than have the emperors done it more lately; while it was
Alexander who introduced us into this city at first, the kings
augmented our privileges therein, and the Romans have been
pleased to preserve them always inviolable. Moreover, Apion
would lay a blot upon us, because we do not erect images for
our emperors; as if those emperors did not know this before,
or stood in need of Apion as their defender; whereas he
ought rather to have admired the magnanimity and modesty
of the Romans, whereby they do not compel those that are
subject to them to transgress the laws of their countries, but
are willing to receive the honors due to them after such a
manner as those who are to pay them esteem consistent with
piety and with their own laws; for they do not thank people
for conferring honors upon them, When they are compelled
by violence so to do. Accordingly, since the Grecians and
some other nations think it a right thing to make images, nay,
when they have painted the pictures of their parents, and
wives, and children, they exult for joy; and some there are
who take pictures for themselves of such persons as were no
way related to them; nay, some take the pictures of such
servants as they were fond of; what wonder is it then if such
as these appear willing to pay the same respect to their
princes and lords? But then our legislator hath forbidden us
to make images, not by way of denunciation beforehand, that
the Roman authority was not to be honored, but as despising
a thing that was neither necessary nor useful for either God
or man; and he forbade them, as we shall prove hereafter, to
make these images for any part of the animal creation, and
much less for God himself, who is no part of such animal
creation. Yet hath our legislator no where forbidden us to