Quid hic deperit legibus in suo regno dominantibus, si audiatur? An hoc magis gloriabitur potestas eorum, quo etiam auditam damnabunt veritatem? Ceterum inauditam si damnent, praeter invidiam iniquitatis etiam suspicionem merebuntur alicuius conscientiae, nolentes audire quod auditum damnare non possint.
The laws are supreme in their own sphere; what loss can they suffer, if Truth be heard? Why, would it not enhance the glory of their supremacy to condemn Truth after hearing her? But, if they condemn her unheard'let us set on one side the odium such injustice will incur'they will rouse the suspicion that they have some secret sense that they are unjust, when they refuse to hear what, once heard, they cannot condemn.
final_alignments\Tertullian_Apology.json