Chronicon sive Maius (partim sub auctore Macario Melisseno)

 talking nonsense and taught them, against whose words and foolish talk we shall reasonably argue and concerning the coming to Italy of the emperor lo

 Make the truth clear to me Who are the conspirators and accomplices and advocates of this plot and who are the advisers in this? Tell me the truth an

 his opponents, that is, his adversaries, made a long speech and filled the ears of the new king for this reason, before suffering anything, he took t

 he entrusted the treasures to him alone and at whatever time military affairs and the public need required money, they demanded it from him which wa

 the aristocracy of the Venetians became master of forts and lands. And again another conspicuous and great victory, and one worthy of eternal memory i

 lamenting, he was beating and throwing his head upon his chest, crying out mournfully: O shudder, sun, o groan, earth, and being shaken cry out agains

 and at Allage, a terrible disease struck his heart, announcing a swift death. And in that place after two days he measured out his life, in the year #

 the daughter of the sister of the king of Spain, and a descendant of the marquis of Montferrat, who had obtained Thessalonica by lot, as we have said

 and engaging with them, he accomplished nothing, but rather even returned having suffered losses. Then their leaders, being at odds, were divided and

 Seeking Michael the king and his brother, he happened to pass by the house of the courtesan, whom the brother's watchmen, seeing him and not knowing w

 of Zoodotos, the one called of Chora, he confiscated all his properties and money. Then later again, the emperor, being compassionate, provided for ev

 he took a wife, Anna by name, with whom he begot two daughters, the firstborn of whom he gave as a wife to the son of the leader of the Mysians and a

 the fear of Orhan and he was always seeking a suitable opportunity, so that, if possible, he might try again and bring the empire under himself. But

 emir. 188 But the emperor John, when he saw and heard that the army of Kantakouzenos, his father-in-law, was coming and preparing, and not having the

 go to the emir and ask for forgiveness. And coming before the emir, he confessed all that he had done in ignorance but this impious man, being pruden

 immediately beheaded his own son but the emperor, willing and unwilling, because of fear of the emir, deprived the despot lord Andronikos, his son, o

 XIII. When the emir Murad died, his son Bayezid Aleutores received the rule. Therefore the lord Andronikos, who was also blind, finding an opportunity

 near the metropolis of Serres, the emperor lord Manuel was also present according to the promises and agreements they had, and his brother the despot

 and having prepared well, he proceeded against his adversaries. When the armies drew near, the Germans first and the Gauls kindled the war, and when t

 sending mpasias and Vrenezes with an army of fifty thousand, and on their return, while on the road and having reached the interior of the Peloponnese

 parts of Larissa of the blinding of Orhan, the son of Musulman, 20by his uncle Moses20 and of the arrival from the east to the west of his brother Meh

 XIX. The lord John Komnenos, at a certain time finding himself in the east in the regions of the province of the city of Neocaesarea, fighting with th

 And he himself, using a stroke of fortune, as happens contrary to expectation, had become sultan and emir and leader of the Turks. Who also in secret

 And under the shade of the tree were sitting every winged bird, and among these many and innumerable birds there were also some eagles, both small and

 Kalames and his son Karases took Mysia toward the Hellespont and Othman the parts around Olympus and whatever was next of Bithynia. And thus having d

 he made war against the despot Lazar, who ruled Serbia having routed and defeated him, he pursued him and scattered his army and again took many citi

 they might be friends. But the emir, <being> extremely greedy, was never satisfied with wealth and manner. 224 Being impetuous and formidable, he cons

 and strangled him having been established in power for *** months and Musulman having become master of the domain, Temir then freed his brother Musa,

 having made war, the Venetian fleet, therefore, had as its admiral Pietro Loredan and both fleets having met, I mean those of the Venetians and of th

 to his son Mehmed he gave all authority and the kingdom, having reigned for thirty-four years.

 they have become. He reigned for thirty-two years and he subdued and enslaved ten kingdoms and took two hundred cities from the Christians. He spoke

 they fought those growing up among them. But the Hagarenes dwelling in Spain, having grown to a great population, and seeing that the land they inhabi

 Again after one year the emperor Michael sends another fleet against them. They accomplished no worthy deed, and the Saracens thereafter lived without

 towards the western sea from there, near the trench where the wall of the Isthmus had been, he transports the ships over the dry land. And having quic

 Boniface, Marquis of Montferrat, had entered into the alliance with a notable share and was recognized as the commander of the entire land army he wa

 XXVII. And in the beginning of the 20th year, the lord Thomas, son of the sovereign, was sent to the Peloponnese by the emperor his father at which t

 the emperor and they were not able to depart because the secret roads leading to the City were closed. And thus many days passed, from which indeed t

 Philommates, 20but the emir was raging in his anger against the Roman empire, for the reasons which we have stated, and immediately, when he saw them,

 wherever you wish. When he took me aside privately, he gave me a folded paper, which showed me also whence and when he had departed. But when I unfold

 The lady kyra Sophia, having fled, crossed over to her own fatherland, for the reason that the emperor kyr John, her husband, did not have such great

 of such a kind, that my father's brother was his tutor and his sons, my cousins, were brought up with him and were his friends and servants, and I wit

 the brothers to be found together in Sparta, except for the aforementioned despot, lord Theodore, when he should become a monk. And on the first of Ju

 reasons for the common benefit, even if the untimeliness of death snatched him away and the work remained unfinished. Since many others have spoken of

 and extraordinary things, which he had heard and was saying. Therefore, the same Laskaris was sent as governor of 20Ithome and20 Androusa, and further

 horse, and immediately he fell to the ground and the enemies, running to kill him or capture him, found me there as a defender. And he, indeed, by Go

 authority over the willing women of the city, and the people of the city were willing to give them every necessary thing for visiting and caring for t

 of all the priests, hieromonks, summoned and unsummoned, lords and ladies. And these things are indeed so and true.

 And I, not knowing what might happen, reported to him that if the metropolitan did not come, God willing, and they gave us the castle, and I recovered

 Having arrived on the fourth of the same month, we remained in the church of Saint Andrew, behold, also two Turks passing through Naupactus, one of th

 he reasoned that he was not able to accomplish anything good, unless it was harmful. But I, by the good pleasure of God, did this, and a certain ambas

 the young lord, kyr Thomas. And in the #2239th year, in the month of September, I was granted the governorship of Patras. And in the same year, in the

 while expecting the Venetian merchant triremes, so that boarding he might depart for the City, behold, I arrived with nothing accomplished. XI. And ha

 they having agreed, that my lord and master should depart and reside in Constantinople, and the lord Theodore and the lord Thomas the despots in the P

 He made the Red Sea to be crossed, and from the rock so much water gushed forth that all the people were satisfied, and the ark, being held up by the

 of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of the Holy Spirit according to the prophetic word he was named Emmanuel, that is, God with us, o

 with his all-holy mother both present and watching and now he is in heaven, sitting together with God the Father and worshipped together with him by

 who have fallen from him. And the heart of a man toward his neighbor. For it will prepare brothers to think brotherly thoughts. And showing the purpos

 and great, so that the attack of the impious against Constantinople might happen, and from this again the siege and captivity and such and so great a

 period, as it would be superfluous to commit it to writing, because of its length I will omit it. But the entry into Venice of the Emperor John and th

 of piety, perhaps. But before the stern stood something upright like a high pillar. And on top of the pillar was something like a square table, less t

 XV. Therefore, on the twenty-eighth of February, having departed from Venice, both the emperor and the despot and all the clergy and their retinue wer

 Noah's ark. And that was securely made safe. As for the part in the water, it was smeared with pitch, and the visible part was beautified with various

 Of Constantinople, kyr Metrophanes, formerly metropolitan of Cyzicus. 334 χῃιιι. And on the sixth of the month of December of the #22μθ-ου year I was

 care because of the suspicion, which we had from the emir and from the despot lord Demetrios and indeed from the emperor himself. XIX. In the month of

 he knows wherefore it is not necessary for your majesty to undertake this, the matter is dangerous, but I will do whatever is commanded by your majes

 many offices and make everyone have no other authority except you as my sole lord, that is, in my place. And if you wish not to commit injustices and

 striving to make this despot and porphyrogennetos king. But by the citizens of Constantine's city it was judged not to be worthy, while the first and

 of the impious nations from there, and they sold him into the inner parts of the Persians. And his master, being a merchant, and with many other merch

 Amurates, 20which I also learned while I was still in Iberia20. When, therefore, I came to Trebizond, the emperor said to me the following: My lord am

 here also how the wife of the emir, his cousin, returned to her own country to her own parents honorably and well. And when I heard, I considered acco

 she should be joined with her, but for her to remain in prudence, being a virgin, and as far as possible to serve God who granted her freedom for whi

 of the Serbian marriage alliance. And answering he said to me: I owe you much for your love and faith towards me since childhood and for such great se

 if any of these should wish and agree to what the imperial letters stipulated, so that should the need arise, they might see if the emir wishes to do

 He said again: But I have a suspicion that if I send someone else besides you, he will not maintain the proper goodwill and faithfulness to me, lest m

 the office of Constable, since his father-in-law has this, he will bestow it neither on you nor on anyone else, but he will give you that of the Grand

 for how, not considering the so many kindnesses and friendships from you towards me, do they wish, in comparison of your things, to jump from their pr

 Turahan and his two sons, Achumates and Amaren, with a very large army in the Peloponnese, so that by fighting they might hinder the despots and broth

 to cast the very heavy iron chain at the mouth of the harbor, so that it might hinder the assault of the fleet, I mean of the enemy ships. And inside

 to his king. And he, having summoned me, said: This service pertains to you, the things needing guarding and secret. Take therefore the registers of t

 of the city and according to his command they began to dig. A certain John the German, highly skilled in the arts of war and of liquid fire, having l

 their empty [places], they were amazed. And the emir, being more grieved and ashamed, was amazed at the dexterity of our men and said, perhaps in wond

 a few having been struck and after not many days, a few of them departed to the Lord. But the amir, so maddened and grieved against the droungarios o

 of two hundred men, both archers and crossbowmen for they had in that part a siege tower opposite, and it was covered with the hides of buffalo and o

 we were preparing for war. 7. And since the palace was lacking money for the soldiers' pay, the emperor ordered to take the holy vessels of the church

 to withdraw. And he did these things not only because of the entrance to the harbor, but also that he might pay back the Ligurian ships, so that he mi

 does. No fortunate man is a friend to the unfortunate. VII. And on the twenty-fourth of May it was whispered, that the emir wishes to make war on us f

 deciding to get up on the morrow and to lift the siege. But on the same evening, on which he was planning for the morrow, so that they might depart, t

 For his words and counsel greatly pleased the emir, and he remained gracious and received relief from his grief. And giving orders, he says: 'Review t

 and of the divine images and standards the priests, high priests and monks, and women and children, going about through the walls of the city with tea

 they will fly over us like the sand of the seas. Through which, for I hope, they will not harm us, because I see and greatly rejoice and I am nourishe

 of his babbling false prophet Mohammed and a dwelling place for brute animals and camels. Therefore, brothers and fellow soldiers, consider this in yo

 or to enter. And when we 20came to the Caligaria at the first hour of the cockcrow and dismounting from our horses we went up into the tower and 20we

 Theophilos Palaiologos and Demetrios Kantakouzenos, most excellent men, leaping forward, conquer the Hagarenes and put them to flight and cast them do

 encouraged the enemy and shouting many cries, all eagerly and without fear climbed upon the walls. 10. When, therefore, the unfortunate emperor and m

 many and various and countless lamentations, enslavements of noble ladies and virgins and those consecrated to God, being dragged by the Turks by the

 they marveled at his counsel. But Notaras said to the emir: All these things I was guarding for your kingdom and behold, now I bestow them on you as

 From Augustus Caesar until the great Constantine Flavius, the thrice-blessed and celebrated and ever-memorable, who transferred the imperial rule from

 Concerning the chapters in the Quran of Muhammad and what is contained in them first, in the first discourse and in the first chapter.

 Nemeli, which is interpreted fly, he tells about Solomon and the flies a certain foolish falsehood, which he also says. Fourteenth, that in the chapte

 having become their [leader], then he also gathered for himself a sufficient force, and he overran and plundered all of Syria and ravaged and destroye

 of the palace performed the Blessed, then also a short litany and the Grand Domestic chanted For where the king's presence is and the rest, then

 he himself shall be free, and the patriarchs after him forever, likewise also all the high priests subject to him. 458

 Then, having nothing else to say except only, as we said before, that we lost the kingdom because we did not think rightly, and they themselves, perha

 7. And so through the four winds the great Zacharias and the divine Daniel teach of the four great kingdoms, that of the Chaldeans I say, that of the

 of our sound and holy faith and the impiety which the Hagarenes have. And God did not say to him once, but even twice. First, he said: You shall bear

 furthermore, so that what the God-seer Moses said might come to pass, and not that the Romans and Serbs and Bulgarians did not think rightly, as our a

 he took care of this. For when the cardinal of Russia was found in the city, I also mediated 472 concerning this with my lord the king, of celebrated

 Galata, in order that they might send men, and they did not send them? or who performed fasts and prayers for himself and through the priests, giving

 he spoke with authority, Lazarus, come forth, and the breathless one obeyed the command of the Lord, showing both his divinity and humanity so at t

 Muhammad: I have made all things for your sake, and you for my sake and this the Christians do not accept. But also the name of Muhammad is found wri

 state, he was perplexed within himself, that there is some power that holds together and governs the universe. And since all men confess that there is

 the baptized as impious. If, then, you love Muhammad, because he speaks truly, how do you call the baptized impious and not follow the teaching of the

 eighty years old for he was found to be of so many years, when he was commanded by God to lead the sons of Israel out of Egypt but Christ had the te

 smoother, and nothing is truer than the truth. But nevertheless, let us examine and see what the words of the lawgiver mean. Surely nothing else, but

 are works of wrath and aversion and the results of sin. For before the transgression and sin of Adam, where were baths, where were houses at all, wher

 it is also concerning his sons and their wives. But Moses himself, when ascending Mount Sinai, speaks thus to the Jews: Sanctify yourselves, each one,

 drinkings and baths and women, which are the results of sin and wrath, as has been said, but holiness and purity and an angelic way of life, joy and g

 Who would have dared to cast out the name of Mohammed from the Gospel, if it were found written in it? On the one hand, because he who dared to add or

 Yes. And the beast said: I will not permit him to ascend, unless he first should pray to God for me. And I prayed to my God for the beast, and I mount

 himself, but also of all those, into whom Gabriel had no entrance, but was so inferior to them, that he handed over Muhammad himself to another angel,

 of certain proofs for the manifestation of the truth but since God truly and clearly reveals himself, I have considered it superfluous to give any de

 this one to be found dissonant, but also not even to be in agreement with himself, just as this present Muhammad is in the whole of his writing. But i

 concerning the Quran, that no one among men, not even Muhammad himself, knows its interpretation, but only God. And if this is true, what is the benef

 of the earth and became guilty of many other sins, for which God, as they say, sympathized with him. Furthermore, Christ performed terrible and extrao

 spiritual and bodily health, as in the case of Christ, or for use, as in the case of Moses and Joshua the son of Nun. But how did the moon perform suc

 Lightning does not happen in another way, except by the interaction of the winds and the collision of the clouds, as being forced by the winds, a cras

 You will see this truly Take pure rain water in a glass jar and leave the water, until it disappears, and you will find earth, as we have said. And t

 I returned to Patras, by God's help alone we escaped the evil of the sea, which found us on the way. 9. In June of the same year the amir took the cit

 XVI. In the month of October of the year #22'67 the emir, having sent an ambassador to the despot lord Demetrios, asking for his daughter as a wife, 2

 the worst and most useless race of the Albanians, having found an opportunity suitable to their reputation and their rapacious and greedy and unjust m

 his Sakkos having celebrated the sacred rite. And when in the divine liturgy he showed the holy things to the people, saying, With fear of God and fa

 beauty and the virtues of the citizens, the emperors in succession honored their holy church and the citizens themselves of the renowned fortress, and

 cities and regions of my empire are assigned by chrysobulls and ordinances of my holy and ever-memorable and blessed lords and emperors, both the fath

 of them, or from west to east or from east to west or from the region of Zagora, transporting animals or anything else, whether to Sozopolis or to Aga

 of the emir himself and to the parts around Leontari, and finding it deserted of people, he took it because the people had fled. But in Gardiki, as it

 and there a most beautiful monastery in the name of Saint Nicholas, which my mother's father had built from its foundations. And when Raoul George and

 fear of the plague, as has been shown. 11. And after a time, finding a residence in the name of Saint Elias near the city, when I had gone there, I to

 20. In November of the year #22oa-ou, Amaris, the son of Turahan, made an incursion and took captive all those around Naupactus of Aetolia, in its dis

 how many there are of his, he marveled and we are condemned for if concerning that blessed master, such a man, they marveled how he had so many here,

 Let them love all, let them converse with all, both their own and strangers, with honor let them not be arrogant, let them be humble and calm. And le

 and the lords who are here are taking counsel. His Beatitude the Pope and I are writing to the legate of the Marches, that he may help you and assist

 he poured out threatening words to those advising him, saying that because of their cowardice and faithlessness they too did not join in the pursuit o

 many myriads of people, not thousands among whom also the daughter of the despotes, 20the sultana, died. 15. In the #22nd year, in the month of Novem

 of God and you believe in the Son of God and these things are written, that they may believe that this is the Christ, the Son of God and the only-bego

 of Mary the virgin20 Isaiah: behold, the virgin shall conceive in her womb and bear a son. Gospel and how shall this be to me, since I know not a man

 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. When the Comforter comes, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send i

 of the Spirit. 580 20 I look for the resurrection of the dead From Acts: it is concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead that I am on trial. F

 Honorius and Pyrrhus the foolish, but two wills and two energies, that is a divine and a human energy and will, and that neither of the natures is wit

 along the shore they destroyed down to the foundations, but the rest they hold. And after he passed through as far as the Principality and having retu

 will be a cause for forgiving me many of the things in which I have erred against him for there has not been in my life a sin, nor an action, nor any

himself, but also of all those, into whom Gabriel had no entrance, but was so inferior to them, that he handed over Muhammad himself to another angel, and he in turn to another and in succession to another, and thus he entered in to God and they met one another; further, he not only shows himself to be greater than all of them, but also as praying on their behalf. I omit to speak about that great and God-seeing Moses, whom, as he says, he saw in the fourth heaven; but that he himself ascended above even the seventh and went as far as God, and spoke with Him; and after these things he went out and came down into the fourth heaven, as has been said, and met with Moses, and that this one advised him to turn back and beseech God on behalf of the people for the prayer to be made lighter, as they were unable to bear it; and that he, accepting this counsel, turned back to God and sought this, and that his request was accepted and the prayer was made lighter; and that again Moses compelled him to turn back again up to five times to God, and again the prayer was made much less. And when Moses, not being satisfied, told him again to turn back to God and ask that the prayer be made more lenient, he did not consent, but went down to the Emperak and rode, until he came to where he was before. Consider, therefore, a lie filled with all ignorance. The God, whom Muhammad himself confesses to be the creator of heaven and earth, he shows to be in a body and not incorporeal, for the divine is incorporeal, without quantity and having no magnitude, nor circumscribed in form; but that which is so in its own nature, how could it be of parts? For if one were to grant that this exists, how will it be conceived as incorporeal? For that which has a shape, certainly also has quantity, and that which has quantity, also has a place; of necessity it is circumscribed. But these things are corporeal; and how could anyone partaking of reason apply the properties of a body to that blessed and incorporeal nature of God? And the patriarch Abraham in the theophany of old considered himself earth and ashes; and when such and so great a man as Daniel saw an angel, his glory was turned into corruption, that is, he almost lost 506 his life; but David says: He who looks upon the earth and makes it tremble. But Muhammad, having ascended above all the angelic powers, spoke directly with God and made supplications on behalf of angels and the whole world, and did not fail in his prayer. But I wonder how this audacious and boastful man did not dare to say that he apprehended the nature of God, just as God himself knows it. But He who dwells in the heavens will laugh at him and those with him, and the Lord will hold them in derision. 3. Furthermore, was God not able to know the strength of the people, but laid upon their neck a law which they were not able to bear; and how is He God, who does not know His own creatures, nor the strength of His own creature? But if, being true God and knowing all things before their creation, He gave the imperfect law of Moses because of the weakness of men, and the perfect one through the Gospel, how did He, as if ignorant or having changed His mind, bring the perfect back again to the imperfect? For the perfect is perfect in this way, if it is neither lacking, nor superfluous and redundant, just as the truth testifies of the Gospel. But even Muhammad himself calls it perfect and true and holy and salvation and guidance, but these followers of Muhammad, justifying the impious one, say that Christ taught great and impossible things; for who is able to love his neighbor as himself and God with all his heart? Who is able to pray for those who persecute and slander them? Who is able to love his enemies? and the other things. And for this reason God sent Muhammad and the Quran, for the sake of condescension, so that men might easily fulfill the law for their own salvation. If, therefore, Christ did not appear as God and Son of God, but was thus simply a man like Moses, we would have needed

ἑαυτόν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντων ἐκείνων, εἰς οὓς ὁ Γαβριὴλ οὐκ εἶχε παρείσδυσιν, ἀλλὰ τοσοῦτον ἦν ἀποδέων ἐκείνων, ὥστε τὸν Μωάμεθ αὐτὸν ἑτέρῳ ἀγγέλῳ παραδοῦναι, ὁ δ' αὖ ἑτέρῳ καὶ ἐφεξῆς ἄλλῳ καὶ οὕτως εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν θεὸν καὶ συντυχεῖν ἀλλή λοις· ἔτι μὴ μόνον μείζονα πάντων ἐκείνων δεικνύει ἑαυτόν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὑπὲρ ἐκείνων εὐχόμενος. Ἐῶ λέγειν περὶ τοῦ μεγάλου ἐκείνου καὶ θεόπτου Μωϋσέως, ὅν, ὥς φη σιν, εἶδεν ἐν τῷ τετάρτῳ οὐρανῷ· αὐτὸν δὲ ὑπεραναβῆναι καὶ τοῦ ἑβδόμου καὶ ἀπελ θεῖν μέχρι καὶ τοῦ θεοῦ, ὁμιλῆσαί τε αὐτῷ· μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἐξελθεῖν καὶ κατελθεῖν ἐν τῷ τετάρτῳ οὐρανῷ, ὡς εἴρηται, καὶ συντυχεῖν τῷ Μωϋσεῖ, συμβουλεῦσαί τε αὐ τὸν τούτῳ ἐπαναστραφέντα παρακαλέσαι τὸν θεὸν ὑπὲρ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ γενέσθαι κου φοτέραν τὴν εὐχὴν ὡς ἀδυνάτως ἔχοντος πρὸς αὐτήν· καὶ δεξαμένου τούτου τὴν βου λὴν ἐπαναστραφῆναι πρὸς τὸν θεὸν καὶ ζητῆσαι τὸ περὶ τούτου καὶ προσδεχθῆναι τὴν ζήτησιν αὐτοῦ καὶ γενέσθαι ἐλαφροτέραν τὴν εὐχήν· καὶ αὖ τοῦ Μωϋσέως ἀναγ κάσαντος αὐτὸν αὖθις ἐπαναστραφῆναι ἕως πεντάκις πρὸς τὸν θεὸν καὶ πάλιν γενέ σθαι πολλῷ ἐλάττω τὴν εὐχήν. Καὶ μὴ ἀρκεσθέντα τὸν Μωϋσῆν εἶπειν καὶ αὖθις, ἵνα ἐπαναστραφῇ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν καὶ αἰτήσῃ συγγνωμονεστέραν γενέσθαι τὴν εὐχήν, οὐ κατένευσεν ἀλλὰ κατελθεῖν εἰς τὸν Ἐμπερὰκ καὶ ἐλαύνειν, ἕως ἂν ἔλθῃ, ἔνθα ἦν πρό τερον. Σκόπει οὖν ψεῦδος πάσης ἀγνωσίας μεμεστώμενον. Τὸν θεόν, ὅντινα ὁμολογεῖ αὐτὸς ὁ Μωάμεθ ποιητὴν οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς, ἐν σώματι δεικνύει καὶ οὐκ ἀσώματον, τὸ γὰρ θεῖον ἀσώματον, ἄποσόν τε καὶ μὴ ἔχον μέγεθος, οὐδὲ ἐν εἴδει περιγραπτόν· τὸ δὲ οὕτως ἔχον ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ αὑτοῦ φύσει, πῶς ἂν ἐκ μερῶν; Εἰ γάρ τις δοίη τοῦτο ὑ πάρχειν, πῶς νοηθήσεται ἀσώματον; Τὸ γὰρ ἐν σχήματι ὄν, πάντως καὶ ἐν ποσῷ, τὸ δὲ ἐν ποσῷ, καὶ ἐν τόπῳ· ἐξ ἀνάγκης περιγραπτόν. Ταῦτα δὲ σωματικά· καὶ τὰ τοῦ σώματος ἴδια πως ἂν ἐπὶ τῆς μακαρίας ἐκείνης καὶ ἀσωμάτου φύσεως τοῦ θεοῦ λογί σηταί τις διανοίας μέτοχος ὤν; Καὶ ὁ μὲν πατριάρχης Ἁβραὰμ ἐν τῇ πάλαι θεοφα νείᾳ γῆν καὶ σποδὸν ἑαυτὸν ἐλογίσατο· τοῦ δὲ ∆ανιὴλ τοῦ τοιούτου καὶ τοσούτου ἄγ γελον ἰδόντος, ἐστράφη ἡ δόξα αὐτοῦ εἰς διαφθοράν, τουτέστι παρὰ βραχὺ ἀπεβάλετο 506 τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ζωήν· ὁ δὲ ∆αβίδ φησιν· Ὁ ἐπιβλέπων ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ ποιῶν αὐτὴν τρέμειν. Ὁ δὲ Μωάμεθ τὰς ἀγγελικὰς πάσας ὑπεραναβὰς δυνάμεις ἀμέσως τῷ θεῷ προσωμίλησε καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀγγέλων καὶ παντὸς τοῦ κόσμου δεήσεις ἐποίησε καὶ τῆς εὐ χῆς οὐκ ἀπέτυχεν. Ἐγὼ δὲ ἀπορῶ, πῶς οὐκ ἔφη τολμήσας ὁ αὐθάδης οὗτος καὶ ἀλα ζῶν, ὅτι κατέλαβε τὴν τοῦ θεοῦ φύσιν, ὥσπερ αὐτὸς ὁ θεὸς οἶδεν αὐτήν. Ἀλλ' ὁ κατοι κῶν ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἐκγελάσεται αὐτὸν καὶ τοὺς μετ' αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ Κύριος ἐκμυκτηρεῖ αὐτούς. 3. Ἔτι οὐκ ἠδύνατο ὁ θεὸς γινώσκειν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ λαοῦ, ἀλλ' ἐπέθηκεν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτῶν νόμον ὃν οὐκ ἐδύναντο βαστάζειν· καὶ πῶς θεός, ὃς οὐ γινώ σκει τὰ ποιήματα αὑτοῦ, μηδὲ τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ποιήματος αὑτοῦ; Εἰ δὲ θεὸς ὤν ἀλη θὴς καὶ τὰ πάντα γινώσκων πρὶν γενέσεως αὐτῶν ἔδωκε νόμον μὲν ἀτελῆ τοῦ Μωϋσέως διὰ τὴν τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἀσθένειαν, τέλειον δὲ τὸν διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, πῶς τὸ τέλειον ὥσπερ ἀγνωῶν ἢ μεταμεληθεὶς εἰς τὸ ἀτελὲς πάλιν κατήγαγε; τὸ γὰρ τέλειον οὕτως ἐστὶ τέλειον, εἴπερ οὔτε ἐλλιπές ἐστιν, οὔτε περιττὸν καὶ παρέλκον, ὥσπερ τὸ εὐαγγέ λιον μαρτυρεῖ ἡ ἀλήθεια. Ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ Μωάμεθ τέλειον καὶ ἀληθὲς καὶ ἅγιον καὶ σωτηρίαν καὶ ὁδηγίαν ἀποκαλεῖ, οἱ δὲ τοῦτοι οἱ τοῦ Μωάμεθ ἀκόλουθοι, δικαιοῦν τες τὸν ἀσεβῆ, λέγουσιν, ὅτι ὁ μὲν Χριστὸς ἐδίδαξε μεγάλα καὶ ἀδύνατα· τίς γὰρ δύ ναται ἀγαπᾶν τὸν πλησίον ὡς ἑαυτὸν καὶ τὸν θεὸν ἐξ ὅλης αὑτοῦ τῆς καρδίας; τίς δύ ναται ὑπὲρ τῶν διωκόντων καὶ συκωφαντούντων εὔχεσθαι; Τὶς δύναται ἀγαπᾶν τοὺς ἐχθροὺς αὑτοῦ; καὶ τὰ ἕτερα. Καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἀπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν Μωάμεθ καὶ τὸ κορᾶν, συγκαταβάσεως ἕνεκεν, ἵνα ῥαδίως πληρῶσιν οἱ ἄνθρωποι τὸν νόμον πρὸς τὴν αὑτῶν σωτηρίαν. Εἶπερ γοῦν οὐκ ἀνεφαίνετο ὁ Χριστὸς θεὸς καὶ θεοῦ υἱός, ἀλλ' οὕτως ἁπλῶς ἄνθρωπος ὡς Μωϋσῆς, ἐδεόμεθα ἄν