to the child born of him, since even now we, if we are indeed A sharp-witted and beloved of God, strive in every matter to make the One who possesses supreme authority over all things our helper and guide, and we seek from Him the way for each of our actions. And one could not say that we do this to engage in symbolic divination, but rather [it is] a commendation of our piety toward God. Yet he says that even for him the cries of birds were given, teaching him that he would sit upon the royal B throne. O his most wise prophets! Did they—perhaps the cries of magpies or blackbirds, or, I shall add, of stone-curlews (for the bird is indeed the most garrulous of all)—predict for him matters so august and so exceptional? But let the flocks of birds chirp what they will to those who have chosen to hold the same opinions as he. For error is always, in a way, dear to them. But we, bidding the birds that fly over our heads a long farewell, attribute the knowledge of all things to God, who possesses supreme authority over all, and we proclaim Him alone to be King and Lord of heaven and earth, the Creator of visible and invisible things, both those perceived by the senses and those perceived by the intellect. For He brought forth out of nothingness into existence the things that once did not exist, through the Son, through whom, and with whom, glory [be] to God and Father with the Holy Spirit, unto the ages. Amen.
FRAGMENTS FROM THE REMAINDERS OF THE BOOKS OF ST. CYRIL AGAINST JULIAN WHICH ARE MISSING.
NOTICE.
(Ang. Mai, Nova Patrum Bibliotheca, II, 488 et seq.)There exist ten books of Cyril against the emperor Julian; yet learned men, for instance Tillemont, Dupin, and Cellerier, have long observed that only the first of Julian’s books against the Christian faith has been refuted by Cyril in the aforementioned ten. To Spanheim also, in his Preface, it does not appear that Cyril put a finishing touch to his work. Furthermore, what of the fact that among ecclesiastical authors, and in the fragments cited by Cyril himself, certain things of Julian exist which, while requiring complete refutation, do not appear in the surviving ten books of Cyril? It remained, therefore, for us to believe either that Cyril did not complete his work, or that a portion of it had been lost. But in reality, John of Damascus in his *Parallels* cites books XII, XV, XVI, XVII, and XVIII of Cyril against Julian. In our possession, however, in the book of Leontius and John on sacred matters, which we have long since edited, fragments are cited from the work of Cyril from book XI up to book XIX. Therefore, there were at least that many books of this work: it is surprising that these two writers on sacred matters cite the ten earlier ones once each, but the later ones once or twice. These small portions, therefore, of the remaining books of Cyril, which we lack, we shall present here, not without a Latin translation. Nor is it a wonder if they are almost nothing but apothegms or maxims; for this resulted from the plan of the compilers Leontius and John, who collected the titles of their gnomic work from suitable authorities.
C 30. Of the blessed Cyril from Book XI against Julian.
It is truly said that a presumptuous and disdainful man achieves nothing, beyond the utterance of the prophet. For presumption cuts off advancement, according to the common saying frequent in the mouths of many.
From the same book.
Presumption cuts off advancement. For when
someone admits his ignorance, anyone can easily lead him toward the knowledge of unknown things. But as for him who thinks he knows when he does not, his very presumption makes him entirely foolish and ignorant; for he does not tolerate the words of those who teach. A
From the twelfth [book] against Julian. Not without reason does the judge of the contest distribute excellent gifts to those who wish them, but according as each has excelled in the struggle, so he distributes the prizes.
From the same. To distribute equal things to unequal people is the greatest injustice.
From the twelfth [book] against Julian. B It seems to me the best and wisest counsel not to miss the opportunity of conducting a matter well.
From the twelfth [book] against Julian. That no one would willingly want to use vicious speech is evident, I think, to everyone; it is, however, vulgar and common.
From the fourteenth book against Julian. It is in the power of every human being to be able to live well and with a good reputation.
From the same. Every person is self-moved and goes willingly toward anything that seems good to him; for it pleased the Creator of all that it should be so, so that those who have chosen to act well might necessarily receive praise; but those who have walked the other path might deservedly hear reproaches from all. C
From the fourteenth book against Julian. Noting cleverly the confusion and bitter turmoil of the affairs of this life, the Psalmist said: “This is the great and wide sea.”
From the fourteenth [book] against Julian. Dark somehow and not manifest to all are those who subtly attend to their own salvation.
From the fifteenth book against Julian. The human mind is governed by its own will, and proceeds willingly toward whatever it may be that is to be done. For thus it seemed right to God, the best Creator of all; and thus although anyone among us may have the Holy Spirit dwelling within him through holy baptism, he is not for that reason deprived of the ability to live according to his own judgment and as he sees fit; but with the reins, as it were, loosened, he inclines toward the good and toward the contrary. D
From Book XV against Julian
A It is always easy to calumniate, and many possess an intemperance of the tongue. But, I think, it is necessary that proofs should follow the condemnations that one might make on any matter whatsoever; if the person who has chosen to accuse is weak in this regard, he shall incur the reputation of being a slanderer.From Book XV of those against Julian
The desire for splendid dress is merely childish, pleasing only in opinion, and provides a deception for the eyes.From Book XVI of those against Julian
Those accustomed to tilling the earth well are deservedly followed by praise. BFrom Book XVI of those against Julian
A fitting reward is bestowed according to the accomplishments of each person. Rewards will be distributed by God to those who have chosen to live nobly, equal in proportion to their labors; for the Savior himself will confirm this, saying that the distribution of the talents was not done in equal measure, but he set those who had done well over cities—one over ten, and another over five. For the life of each person is weighed, as it were, and the retribution will in some way match the measure of our own integrity.From Book XVI of those against Julian
Whoever acts to please men will deservedly receive praises from them in place of a reward; however, he will receive nothing from God. For the glory of worldly virtue invites not so much God as an observer as it does the eyes of those who look upon it. CFrom Book XVI of those against Julian
The habit of speaking evil is altogether shameful and ugly, and is inconsistent for those who have chosen to live well; no one who is studious of honesty and integrity would wish to conduct himself in such a way.From Book XVIII of those against Julian
Each person on earth has been allotted the free reins of his own will, and of his own accord he betakes himself to the one thing or the other—that is to say, either toward virtue, or toward things that are worse. DFrom Book XVIII of those against Julian
There are some—indeed, a great many in this life—who, believing their own opinion to be entirely correct, cling to it thoughtlessly. They imagine that they speak in every way what is wise and beyond doubt; yet they usurp the glory of being wise and sharp-witted only until those who are of a different mind meet them...with more vigorous refutations. A
*From the eighteenth book against Julian.* In the maxim "Nothing in excess," the condition of the thing is good; but excess is not free from censure.
*From the eighteenth book against Julian.* For those who live a life that is neither pious nor praiseworthy, it is to be expected that the fame of others' good life and virtue seems troublesome. B For they consider the success of others to be an accusation of their own laziness; and thus, stung by the glory of others, they conceive the flame of envy. Yet, they ought rather to emulate and choose what is better, and by straining every nerve, to love to compete with those who are so excellent, rather than to make a pretext for censure of that which they cannot achieve themselves.
*From the nineteenth book against Julian.* The authors of the pagans excel greatly in eloquence and the splendor of their diction; yet there is nothing useful in them. C For they have not acknowledged Him who is God and Creator by His own nature, and they have brought innumerable gods into the world. D