Exhortation to the Greeks 7.74

And now even on the stage they lay bare the truth. One of them, Euripides, looking up to the ether and to heaven, says: “Consider this to be God.” And Sophocles, the son of Sophillus: “One, in very truth, one is God, who made heaven and the long earth, and the bright-flashing swell of the sea, and the might of the winds; but many of us mortals, straying in our hearts, have set up for ourselves, as a consolation for our sorrows, images of gods of stone, or figures of bronze or wrought gold or ivory; and assigning them sacrifices and empty festivals, we think we are pious in this way.” This man, at some risk, brought the truth before the spectators on the stage. And the Thracian hierophant and poet in one, Orpheus the son of Oeagrus, after his hierophantic teaching of the orgies and his theology of idols, brings in a recantation of truth, singing at last, late though it was, the truly holy word: “I will speak to those for whom it is lawful; close the doors, all you profane alike. But you, Musaeus, offspring of the light-bearing Moon, listen, for I will tell the truth; and let not what appeared in your breast before rob you of your dear life. Look to the divine Word and devote yourself to it, directing the intelligent vessel of your heart; walk well on the path, and look only to the immortal ruler of the world.” And then, further on, he adds plainly: “He is one, self-begotten; all things are born the offspring of the one; and he himself goes about among them; nor does any mortal see him, but he sees all.” So Orpheus, at least; in time he understood that he had gone astray. “But you, mortal of many devices, do not delay; turn back and propitiate God.”