The Arguments of the Emperor Julian Against the Christians — page 68: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AGAINST THE CHRISTIANS. 45 fore, to restrain men from these disciplines, than from sacred victims. But, as it appears to me, you well know the difference with respect to the acquisition of wisdom between our disciplines and yours. For from yours no man will become gener- ous and worthy; but from ours every man will become better than himself, though he should be naturally in every respect unapt. But if he possesses an excellent nature, and has received erudition from these, he will then in reality become the gift of God to men, either by enkindling the light of science, or establishing the best form of government, or putting to flight many enemies, and passing through many lands, and a great extent of sea, and through this evincing himself to be an heroic character. Of the truth of what I assert, this is a clear indication. Let boys selected from all of you apply themselves to the study of the scriptures, and when they arrive at manhood, if they are at all better than sLAvEs, consider me as a trifler and insane. And yet you are so unfortunate and stupid, as to think those writings divine, from which no one will become more wise, or brave, or better than himself. But those writings from which fortitude, prudence, and CCOMMKELDOO SS (CO mn