Si non licet vobis, Romani imperii antistites, in aperto et edito, in ipso fere vertice civitatis praesidentibus ad iudicandum palam dispicere et coram examinare quid sit liquido in causa Christianorum, si ad hanc solam speciem auctoritas vestra de iustitiae diligentia in publico aut timet aut erubescit inquirere, si denique, quod proxime accidit, domesticis iudiciis nimis operata infestatio sectae huius obstruit defensioni, liceat veritati vel occulta via tacitarum litterarum ad aures vestras pervenire.
If you, the magistrates of the Roman Empire,'you, who, in the light of day, set on high, at the very head of the state, preside to do justice,'if you are not allowed openly to investigate, face to face to examine, the Christian issue, to learn what it is in truth;'if, in this phase of life, and this alone, your authority either dreads or blushes to inquire in public, with all the care that Justice demands;'if finally (as recently befell) persecution of this school is so busy in the domestic tribunala as to block the way of defence;'then let truth be allowed to reach your ears at least by the hidden path of silent literature.
final_alignments\Tertullian_Apology.json