Give Up This Pretended Defense

You see, then: the champion of Origen, the man who sang Pamphilus’s praises, declares that Pamphilus wrote nothing whatever, that he composed not a single treatise of his own. And you cannot take refuge in the theory that Pamphilus wrote this book after Eusebius published his, since Eusebius wrote after Pamphilus had won the crown of martyrdom. So what can you do now? The consciences of a great many people have been wounded by the book you published under the martyr’s name. They pay no attention to the authority of the bishops who condemn Origen, since they think a martyr has praised him. What use are the letters of the bishop Theophilus or of the pope Anastasius, who pursue the heretic in every part of the world, when your book, passing under the name of Pamphilus, stands there to oppose their letters, and the testimony of the martyr can be set against the authority of the bishops? I think you had better do with this falsely titled volume what you did with the books On First Principles. Take my advice as a friend, and do not lose confidence in the power of your art. Say either that you never wrote it, or else that it has been corrupted by the presbyter Eusebius. It will be impossible to prove against you that you translated the book. There is no copy in your handwriting to show it, and your eloquence is not so great that no one could imitate your style. Or, as a last resort, if the matter comes to proof and your brazenness is overwhelmed by a crowd of witnesses, sing a palinode, as Stesichorus did. It is better for you to repent of what you have done than for a martyr to remain under slander, and those who have been deceived to remain in error. And you need not be ashamed to change your opinion. You are not of such fame or authority that you would be disgraced by admitting a mistake. Take me as your example, me whom you love so much, without whom you can neither live nor die, and say what I said when you had praised me and I defended myself. [a]