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| Chapter I.—Introduction.
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Chapter I.—Introduction.
While I was going about one
morning in the walks of the Xystus,1948
| 1948 This Xystus, on the authority of Euseb. (iv. 18), was at
Ephesus. There, Philostratus mentions, Appolonius was wont to have
disputations.—Otto. | a certain man,
with others in his company, having met me, and said, “Hail, O
philosopher!” And immediately after saying this, he turned round
and walked along with me; his friends likewise followed him. And I in
turn having addressed him, said, “What is there
important?”
And he replied, “I was instructed,” says he
“by Corinthus the Socratic in Argos, that I ought not to despise or
treat with indifference those who array themselves in this dress1949
but to show them all kindness, and to associate with them, as perhaps
some advantage would spring from the intercourse either to some such man
or to myself. It is good, moreover, for both, if either the one or the
other be benefited. On this account, therefore, whenever I see any one in
such costume, I gladly approach him, and now, for the same reason, have I
willingly accosted you; and these accompany me, in the expectation of
hearing for themselves something profitable from you.”
“But who are you, most excellent man?” So I
replied to him in jest.1950
| 1950 In
jest, no doubt, because quoting a line from Homer, Il., vi. 123.
τίς δὲ σύ ἐσσι, φέριστε, καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.
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Then he told me frankly both his name and his family.
“Trypho,” says he, “I am called; and I am a Hebrew of
the circumcision,1951
and having escaped from the war1952
| 1952 The war instigated by Bar
Cochba. | lately carried on there I am spending my days in
Greece, and chiefly at Corinth.”
“And in what,” said I, “would you be
profited by philosophy so much as by your own lawgiver and the
prophets?”
“Why not?” he replied. “Do not the
philosophers turn every discourse on God? and do not questions
continually arise to them about His unity and providence? Is not this
truly the duty of philosophy, to investigate the Deity?”
“Assuredly,” said I, “so we too have
believed. But the most1953
| 1953 The
opinions of Stoics.—Otto. | have not taken
thought of this whether there be one or more gods, and whether they have
a regard for each one of us or no, as if this knowledge contributed
nothing to our happiness; nay, they moreover attempt to persuade us that
God takes care of the universe with its genera and species, but not of me
and you, and each individually, since otherwise we would surely not need
to pray to Him night and day. But it is not difficult to understand the
upshot of this; for fearlessness and license in speaking result to such
as maintain these opinions, doing and saying whatever they choose,
neither dreading punishment nor hoping for any benefit from God. For how
could they? They affirm that the same things shall always happen; and,
further, that I and you shall again live in like manner, having become
neither better men nor worse. But there are some others,1954
who, having
supposed the soul to be immortal and immaterial, believe that though they
have committed evil they will not suffer punishment (for that which is
immaterial is insensible), and that the soul, in consequence of its
immortality, needs nothing from God.”
And he, smiling gently, said, “Tell us your
opinion of these matters, and what idea you entertain respecting God, and
what your philosophy is.”E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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