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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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