Chapter XV.—Conclusion.

And I despised the wicked and deceitful doctrine of Simon25    [Simon Magus appears to be one with whom Justin is perfectly familiar, and hence we are not to conclude rashly that he blundered as to the divine honours rendered to him as the Sabine God.] of my own nation. And if you give this book your authority, we will expose him before all, that, if possible, they may be converted. For this end alone did we compose this treatise. And our doctrines are not shameful, according to a sober judgment, but are indeed more lofty than all human philosophy: and if not so, they are at least unlike the doctrines of the Sotadists, and Philænidians, and Dancers, and Epicureans, and such other teachings of the poets, which all are allowed to acquaint themselves with both as acted and as written. And henceforth we shall be silent, having done as much as we could, and having added the prayer that all men everywhere may be counted worthy of the truth. And would that you also, in a manner becoming piety and philosophy,26    [Another apostrophe, and a home thrust for “Pius the philosopher” and the emperor.] would for your own sakes judge justly!

[15] [Καὶ τοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ἔθνει, ἀσεβοῦς καὶ πλάνου Σιμωνιανοῦ διδάγματος κατεφρόνησα.] ἐὰν δὲ ὑμεῖς τοῦτο προγράψητε, ἡμεῖς τοῖς πᾶσι φανερὸν ποιήσαιμεν, ἵνα εἰ δύναιντο μεταθῶνται: τούτου γε μόνου χάριν τούσδε τοὺς λόγους συνετάξαμεν. οὐκ ἔστι δὲ ἡμῶν τὰ διδάγματα κατὰ κρίσιν σώφρονα αἰσχρά, ἀλλὰ πάσης μὲν φιλοσοφίας ἀνθρωπείου ὑπέρτερα: εἰ δὲ μὴ, κἂν Σωταδείοις καὶ Φιλαινιδείοις καὶ Ἀρχεστρατείοις καὶ Ἐπικουρείοις καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις τοῖς τοιούτοις ποιητικοῖς διδάγμασιν οὐχ ὅμοια, οἷς ἐντυγχάνειν πᾶσι, καὶ λεγομένοις καὶ γεγραμμένοις, συγκεχώρηται. καὶ παυσόμεθα λοιπόν, ὅσον ἐφ' ἡμῖν ἦν πράξαντες, καὶ προσεπευξάμενοι τῆς ἀληθείας καταξιωθῆναι τοὺς πάντη πάντας ἀνθρώπους. εἴη οὖν καὶ ὑμᾶς ἀξίως εὐσεβείας καὶ φιλοσοφίας τὰ δίκαια ὑπὲρ ἑαυτῶν κρῖναι.