BookThree
Weughttoconsidernotonlythatourlifeisdailywastingawayandasmallerpartofitisleft,butanotherthingalsomustbetakenintotheaccount,thatifamanshouldlivelonger,itisquiteuncertainwhethertheunderstandingwillstillcontinuesufficientforthecomprehensionofthings,andretainthepowerofcontemplationwhichstrivestoacquiretheknowledgeofthedivineandthehuman.Forifheshallbegintofallintodotage,perspirationandnutritionandimaginationandappetite,andwhateverelsethereisofthekind,willnotfail;butthepowerofmakinguseofourselves,andfillingupthemeasureofourduty,andclearlyseparatingallappearances,andconsideringwhetheramanshouldnowdepartfromlife,andwhateverelseofthekindabsolutelyrequiresadisciplinedreason,allthisisalreadyextinguished.Wemustmakehastethen,notonlybecausewearedailynearertodeath,butalsobecausetheconceptionofthingsandtheunderstandingofthemceasefirst.
Weoughttoobservealsothateventhethingswhichfollowafterthethingswhichareproducedaccordingtonaturecontainsomethingpleasingandattractive.Forinstance,whenbreadisbakedsomepartsaresplitatthesurface,andthesepartswhichthusopen,andhaveacertainfashioncontrarytothepurposeofthebaker-sart,arebeautifulinamanner,andinapeculiarwayexciteadesireforeating.Andagain,figs,whentheyarequiteripe,gapeopen;andintheripeolivestheverycircumstanceoftheirbeingneartorottennessaddsapeculiarbeautytothefruit.Andtheearsofcornbendingdown,andthelion-seyebrows,andthefoamwhichflowsfromthemouthofwildboars,andmanyotherthings-thoughtheyarefarfrombeingbeautiful,ifamanshouldexaminethemseverally-still,becausetheyareconsequentuponthethingswhichareformedbynature,helptoadornthem,andtheypleasethemind;sothatifamanshouldhaveafeelinganddeeperinsightwithrespecttothethingswhichareproducedintheuniverse,thereishardlyoneofthosewhichfollowbywayofconsequencewhichwillnotseemtohimtobeinamannerdisposedsoastogivepleasure.Andsohewillseeeventherealgapingjawsofwildbeastswithnolesspleasurethanthosewhichpaintersandsculptorsshowbyimitation;andinanoldwomanandanoldmanhewillbeabletoseeacertainmaturityandcomeliness;andtheattractivelovelinessofyoungpersonshewillbeabletolookonwithchasteeyes;andmanysuchthingswillpresentthemselves,notpleasingtoeveryman,buttohimonlywhohasbecometrulyfamiliarwithnatureandherworks.
Hippocratesaftercuringmanydiseaseshimselffellsickanddied.TheChaldaeiforetoldthedeathsofmany,andthenfatecaughtthemtoo.Alexander,andPompeius,andCaiusCaesar,aftersooftencompletelydestroyingwholecities,andinbattlecuttingtopiecesmanytenthousandsofcavalryandinfantry,themselvestooatlastdepartedfromlife.Heraclitus,aftersomanyspeculationsontheconflagrationoftheuniverse,wasfilledwithwaterinternallyanddiedsmearedalloverwithmud.AndlicedestroyedDemocritus;andotherlicekilledSocrates.Whatmeansallthis?Thouhastembarked,thouhastmadethevoyage,thouartcometoshore;getout.Ifindeedtoanotherlife,thereisnowantofgods,noteventhere.Butiftoastatewithoutsensation,thouwiltceasetobeheldbypainsandpleasures,andtobeaslavetothevessel,whichisasmuchinferiorasthatwhichservesitissuperior:fortheoneisintelligenceanddeity;theotherisearthandcorruption.
Donotwastetheremainderofthylifeinthoughtsaboutothers,whenthoudostnotreferthythoughtstosomeobjectofcommonutility.Forthoulosesttheopportunityofdoingsomethingelsewhenthouhastsuchthoughtsasthese,Whatissuchapersondoing,andwhy,andwhatishesaying,andwhatishethinkingof,andwhatishecontriving,andwhateverelseofthekindmakesuswanderawayfromtheobservationofourownrulingpower.Weoughtthentocheckintheseriesofourthoughtseverythingthatiswithoutapurposeanduseless,butmostofalltheover-curiousfeelingandthemalignant;andamanshouldusehimselftothinkofthosethingsonlyaboutwhichifoneshouldsuddenlyask,Whathastthounowinthythoughts?Withperfectopennessthoumightest,immediatelyanswer,ThisorThat;sothatfromthywordsitshouldbeplainthateverythingintheeissimpleandbenevolent,andsuchasbefitsasocialanimal,andonethatcaresnotforthoughtsaboutpleasureorsensualenjoymentsatall,norhasanyrivalryorenvyandsuspicion,oranythingelseforwhichthouwouldstblushifthoushouldstsaythatthouhadstitinthymind.Forthemanwhoissuchandnolongerdelaysbeingamongthenumberofthebest,islikeapriestandministerofthegods,usingtoothedeitywhichisplantedwithinhim,whichmakesthemanuncontaminatedbypleasure,unharmedbyanypain,untouchedbyanyinsult,feelingnowrong,afighterinthenoblestfight,onewhocannotbeoverpoweredbyanypassion,dyeddeepwithjustice,acceptingwithallhissouleverythingwhichhappensandisassignedtohimashisportion;andnotoften,noryetwithoutgreatnecessityandforthegeneralinterest,imaginingwhatanothersays,ordoes,orthinks.Foritisonlywhatbelongstohimselfthathemakesthematterforhisactivity;andheconstantlythinksofthatwhichisallottedtohimselfoutofthesumtotalofthings,andhemakeshisownactsfair,andheispersuadedthathisownportionisgood.Forthelotwhichisassignedtoeachmaniscarriedalongwithhimandcarrieshimalongwithit.Andheremembersalsothateveryrationalanimalishiskinsman,andthattocareforallmenisaccordingtoman-snature;andamanshouldholdontotheopinionnotofall,butofthoseonlywhoconfessedlyliveaccordingtonature.Butastothosewholivenotso,healwaysbearsinmindwhatkindofmentheyarebothathomeandfromhome,bothbynightandbyday,andwhattheyare,andwithwhatmentheyliveanimpurelife.Accordingly,hedoesnotvalueatallthepraisewhichcomesfromsuchmen,sincetheyarenotevensatisfiedwiththemselves.
Labournotunwillingly,norwithoutregardtothecommoninterest,norwithoutdueconsideration,norwithdistraction;norletstudiedornamentsetoffthythoughts,andbenoteitheramanofmanywords,orbusyabouttoomanythings.Andfurther,letthedeitywhichisintheebetheguardianofalivingbeing,manlyandofripeage,andengagedinmatterpolitical,andaRoman,andaruler,whohastakenhispostlikeamanwaitingforthesignalwhichsummonshimfromlife,andreadytogo,havingneedneitherofoathnorofanyman-stestimony.Becheerfulalso,andseeknotexternalhelpnorthetranquilitywhichothersgive.Amanthenmuststanderect,notbekepterectbyothers.
Ifthoufindestinhumanlifeanythingbetterthanjustice,truth,temperance,fortitude,and,inaword,anythingbetterthanthyownmind-sself-satisfactioninthethingswhichitenablestheetodoaccordingtorightreason,andintheconditionthatisassignedtotheewithoutthyownchoice;if,Isay,thouseestanythingbetterthanthis,turntoitwithallthysoul,andenjoythatwhichthouhastfoundtobethebest.Butifnothingappearstobebetterthanthedeitywhichisplantedinthee,whichhassubjectedtoitselfallthyappetites,andcarefullyexaminesalltheimpressions,and,asSocratessaid,hasdetacheditselffromthepersuasionsofsense,andhassubmitteditselftothegods,andcaresformankind;ifthoufindesteverythingelsesmallerandoflessvaluethanthis,giveplacetonothingelse,forifthoudostoncedivergeandinclinetoit,thouwiltnolongerwithoutdistractionbeabletogivethepreferencetothatgoodthingwhichisthyproperpossessionandthyown;foritisnotrightthatanythingofanyotherkind,suchaspraisefromthemany,orpower,orenjoymentofpleasure,shouldcomeintocompetitionwiththatwhichisrationallyandpoliticallyorpracticallygood.Allthesethings,eventhoughtheymayseemtoadaptthemselvestothebetterthingsinasmalldegree,obtainthesuperiorityallatonce,andcarryusaway.Butdothou,Isay,simplyandfreelychoosethebetter,andholdtoit-Butthatwhichisusefulisthebetter-Wellthen,ifitisusefultotheeasarationalbeing,keeptoit;butifitisonlyusefultotheeasananimal,sayso,andmaintainthyjudgementwithoutarrogance:onlytakecarethatthoumakesttheinquirybyasuremethod.
Nevervalueanythingasprofitabletothyselfwhichshallcompeltheetobreakthypromise,tolosethyself-respect,tohateanyman,tosuspect,tocurse,toactthehypocrite,todesireanythingwhichneedswallsandcurtains:forhewhohaspreferredtoeverythingintelligenceanddaemonandtheworshipofitsexcellence,actsnotragicpart,doesnotgroan,willnotneedeithersolitudeormuchcompany;and,whatischiefofall,hewilllivewithouteitherpursuingorflyingfromdeath;butwhetherforalongerorashortertimeheshallhavethesoulinclosedinthebody,hecaresnotatall:forevenifhemustdepartimmediately,hewillgoasreadilyasifheweregoingtodoanythingelsewhichcanbedonewithdecencyandorder;takingcareofthisonlyallthroughlife,thathisthoughtsturnnotawayfromanythingwhichbelongstoanintelligentanimalandamemberofacivilcommunity.
Inthemindofonewhoischastenedandpurifiedthouwiltfindnocorruptmatter,norimpurity,noranysoreskinnedover.Norishislifeincompletewhenfateovertakeshim,asonemaysayofanactorwholeavesthestagebeforeendingandfinishingtheplay.Besides,thereisinhimnothingservile,noraffected,nortoocloselyboundtootherthings,noryetdetachedfromotherthings,nothingworthyofblame,nothingwhichseeksahiding-place.
Reverencethefacultywhichproducesopinion.Onthisfacultyitentirelydependswhetherthereshallexistinthyrulingpartanyopinioninconsistentwithnatureandtheconstitutionoftherationalanimal.Andthisfacultypromisesfreedomfromhastyjudgement,andfriendshiptowardsmen,andobediencetothegods.
Throwingawaythenallthings,holdtotheseonlywhicharefew;andbesidesbearinmindthateverymanlivesonlythispresenttime,whichisanindivisiblepoint,andthatalltherestofhislifeiseitherpastoritisuncertain.Shortthenisthetimewhicheverymanlives,andsmallthenookoftheearthwherehelives;andshorttoothelongestposthumousfame,andeventhisonlycontinuedbyasuccessionofpoorhumanbeings,whowillverysoondie,andwhoknownoteventhemselves,muchlesshimwhodiedlongago.
Totheaidswhichhavebeenmentionedletthisonestillbeadded:-Makeforthyselfadefinitionordescriptionofthethingwhichispresentedtothee,soastoseedistinctlywhatkindofathingitisinitssubstance,initsnudity,initscompleteentirety,andtellthyselfitspropername,andthenamesofthethingsofwhichithasbeencompounded,andintowhichitwillberesolved.Fornothingissoproductiveofelevationofmindastobeabletoexaminemethodicallyandtrulyeveryobjectwhichispresentedtotheeinlife,andalwaystolookatthingssoastoseeatthesametimewhatkindofuniversethisis,andwhatkindofuseeverythingperformsinit,andwhatvalueeverythinghaswithreferencetothewhole,andwhatwithreferencetoman,whoisacitizenofthehighestcity,ofwhichallothercitiesarelikefamilies;whateachthingis,andofwhatitiscomposed,andhowlongitisthenatureofthisthingtoendurewhichnowmakesanimpressiononme,andwhatvirtueIhaveneedofwithrespecttoit,suchasgentleness,manliness,truth,fidelity,simplicity,contentment,andtherest.Wherefore,oneveryoccasionamanshouldsay:thiscomesfromGod;andthisisaccordingtotheapportionmentandspinningofthethreadofdestiny,andsuch-likecoincidenceandchance;andthisisfromoneofthesamestock,andakinsmanandpartner,onewhoknowsnothoweverwhatisaccordingtohisnature.ButIknow;forthisreasonIbehavetowardshimaccordingtothenaturallawoffellowshipwithbenevolenceandjustice.AtthesametimehoweverinthingsindifferentIattempttoascertainthevalueofeach.
Ifthouworkestatthatwhichisbeforethee,followingrightreasonseriously,vigorously,calmly,withoutallowinganythingelsetodistractthee,butkeepingthydivinepartpure,asifthoushouldstbeboundtogiveitbackimmediately;ifthouholdesttothis,expectingnothing,fearingnothing,butsatisfiedwiththypresentactivityaccordingtonature,andwithheroictruthineverywordandsoundwhichthouutterest,thouwiltlivehappy.Andthereisnomanwhoisabletopreventthis.
Asphysicianshavealwaystheirinstrumentsandknivesreadyforcaseswhichsuddenlyrequiretheirskill,sodothouhaveprinciplesreadyfortheunderstandingofthingsdivineandhuman,andfordoingeverything,eventhesmallest,witharecollectionofthebondwhichunitesthedivineandhumantooneanother.Forneitherwiltthoudoanythingwellwhichpertainstomanwithoutatthesametimehavingareferencetothingsdivine;northecontrary.
Nolongerwanderathazard;forneitherwiltthoureadthyownmemoirs,northeactsoftheancientRomansandHellenes,andtheselectionsfrombookswhichthouwastreservingforthyoldage.Hastenthentotheendwhichthouhastbeforethee,andthrowingawayidlehopes,cometothyownaid,ifthoucarestatallforthyself,whileitisinthypower.
Theyknownothowmanythingsaresignifiedbythewordsstealing,sowing,buying,keepingquiet,seeingwhatoughttobedone;forthisisnoteffectedbytheeyes,butbyanotherkindofvision.
Body,soul,intelligence:tothebodybelongsensations,tothesoulappetites,totheintelligenceprinciples.Toreceivetheimpressionsofformsbymeansofappearancesbelongseventoanimals;tobepulledbythestringsofdesirebelongsbothtowildbeastsandtomenwhohavemadethemselvesintowomen,andtoaPhalarisandaNero:andtohavetheintelligencethatguidestothethingswhichappearsuitablebelongsalsotothosewhodonotbelieveinthegods,andwhobetraytheircountry,anddotheirimpuredeedswhentheyhaveshutthedoors.IftheneverythingelseiscommontoallthatIhavementioned,thereremainsthatwhichispeculiartothegoodman,tobepleasedandcontentwithwhathappens,andwiththethreadwhichisspunforhim;andnottodefilethedivinitywhichisplantedinhisbreast,nordisturbitbyacrowdofimages,buttopreserveittranquil,followingitobedientlyasagod,neithersayinganythingcontrarytothetruth,nordoinganythingcontrarytojustice.Andifallmenrefusetobelievethathelivesasimple,modest,andcontentedlife,heisneitherangrywithanyofthem,nordoeshedeviatefromthewaywhichleadstotheendoflife,towhichamanoughttocomepure,tranquil,readytodepart,andwithoutanycompulsionperfectlyreconciledtohislot.