Chapter XLVI.—The Astrotheosophists; Aratus Imitated by the Heresiarchs; His System of the Disposition of the Stars.

Having sufficiently explained these opinions, let us next pass on to a consideration of the subject taken in hand, in order that, by proving what we have determined concerning heresies, and by compelling their (champions) to return to these several (speculators) their peculiar tenets, we may show the heresiarchs destitute (of a system); and by proclaiming the folly of those who are persuaded (by these heterodox tenets), we shall prevail on them to retrace their course to the serene haven of the truth. In order, however, that the statements about to follow may seem more clear to the readers, it is expedient also to declare the opinions advanced by Aratus concerning the disposition of the stars of the heavens. (And this is necessary), inasmuch as some persons, assimilating these (doctrines) to those declared by the Scriptures, convert (the holy writings) into allegories, and endeavour to seduce the mind of those who give heed to their (tenets), drawing them on by plausible words into the admission of whatever opinions they wish, (and) exhibiting a strange marvel, as if the assertions made by them were fixed among the stars. They, however, gazing intently on the very extraordinary wonder, admirers as they are of trifles, are fascinated like a bird called the owl, which example it is proper to mention, on account of the statements that are about to follow. The animal (I speak of) is, however, not very different from an eagle, either in size or figure, and it is captured in the following way:—The hunter of these birds, when he sees a flock of them lighting anywhere, shaking his hands, at a distance pretends to dance, and so by little and little draws near the birds. But they, struck with amazement at the strange sight, are rendered unobservant of everything passing around them. But others of the party, who have come into the country equipped for such a purpose, coming from behind upon the birds, easily lay hold on them as they are gazing on the dancer.

Wherefore I desire that no one, astonished by similar wonders of those who interpret the (aspect of) heaven, should, like the owl, be taken captive. For the knavery practised by such speculators may be considered dancing and silliness, but not truth. Aratus,272    Arat., Phænom., v. 19 et seq. therefore, expresses himself thus:—

“Just as many are they; hither and thither they roll

Day by day o’er heav’n, endless, ever, (that is, every star),

Yet this declines not even little; but thus exactly

E’er remains with axis fixed and poised in every part

Holds earth midway, and heaven itself around conducts.”

[46] Ἱκανῶς οὖν τὰ [τούτοις] δόξαντα ἐκθέμενοι, λοιπὸν ἐπὶ τὴν τοῦ προκειμένου πραγματείαν χωρήσομεν, ὅπως ὃ τετάγμεθα περὶ τῶν αἱρέσεων ἐπιδείξαντες, ἑκάστοις τε τὰ ἴδια ἀποδοῦναι ἀναγκάσαντες γυμνοὺς τοὺς αἱρεσιάρχας φανερώσωμεν καὶ ἀφροσύνην τῶν πειθομένων κατηγορήσαντες πείσωμεν παλινδρομεῖν ἐπὶ τὸν τῆς ἀληθείας εὔδιον λιμένα. ἵνα δὲ σαφέστερα τοῖς ἐντυγχάνουσι τὰ ῥηθησόμενα φανῇ, δοκεῖ καὶ [τὰ] τῷ Ἀράτῳ πεφροντισμένα περὶ τῆς κατὰ τὸν οὐρανὸν ἄστρων διαθέσεως ἐξειπεῖν, ὥς τινες εἰς τὰ ὑπὸ τῶν γραφῶν εἰρημένα ἀπεικονίζοντες αὐτὰ ἀλληγοροῦσι, μετάγειν τὸν νοῦν τῶν προσεχόντων πειρώμενοι, πιθανοῖς λόγοις προ(σ)άγοντες αὐτοὺς πρὸς ἃ βούλονται, ξένον θαῦμα ἐνδεικνύμενοι, ὡσ[ὰν] κατηστερισμένων τῶν ὑπ' αὐτῶν λεγομένων. οἱ [δὲ] τῷ παραξένῳ θαύματι ἐνορῶντες μικροθαύμαστοι ἁλίσκονται δίκην ὀρνέου τοῦ λεγομένου ὤτου, οὗ τὸ παράδειγμα καλὸν ἐξειπεῖν διὰ τὰ μέλλοντα. ἔστι δὲ τὸ ζῷον οὐ πολὺ ἀπεμφαῖνον ἀετοῦ οὔτε μεγέθει οὔτε μορφῇ, ἁλίσκεται δὲ τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον. ὁ ἀγρευτὴς τῶν ὀρνίθων, ἐπὰν ἴδῃ ἀγέλην που καταπτᾶσαν, πόρρωθεν ἀνακρουόμενος τὰς χεῖρας ὀρχεῖσθαι σκήπτεται καὶ οὕτω πρὸς ὀλίγον ἐγγίζει τοῖς ὄρνισιν: οἱ δὲ τὴν παράδοξον θέαν καταπεπληγότες, ἀπερίβλεπτοι πάντων γίνονται: ἕτεροι δὲ τῶν ἐπὶ τὴν ἄγραν παρεσκευασμένων ὄπισθεν ἐπελθόντες τοὺς ὄρνεις εὐκόλως συλλαμβάνονται θεωμένους τὸν ὀρχηστήν. διὸ ἀξιῶ μή τις τοῖς ὁμοίοις θαύμασι καταπλαγεὶς [τῶν] ἐξηγουμένων τὸν οὐρανὸν δίκην ὤτου συλληφθῇ: ὄρχησις γὰρ καὶ λῆρος ἡ τῶν τοιούτων πανουργία, καὶ οὐκ ἀλήθ(εια). Φησὶν οὖν ὁ Ἄρατος οὕτως: Οἱ μὲν ὁμῶς πολέες τε καὶ ἄλ[λ]υδις ἄλλοι ἐόντες οὐρανῷ ἕλκονται πάντ' ἤματα συνεχὲς αἰεί _τουτέστιν οἱ πάντες ἀστέρες: _ αὐτὰρ ὅ γ' οὐδ' ὀλίγον μετανίσσεται, ἀλλὰ μάλ' αὕτως ἄξων αἰὲν ἄρηρεν, ἔχει δ' ἀτάλαντον ἁπάντῃ μεσσηγὺς γαῖαν, περὶ δ' οὐρανὸν αὐτὸς ἀγιν(εῖ).