Page:All the works of Epictetus - which are now extant; consisting of his Discourses, preserved by Arrian, in four books, the Enchiridion, and fragments (IA allworksofepicte00epic).pdf/369

RV 317 (Chap. 1.) received for contrary Purposes; the Powers of Magnanimity, Nobleness of Spirit, Fortitude, and the Subject of present Enquiry, Freedom.—"For what Purpose then have I received these Things?"To use them."How long?"As long as He, who lent them, pleases. If then they are not necessary, do not attach yourself to them, and they will not be so: do not tell yourself, that they are necessary, and they are not.

§. 13. This should be our Study from Morning till Night, beginning from the least and frailest Things, from an earthen Vessel, from a Glass. Afterwards, proceed to a Suit of Clothes, a Dog a Horse, an Estate: from thence to your Self, Body, Parts of the Body, Children, Wife, Brothers. Look every-where around you, and throw them from yourself. Correct your Principles. See that nothing cleave to you, which is not your own; nothing grow to you, that may give you Pain, when it is torn away. And say, when you are daily exercising yourself as you do here, not that you act the Philosopher (admit this to be an insolent Title), but that you are asserting your Freedom. For this is true Freedom. This is the Freedom, that Diogenes gained from Antisthenes; and declared, it was impossible, that he should ever after be a Slave, to any one. Hence, when he was taken Prisoner, how did he treat the Pirates? Did he call any of them Master? (I do not mean the Name, for I am not afraid of a Word, but the Disposition from whence the Word proceeds.) How did he reprove them for feeding their Prisoners ill? How was he sold? Did he seek a Master? No: but a Slave. And when he was sold, how did he converse with his Lord? He immediately disputed with him, that he ought not to be dressed nor shaved in the männer he was; how he ought to bring up his Children.