End Of Book I.
CHAPTER IX
The great advantage of timely fraud
[BASIL.] 65. And Basil said: None of these things apply to me, because I am not a foe and an enemy, nor one of those who attempt to injure, but altogether the opposite; for I have always committed all my affairs to your judgment, and have followed what you enjoined.
[CHRYSOSTOM.] 66. But, my admirable and most excellent friend, for this very cause I have already said it was well to employ it (deceit), not only in war and against our foes, but also in peace and towards those who are most dear to us.
67. For that it is beneficial not only to the deceivers, but to the deceived, go and ask any of the physicians, how they deliver from disease such as are sick, and you will learn from them that they are not content with their skill alone, but sometimes by availing themselves of deceit, and combining with their art the help it renders, they have in this way restored the sick to health.
68. For when the peevishness of the patient, and the obstinacy of the complaint refuse to submit to the advice of the physicians, then it is necessary to assume the mask of deceit, in order that, as on the stage, they may be able to conceal the truth of the case.
69. But, if you please, I will narrate to you a case of fraud, one among many which I have heard of the sons of the physicians practising. A fever once attacked a person suddenly and with great violence, and his burning heat was intense; but the patient refused what could have quenched the fire, while he longed and greatly urged, beseeching all who approached him, that they would give him plenty of undiluted wine, and enable him to satiate his ruinous craving. If any one had granted him this favour, not merely would he have aggravated the fever, he would have thrown the unhappy man into delirium.
70. Skill was here of no avail, and had no resources, but was wholly set aside; whereas deceit came in and showed its power to be so great as you will speedily hear from me.
71. For the physician, coming with an earthenware cup fresh from the furnace, and dipping it into a quantity of wine, afterwards emptied it; then, having filled it with water, he gave orders for the chamber where the patient lay to be darkened with a number of curtains, so that the light should not expose the fraud; after which he offered it him to drink as if it had been full of undiluted wine.
72. But being at once, and before he took it into his hands, deceived by the odour which it emitted, he could not stop to pry narrowly into what was given him, but trusting to this (the smell), deceived by the darkness, and urged by his longing, he very eagerly drank off what was offered him; and having been sated by it, he shook off the choking sensation at once, and escaped from imminent peril.
73. Do you see the benefit of deceit? and if one would enumerate all the frauds of physicians his discourse would run to an unlimited length.
74. We may say, that this remedy has been continually employed, not only by those who heal the body, but by those who have the care of spiritual diseases. In this way the blessed Paul attracted those many myriads of Jews; with this intention he circumcised Timothy, who yet admonished the Galatians that Christ will profit nothing such as are circumcised; and for this cause he became subject to the law, who accounted the righteousness which is by the law, a loss when one has faith in Christ.
75. Great is the power of deceit, provided it be not had recourse to with a crafty intention: or rather, such ought not to be called deceit, but a sort of good management, and wisdom, and skill which can invent many resources where resources fail, and can correct the errors of the mind.
76. I should not say that Phinehas was a murderer, although he killed two persons at one blow; nor should I call Elijah one, because of the hundred soldiers and their captains, and the great torrent of blood which flowed when he caused the slaughter of those who were the priests of demons.
77. For if we assented to this, and any one tested actions by themselves, excluding the intention of the doers, he who liked might condemn even Abraham for child-murder, and accuse his grandson and his descendant of malice and fraud; for in this way one acquired the birthright, and the other conveyed the riches of the Egyptians to the host of the Israelites.|
78. But it is certainly not so: away with such audacity! for we do not merely acquit them of blame, we even admire them for these things, because God also has praised them for them.
79. He indeed would justly be called a deceiver, who employed the device unjustly, [not he who does so with a wholesome intention], and one must often deceive and confer the greatest benefit by that expedient; but he that has been prompted to act in a straightforward manner, has often done great mischief to the man whom he has not deceived.