Page:Ante-Nicene Christian Library Vol 4.djvu/77



ET poetry also approach to us (for philosophy alone will not suffice): poetry which is wholly occupied with falsehood—which scarcely will make confession of the truth, but will rather own to God its deviations into fable. Let whoever of those poets chooses advance first. Aratus considers that the power of God pervades all things:

Thus also the Ascræan Hesiod dimly speaks of God:

Also on the stage they reveal the truth:

says Euripides. And Sophocles, the son of Sophilus, says:

In this venturous manner has he on the stage brought truth before the spectators. But the Thracian Orpheus, the son of Œagrus, hierophant and poet at once, after his exposition of the orgies, and his theology of idols, introduces a palinode of truth with true solemnity, though tardily singing the strain: