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/373

RV 321 (Chap. 1.) your Senses? Why then do you say, that you are now considering, whether Things indifferent are to be avoided, rather than Evils? The Truth is, you have no Principles: for neither doth the one Sort of Things appear to you indifferent, but the greatest Evils; nor the other Evils, but Matters of no Concern to you. For thus you have accustomed yourself from the first. "Where am I? In the School? And is there an Audience? I talk as the Philosophers do. But am I got out from the School? Away with this Stuff, that belongs only to Scholars and Fools. This Man is accused by the Testimony of a Philosopher, his Friend: this Philosopher turns Parasite; that hires himself out for Money; a third doth it in the very Senate. Who doth not wish what appears [to himself to be right]? His Principles exclaim from within."You are a poor cold Lump of Opinion, consisting of mere Words; on which you hang, as by a Hair. But preserve yourself firm, and make a due Use of the Appearances; remembering, that you are to be exercised in Things. In what manner do you hear, I do not say, that your Child is dead, (for how should you bear that?) but that your Oil is spilled, your Wine drank out? That any one, while you are bawling, might only say this; "Philosopher, you talk otherwise in the Schools. Why do you deceive us? Why, when you are a Worm, do you call yourself a Man?" I should be glad to be near one of these Philosophers, while he is revelling in Debauchery, that I might see how he exerts himself, and what Sayings he utters; whether he remembers his Title, and the Discourses which he hears, or speaks, or reads. §. 16.