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| Chapter LV
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Chapter LV.
But as Celsus delights to heap up calumnies
against us, and, in addition to those which he has already uttered, has
added others, let us examine these also, and see whether it be the
Christians or Celsus who have reason to be ashamed of what is
said. He asserts, “We see, indeed, in private houses
workers in wool and leather, and fullers, and persons of the most
uninstructed and rustic character, not venturing to utter a word in the
presence of their elders and wiser masters;3606
| 3606 The allusion is to the
practice of wealthy Greeks and Romans having among their slaves
artificers of various kinds, for whose service there was constant
demand in the houses and villas of the rich, and who therefore had
their residence in or near the dwelling of their master. Many of
these artificers seem, from the language of Celsus, to have been
converts to Christianity. |
but when they get hold of the children privately, and certain women as
ignorant as themselves, they pour forth wonderful statements, to the
effect that they ought not to give heed to their father and to their
teachers, but should obey them; that the former are foolish and stupid,
and neither know nor can perform anything that is really good, being
preoccupied with empty trifles; that they alone know how men
ought to live, and that, if the children obey them, they will both be
happy themselves, and will make their home happy also. And while
thus speaking, if they see one of the instructors of youth approaching,
or one of the more intelligent class, or even the father himself, the
more timid among them become afraid, while the more forward incite the
children to throw off the yoke, whispering that in the presence of
father and teachers they neither will nor can explain to them any good
thing, seeing they turn away with aversion from the silliness and
stupidity of such persons as being altogether corrupt, and far advanced
in wickedness, and such as would inflict punishment upon them; but that
if they wish (to avail themselves of their aid) they must leave their
father and their instructors, and go with the women and their
playfellows to the women’s apartments, or to the leather shop, or
to the fuller’s shop, that they may attain to
perfection;—and by words like these they gain them
over.”E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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