According to the Greek myth, the old man of Ithaca, wishing to hear the song of the Sirens because of the unchaste pleasure of their voice, sailed bound to Sicily and stopped up the ears of his comrades — not out of envy that they should listen, nor desiring to bind himself, but because the end of that song for those who heard it was death; for such were the songs the Sirens sang among the Greeks.
But I do not become a hearer of such a song, nor do I desire to listen to Sirens singing a funeral dirge over men — Sirens whose silence proves more profitable to mankind than their voice. Rather I pray to enjoy a certain divine voice, which, even if I hear it many times, I yet long to hear again — not with any unchaste pleasure of the voice, but being taught divine mysteries and awaiting as my end not death but eternal salvation.
For the song is sung not by the death-bringing Sirens of the Greeks, but by a certain divine chorus of prophets; and against them there is no need to stop up the ears of one's comrades, nor to bind oneself in any fetter for fear of punishment from hearing. For with the former, the hearer ceases from life along with the voice; but with the latter, the more one listens, the more one shall enjoy a better life, being led by the hand by God's Spirit.
Let everyone come, let everyone come and hear the divine song, fearing nothing. Among us there are no Sirens off Sicily, no fetters of Odysseus, no wax melted into men's ears; rather there is complete release from all bonds, and free hearing for each one who draws near. For such a song is worthy to be heard, and it seems to me one should pray to have such singers.
And if anyone should also wish to hear the chorus of the apostles, he will find the same harmony of song. For the prophets foretold in a mystery the divine economy of salvation, while the apostles sing, interpreting the things mystically proclaimed by them. O harmonious concord composed by the divine Spirit! O fair chorus of those who sing the mysteries! With these I too pray to sing in unison.
Let us therefore also sing the same song, and send up the hymn to the holy Father, glorifying in the Spirit Jesus who is in His bosom. Do not flee, O man, the spiritual hymn, nor set yourself in hostility against the hearing of it. It has no death; the song among us is a narrative of salvation.
I myself already seem to enjoy better things in discoursing on such matters, and especially when there is present to me such a meadow of flowers — that is, your assembly of those who at once both hear and sing together the divine mysteries.
From this I am bold to say that you offer me ears pure of all envy — not imitating the jealousy of Cain, not persecuting your brother as Esau did, not like Joseph's brothers who hated their brother for the things he said. Rather, standing far removed from all these, each of you considers his neighbor's words to be his own. And for this reason there is no wicked jealousy among you, who have been taught to supply what is lacking to a brother.