Chapter I.588    Or, “men.”    [Presuming that all who are disposed to study this work will turn to Dr. Bunsen’s first volume (Hippol.), I have not thought it wise to load these pages with references to his interesting reviewal.]—The Ophites the Progenitors of Subsequent Heresies.

Whatever opinions, then, were entertained by those who derived the first principles (of their doctrine) from the serpent, and in process of time589    Or, “moist.”    κατὰ τελείωσιν τῶν χρόνων.  This is Bunsen’s emendation. The textual reading is μείωσιν. deliberately590    Or, “congealed snow.”    ἑκουσίως: Bunsen suggests ἀνοσίως, i.e., profanely. brought forward into public notice their tenets, we have explained in the book preceding this, (and) which is the fifth of the Refutation of Heresies. But now also I shall not be silent as regards the opinions of (heresiarchs) who follow these (Ophites in succession); nay, not one (speculation) will I leave unrefuted, if it is possible to remember all (their tenets), and the secret orgies of these (heretics) which one may fairly style orgies,—for they who propagate such audacious opinions are not far distant from the anger (of God),—that I may avail myself of the assistance of etymology.

[6] Ὅσα μὲν οὖν ἐδόκει τοῖς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄφεως τὰς ἀρχὰς παρειληφόσι καὶ κατὰ [ση]μείωσιν τῶν χρόνων εἰς φανερὸν τὰς δόξας [αὑτῶν] ἑκουσίως προενεγκαμένοις, ἐν τῇ πρὸ ταύτης βίβλῳ οὔσῃ πέμπτῃ τοῦ ἐλέγχου τῶν αἱρέσεων ἐξεθέμην. νυνὶ δὲ καὶ τῶν ἀκολούθων τὰς γνώμας οὐ σιωπήσω, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ μίαν ἀνέλεγκτον καταλείψω, εἴ γε δυνατὸν πάσας ἀπομνημονεῦσαι καὶ τὰ τούτων ἀπόρρητα ὄργια_ἃ δικαίως ὄργια κλητέον: οὐ γὰρ μακρὰν ἀπέχουσιν [θεοῦ] ὀργῆς τοιαῦτα τετολμηκότες, ἵνα καὶ τῇ ἐτυμολογίᾳ χρήσωμαι. _