按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃What； even from a reviler？〃
〃Why； tell me what profit a wrestler gains from him you
exercises him beforehand？ The very greatest： he trains me in the
practice of endurance； of controlling my temper； of gentle ways。
You deny it。 What； the man who lays hold of my neck； and
disciplines loins and shoulders； does me good； 。 。 。 while he
that trains me to keep my temper does me none？ This is what it
means； not knowing how to gain advantage from men！ Is my
neighbour bad？ Bad to himself； but good to me： he brings my good
temper； my gentleness into play。 Is my father bad？ Bad to
himself； but good to me。 This is the rod of Hermes； touch what
you will with it； they say； and it becomes gold。 Nay； but bring
what you will and I will transmute it into Good。 Bring sickness；
bring death； bring poverty and reproach； bring trial for life
all these things through the rod of Hermes shall be turned to
profit。
CVII
Till then these sound opinions have taken firm root in you；
and you have gained a measure of strength for your security； I
counsel you to be cautious in associating with the uninstructed。
Else whatever impressions you receive upon the tablets of your
mind in the School will day by day melt and disappear； like wax
in the sun。 Withdraw then somewhere far from tge sun； while you
have these waxen sentiments。
CVIII
We must approach this matter in a different way； it is great
and mystical： it is no common thing； nor given to every man。
Wisdom alone； it may be； will not suffice for the care of youth：
a man needs also a certain measure of readinessan aptitude for
the office； aye； and certain bodily qualities； and above all； to
be counselled of God Himself to undertake this post； even as He
counselled Socrates to fill the post of one who confutes error；
assigning to Diogenes the royal office of high reproof； and to
Zeno that of positive instruction。 Whereas you would fain set
up for a physician provided with nothing but drugs！ Where and how
they should be applied you neither know nor care。
CIX
If what charms you is nothing but abstract principles； sit
down and turm them over quietly in your mind： but never dub
yourself a Philosopher； nor suffer others to call you so。 Say
rather： He is in error； for my desires； my impulses are
unaltered。 I give in my adhesion to what I did before； nor has my
mode of dealing with the things of sense undergone any change。
CX
When a friend inclined to Cynic views asked Epictetus； what
sort of person a true Cynic should be； requesting a general
sketch of the system； he answered：〃We will consider that at
leisure。 At present I content myself with saying this much： If a
man put his hand to so weighty a matter without God； the wrath of
God abides upon him。 That which he covets will but bring upon him
public shame。 Not even on finding himself in a well…ordered house
does a man step forward and say to himself； I must be master
here！ Else the lord of that house takes notice of it； and； seeing
him insolently giving orders； drags him forth and chastises him。
So it is also in this great City； the World。 Here also is there a
Lord of the House； who orders all thing：
〃Thou are the Sun！ in thine orbit thou hast power to make the
year and the seasons；
to bid the fruits of the earth to grow
and increase； the winds arise and fall；
thou canst in due measure cherish with
thy warmth the frames of men； go make
thy circuit； and thus minister unto all
from the greatest to the least！ 。 。 。
〃Thou canst lead a host against Troy； be Agamemnon！〃
〃Thou canst meet Hector in single combat； be Achilles！〃
But had Thersites stepped forward and claimed the chief
command； he had been met with a refusal； or obtained it only to
his own shame and confusion of face； before a cloud of
witnesses。〃
CXI
Others may fence themselves with walls and houses； when they
do such deeds as these； and wrap themselves in darknessaye；
they have many a device to hide themselves。 Another may shut his
door and station one before his chamber to say； if any comes； He
has gone forth！ he is not at leisure！ But the true Cynic will
have none of these things； instead of them； he must wrap himself
in Modesty： else he will but bring himself to shame； naked and
under the open sky。 That is his house； that is his door； that is
the slave that guards his chamber； that is his darkness！
CXII
Death？ let it come when it will； whether it smite but a part
of the whole： Fly； you tell mefly！ But whither shall I fly？
Can any man cast me beyond the limits of the World？ It may not
be！ And whithersoever I go； there shall I still find Sun； Moon；
and Stars； there I shall find dreams； and omens； and converse
with the Gods！
CXIII
Furthermore the true Cynic must know that he is sent as a
Messenger from God to men； to show unto them that as touching
good and evil they are in error； looking for these where they are
not to be found； nor ever bethinking themselves where they are。
And like Diogenes when brought before Philip after the battle of
Chaeronea； the Cynic must remember that he is a Spy。 For a Spy he
really isto bring back word what things are on Man's side； and
what against him。 And when he had diligently observed all； he
must come back with a true report； not terrified into announcing
them to be foes that are no foes； nor otherwise perturbed or
confounded by the things of sense。
CXIV
How can it be that one who hath nothing； neither raimant；
nor house； nor home； nor bodily tendance； nor servant； nor city；
should yet live tranquil and contented？ Behold God hath sent you
a man to show you in act and deed that it may be so。 Behold me！ I
have neither house nor possessions nor servants： the ground is my
couch； I have no wife； no children； no shelternothing but
earth and sky； and one poor cloak。 And what lack I yet？ am I not
untouched by sorrow； by fear？ am I not free？ 。 。 。 when have I
laid anything to the charge of God or Man？ when have I accussed
any？ hath any of you seen me with a sorrowful countenance？ And in
what wise treat I those of whom you stand in fear and awe？ Is it
not as slaves？ Who when he seeth me doth not think that he
beholdeth his Master and his King？
CXV
Give thyself more diligently to reflection： know thyself：
take counsel with the Godhead： without God put thine hand unto
nothing！
CXVI
〃But to marry and to rear offspring；〃 said the young man；
〃will the Cynic hold himself bound to undertake this as a chief
duty？〃
Grant me a republic of wise men； answered Epictetus； and
perhaps none will lightly take the Cynic life upon him。 For on
whose account should he embrace that method of life？ Suppose
however that he does； there will then be nothing to hinder his
marrying and rearing o