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第2章

the golden sayings-第2章

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end you were born: or for what purpose the power of contemplation

has been bestowed on you?



〃Well; but in life there are some things disagreeable and

hard to bear。〃



And are there none at Olympia? Are you not scorched by the

heat? Are you not cramped for room? Have you not to bathe with

discomfort? Are you not drenched when it rains? Have you not to

endure the clamor and shouting and such annoyances as these?

Well; I suppose you set all this over against the splendour of

the spectacle and bear it patiently。 What then? have you not

received greatness of heart; received courage; received

fortitude? What care I; if I am great of heart; for aught that

can come to pass? What shall cast me down or disturb me? What

shall seem painful? Shall I not use the power to the end for

which I received it; instead of moaning and wailing over what

comes to pass?





XV







If what philosophers say of the kinship of God and Man be

true; what remains for men to do but as Socrates did:never;

when asked one's country; to answer; 〃I am an Athenian or a

Corinthian;〃 but 〃I am a citizen of the world。〃





XVI







He that hath grasped the administration of the World; who

hath learned that this Community; which consists of God and men;

is the foremost and mightiest and most comprehensive of all:

that from God have descended the germs of life; not to my father

only and father's father; but to all things that are born and

grow upon the earth; and in an especial manner to those endowed

with Reason (for those only are by their nature fitted to hold

communion with God; being by means of Reason conjoined with Him)

why should not such an one call himself a citizen of the world?

Why not a son of God? Why should he fear aught that comes to pass

among men? Shall kinship with Caesar; or any other of the great

at Rome; be enough to hedge men around with safety and

consideration; without a thought of apprehension: while to have

God for our Maker; and Father; and Kinsman; shall not this set us

free from sorrows and fears?





XVII







I do not think that an old fellow like me need have been

sitting here to try and prevent your entertaining abject notions

of yourselves; and talking of yourselves in an abject and ignoble

way: but to prevent there being by chance among you any such

young men as; after recognising their kindred to the Gods; and

their bondage in these chains of the body and its manifold

necessities; should desire to cast them off as burdens too

grievous to be borne; and depart their true kindred。 This is the

struggle in which your Master and Teacher; were he worthy of the

name; should be engaged。 You would come to me and say:

〃Epictetus; we can no longer endure being chained to this

wretched body; giving food and drink and rest and purification:

aye; and for its sake forced to be subservient to this man and

that。 Are these not things indifferent and nothing to us? Is it

not true that death is no evil? Are we not in a manner kinsmen of

the Gods; and have we not come from them? Let us depart thither;

whence we came: let us be freed from these chains that confine

and press us down。 Here are thieves and robbers and tribunals:

and they that are called tyrants; who deem that they have after a

fashion power over us; because of the miserable body and what

appertains to it。 Let us show them that they have power over

none。〃





XVIII







And to this I reply:



〃Friends; wait for God。 When He gives the signal; and

releases you from this service; then depart to Him。 But for the

present; endure to dwell in the place wherein He hath assigned

you your post。 Short indeed is the time of your habitation

therein; and easy to those that are minded。 What tyrant; what

robber; what tribunals have any terrors for those who thus esteem

the body and all that belong to it as of no account? Stay; depart

not rashly hence!〃





XIX







Something like that is what should pass between a teacher

and ingenuous youths。 As it is; what does pass? The teacher is a

lifeless body; and you are lifeless bodies yourselves。 When you

have had enough to eat today; you sit down and weep about

tomorrow's food。 Slave! if you have it; well and good; if not;

you will depart: the door is openwhy lament? What further room

is there for tears? What further occasion for flattery? Why

should one envy another? Why should you stand in awe of them that

have much or are placed in power; especially if they be also

strong and passionate? Why; what should they do to us? What they

can do; we will not regard: what does concern us; that they

cannot do。 Who then shall rule one that is thus minded?





XX







Seeing this then; and noting well the faculties which you

have; you should say;〃Send now; O God; any trial that Thou

wilt; lo; I have means and powers given me by Thee to acquit

myself with honour through whatever comes to pass!〃 No; but

there you sit; trembling for fear certain things should come to

pass; and moaning and groaning and lamenting over what does come

to pass。 And then you upbraid the Gods。 Such meanness of spirit

can have but one resultimpiety。



Yet God has not only given us these faculties by means of

which we may bear everything that comes to pass without being

curshed or depressed thereby; but like a good King and Father; He

has given us this without let or hindrance; placed wholly at our

own disposition; without reserving to Himself any power of

impediment or restraint。 Though possessing all these things free

and all you own; you do not use them! you do not perceive what it

is you have received nor whence it comes; but sit moaning and

groaning; some of you blind to the Giver; making no

acknowledgment to your Benefactor; others basely giving

themselves to complaints and accusations against God。



Yet what faculties and powers you possess for attaining

courage and greatness of heart; I can easily show you; what you

have for upbraiding and accusation; it is for you to show me!



XXI







How did Socrates bear himself in this regard? How else than

as became one who was fully assured that he was the kinsman of

Gods?





XXII







If God had made that part of His own nature which He severed

from Himself and gave to us; liable to be hindered or constrained

either by Himself or any other; He would not have been God; nor

would He have been taking care of us as He ought 。 。 。 。 If you

choose; you are free; if you choose; you need blame no man

accuse no man。 All things will be at once according to your mind

and according to the Mind of God。





XXIII







Petrifaction is of two sorts。 There is petrifaction of the

understanding; and also of the sense of shame。 This happens when

a man obstinately refuses to acknowledge plain truths; and

persists in maintaining what is self…contradictory。 Most of us

dread mortification of the body; and would spare no pains to

escape anything of that kind。 But of mortification of the soul we

are utterly heedless。 With regard; indeed; to the soul; if a man

is in such a state as to be incapable of following or

understanding anything; I grant you we do think him in a bad way。

But mortification of the sense of shame and modesty we go so far

as to dub strength of mind!





XXIV







If we were as intent upon our business as the old fellows at

Rome are upon what interests them; we too might perhaps

accomplish something。 I know a man older than I am; now

Superintendent of the Corn…market at Rome; and I remember when he

passed through this place on his way back from exile; what an

account he gave me of his former life; declaring that for the

future; once home again; his only care should be to pass his

remaining years in quiet and tranquility。 〃For how few years have

I left!〃 he cried。 〃That;〃 I said; 〃you will not do; but the

moment the scent of Rome is in yo

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