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The author does not name Vanini; and the truth is that this man repudiated his wrong opinions, until he was convicted of having published atheistical dogmas and acted as an apostle of atheism. When he was asked whether there was a God, he plucked some grass, saying: Et levis est cespes qui probet esse Deum.
Let us, for instance, take the following passage from the speech of Gracchus to the Censors; "Abesse non potest, quin ejusdem hominis fit, probos improbare, qui improbos probet;" "There is no possibility of doubting that the same person who is an enemy to virtue, must be a friend to vice."
"Obesse non potest, quin ejusdem hominis sit, probos improbare, qui improbos probet." How much better would it have been if he had said, "Quin ejusdem hominis sit, qui improbos probet, probos improbare!" No one ever had any objection to speaking in this manner; and no one was ever able to do so who did not do it.
How much better would the period have terminated if he had said, "quin ejusdem hominis fit, qui improbos probet, probos improbare!" "that the same person who is a friend to vice, must be an enemy to virtue!" There is no one who would object to the last: nay, it is impossible that any one who was able to speak thus, should have been willing to express himself otherwise.
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