Much as there was in Arnobius’s description which gratified Jucundus’s prejudices, he had suspicions of his young acquaintance, and was not in the humour to be pleased unreservedly with those who satirized anything whatever that was established, or was appointed by government, even affectation and pretence. He said something about the wisdom of ages, the reverence due to authority, the institutions of Rome, and the magistrates of Sicca. “Do not go after novelties,” he said to Arnobius; “make a daily libation to Jove, the preserver, and to the genius of the emperor, and then let other things take their course.”

“But you don’t mean I must believe all this man says, because the decurions have put him here?” cried Arnobius. “Here is this Polemo saying that Proteus is matter, and that minerals and vegetables are his flock; that Proserpine is the vital influence, and Ceres the efficacy of the heavenly bodies; that there are mundane spirits, and supramundane; and then his doctrine about triads, monads, and progressions of the celestial gods?”

“Hm!” said Jucundus; “they did not say so when I went to school; but keep to my rule, my boy, and swear by the genius of Rome and the emperor.”

“I don’t believe in god or goddess, emperor or Rome, or in any philosophy, or in any religion at all,” said Arnobius.

“What!” cried Jucundus, “you’re not going to desert the gods of your ancestors?”

“Ancestors?” said Arnobius; “I’ve no ancestors. I’m not African certainly, not Punic, not Libophœnician, not Canaanite, not Numidian, not Gætulian. I’m half Greek, but what the other half is I don’t know. My good old gaffer, you’re one of the old world. I believe nothing. Who can? There is such a racket and whirl of religions on all sides of me that I am sick of the subject.”

“Ah, the rising generation!” groaned Jucundus; “you young men! I cannot prophesy what you will become, when we old fellows are removed from the scene. Perhaps you’re a Christian?”

Arnobius laughed. “At least I can give you comfort on that head, old grandfather. A pretty Christian I should make, indeed! seeing visions, to be sure, and rejoicing in the rack and dungeon! I wish to enjoy life; I see wealth, power, rank, and pleasure to be worth living for, and I see nothing else.”

“Well said, my lad,” cried Jucundus, “well said; stick to that. I declare you frightened me. Give up all visions, speculations, conjectures, fancies, novelties, discoveries; nothing comes of them but confusion.”

“No, no,” answered the youth; “I’m not so wild as you seem to think, Jucundus. It is true I don’t believe one single word about the gods; but in their worship was I born, and in their worship I will die.”