And now it is not difficult to explain what cause spread the gods among great nations, filled their cities with altars, established solemn ceremonies and gave rise to those magnificent rites which are still celebrated today on important occasions in famous places.

Indeed, in those ancient times, generations of mortals saw the gods while awake, and even more frequently in their dreams, possessing extraordinary forms and magnificent bodies.

They therefore attributed sensation to them, for it seemed that the gods moved their limbs and uttered splendid words, worthy of their radiant appearance and extraordinary powers.

They believed them to be immortal because their faces always seemed renewed and their appearance remained unchanged. Above all, they thought that beings so powerful and magnificent could never easily be overcome by any force.

They imagined their happiness to be immense, because none of them was troubled by the fear of death, and because in their dreams they saw them performing many wonderful deeds without the slightest effort.

Moreover, they observed the heavenly bodies moving in an established order and the seasons following one another in regular succession, yet they could not understand the causes behind these phenomena. Their refuge, therefore, was to attribute everything to the gods and to suppose that all things happened according to their will.

They placed the dwelling and the throne of the gods in the heavens, because there they saw the turning of night and the moon, the day and the night, the magnificent signs of the darkness, the wandering torches of the sky and its fiery flashes, the clouds, the sun, the rains, the snow, the winds, the lightning, the hail and the sudden thunderclaps with their threatening rumblings.

O wretched human race, to have attributed such deeds to the gods and to have believed that their anger is terrible! How many sorrows have they brought upon themselves, how many wounds upon us, and how many tears upon our descendants!

True reverence does not consist in appearing frequently with ones head covered, turning towards a stone and approaching every altar. Nor does it consist in falling to the ground in worship, stretching out ones hands before the shrines of the gods, pouring the blood of animals over their altars or endlessly piling one prayer upon another. True reverence lies rather in being able to contemplate all things with an undisturbed mind.

For when we turn our gaze towards the heavenly regions of the vast universe and the ether studded with stars, when our thoughts follow the courses of the sun and the moon, a concern awakens within our hearts, already burdened by other troubles: perhaps there exists some immense divine power before us, guiding the bright stars through their varied movements.

For ignorance of the causes gives rise to a mind filled with uncertainty. We wonder whether the world had an original beginning and whether it may also have an end, whether the walls of the universe can endure the endless strain of perpetual motion, or whether, endowed by the gods with eternal existence, they may continue gliding through time, defying the harsh forces of eternity.

Indeed, whose heart does not tighten with fear of the gods, whose limbs do not shrink with terror, when the parched earth trembles beneath the terrible blow of lightning and thunder roars across the boundless sky? Do not peoples and nations tremble? Do not kings cower, struck by fear of the gods, lest the dreadful hour of punishment arrive for some evil deed or arrogant word?

And when the force of a violent wind sweeps an admiral out across the open sea, together with his powerful legions and elephants, does he not pray to the gods for peace? Does he not beg for calm winds and favourable breezes?

All in vain, however, for he is often seized by a mighty whirlwind and hurled towards the shallow shores of death.

To such an extent does some hidden force shatter human affairs and appear to trample upon the splendid rods of the consuls and their formidable axes. It seems to mock them.

Finally, when the whole earth beneath our feet begins to shake, when cities tremble and collapse or stand in danger of destruction, is it surprising that human beings lose confidence in themselves and acknowledge the existence of a great and wondrous power, belonging to the gods who seem to govern all things?