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/374

RV 322 (Chap. 1.) §. 16. "And what is all this to Freedom?"Truly nothing else is, but this, whether you rich People will or not."And who is your Evidence of this?"Who, but yourselves? Who have a powerful Master, and live by his Motion and Nod, and faint away, if he doth but look sternly upon you: who pay your Court to old Men, and old Women, and say, "I cannot do this, it is not in my Power." Why is it not in your Power? Did not you just now contradict me, and say, you were free?"But Aprylla hath forbid me."Speak the Truth then, Slave, and do not run away from your Masters; nor deny them, nor dare to assert your Freedom, when you have so many Proofs of your Slavery. One might indeed find some Excuse for a Person, compelled by Love to do something contrary to his Opinion, even when at the same time he sees what is best, and yet hath not Resolution enough to follow it; since he is with-held by something violent, and in some measure, divine. But who can bear you, who are in Love with old Men and old Women; and wipe their Noses, and wash them, and bribe them with Presents, and wait upon them when they are sick, like a Slave; at the same time wishing they may die, and enquiring of the Physician, whether their Distemper be yet mortal? And again, when for these great and venerable Magistracies and Honours, you kiss the Hands of the Slaves of others; so that you are the Slave of those who are not free themselves! And then you walk about in State, a Prætor, or a Consul. Do not I know how you came to be Prætor; whence you received the Consulship; who gave it you? For my own Part, I would not even live, if I must live by Felicio's Means, and bear his Pride, and slavish Insolence. For I know what a Slave is, blinded by what he thinks good Fortune. §. 17.