Complete Works XVIII: Against Celsus I-IV (Lommatzsch)

"To which sect he adhered, we understand more certainly and fully from Origen and Lucian: the former repeatedly objects to him the dogmas and errors of Epicurus (book I, nos. 8, 10, 21; book II, no. 60; book III, nos. 34, 48, 79; book IV, nos. 54, 75; book V, no. 3). Lucian, however, professes that he wrote The False Prophet to leave his gratitude toward Celsus attested, and to vindicate Epicurus, who was most dear to him: 'These things, O friend, I have thought worthy to write as a few examples out of many, both to gratify you, a companion and friend, and one whom I admire above all for wisdom, for love of truth, for gentleness of character, for kindness, for tranquility of life, and for skill with associates; but more than this, which is also more pleasing to you, to defend Epicurus, a man who is truly holy and divine in nature.' For Alexander was so hostile to Epicurus and his followers that when someone asked him what Epicurus was doing in the underworld, he said, 'He sits in the mud wearing leaden shackles.' He burned his books in the forum; he also warned the people of Pontus to 'drive away' the Christians and Epicureans with stones, and he never gave an oracle to the people of Amastris because many Epicureans lived in that city. 'For against whom else,' says Lucian in the same place, 'would a man who is a conjurer, a lover of marvels, and the greatest enemy of truth, wage war more justly than against Epicurus, a man who had perceived the nature of things, and who alone knew the truth within them? For he who is a friend to Plato, Chrysippus, and Pythagoras, had deep peace toward them; but the unyielding Epicurus (for so he named him), was rightly the greatest enemy, putting all these things to laughter and play.' Finally, Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History, book VI, chapter 36, calls our Celsus an Epicurean. I have cited all these things for the reason that I might awaken Hornius, who, having disregarded the reliability of histories, ranked Celsus among the Stoics, from the very deep slumber in which he is held. For so he writes in book V, chapter 4 of his History of Philosophy."