Oration XXXIV. On the Arrival of the Egyptians.

 I.  I will address myself as is right to those who have come from Egypt for they have come here eagerly, having overcome illwill by zeal, from that E

 II.  For from you hath sounded forth the Word to all men healthfully believed and preached and you are the best bringers of fruit of all men, specia

 III.  Such was Joseph your Superintendent of corn measures, whom I may call ours also who by his surpassing wisdom was able both to foresee the famin

 IV.  Of these great men and doctors and soldiers of the truth and victors, you are the nurslings and offspring of these neither times nor tyrants, re

 V.  Once thou didst praise me thy Mendesian Goats, and thy Memphite Apis, a fatted and fleshy calf, and the rites of Isis, and the mutilations of Osir

 VI.  Wherefore I embrace and salute thee, O noblest of peoples and most Christian, and of warmest piety, and worthy of thy leaders for I can find not

 VII.  But, O people of God and mine, beautiful also was your yesterday’s assembly, which you held upon the sea, and pleasant, if any sight ever was, t

 VIII.  I find two highest differences in things that exist, viz.:—Rule, and Service not such as among us either tyranny has cut or poverty has severe

 IX.  This being so, if any be on the Lord’s side let him come with us, and let us adore the One Godhead in the Three not ascribing any name of humili

 X.  What must we say of the Father, Whom by common consent all who have been preoccupied with natural conceptions share, although He hath endured the

 XI.  For my part I revere also the Titles of the Word, which are so many, and so high and great, which even the demons respect.  And I revere also the

 XII.  I dare to utter something, O Trinity and may pardon be granted to my folly, for the risk is to my soul.  I too am an Image of God, of the Heave

 XIII.  To sum up my discourse:—Glorify Him with the Cherubim, who unite the Three Holies into One Lord, and so far indicate the Primal Substance as th

 XIV.  With Luke be inspired as you study the Acts of the Apostles.  Why do you range yourself with Ananias and Sapphira, those vain embezzlers (if ind

 XV.  Speak of God with Paul, who was caught up to the third Heaven, and who sometimes counts up the Three Persons, and that in varied order, not keepi

IV.  Of these great men and doctors and soldiers of the truth and victors, you are the nurslings and offspring; of these neither times nor tyrants, reason nor envy, nor fear, nor accuser, nor slanderer, whether waging open war against them, or plotting secretly; nor any who appeared to be of our side, nor any stranger, nor gold—that hidden tyrant, through which now almost everything is turned upside down and made to depend on the hazard of a die; nor flatteries nor threats, nor long and distant exiles (for they only could not be affected by confiscation, because of their great riches, which were—to possess nothing) nor anything else, whether absent or present or expected, could induce to take the worse part, and to be anywise traitor to the Trinity, or to suffer loss of the Godhead.  On the contrary indeed, they grew strong by dangers, and became more zealous for true religion.  For to suffer thus for Christ adds to one’s love, and is as it were an earnest to high-souled men of further conflicts.  These, O Egypt, are thy present tales and wonders.

Δʹ. Τούτων ὑμεῖς θρέμματα καὶ προβλήματα τῶν μεγάλων, καὶ δογματιστῶν, καὶ ἀγωνιστῶν τῆς ἀληθείας, καὶ νικητῶν: οὓς οὐ καιρὸς, οὐ δυνάστης, οὐ λόγος, οὐ φθόνος, οὐ φόβος, οὐ κατήγορος, οὐ συκοφάντης, οὐ φανερῶς πολεμῶν, οὐ λαθραίως ἐπιβουλεύων, οὐχ ἡμέτερος τῷ δοκεῖν, οὐκ ἀλλότριος, οὐ χρυσὸς, ὁ ἀφανὴς τύραννος, ᾧ νῦν τὰ πολλὰ μεταῤῥίπτεται καὶ πεττεύεται, οὐ θεραπεῖαι, οὐκ ἀπειλαὶ, οὐκ ἐξορίαι μακραί τε καὶ ἀριθμούμεναι (δημεύσει γὰρ οὐκ ἐγένοντο μόνον ἁλωτοὶ, διὰ τὸν μέγαν πλοῦτον, τὴν ἀκτημοσύνην), οὐκ ἄλλο οὐδὲν τῶν ἀπόντων, ἢ τῶν παρόντων, ἢ τῶν προσδοκωμένων ἐπῆρεν, οὐδὲ ἀνέπεισε χείρους γενέσθαι, καὶ προδοῦναί τι τῆς Τριάδος, καὶ ζημιωθῆναι θεότητα. Τοὐναντίον μὲν οὖν ἐῤῥώσθησαν τοῖς κινδύνοις, καὶ φιλοτιμότεροι γεγόνασιν εἰς εὐσέβειαν. Τοιοῦτο γὰρ τὸ παθεῖν ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ, τῷ φίλτρῳ προστίθησι, καὶ οἷον ἀῤῥαβὼν γίνεται τῶν ἑξῆς ἄθλων τοῖς μεγαλόφροσι. Τοιαῦτά σου, Αἴγυπτε, τὰ νῦν διηγήματά τε καὶ θαύματα.