Chapter L.

But let us see what those statements of his are which follow next in these words:  “Nay, we see, indeed, that even those individuals, who in the market-places perform the most disgraceful tricks, and who gather crowds around them, would never approach an assembly of wise men, nor dare to exhibit their arts among them; but wherever they see young men, and a mob of slaves, and a gathering of unintelligent persons, thither they thrust themselves in, and show themselves off.”  Observe, now, how he slanders us in these words, comparing us to those who in the market-places perform the most disreputable tricks, and gather crowds around them!  What disreputable tricks, pray, do we perform?  Or what is there in our conduct that resembles theirs, seeing that by means of readings, and explanations of the things read, we lead men to the worship of the God of the universe, and to the cognate virtues, and turn them away from contemning Deity, and from all things contrary to right reason?  Philosophers verily would wish to collect together such hearers of their discourses as exhort men to virtue,—a practice which certain of the Cynics especially have followed, who converse publicly with those whom they happen to meet.  Will they maintain, then, that these who do not gather together persons who are considered to have been educated, but who invite and assemble hearers from the public street, resemble those who in the market-places perform the most disreputable tricks, and gather crowds around them?  Neither Celsus, however, nor any one who holds the same opinions, will blame those who, agreeably to what they regard as a feeling of philanthropy, address their arguments to the ignorant populace.

Ἴδωμεν δ' αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς οὕτως ἔχοντα· Ἀλλ' ὁρῶμεν δή που καὶ τοὺς ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς τὰ ἐπιρρητότατα ἐπιδεικνυμένους καὶ ἀγείροντας εἰς μὲν φρονίμων ἀνδρῶν σύλλογον οὐκ ἄν ποτε παρελθόντας οὐδ' ἐν τούτοις τὰ ἑαυτῶν καλὰ τολμήσαντας ἐπιδεικνύειν, ἔνθα δ' ἂν ὁρῶσι μειράκια καὶ οἰκοτρίβων ὄχλον καὶ ἀνοήτων ἀνθρώπων ὅμιλον, ἐνταῦθα ὠθουμένους τε καὶ καλλωπιζομένους. Ὅρα δὴ καὶ ἐν τούτοις, τίνα τρόπον ἡμᾶς συκοφαντεῖ, ἐξομοιῶν τοῖς ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς τὰ ἐπιρρητότατα ἐπιδεικνυ μένοις καὶ ἀγείρουσι. Ποῖα δὴ ἐπιρρητότατα ἐπιδεικνύμεθα; Ἢ τί τούτοις παραπλήσιον πράττομεν, οἱ καὶ δι' ἀναγνωσ μάτων καὶ διὰ τῶν εἰς τὰ ἀναγνώσματα διηγήσεων προτρέ ποντες μὲν ἐπὶ τὴν εἰς τὸν θεὸν τῶν ὅλων εὐσέβειαν καὶ τὰς συνθρόνους ταύτης ἀρετάς, ἀποτρέποντες δ' ἀπὸ τοῦ κατα φρονεῖν τοῦ θείου καὶ πάντων τῶν παρὰ τὸν ὀρθὸν λόγον πραττομένων; Καὶ οἱ φιλόσοφοί γ' ἂν εὔξαιντο ἀγείρειν τοσούτους ἀκροατὰς λόγων ἐπὶ τὸ καλὸν παρακαλούντων· ὅπερ πεποιήκασι μάλιστα τῶν Κυνικῶν τινες, δημοσίᾳ πρὸς τοὺς παρατυγχάνοντας διαλεγόμενοι. Ἆρ' οὖν καὶ τούτους, μὴ συναθροίζοντας μὲν τοὺς νομιζομένους πεπαιδεῦσθαι καλοῦντας δ' ἀπὸ τῆς τριόδου καὶ συνάγοντας ἀκροατάς, φήσουσι παραπλησίους εἶναι τοῖς ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς τὰ ἐπιρρη τότατα ἐπιδεικνυμένοις καὶ ἀγείρουσιν; Ἀλλ' οὔτε Κέλσος οὔτε τις τῶν ταὐτὰ φρονούντων ἐγκαλοῦσι τοῖς κατὰ τὸ φαινόμενον αὐτοῖς φιλάνθρωπον κινοῦσι λόγους καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἰδιωτικοὺς δήμους.