And  one  might  address  him  with  the  prayer:
"  If  these  animals  be  dearer  to  God  than  men,
may  you  be  beloved  of  God  along  with  them,
and  be  made  like  to  those  whom  you  consider
as  dearer  to  Him  than  human  beings  ! "  And
let  no  one  suppose  that  such  a  prayer  is  meant
as  an  imprecation ;  for  who  would  not  pray  to
resemble  in  all  respects  those  whom  he  believes
to  be  dearer  to  God  than  others,  in  order  that
he,  like  them,  may  enjoy  the  divine  love?  And
as  Celsus  is  desirous  to  show  that  the  assemblies
of  the  irrational  animals  are  more  sacred  than
ours,  he  ascribes  the  statement  to  that  effect  not
to  any  ordinary  individuals,  but  to  persons  of
intelligence.  Yet  it  is  the  virtuous  alone  who  are
truly  wise,  for  no  wicked  man  is  so.  He  speaks,
accordingly,  in  the  following  style  :  "  Intelligent
men  say  that  these  animals  hold  assemblies
which  are  more  sacred  than  ours,  and  that  they
know  what  is  spoken  at  them,  and  actually  prove
that  they  are  not  without  such  knowledge,  when
they  mention  beforehand  that  the  birds   have

'  CC  Ex.  xxiv.  a.
