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/378

RV 326 (Chap. 1.) §. 19. Study these Points, these Principles, these Discourses; contemplate these Examples, if you would be free, if you desire the Thing in Proportion to its Value. And where is the Wonder, that you should purchase so great a Thing at the Price of others, so many, and so great? Some hang themselves, others break their Necks, and sometimes even whole Cities have been destroyed, for that which is reputed Freedom: and will not you, for the Sake of the true, and secure, and inviolable Freedom, repay God what he hath given, when he demands it? Will you not study, not only as Plato says, to die, but to be tortured, and banished, and scourged; and, in short, to give up all that belongs to others. If not, you will be a Slave among Slaves, though you were ten thousand Times a Consul: and, even though you should rise to the Palace, you will be never the less so. And you will feel, that though Philosophers (as Cleanthes says) do, perhaps, talk contrary to common Opinion, yet not contrary to Reason. For you will find it true in fact, that the Things that are eagerly followed and admired, are of no Use to those, who have gained them: while they who have not yet gained them, imagine, that, if they are acquired, every Good will come along with them: and then, when they are acquired, there is the same Feverishness, the same Agitation, the same Nauseating, and the same Desire of what is absent. For Freedom is not procured by a full Enjoyment of what is desired, but by proving the Desire to be a wrong one. And, in order to know that this is true, take the same Pains about these, which you have taken about other Things. Lie awake to acquire a Set of Principles, that will make you free. Instead of a rich old Man, pay your Court to a Philosopher. Be seen about his Doors. You will not get any Disgrace by being seen there. You will not return empty, or unprofited, if you go as you ought. However, try at least. The Trial is not dishonourable.  CHAP-