DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49369#0072
54 THE ACTS OF XANTHIPPE AND POLYXENA
no means certain that it should not be placed quite early in that
century. For our book the middle of the third century seems a
reasonable date.
To those who are interested in all branches of early Christian
literature, and who appreciate the importance of understanding
what books were popular and what mental pabulum attracted the
ordinary reader in the early centuries of the Church, it will not
appear ridiculous to spend time and trouble in editing and in
trying to elucidate a novel of the kind here printed. I am glad to
think that the number of those who do appreciate these matters is
an increasing one. But I further venture to think that the story
of Xanthippe and Polyxena merits the attention of those Avho
study the development of pagan literature in later times. Nothing
is plainer than that one purpose of these Acts, and of books
resembling them, was to provide a substitute for the pagan novel
of the day. Those who have read the Aethiopica of Heliodorus,
and the novels ascribed to Xenophon of Ephesus, Achilles Tatius
and Charito of Aphrodisias, will recognise in the kidnappings,
shipwrecks and innocent intrigues of the Christian story a reflection
of some of the most familiar devices of the pagan novelists. I do
not know that anything in the way of actual literary obligation
can be traced on either side : but it is abundantly clear that while
amusement or excitement is intended to be produced by the
perusal of the story of Clitophon and Leucippe, it is the aim of
the biographer of Xanthippe and Polyxena to blend instruction
with amusement.
NOTE ON OTHER FRAGMENTS OF THE ACTS OF PAUL.
I should like to add a note on some additional fragments of the Acts of Paul
which Zahn does not notice. The first is furnished by a passage of Commodian’s
Carmen Apologeticum (618—2-1 Ludwig, 624—30 Dombart) :
Et quidquid noluerit, faciet; ut muta loquantur.
625 Balaam sedenti (v. 1. caedenti) asinam suam conloqui fecit
Et canem, ut Simoni diceret: Clamaris a Petro 1
Paulo praedicanti dicerent ut multi (aZ. muti, muli) de illo,
Leonem populo fecit loqui uoce diuina.
Deinde, quod ipsa non patitur nostra natura,
630 Infantem fecit quinto mense proloqui uulgo.
no means certain that it should not be placed quite early in that
century. For our book the middle of the third century seems a
reasonable date.
To those who are interested in all branches of early Christian
literature, and who appreciate the importance of understanding
what books were popular and what mental pabulum attracted the
ordinary reader in the early centuries of the Church, it will not
appear ridiculous to spend time and trouble in editing and in
trying to elucidate a novel of the kind here printed. I am glad to
think that the number of those who do appreciate these matters is
an increasing one. But I further venture to think that the story
of Xanthippe and Polyxena merits the attention of those Avho
study the development of pagan literature in later times. Nothing
is plainer than that one purpose of these Acts, and of books
resembling them, was to provide a substitute for the pagan novel
of the day. Those who have read the Aethiopica of Heliodorus,
and the novels ascribed to Xenophon of Ephesus, Achilles Tatius
and Charito of Aphrodisias, will recognise in the kidnappings,
shipwrecks and innocent intrigues of the Christian story a reflection
of some of the most familiar devices of the pagan novelists. I do
not know that anything in the way of actual literary obligation
can be traced on either side : but it is abundantly clear that while
amusement or excitement is intended to be produced by the
perusal of the story of Clitophon and Leucippe, it is the aim of
the biographer of Xanthippe and Polyxena to blend instruction
with amusement.
NOTE ON OTHER FRAGMENTS OF THE ACTS OF PAUL.
I should like to add a note on some additional fragments of the Acts of Paul
which Zahn does not notice. The first is furnished by a passage of Commodian’s
Carmen Apologeticum (618—2-1 Ludwig, 624—30 Dombart) :
Et quidquid noluerit, faciet; ut muta loquantur.
625 Balaam sedenti (v. 1. caedenti) asinam suam conloqui fecit
Et canem, ut Simoni diceret: Clamaris a Petro 1
Paulo praedicanti dicerent ut multi (aZ. muti, muli) de illo,
Leonem populo fecit loqui uoce diuina.
Deinde, quod ipsa non patitur nostra natura,
630 Infantem fecit quinto mense proloqui uulgo.