Tetradymus. Containing I. Hodegus ... II. Clidophorus ... III. Hypatia. ... IV. Mangoneutes

PREFACE.

...[God ever] spoke in this manner to any of the prophets, or that any of their books are in verse—a style which even philosophers, according to him, scorn to use. He fails to consider the many examples to the contrary in the Old Testament, of which several significant books—besides entire songs and fragments in some of the rest—are undeniably in verse. This is to say nothing of Empedocles Empedocles (c. 494–434 BC) was a Greek philosopher who wrote his works in the form of poetry. and a great many other poetical philosophers.

Ricoldus original: "RICOLDUS," referring to Ricoldus de Montecroce (c. 1243–1320), a Dominican friar known for his polemical writings against Islam. likewise denies that Mahomet Muhammad could be a prophet for the whole world. He gives this "judicious" reason (to produce no more of his "choice" observations): that he wrote only in 18 Arabic. In this, he forgets or does not know that the New Testament was written only in Greek.

I repeat on this occasion what I said in the Preface to NAZARENUS: that I generally take care not to overburden my reader with citations of any sort. I content myself with proving or illustrating my claims with only as many authorities as are necessary, though I often have many others that I judge unnecessary or reserve for those who might try to answer me.

The outcome has sufficiently proven this. Despite my second release of work, I still have a generous supply of research regarding all the subjects I have addressed. Doctor Mangey may continue to call them "gleanings," and others may use their threadbare phrase of "borrowed learning." I readily confess to the charge, for I have gleaned and borrowed them in three universities where I was actually a member, and in two others where I stayed for a considerable time for this very purpose—following the example of the ancient philosophers. I will not even emphasize those universities I visited briefly, nor all the hard work I performed outside of them.

I do not publish these things out of vanity, as anyone can see, but as a necessary defense of myself against the unfair or malicious suggestions of half-witted or half-learned priestlings original: "Priestlings," a derogatory term for minor, narrow-minded, or inexperienced members of the clergy., who judge others by themselves—the very worst rule anyone can follow. It is to the moderate, serious, and learned theologians original: "Divines" that I make my appeal, and not to those who, though they would seem to know everything, in reality know very little. And

17 ...[They] say that God spoke rhythmically [in verse]; which both wise men and philosophers despise. Confutation of the Saracen Law, chapter 4. original: "...verunt, dicit Deum rythmicè locutum; quod et sapientes, et philosophi homines dedignantur. Confutatio Legis Saracenicae, cap. 4."

18 Mahomet says that he is a universal prophet; but nevertheless, the Quran original: "Alcoranum" was given by God in Arabic letters, and he knew no other language besides Arabic. Ibid. chapter 6. original: "Dicit { MAHOMETES } se prophetam esse universalem; sed tamen Alcoranum Arabicis literis a Deo datum esse, neque ullam aliam linguam se scire praeter Arabicam. Ibid. cap. 6."