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第38章

barlaam and ioasaph-第38章

小说: barlaam and ioasaph 字数: 每页4000字

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〃They that think that Fire is a god are in error。  It too was made for the use of men。  It is subject to their lordship; being carried about from place to place; for the seething and roasting of all manner of meats; yea; and for the burning of dead corpses。 Moreover; it perisheth in divers ways; when it is quenched by mankind。  Wherefore Fire cannot be a god; but only the work of God。

〃They that think that the breath of the Winds is a goddess are in error。  This; as is evident; is subject to another; and hath been prepared by God; for the sake of mankind; for the carriage of ships; and the conveyance of victuals; and for other uses of men; it riseth and falleth according to the ordinance of God。 Wherefore it is not to be supposed that the breath of the Winds is a goddess; but only the work of God。

〃They that think that the Sun is a god are in error。  We see him moving and turning by law; and passing from Sign to Sign; setting and rising; to warm herbs and trees for the use of men; sharing power with the other stars; being much less than the heaven; and falling into eclipse and possessed of no sovranty of his own。 Wherefore we may not consider that the Sun is a god; but only the work of God。

〃They that think that the Moon is a goddess are in error。  We behold her moving and turning by law; and passing from Sign to Sign; setting and rising for the use of men; lesser than the sun; waxing and waning; suffering eclipse。  Wherefore we do not consider that the Moon is a goddess; but only the work of God。

〃They that think that Man is a god are in error。  We see man moving by law; growing up; and waxing old; even against his will。 Now he rejoiceth; now he grieveth; requiring meat and drink and raiment。  Besides he is passionate; envious; lustful; fickle; and full of failings: and he perisheth in many a way; by the elements; by wild beasts; and by the death that ever awaiteth him。  So Man cannot be a god; but only the work of God。  Great then is the error that the Chaldeans have erred in following their own lusts; for they worship corruptible elements and dead images; neither do they perceive that they are making gods of these。

〃Now come we to the Greeks that we may see whether they have any understanding concerning God。  The Greeks; then; professing themselves to be wise; fell into greater folly than the Chaldeans; alleging the existence of many gods; some male; others female; creators of all passions and sins of every kind。 Wherefore the Greeks; O king; introduced an absurd; foolish and ungodly fashion of talk; calling them gods that were not; according to their own evil passions; that; having these gods for advocates of their wickedness; they might commit adultery; theft; murder and all manner of iniquity。  For if their gods did so; how should they not themselves do the like?  Therefore from these practices of error it came to pass that men suffered frequent wars and slaughters and cruel captivities。  But if now we choose to pass in review each one of these gods; what a strange sight shalt thou see!

〃First and foremost they introduce the god whom they call Kronos; and to him they sacrifice their own children; to him who had many sons by Rhea; and in a fit of madness ate his own children。  And they say that Zeus cut off his privy parts; and cast them into the sea; whence; as fable telleth; was born Aphrodite。  So Zeus bound his own father; and cast him into Tartarus。  Dost thou mark the delusion and lasciviousness that they allege against their gods?  Is it possible then that one who was prisoner and mutilated should be a god?  What folly?  What man in his senses could admit it?

〃Next they introduce Zeus; who; they say; became king of the gods; and would take the shape of animals; that he might defile mortal women。  They show him transformed into a bull; for Europa; into gold; for Danae; into a swan; for Leda; into a satyr; for Antiope; and into a thunder…bolt; for Semele。  Then of these were born many children; Dionysus; Zethus; Amphion; Herakles; Apollo; Artemis; Perseus; Castor; Helen; Polydeukes; Minos; Rhadamanthos; Sarpedon; and the nine daughters whom they call the Muses。

〃In like manner they introduce the story of Ganymede。  And so befel it; O king; that men imitated all these things; and became adulterers; and defilers of themselves with mankind; and doers of other monstrous deeds; in imitation of their god。  How then can an adulterer; one that defileth himself by unnatural lust; a slayer of his father be a god?

〃With Zeus also they represent one Hephaestus as a god; and him lame; holding hammer and fire…tongs; and working as a copper… smith for hire。  So it appeareth that he is needy。  But it is impossible for one who is lame and wanteth men's aid to be a God。

〃After him; they represent as a god Hermes; a lusty fellow; a thief; and a covetous; a sorcerer; bowlegged; and an interpreter of speech。  It is impossible for such an one to be a God。

〃They also exhibit Asklepius as god; a physician; a maker of medicines; a compounder of plasters for his livelihood (for he is a needy wight); and in the end; they say that he was struck by Zeus with a thunder…bolt; because of Tyndareus; son of Lakedaemon; and thus perished。  Now if Asklepius; though a god; when struck by a thunder…bolt; could not help himself; how can he help others?

〃Ares is represented as a warlike god; emulous; and covetous of sheep and other things。  But in the end they say he was taken in adultery with Aphrodite by the child Eros and Hephaestus and was bound by them。  How then can the covetous; the warrior; the bondman and adulterer be a god?

〃Dionysus they show as a god; who leadeth nightly orgies; and teacheth drunkenness; and carrieth off his neighbours' wives; a madman and an exile; finally slain by the Titans。  If then Dionysus was slain and unable to help himself; nay; further was a madman; a drunkard; and vagabond; how could he be a god?

〃Herakles; too; is represented as drunken and mad; as slaying his own children; then consuming with fire and thus dying。  How then could a drunkard and slayer of his own children; burnt to death by fire; be a god?  Or how can he help others who could not help himself?

〃Apollo they represent as an emulous god; holding bow and quiver; and; at times; harp and flute; and prophesying to men for pay。 Soothly he is needy: but one that is needy and emulous and a minstrel cannot be a god。

〃Artemis; his sister; they represent as an huntress; with bow and quiver; ranging the mountains alone; with her hounds; in chase of stag or boar。  How can such an one; that is an huntress and a ranger with hounds; be a goddess?

〃Of Aphrodite; adulteress though she be; they say that she is herself a goddess。  Once she had for leman Ares; once Anchises; once Adonis; whose death she lamenteth; seeking her lost lover。 They say that she even descended into Hades to ransom Adonis from Persephone。  Didst thou; O king; ever see madness greater than this?  They represent this weeping and wailing adulteress as a goddess。

〃Adonis they show as an hunter…god; violently killed by a boar… tusk; and unable to help his own distress。  How then shall he take thought for mankind; he the adulterer; the hunter who died a violent death?

〃All such tales; and many like them; and many wicked tales more shameful still; have the Greeks introduced; O king; concerning their gods; tales; whereof it is unlawful to speak; or even to have them in remembrance。  Hence men; taking occasion from their gods; wrought all lawlessness; lasciviousness and ungodliness; polluting earth and air with their horrible deeds。

〃But the Egyptians; more fatuous and foolish than they; have erred worse than any other nation。  They were not satisfied with the idols worshipped by the Chaldeans and Greeks; but further introduced as gods brute beasts of land and water; and herbs and trees; and were defiled in all madness and lasciviousness worse than all people upon earth。  From the beginning they worshipped Isis; which had for her brother and husband that Osiris which was slain by his brother Typhon。  And for this reason Isis fled with Horus her son to Byblos in Syria; seeking Osiris and bitterly wailing; until Horus was grown up and killed Typhon。  Isis

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