Ἑρμότιμος ἢ Περὶ Αἱρέσεων

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13–15

Lycinus Just that; so take and lead me on the same way; that is but right. And first tell me—do you allow learners to criticize, if they find difficulties in your doctrines, or must juniors abstain from that? 5

Hermotimus Why, yes, they must; but you shall have leave to ask questions and criticize; you will learn easier that way.

Lycinus I thank you for it, Hermotimus, by your name-God Hermes.

Now, is there only one road to philosophy—the Stoic way? they tell me there are a great many other philosophers; is that so?

Hermotimus Certainly—Peripatetics, Epicureans, Platonists, followers of Diogenes, Antisthenes, Pythagoras, and more yet.

Lycinus Quite so; numbers of them. Now, are their doctrines the same, or different?

Hermotimus Entirely different.

Lycinus But the truth, I presume, is bound to be in one of them, and not in all, as they differ? 5

Hermotimus Certainly.

Lycinus Then, as you love me, answer this: when you first went in pursuit of philosophy, you found many gates wide open; what induced you to pass the others by, and go in at the Stoic gate? Why did you asspme that that was the only true one, which would set you on the straight road to Virtue, while the rest all opened on blind alleys? What was the test you applied then? Please abolish your present self, the self which is now instructed, or half-instructed, and better able to distinguish between good and bad than we outsiders, and answer in your then character of a layman, with no advantage over me as I am now.