Chapter I.—Introduction. While I was going about one morning in the walks of the Xystus,184 a certain man, with others in his company, having met me, and said, “Hail, O philosopher!” And immediately after saying this, he turned round and walked along with me; his friends likewise followed him. And I in turn having addressed him, said, “What is there important?” And he replied, “I was instructed,” says he “by Corinthus the Socratic in Argos, that I ought not to despise or treat with indifference those who array themselves in this dress185 but to show them all kindness, and to associate with them, as perhaps some advantage would spring from the intercourse either to some such man or to myself. It is good, moreover, for both, if either the one or the other be benefited. On this account, therefore, whenever I see any one in such costume, I gladly approach him, and now, for the same reason, have I will- ingly accosted you; and these accompany me, in the expectation of hearing for themselves something profitable from you.” “But who are you, most excellent man?” So I replied to him in jest.186 Then he told me frankly both his name and his family. “Trypho,” says he, “I am called; and I am a Hebrew of the circumcision,187 and having escaped from the war188 lately carried on there I am spending my days in Greece, and chiefly at Corinth.” “And in what,” said I, “would you be profited by philosophy so much as by your own lawgiver and the prophets?” “Why not?” he replied. “Do not the philosophers turn every discourse on God? and do not questions continually arise to them about His unity and providence? Is not this truly the duty of philosophy, to investigate the Deity?” “Assuredly,” said I, “so we too have believed. But the most189 have not taken thought of this, whether there be one or more gods, and whether they have a regard for each one of us or no, as if this knowledge contributed nothing to our happiness; nay, they moreover attempt to persuade us that God takes care of the universe with its genera and species, but not of me and you, and each individually, since otherwise we would surely not need to pray to Him night and day. But it is not difficult to understand the upshot of this; for fearlessness and license in speaking result to such as maintain these opinions, doing and saying whatever 184 This Xystus, on the authority of Euseb. (iv. 18), was at Ephesus. There, Philostratus mentions, Appolonius was wont to have disputations.—Otto. 185 Euseb. (iv. 11): “Justin, in philosopher’s garb, preached the word of God.” 186 In jest, no doubt, because quoting a line from Homer, Il., vi. 123. τίς δὲ σύ ἐσσι, φέριστε, καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων. 187 [i.e., “A Hebrew of the Hebrews” (Phil. iii. 5).] 188 The war instigated by Bar Cochba. 189 The opinions of Stoics.—Otto. Chapter I.—Introduction. 520 Chapter I.—Introduction.