Commodian — Instructiones 8
Your Mercury is made painted with a purse and with helm and sole, winged and otherwise nearly bare. You say he is a messenger and also a thief. If he were a god, why did he steal? He first invented merchandise and the lyre — earthly arts. From that you paint him a god. A winged thief is no divinity.
Latin
8 MERCURIUS. Mercurius uester fiat cum arabylo depictus Et galea et planta, pinnatus et cetera nudus. Rem uideo miram, deum <cum> saccello uolare: Currite pauperculi, cum gremio quo uolat ille, Ut sacculum effundat: uos extunc estote parati. Respicite pictum: quando uobis hic ab alto Iactabit nummos, uos tunc saltate securi. Uane, non insanis, colere deos pictos in axe? Si uiuere recte nescis, cum besteis perge morari.