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the golden sayings-第13部分

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what you give to the soul; you keep for ever。





CLXXIX





At meals; see to it that those who serve be not more in

number than those who are served。 It is absurd for a crowd of

persons to be dancing attendance on half a dozen chairs。





CLXXX





It is best to share with your attendants what is going

forward; both in the labour of preparation and in the enjoyment

of the feast itself。 If such a thing be difficult at the time;

recollect that you who are not weary are being served by those

that are; you who are eating and drinking by those who do

neither; you who are talking by those who are silent; you who are

at ease by those who are under constraint。 Thus no sudden wrath

will betray you into unreasonable conduct; nor will you behave

harshly by irritating another。





CLXXXI





When Xanthippe was chiding Socrates for making scanty

preparation for entertaining his friends; he answered:〃If they

are friends of our; they will not care for that; if they are not;

we shall care nothing for them!〃





CLXXXII





Asked; Who is the rich man? Epictetus replied; 〃He who is

content。〃





CLXXXIII





Favorinus tells us how Epictetus would also say that there

were two faults far graver and fouler than any othersinability

to bear; and inability to forbear; when we neither patiently bear

the blows that must be borne; nor abstain from the things and the

pleasures we ought to abstain from。 〃So;〃 he went on; 〃if a man

will only have these two words at heart; and heed them carefully

by ruling and watching over himself; he will for the most part

fall into no sin; and his life will be tranquil and serene。〃 He

meant the words         ?  ?   〃Bear and Forbear。〃





CLXXXIV





On all occasions these thoughts should be at hand:





Lead me; O God; and Thou; O Destiny

Be what it may the goal appointed me;

Bravely I'll follow; nay; and if I would not;

I'd prove a coward; yet must follow still!





Again:



Who to Necessity doth bow aright;

Is learn'd in wisdom and the things of God。



Once more:



Crito; if this be God's will; so let it be。 As for me;

Anytus and Meletus can indeed put me to death; but injure me;

never!





CLXXXV





We shall then be like Socrates; when we can indite hymns of

praise to the Gods in prison。





CLXXXVI





It is hard to combine and unite these two qualities; the

carefulness of one who is affected by circumstances; and the

intrepidity of one who heeds them not。 But it is not impossible:

else were happiness also impossible。 We should act as we do in

seafaring。



〃What can I do?〃Choose the master; the crew; the day; the

opportunity。 Then comes a sudden storm。 What matters it to me? my

part has been fully done。 The matter is in the hands of another

the Master of the ship。 The ship is foundering。 What then have I

to do? I do the only thing that remains to meto be drowned

without fear; without a cry; without upbraiding God; but knowing

that what has been born must likewise perish。 For I am not

Eternity; but a human beinga part of the whole; as an hour is

part of the day。 I must come like the hour; and like the hour

must pass!





CLXXXVII





And now we are sending you to Rome to spy out the land; but

none send a coward as such a spy; that; if he hear but a noise

and see a shadow moving anywhere; loses his wits and comes flying

to say; The enemy are upon us!



So if you go now; and come and tell us: 〃Everything at Rome

is terrible: Death is terrible; Exile is terrible; Slander is

terrible; Want is terrible; fly; comrades! the enemy are upon

us!〃 we shall reply; Get you gone; and prophesy to yourself! we

have but erred in sending such a spy as you。 Diogenes; who was

sent as a spy long before you; brought us back another report

than this。 He says that Death is no evil; for it need not even

bring shame with it。 He says that Fame is but the empty noise of

madmen。 And what report did this spy bring us of Pain; what of

Pleasure; what of Want? That to be clothed in sackcloth is better

than any purple robe; that sleeping on the bare ground is the

softest couch; and in proof of each assertion he points to his

own courage; constancy; and freedom; to his own healthy and

muscular frame。 〃There is no enemy near;〃 he cries; 〃all is

perfect peace!〃





CLXXXVIII





If a man has this peacenot the peace proclaimed by Caesar

(how indeed should he have it to proclaim?); nay; but the peace

proclaimed by God through reason; will not that suffice him when

alone; when he beholds and reflects:Now can no evil happen unto

me; for me there is no robber; for me no earthquake; all things

are full of peace; full of tranquillity; neither highway nor city

nor gathering of men; neither neighbor nor comrade can do me

hurt。 Another supplies my food; whose care it is; another my

raiment; another hath given me perceptions of sense and primary

conceptions。 And when He supplies my necessities no more; it is

that He is sounding the retreat; that He hath opened the door;

and is saying to thee; Come!Wither? To nought that thou needest

fear; but to the friendly kindred elements whence thou didst

spring。 Whatsoever of fire is in thee; unto fire shall return;

whatsoever of earth; unto earth; of spirit; unto spirit; of

water; unto water。 There is no Hades; no fabled rivers of Sighs;

of Lamentation; or of Fire: but all things are full of Beings

spiritual and divine。 With thoughts like these; beholding the

Sun; Moon; and Stars; enjoying earth and sea; a man is neither

helpless nor alone!





CLXXXIX





What wouldst thou be found doing when overtaken by Death? If

I might choose; I would be found doing some deed of true

humanity; of wide import; beneficent and noble。 But if I may not

be found engaged in aught so lofty; let me hope at least for

thiswhat none may hinder; what is surely in my powerthat I

may be found raising up in myself that which had fallen; learning

to deal more wisely with the things of sense; working out my own

tranquillity; and thus rendering that which is its due to every

relation of life。 。 。 。



If death surprise me thus employed; it is enough if I can

stretch forth my hands to God and say; 〃The faculties which I

received at Thy hands for apprehending this thine Administration;

I have not neglected。 As far as in me lay; I have done Thee no

dishonour。 Behold how I have used the senses; the primary

conceptions which Thous gavest me。 Have I ever laid anything to

Thy charge? Have I ever murmured at aught that came to pass; or

wished it otherwise? Have I in anything transgressed the

relations of life? For that Thou didst beget me; I thank Thee for

that Thou hast given: for the time during which I have used the

things that were Thine; it suffices me。 Take them back and place

them wherever Thou wilt! They were all Thine; and Thou gavest

them me。〃If a man depart thus minded; is it not enough? What

life is fairer and more noble; what end happier than his?













(APPENDIX A)







FRAGMENTS



Attributed to Epictetus







I





A life entangled with Fortune is like a torrent。 It is

turbulent and muddy; hard to pass and masterful of mood: noisy

and of brief continuance。





II





The soul that companies with Virtue is like an ever…flowing

source。 It is a pure; clear; and wholesome draught; sweet; rich;

and generous of its store; that injures not; neither destroys。





III





It is a shame that one who sweetens his drink with the gifts

of the bee; should embitter God's gift Reason with vice。





IV





Crows pick out the eyes of the dead; when the dead have no

longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the living;

and her eyes they blind。





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 ma
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