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第17章

the golden sayings-第17章

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V





Keep neither a blunt knife nor an ill…disciplined looseness

of tongue。





VI





Nature hath given men one tongue but two ears; that we may

hear from others twice as much as we speak。





VII





Do not give sentence in another tribunal till you have been

yourself judged in the tribunal of Justice。





VIII





If is shameful for a Judge to be judged by others。





IX







Give me by all means the shorter and nobler life; instead of

one that is longer but of less account!





X







Freedom is the name of virtue: Slavery; of vice。 。 。 。 None

is a slave whose acts are free。





XI





Of pleasures; those which occur most rarely give the most

delight。





XII





Exceed due measure; and the most delightful things become

the least delightful。





XIII





The anger of an apethe threat of a flatterer:these

deserve equal regard。





XIV





Chastise thy passions that they avenge not themselves upon

thee。





XV





No man is free who is not master of himself。





XVI





A ship should not ride on a single anchor; nor life on a

single hope。





XVII





Fortify thyself with contentment: that is an impregnable

stronghold。





XVIII





No man who is a lover of money; of pleasure; of glory; is

likewise a lover of Men; but only he that is a lover of

whatsoever things are fair and good。



XIX





Think of God more often than thou breathest。





XX





Choose the life that is noblest; for custom can make it

sweet to thee。





XXI





Let thy speech of God be renewed day by day; aye; rather

than thy meat and drink。





XXII







Even as the Sun doth not wait for prayers and incantations

to rise; but shines forth and is welcomed by all: so thou also

wait not for clapping of hands and shouts and praise to do thy

duty; nay; do good of thine own accord; and thou wilt be loved

like the Sun。





XXIII





Let no man think that he is loved by any who loveth none。









XXIV







If thou rememberest that God standeth by to behold and visit

all that thou doest; whether in the body or in the soul; thou

surely wilt not err in any prayer or deed; and thou shalt have

God to dwell with thee。





Note。Schweigh剈ser's great edition collects 181 fragments

attributed to Epictetus; of which but a few are certainly

genuine。 Some (as xxi。; xxiv。; above) bear the stamp of

Pythagorean origin; others; though changed in form; may well be

based upon Epictetean sayings。 Most have been preserved in the

Anthology of John of Stobi (Stobaeus); a Byzantine collector; of

whom scarcely anything is known but that he probably wrote

towards the end of the fifth century; and made his vast body of

extracts from more than five hundred authors for his son's use。

The best examination of the authenticity of the Fragments is

Quaestiones Epicteteae; by R。 Asmus; 1888。 The above selection

includes some of doubtful origin but intrinsic interest。Crossley。

















(APPENDIX B)







The Hymn of Cleanthes





Chiefest glory of deathless Gods; Almighty for ever;

Sovereign of Nature that rulest by law; what Name shall we give Thee?

Blessed be Thou! for on Thee should call all things that are mortal。

For that we are Thine offspring; nay; all that in myriad motion

Lives for its day on the earth bears one impressThy likenessupon it。

Wherefore my song is of Thee; and I hymn thy power for ever。



Lo; the vast orb of the Worlds; round the Earth evermore as it rolleth;

Feels Thee its Ruler and Guide; and owns Thy lordship rejoicing。

Aye; for Thy conquering hands have a servant of living fire

Sharp is the bolt!where it falls; Nature shrinks at the shock

and doth shudder。

Thus Thou directest the Word universal that pulses through all things;

Mingling its life with Lights that are great and Lights that are lesser;

E'en as beseemeth its birth; High King through ages unending。



Nought is done that is done without Thee in the earth or the waters

Or in the heights of heaven; save the deed of the fool and the sinner。

Thou canst make rough things smooth; at Thy voice; lo; jarring disorder

Moveth to music; and Love is born where hatred abounded。

Thus hast Thou fitted alike things good and things evil together;

That over all might reign one Reason; supreme and eternal;

Though thereunto the hearts of the wicked be hardened and heedless

Woe unto them!for while ever their hands are grasping at good things;

Blind are their eyes; yea; stopped are their ears to God's Law universal;

Calling through wise disobedience to live the life that is noble。

This they mark not; but heedless of right; turn each to his own way;

Here; a heart fired with ambition; in strife and straining unhallowed;

There; thrusting honour aside; fast set upon getting and gaining;

Others again given over to lusts and dissolute softness;

Working never God's Law; but that which warreth upon it。



Nay; but; O Giver of all things good; whose home is the dark cloud;

Thou that wieldesy Heaven's bolt; save men from their ignorance grievous;

Scatter its night from their souls; and grant them to come to that Wisdom

Wherewithal; sistered with Justice; Thou rulest and governest all things;

That we; honoured by Thee; may requite Thee with worship and honour;

Evermore praising thy works; as is meet for men that shall perish;

Seeing that none; be he mortal or God; hath privilege nobler

Than without stint; without stay; to extol Thy Law universal。









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