people whose God is the crucified son of a carpenter? Why should
learning, authority, antiquity, birth, rank, the system of empire
which has been growing up, fed by the accumulated wisdom of ages,--
why, I say, should any of these things protect your life a moment
from the fury of any beggar who believes that the Son of God died
for him as much as for you, and that he is your equal if not your
superior in the sight of his low-born and illiterate deity!'
[Footnote: These are the arguments and the language which were
commonly employed by Porphyry, Julian, and the other opponents of
Christianity.]

'My most eloquent philosopher, this may be--and perhaps is--all very
true. I quite agree that there are very great practical
inconveniences of this kind in the new--I mean the Catholic faith;
but the world is full of inconveniences. The wise man does not
quarrel with his creed for being disagreeable, any more than he does
with his finger for aching: he cannot help it, and must make the
best of a bad matter. Only tell me how to keep the peace.'

'And let philosophy be destroyed?'

'That it never will be, as long as Hypatia lives to illuminate the
earth; and, as far as I am concerned, I promise you a clear stage
and--a great deal of favour; as is proved by my visiting you
publicly at this moment, before I have given audience to one of the
four hundred bores, great and small, who are waiting in the tribunal
to torment me. Do help me and advise me. What am I to do?'

'I have told you.'