Player; or, rather, not an Actor, but Oedipus himself.-But such a one is happy. He walks with a numerous Train. Well: 1 join myself with the Crowd, and I too walk with a numerous Train.

§. 4. But, remember the principal thing; That the Door is open. Do not be more fearful than Children; but, as they, when the play doth not please them, say; "I will play no longer :" so do you, in the same case, say; "I will play no longer;" and go but, if you stay, do not complain.

CHAP. XXV.

On the same Subject.

§. 1. IF these things are true; and we are

not stupid, or acting a Part, when we say, that the Good or Ill of Man consists in Choice, and that all besides is nothing to us; why are we still troubled? Why do we still fear? What hath been our Concern, is in no one's Power: what is in the Power

of

of others, we do not regard. What Embarrassment have we left?

But direct me.

Why should I direct you? Hath not Jupiter directed you? Hath he not given you what is your own, incapable of Restraint or Hindrance; and what is not your own, liable to both? What Directions, then, what Orders, have you brought from him? By all Methods keep what is your own: what belongs to others, do not covet.

nesty, is your own:

your

Ho

a Sense of virtuous

you

Shame is your own. Who, then, can deprive you of these? Who can restrain from making use of them, but yourself? And how do you do it? When you make that Concern which is not your own, you lose what is." Having such Precepts and Directions from Jupiter, what Sort do you still want from me? Am I better than He? More worthy of Credit? If you observe these, what others do you need? Or are not these Directions his? Produce your natural Pre-conceptions: produce the Demonstrations of Philosophers: produce what you have often heard, and what you have said yourself; what you have read, and what you have studied.

How

How long is it right to observe these things and not break up the Game?

:

As long as it goes on agreeably. A King is chosen at the Saturnalian Festival (for it was agreed to play at that Game): he or ders; "Do you drink you mix the wine: you sing: you go: you come." I obey; that the Game may not be broken up by my fault." Well: but I bid you think yourself to be unhappy." I do not think so: and who shall compel me to think so? Again we agreed to play Agamemnon and Achilles. He who is appointed for says to me; "Go to

:

Agamemnon,

Achilles, and force away Briseis." I go. "Come." I come.

§. 2. We should converse in life as we do in hypothetical arguments. Suppose it to be Night."-Well; suppose it.—Is it Day, then? No: for I admitted the hypothesis, that it is Night.-" Suppose, that you think it to be Night."-Well: suppose it." But think also, in reality, that it is Night."-That doth not follow from the hypothesis. Thus, too, in the other case. Suppose you have ill luck.-Suppose it. Are you, then, unlucky?". Yes." Have you some cross Demon.". Yes." Well: but think too [in earnest],

VOL. I.

I

that

that you are unhappy."-This doth not follow from the Hypothesis: and there is one who forbids me [to think so].

How long, then, are we to obey such Orders ?

As long as it is worth while: that is, as long as I preserve what is becoming and fit.

§. 3. Further: some are peevish and fastidious; and say, I cannot dine with such a Fellow, to be obliged to hear him all Day recounting, how he fought in Mysia. "I told you, my Friend, how I gained the Eminence." There I am besieged again. But another says, "I had rather get a dinner, and hear him prate as much as he pleases."

Do you compare the Value of these things, and judge for yourself: but do not let it be with Depression, and Anxiety; and with a Supposition, that you are unhappy for no one compels you to that. Is the House in a Smoke? If it be a moderate one, I will stay; if a very great one, I will go out. For you must always remember, and hold to this, that the Door is open. "Well: do not live at Nicopolis." -I will not live there." Nor at Athens."

-Well:

-Well: nor at Athens.-" Nor at Rome." -Nor at Rome neither." But you shall live at Gyaros *."-I will live there. But living at Gyaros seems to me like living in a great Smoke. I will retire where no one

can forbid me to live; (for that Abode is open to all) and put off my last + Garment, this paltry Body of mine: beyond this, no one hath any Power over me. Thus Demetrius said to Nero ; "You sentence me to death; and Nature, you;" If I place my Admiration on Body, I give myself up for a Slave: if on an Estate, the same; for I immediately betray myself, how I may be taken. Just as when a Snake pulls in his

An Island in the Egean Sea, to which the Romans used to banish Criminals.

The Body, which Epictetus here compares to a Gar ment, is, by the sacred Writers, represented under the Figure of a House, or Tabernacle, Job iv. 19. 2 Pet. i. 13, 14. St. Paul, with a sublime Rapidity of Expression, joins the two Metaphors together, 2 Cor. v. 2-4. as, indeed the one is but a looser, the other a closer Covering. The same Apostle hath made use of the Figure of Clothing, in another Place, in a strikingly beautiful Manner, 1, Cor. xv. 53, 54.

Anaxagoras is said, by some, and Socrates, by others, to have made the same Speech, on receiving the News of his being condemned to Death by the Judges of Athens and from one of them, probably, Demetrius borrowed it. Demetrius was a Cynic Philosopher; and is mentioned with high Approbation by Seneca,

1 2

Head,