261 – Nothing is known of Demarchus, whom S. Ambrose here quotes.
The Benedictines suggest that it may be a mistake for
Hermarchus, who was Epicurus’ successor as head of his
school, and who wrote books in defence of the Epicurean
philosophy. He is mentioned several times by Cicero.
262 – Though the so-called Epicureans of later days perverted
his theory to what is generally known as Epicureanism,
Epicurus himself certainly did not mean by pleasure
sensual pleasure. ‘Pleasure was not with him a momentary
and transitory sensation, but he conceived it as something
lasting and imperishable, consisting in pure and noble
mental enjoyments.’ ‘He was a man of pure simple and
temperate habits.’ Dict. of Biog. in voc. Vol.ii. p. 34, 35.
263 – This must be the sense if we retain the interrogation.
If it is omitted the passage would mean, ‘Men then are
recalled from that, in which’ &c., i. e., it is plainly
unfitting for men to do that, in which &c.
264 – S. Ambrose is alluding apparently to Ezra proclaiming and
keeping a fast to remove God’s anger against his people.
Should we not read ‘memoriae’ for ‘memoriâ?’ Ezra did
restore the Scriptures _to_ the memory of the people, but
it does not appear that he restored them _from_ memory?