St. Augustine, Of the citie of God vvith the learned comments of Io. Lod. Viues. Englished by I.H.

Of the temple of Concord, built by the Senate in the place where these seditions and slaughters were effected. CHAP. 25.

A Fine decree surely was it of the Senate, to giue charge for the building of Concords (a) temple, iust (b) in the place where those out-rages were acted: that the monument of Gracchus his punishment might bee still in the eye of the (c) pleaders, and stand fresh in their memory. But what was this but a direct scof∣fing of their gods? They built a goddesse a temple, who had she beene amongst them, would neuer haue suffered such grose breaches of her lawes as these were; vnlesse Concord being guilty of this crime, by leauing the hearts of the citizens, deserued therefore to be imprisoned in this temple. Otherwise, to keepe formality with their deedes, they should haue built Discord a Temple in that place. Is there any reason that Concord should be a goddesse and not Discord? or that (according to Labeo his diuision) shee should not bee a good goddesse and Discord an euill one? Hee spoake vpon grounds, because he sawe that Feuer had a Temple built her, as well as Health. By the same reason should Discord haue had one as well as Concord. Wherefore the Romaines were not wise, to liue in the displeasure of so shrewd a goddesse: they haue forgotten that (d) shee was the destruction of Troy, by setting the three goddesses together by the eares for the golden Apple because shee was not bidden to their feast: Where-vpon the goddesses fell a scolding; Venus shee gotte the Apple, Pa∣ris, Hellen and Troye vtter destruction. Wherefore if it were through her anger because shee had no Temple there with the rest, that shee sette the Romaines at such variance, how much more angrye would shee bee to see her chiefest enemie haue a Temple built in that place, where shee had showne such absolute power? Now their greatest Schollers doe stomacke vs, for deriding these vanities, and yet worshipping those promiscuall gods, they cannot for their liues cleare them-selues of this question of Concord and Dis∣cord, whether they let them alone vnworshipped, and preferre Febris and Bel∣lona before them (to whome their most ancient Temples were dedicated) or that they doe worship them both as well as the rest. How-so-euer, they are in the bryers, seeing that Concord gotte her gone, and left Discord to play hauock amongst them by her selfe.

L. VIVES.

COncords (a) Temple] There were many Temples of Concord in Rome: the most anci∣ent, built by Camillus, for the acquittance of the Galles from Rome. I know not whe∣ther it was that which Flauius dedicated in Vulcans court, which the Nobles did so enuie him for, P. Sulpitius and P. Sempronius being Consulls. I thinke it is not that. Another was vowed by L. Manlius Praetor, for the ending of the Souldiers sedition in France.

It was letten forth to bee built by the Duum-viri Gn. Puppius Caeso, and Quintius Flaminius were for this end made Duum-virs. It was dedicated in the towre by M. and Gn. Attilii. Liu. lib. 22. and 23. A third was in the Romaine court neere to the Greeke monuments, built by Opimius Consull, hauing dissolued Gracchi his faction, and there also is the Opimian Palace. Varro. de Ling. Lat. lib. 3. The building of this temple vexed the Romaines extreamly: and at the building, there was written in it, Opus vecordiae: the worke of sloath. A fourth was built by Liuia Augusta, vnlesse it were but Camillus his olde one which she repared. Ouid. fast. 1. Con∣cords feasts were in Februaries Calends the xviii. (b) In the place] Appian saith in the plea∣ding place, and so doth Varro and Victor de region. vrb. puts it in the eight Region, that is, in the Romaine court, the fight ending in Auentinus though it began in the Capitoll. (c) Pleaders] Tribunes, and such as spake to the people in Couenticles: that they should speake nothing but well of the Senate, taking example by Gracchus, whose memory that monument still remembe∣red. (d) She was] Discord alone being not bidden to the mariage of Peleus and Thetis being angry hereat, sent a golden ball into the feasters, with this inscription, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, let the fairest haue it. Herevpon grew a strife betweene Pallas, Iuno, and Venus. So they came to Paris to haue iudgment, whence arose all that deluge of destruction that ouer-whelmed Troy.

Notes

• Discord a goddesse.
• Concords Temple.
• The cause of Troyes destruction