Sigalion in the Shield of Croesiades or Apologetic Dialogue for the Mystery of Detected Syncretism

and divers flock with divers: to collect a soldier from assemblies of sheep and wolves and send them against the enemy, or to lead donkeys—even if dressed in a lion's skin—out to plunder with lions, is this safe enough, or a sign of a sound mind? Can feigned friendship be constant? Is there faith in a Trojan horse? But suppose that natures as disparate as these are glued and almost cemented together, how long will the wax hold? Until the Sun shines with a more favorable ray? (d) Then it will melt, flow back, and return to its original hatreds. The fire will flare up under the treacherous ash, to be rekindled by the light breeze of an adverse wind: the peccant matter still lies hidden; it will break out again with a small injury. (e) An earthen vessel under a silver glaze is worn away with a light rubbing.

(d) The concord of the wicked cannot exist, "except for a little," says the Philosopher, Ethics, Book 9, ch. 6.

It was necessary to prevent and take precautions against the external enemy before he brings his ships to the port. It is too late to call a council when the enemy besieges the walls. (f) One must feign danger before it appears in the vicinity, so that these ulcerated and terrified minds may be composed in time by just reasons, and be as much more ready for battle abroad as they are more peaceful at home. Internal sedition is to be restrained not by the softness of adiaphora indifference or the blandishment of amphilogia ambiguity (I remember I enacted that if anyone in a sedition had not been of the other party meaning: had remained neutral), but by the strenuous and prudent defense of the juster party, provided it is far from an amoebic meaning: swaying/oscillating force and greater