1.  Why do you infringe upon the approved order of things?  Why would you do violence to a tongue which is under obligation to the law?  Why do you challenge a speech which is in subjection to the Spirit?  Why, when you have excused the head, have you hastened to the feet?  Why do you pass by Aaron1    Aaron, S. Gregory the elder.  Eleazar, S. Gregory Nazianzen. and urge forward Eleazar?  I cannot allow the fountain to be dammed up, while the rivulet runs its course; the sun to be hidden, while the star shines forth; hoar hairs to be in retirement, while youth lays down the law; wisdom to be silent, while inexperience speaks with assurance.  A heavy rain is not always more useful than a gentle shower.  Nay, indeed, if it be too violent, it sweeps away the earth, and increases the proportion of the farmer’s loss:  while a gentle fall, which sinks deep, enriches the soil, benefits the tiller and makes the corn grow to a fine crop.  So the fluent speech is not more profitable than the wise.  For the one, though it perhaps gave a slight pleasure, passes away, and is dispersed as soon, and with as little effect, as the air on which it struck, though it charms with its eloquence the greedy ear.  But the other sinks into the mind, and opening wide its mouth, fills it2    Ps. lxxxi. 11. with the Spirit, and, showing itself nobler than its origin, produces a rich harvest by a few syllables.

Αʹ. Τί λύετε τάξιν ἐπαινουμένην; τί βιάζεσθε γλῶσσαν νόμῳ δουλεύουσαν; τί προκαλεῖσθε λόγον εἴκοντα πνεύματι; τί τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀφέντες, ἐπὶ τοὺς πόδας ἐσπεύσατε; τί τὸν Ἀρὼν παρατρέχοντες, τὸν Ἐλεάζαρ προβάλλεσθε; Οὐ δέχομαι πηγὴν φράσσεσθαι, καὶ χείμαῤῥον φέρεσθαι: ἥλιον κρύπτεσθαι, καὶ ἀστέρα δείκνυσθαι: τὴν πολιὰν ὑποχωρεῖν, καὶ τὴν νεότητα νομοθετεῖν: τὴν σοφίαν σιωπᾷν, καὶ τὴν ἀπειρίαν νεανιεύεσθαι. Οὔτε ὑετοῦ πάντως ὁ πλείων, τοῦ ἐλάττονος χρησιμώτερος: τί γάρ; Εἰ ὁ μὲν σφοδρότερος ὢν, παρασύρει τὴν γῆν, καὶ προσζημιοῖ τῷ κεφαλαίῳ τὸν γεωργόν: ὁ δὲ ἠρέμα χεόμενος, καὶ εἰς τὰ βάθη δυόμενος, πιαίνει τὴν ἄρουραν, καὶ ὀνίνησι τὸν ἀρόσαντα, καὶ τρέφει στάχυν εἰς καρπὸν ὥριμον. Οὔτε ἐν λόγοις ὁ δαψιλέστερος, τοῦ σοφωτέρου λυσιτελέστερος. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἴσως ὀλίγον εὐφράνας ἀπῆλθε, καὶ ὁμοῦ τῷ πληγέντι ἀέρι διελύθη, μηδὲν δυνηθεὶς ὑπὲρ τοῦτο, καὶ τὴν λίχνον ἀκοὴν τῇ εὐγλωττίᾳ κατεγοήτευσεν. Ὁ δὲ εἰς τὸν νοῦν διέβη καὶ πλατύνας τὸ στόμα ἐπλήρωσε Πνεύματος, καὶ τῆς γεννήσεως ὤφθη μακρότερος, καὶ πολλὰ ἐν ὀλίγαις συλλαβαῖς ἐγεώργησε.