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/372

RV 320 (Chap. 1.) dom; this the only Deliverance from Slavery; to be able at length to say, from the Bottom of one's Soul,

Conduct me, Jove, and thou, O Destiny, Where-ever Your Decrees have fix'd my Lot.

§. 15. But what say you, Philosopher? A Tyrant summons you to speak something unbecoming you. Will you say it, or will you not?"Stay, let me consider."Would you consider now? And what did you use to consider, when you were in the Schools? Did not you Study what Things are good, and evil, and what indifferent?"I did."Well: and what were the Opinions which pleased us?"That just and fair Actions were good; unjust and base ones, evil."Is living a Good?"No."Dying, an Evil?"No."A Prison?"No."And what did a mean and dishonest Speech, the betraying a Friend, or the flattering a Tyrant, appear to us?"Evils."Why then are you still considering, and have not already considered, and come to a Resolution? For what Sort of a Consideration is this? Whether I ought, when it is in my Power, to procure myself the greatest Good, instead of procuring myself the greatest Evil. A fine and necessary Consideration, truly, and deserving mighty Deliberation! Why do you trifle with us, Man? There never was any such Point considered: nor, if you really imagined what was fair and honest to be good, what base and dishonest, evil, and all other Things indifferent, would you ever be at such a Stand as this, or near it: but you would presently be able to distinguish, by your Understanding, as you do by your Sight. For do you ever consider, whether black is white: or light, heavy? Do not you follow the plain Evidence of your