WWUD? What Would Ulysses Do?

I must have passed this passage by before, but today it jumped out at me: according to Hippolytus Ulysses (a.k.a. Odysseus), the trickster par excellence (though Jacob gives him a run for his money) is a model for the Christian resisting the temptation of the siren call of heresy.  He writes (using the most available, ANF translation):

The pupils of these men, when they perceive the doctrines of the heretics to be like unto the ocean when tossed into waves by violence of the winds, ought to sail past in quest of the tranquil haven.  For a sea of this description is both infested with wild beasts and difficult of navigation, like, as we may say, the Sicilian (Sea), in which the legend reports were Cyclops, and Charybdis, and Scylla, and the rock of the Sirens.  Now, the poets of the Greeks allege that Ulysses sailed through (this channel), adroitly using (to his own purpose) the terribleness of these strange monsters.  For the savage cruelty (in the aspect) of these towards those who were sailing through was remarkable. The Sirens, however, singing sweetly and harmoniously, beguiled the voyagers, luring, by reason of their melodious voice, those who heard it, to steer their vessels towards (the promontory).  The (poets) report that Ulysses, on ascertaining this, smeared with wax the ears of his companions, and, lashing himself to the mast, sailed, free of danger, past the Sirens, hearing their chant distinctly.  And my advice to my readers is to adopt a similar expedient, viz., either on account of their infirmity to smear their ears with wax, and sail (straight on) through the tenets of the heretics, not even listening to (doctrines) that are easily capable of enticing them into pleasure, like the luscious lay of the Sirens, or, by binding one's self to the Cross of Christ, (and) hearkening with fidelity (to His words), not to be distracted, inasmuch as he has reposed his trust to Him who ere this he has been firmly knit, and (I admonish that man) to continue steadfastly (in this faith). (Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies 7.1)

Firstly, I typically find these old translations (such as the ANF series) to be rather stilted and wooden.  But this passage has some striking phrases with a poet's ear (note several alliterations) and a storyteller's drama (as in the choice of quite striking, enticing verbs). 

Despite it partly being a purplish passage, its metaphor is striking: it takes the story of Ulysses and transforms it into one of Christian emulation.  While the crafty Ithacan may be a hero in the Odyssey, by the time one reaches Roman writings - such as the Aeneid, here in evidence since it is then that the Sicilian connection to his wanderings is made - his wanderings are truly errant as his distinctive trait of cunning becomes is devalued into a flaw. 

Yet his seamen become regular Christians, whether beginners, catechumens, or something else (not uneducated, to be sure, since they would not be reading the tract) - they should, in fact, not even read this work to be tempted by siren call of heresy.  While Ulysses represents an advanced or strong Christian, and the mast becomes the cross through which he can discern the song's melodies and harmonies distinctly without being tempted by them.