Arnobius — Against the Nations 2.23
23.1. If to one hungry you give a grape, a cake, an onion, a thistle, a cucumber, a fig, will he know that hunger can be settled by all of these, or in what way each ought to be for eating? If you make a great fire or set venomous beasts around, will he not go through the middle of flames, vipers, sun-spiders, not knowing they are harmful and ignorant what it is to fear itself? Again if you place clothing, if furniture, in the middle, as much urban as rustic, will the same one be able to discriminate, discern to what business each thing suits, to whose service's use they are fitted?
2. Let him indicate into what habits a coverlet was made, a headband, breastband, bandage, cushion, handkerchief, cloak, hood, napkin, skin-coat, slippers, sandal, shoes. What if you add asking what a wheel is or a threshing-sledge, a winnowing-fan, jar, cask, oil-press, plowshare or sieve, mill, plow-beam or hoe? What if a curved stool, needle, scraper, basin, willow-chair, ladle, little platter, candlestick, drinking-bowl, brooms, cup, sack? What if a cithara, pipe, silver, bronze, gold, whetstone? A shuttle, a book? What if the other instruments with which human life is girded and held?
3. Thus as we said will that one not, in the manner of an ox or ass, pig or if there is any slower animal, look at these things indeed gazing at various shapings but not knowing what individuals are and ignorant for what cause they are possessed? If by some necessity he has been forced to emit a voice, will he not, as is usual for mute things, cry out with open mouth I-know-not-what inarticulate sound?
Latin
23.1. Esurienti si dederis uvam mustaceum caepe carduum cucumerem ficum, sciet posse sedari omnibus ex his famem aut quo genere singula esse debeant esui? Ignem si plurimum feceris aut venenatas circumposueris bestias, nonne ibit per medias flammas viperas solifugas, esse noxias nesciens et timere ipsum quid sit ignorans? iam vero si vestem, si superlectilem ponas in medio tam urbanam quam rusticam, eritne, idem ut possit diseriminare, discernere, cui negotio res quaeque conveniat, cuius muneris adcommodata sint usui?
2. Indicet in quos habitus vestis stragula facta sit, mitra strophium fascia pulvinus mucinnium laena calautica mantele mastruca soccos solea calceos? Quid si adicias quaerere rota quid sit aut tribula, vannus dolium cupa, trapetum vomis aut cribrum, mola buris aut sarculum? quid arquata si sellula, acus strigilis polubrum siliquastrum trulla lancicula candelabrum batioca scopae scyphus saccus? quid si cithara tibia argentum aes aurum code? radius liber? quid instrumenta si cetera quibus vita succingitur et continetur humana?
3. Ita ut diximus ille non bovis ritu aut asini, porci aut si ullum est animal tardius, conspiciet haec quidem formaturas varias respectans set quae sint singula nesciens et quam in causam possideantur ignorans? Nonne vocem si fuerit necessitate aliqua coactus emittere, ut solemne est mutis, inarticulatum nescio quid ore hiante clamabit?