FOR JUST AS THE BEES POSSESS THE POWER TO GET HONEY FROM THE FLOWERS . . . SO IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE PURSUING NOT MERELY WHAT IS SWEET AND PLEASANT IN SUCH WRITINGS TO STORE AWAY FROM THEM SOME BENEFIT ALSO FOR THEIR SOULS. IT IS, THEREFORE, IN ACCORDANCE OF THE WHOLE SIMILITUDE OF THE BEES, THAT WE SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE PAGAN LITERATURE. FOR THESE [BEES] NEITHER APPROACH ALL FLOWERS EQUALLY, NOR IN TRUTH DO THEY ATTEMPT TO CARRY OFF ENTIRE THOSE UPON WHICH THEY ALIGHT, BUT TAKING ... moreFOR JUST AS THE BEES POSSESS THE POWER TO GET HONEY FROM THE FLOWERS . . . SO IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE PURSUING NOT MERELY WHAT IS SWEET AND PLEASANT IN SUCH WRITINGS TO STORE AWAY FROM THEM SOME BENEFIT ALSO FOR THEIR SOULS. IT IS, THEREFORE, IN ACCORDANCE OF THE WHOLE SIMILITUDE OF THE BEES, THAT WE SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE PAGAN LITERATURE. FOR THESE [BEES] NEITHER APPROACH ALL FLOWERS EQUALLY, NOR IN TRUTH DO THEY ATTEMPT TO CARRY OFF ENTIRE THOSE UPON WHICH THEY ALIGHT, BUT TAKING ONLY SO MUCH OF THEM AS IS SUITABLE FOR THEIR WORK, THEY SUFFER THE REST TO GO UNTOUCHED. WE OURSELVES TOO, IF WE ARE WISE, HAVING APPROPRIATED FROM THIS LITERATURE WHAT IS SUITABLE TO US AND AKIN TO THE TRUTH, WILL PASS OVER THE REMAINDER. AND JUST AS IN PLUCKING THE BLOOMS OF A ROSE-BED WE AVOID THE THORNS, SO ALSO IN GARNERING FROM SUCH WRITINGS WHATEVER IS USEFUL, LET US GUARD OURSELVES AGAINST WHAT IS HARMFUL.
St. Basil the Great
GC John Kelmy
KCP, Priory of St. Michael the Archangel