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who art thou； and to what end comest thou here？ was it not He
that made the Light manifest unto thee； that gave thee fellow…workers；
and senses； and the power to reason？ And how brought He
thee into the world？ Was it not as one born to die； as one bound
to live out his earthly life in some small tabernacle of flesh；
to behold His administration； and for a little while share with
Him in the mighty march of this great Festival Procession？ Now
therefore that thou hast beheld； while it was permitted thee； the
Solemn Feast and Assembly； wilt thou not cheerfully depart； whem
He summons thee forth； with adoration and thanksgiving for what
thou hast seen and heard？〃Nay； but I would fain have stayed
longer at the Festival。〃Ah； so would the mystics fain have the
rites prolonged； so perchance would the crowd at the Great Games
fain behold more wrestlers still。 But the Solemn Assembly is
over！ Come forth； depart with thanksgiving and modestygive
place to others that must come into being even as thyself。
CXL
Why art thou thus insatiable？ why thus unreasonable？ why
encumber the world？〃Aye； but I fain would have my wife and
children with me too。〃What； are they then thine； and not His
that gave themHis that made thee？ Give up then that which is
not thine own： yield it to One who is better than thou。 〃Nay； but
why did He bring one into the world on these conditions？〃If it
suits thee not； depart！ He hath no need of a spectator who finds
fault with his lot！ Them that will take part in the Feast he
needeththat will lift their voices with the restm that men may
applaud the more； and exalt the Great Assembly in hymns and songs
of praise。 But the wretched and the fearful He will not be
displeased to see absent from it： for when they were present；
they did not behave as at a Feast； nor fulfil their proper
office； but moaned as though in pain； and found fault with their
fate； their fortune and their companions； insensible to what had
fallen to their lot； insensible to the powers they had received
for a very different purposethe powers of Magnanimity； Nobility
of Heart； of Fortitude； or Freedom！
CXLI
Art thou then free？ a man may say。 So help me heaven； I long
and pray for freedom！ But I cannot look my masters boldly in the
face； I still value the poor body； I still set much store on its
preservation whole and sound。
But I can point thee out a free man； that thou mayest be no
more in search of an example。 Diogenes was free。 How so？ Not
because he was of free parentage （for that； indeed； was not the
case）； but because he was himself free。 He had cast away every
handle whereby slavery might lay hold of him to enslave him； nor
was it possible for any to approach and take hold of him to
enslave him。 All things sat loose upon himall things were to
him attached by but slender ties。 Hadst thou siezed upon his
possessions； he would rather have let them go than have followed
thee for themaye； had it been even a limb； or mayhap his whole
body； and in like manner； relatives； friends； and country。 For he
knew whence they camefrom whose hands and on what terms he had
received them。 His true forefathers； the Gods； his true Country；
he never would have abandoned； nor would he have yielded to any
man in obedience and submission to the one nor in cheerfully
dying for the other。 For he was ever mindful that everything that
comes to pass has its source and origin there； being indeed
brought about for the weal of that his true Country； and directed
by Him in whose governance it is。
CXLII
Ponder on thison these convictions； on these words： fix
thine eyes on these examples； if thou wouldst be free； if thou
hast thine heart set upon the matter according to its worth。 And
what marvel if thou purchase so great a thing at so great and
high a price？ For the sake of this that men deem liberty； some
hang themselves； others cast themselves down from the rock； aye；
time has been when whole cities came utterly to an end： while for
the sake of Freedom that is true； and sure； and unassailable；
dost thou grudge to God what He gave； when He claims it？ Wilt
thou not study； as Plato saith； to endure； not death alone； but
torture； exile； stripesin a word； to render up all that is not
thine own？ Else thou wilt be a slave amid slaves； wert thou ten
thousand times a consul； aye； not a whit the less； though thou
climb the Palace steps。 And thou shalt know how true the saying
of Cleanthes； that though the words of philosophers may run
counter to the opinions of the world； yet have they reason on
their side。
CXLII
Asked how a man should best grieve his enemy； Epictetus
replied； 〃By setting himself to live the noblest life himself。〃
CXLIV
I am free； I am a friend of God； ready to render Him willing
obedience。 Of all else I may set store by nothingneither by
mine own body； nor possessions； nor office； nor good report； nor；
in a word； aught else beside。 For it is not His Will； that I
should so set store by these things。 Had it been His pleasure； He
would have placed my Good therein。 But now He hath not done so：
therefore I cannot transgress one jot of His commands。 In
everything hold fast to that which is thy Goodbut to all else
（as far as is given thee） within the measure of Reason only；
contented with this alone。 Else thou wilt meet with failure； ill
success； let and hindrance。 These are the Laws ordained of God
these are His Edicts； these a man should expound and interpret；
to these submit himself； not to the laws of Masurius and
Cassius。
CXLV
Remember that not the love of power and wealth sets us under
the heel of others； but even the love of tranquillity； of
leisure； of change of sceneof learning in general； it matters
not what the outward thing may beto set store by it is to place
thyself in subjection to another。 Where is the difference then
between desiring to be a Senator； and desiring not to be one：
between thirsting for office and thirsting to be quit of it？
Where is the difference between crying； Woe is me； I know not
what to do； bound hand and foot as I am to my books so that I
cannot stir！ and crying； Woe is me； I have not time to read！ As
though a book were not as much an outward thing and independent
of the will； as office and power and the receptions of the great。
Or what reason hast thou （tell me） for desiring to read？ For
if thou aim at nothing beyond the mere delight of it； or gaining
some scrap of knowledge； thou art but a poor； spiritless knave。
But if thou desirest to study to its proper end； what else is
this than a life that flows on tranquil and serene？ And if thy
reading secures thee not serenity； what profits it？〃Nay； but it
doth secure it；〃 quoth he； 〃and that is why I repine at being
deprived of it。〃And what serenity is this that lies at the
mercy of every passer…by？ I say not at the mercy of the Emperor
or Emperor's fa