But you must bring me to your opinion by the force of your reason: for I have a right to demand from you, as a philosopher, a reason for the religion which you would have me embrace.

But I must believe the religion of our ancestors without any proof.
III.

What proof, says Balbus, do you require of me?
You have proposed, says Cotta, four articles.

First of all, you undertook to prove that there "are Gods;" secondly, "of what kind and character they are;" thirdly, that "the universe is governed by them;" lastly, that "they provide for the welfare of mankind in particular." Thus, if I remember rightly, you divided your discourse.

Exactly so, replies Balbus; but let us see what you require.
Let us examine, says Cotta, every proposition.