Chapter I.—Heresy Compared to (1) the Stormy Ocean, (2) the Rocks of the Sirens; Moral from Ulysses and the Sirens.

The pupils of these men, when they perceive the doctrines of the heretics to be like unto the ocean when tossed into waves by violence of the winds, ought to sail past in quest of the tranquil haven. For a sea of this description is both infested with wild beasts and difficult of navigation, like, as we may say, the Sicilian (Sea), in which the legend reports were Cyclops, and Charybdis, and Scylla, and the rock782    A hiatus here has given rise to conjecture. Cruice suggests χορός (band) instead of ὄρος.    Much that we have in this book is quite new. Hippolytus derives his article on Tatian, and in a measure that on the Encratites, from Irenæus. The rest is probably from original sources. of the Sirens. Now, the poets of the Greeks allege that Ulysses sailed through (this channel), adroitly using (to his own purpose) the terribleness of these strange monsters.783    Or, “practices of the monsters,” or “inhospitable beasts.” Abbe Cruice suggests παροξέων, and Roeper ἐμπλάστων.    Or, “Noimus.” For the savage cruelty (in the aspect) of these towards those who were sailing through was remarkable. The Sirens, however, singing sweetly and harmoniously, beguiled the voyagers, luring, by reason of their melodious voice, those who heard it, to steer their vessels towards (the promontory). The (poets) report that Ulysses, on ascertaining this, smeared with wax the ears of his companions, and, lashing himself to the mast, sailed, free of danger, past the Sirens, hearing their chant distinctly. And my advice to my readers is to adopt a similar expedient, viz., either on account of their infirmity to smear their ears with wax, and sail (straight on) through the tenets of the heretics, not even listening to (doctrines) that are easily capable of enticing them into pleasure, like the luscious lay of the Sirens, or, by binding one’s self to the Cross784    Literally, the (accursed) tree.    [Note the honour uniformly rendered to the Holy Scriptures by the Fathers.] of Christ, (and) hearkening with fidelity (to His words), not to be distracted, inasmuch as he has reposed his trust in Him to whom ere this he has been firmly knit, and (I admonish that man) to continue stedfastly (in this faith).

[13] Πελάγει κλυδωνιζομένῳ ὑπὸ βίας ἀνέμων ἐοικότα [ὁρῶντες] τὰ τῶν αἱρετικῶν δόγματα ἐχρῆν τοὺς ἀκροατὰς [ὁρμῶντας] παραπλεῖν, ἐπιζητοῦντας τὸν εὔδιον λιμένα. τὸ γὰρ τοιοῦτον πέλαγός ἐστι καὶ θηριῶδες καὶ δύσβατον, ὡς [φέρ'] εἰπεῖν τὸ Σικελιωτικόν, ἐν ᾧ μυθεύεται [καὶ] Κύκλωψ καὶ Χάρυβδις καὶ Σκύλ(λ)α (καὶ) (Πλ)α(γκταὶ) [καὶ] τὸ Σειρήνων ὄρος, ὃ διαπλεῦσαι τὸν Ὀδυσσέα φάσκουσιν Ἑλλήνων οἱ ποιηταὶ πανούργως χρησάμενον τῇ τῶν π[α]ραξέ[ν]ων θηρ[ί]ων δεινότητι: διάφορος γὰρ ἡ τούτων ὠμότης πρὸς τοὺς διαπλέοντας ἦν. αἱ δὲ Σειρῆνες λιγὺ ᾄδουσαι καὶ μουσικῶς ἠπάτων τοὺς παραπλέοντας, πείθουσαι ἡδείᾳ φωνῇ προσάγειν τοὺς ἀκροωμένους. τοῦτο [δὲ] μαθόντα φασὶ τὸν Ὀδυσσέα κατακηρῶσαι τὰς ἀκοὰς τῶν ἑταίρων, ἑαυτὸν δὲ τῷ ξύλῳ προσδήσαντα παραπλεῦσαι ἀκινδύνως τὰς Σειρῆνας, [καίπερ] κατακούσαντα τῆς τούτων ᾠδῆς. ὃ ποιῆσαι τοῖς ἐντυγχάνουσιν συμβουλὴ [ἐμή], καὶ ἢ τὰ ὦτα κατακηρώσα(ν)τας δι' ἀσθένειαν διαπλεῦσαι τὰ τῶν αἱρετικῶν δόγματα, μηδε[νὸς] κατακούσαντας [τῶν] πείθειν εὐκόλως δυναμένων πρὸς ἡδονήν, ὡς [τὸ] λιγυρὸν ᾆσμα [τῶν] Σειρήνων, ἢ ἑαυτὸν τῷ ξύλῳ Χριστοῦ προσδήσαντα, πιστῶς κατακούσαντα μὴ ταραχθῆναι, πεποιθότα ᾧ προσεσφίγγετ[ο], καὶ ἑστηκέν[αι] ὀρθόν.