’

nequiquam, quoniam violento turbine saepe

correptus nilo fertur minus ad vada leti?

‘all in vain, since often when caught in the headstrong hurricane he is born for all his prayers to the shallow waters of death?’

usque adeo res humanas vis abdita quaedam

obterit et pulchros fascis saevasque securis

proculcar(e) ac ludibrio sib(i) habere videtur.

‘So greatly does some secret force grind beneath its heel the greatness of men, and it is seen to tread down and make sport for itself of the glorious rods and relentless axes.’

denique sub pedibus tellus cum tota vacillat

‘Again, when the whole earth rocks beneath men’s feet,’

concussaeque cadunt urbes dubiaeque minantur,

‘and cities are shaken to their fall or threaten doubtful of their doom,’

quid mirum si se temnunt mortalia saecla

‘what wonder if the races of mortal men despise themselves’

atque potestates magnas mirasque relinquunt

in rebus viris divum, quae cuncta gubernent?

‘and leave room in the world for the mighty power and marvellous strength of the gods, to guide all things?’

(1194-1240)