Apology 32
32 Chapter XXXII PL 1, 447
There is also another and a greater necessity for our offering prayer in behalf of the emperors, nay, for the complete stability of the empire, and for Roman interests in general. For we know that a mighty shock impending over the whole earth—in fact, the very end of all things threatening dreadful woes—is only retarded by the continued existence of the Roman empire. We have no desire, then, to be overtaken by these dire events; and in praying that their coming may be delayed, we are lending our aid to Rome’s duration. More than this, though we decline to swear by the genii of the Cæsars, we swear by their safety, which is worth far more than all your genii. Are you ignorant that these genii are called “Dæmones,” and thence the diminutive name “Dæmonia” is applied to them? We respect in the emperors the ordinance of God, who has set them over the nations. We know that there is that in them which God has willed; and to what God has willed we desire all safety, and we count an oath by it a great oath. But as for demons, that is, your genii, we have been in the habit of exorcising them, not of swearing by them, and thereby conferring on them divine honour.
ARGUMENTUM.-- Adhuc ostendit salutem Imperatoris et Imperii Christianis cordi esse, scientibus horrenda orbi imminere, Romanum Imperium esse desierit, ipsamque adeo clausuram saeculi duratione ejus retardari. Sed et qui per salutem Caesaris jurent, omnibus Geniis augustiorem, non esse cogendos, ut per ejus Genium jurent, defendit, utpote qui Genios, id est, Daemonas adjurando laedere, non dejerando honorare consueverint.
Est et alia major necessitas nobis orandi pro Imperatoribus, etiam pro omni statu imperii rebusque romanis, qui vim maximam universo orbi imminentem, ipsamque clausulam saeculi acerbitates horrendas comminantem Romani imperii commeatu scimus retardari. Ita quae nolumus experiri, ea dum precamur differri, Romanae diuturnitati favemus. Sed et juramus, sicut non per genios Caesarum, ita per salutem eorum, quae est augustior omnibus geniis. Nescitis genios daemonas dici, et inde diminutiva voce daemonia? Nos judicium dei suspicimus in imperatoribus, qui gentibus illos praefecit. Id in eis scimus esse, quod Deus voluit, ideoque et salvum volumus esse, quod Deus voluit, et pro magno id juramento habemus. Caeterum daemonas, id est genios, adjurare consuevimus, ut illos de hominibus exigamus, non dejerare, ut illis honorem divinitatis conferamus.