Clement of Alexandria: STROMATA (MISCELLANIES), Part IV, Complete

Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson.

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Page 27

Let us hear, then, the lyric poet Bacchylides speaking of the divine:--

"Who to diseases dire [3134] never succumb,

And blameless are; in nought resembling men."

And also Cleanthes, the Stoic, who writes thus in a poem on the Deity: [3135] --

"If you ask what is the nature of the good, listen--

That which is regular, just, holy, pious,

Self-governing, useful, fair, fitting,

Grave, independent, always beneficial,

That feels no fear or grief, profitable, painless,

Helpful, pleasant, safe, friendly,

Held in esteem, agreeing with itself: honourable,

Humble, careful, meek, zealous,

Perennial, blameless, ever-during."

[3134] H. Stephanus, in his Fragments of Bacchylides, reads aikeleion (foul) instead of aei kai lian of the text.

[3135] Quoted in Exhortation to the Heathen, p. 192, ante, and is here corrected from the text there.

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