《the golden sayings》

下载本书

添加书签

the golden sayings- 第11部分


按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!

complain if aught harsher than usual is enjoined; not

understanding to what condition you are bringing the army; so far

as in you lies。 If all were to follow your example; none would

dig a trench; none would cast a rampart around the camp; none

would keep watch; or expose himself to danger; but all turn out

useless for the service of war。 。 。 。 Thus it is here also。 Every

life is a warfare; and that long and various。 You must fulfil a

solider's duty; and obey each order at your commander's nod: aye;

if it be possible; divine what he would have done; for between

that Command and this; there is no comparison; either in might or

in excellence。



CXXVI







Have you again forgotten? Know you not that a good man does

nothing for appearance' sake; but for the sake of having done

right? 。 。 。



〃Is there no reward then?〃



Reward! do you seek any greater reward for a good man than

doing what is right and just? Yet at the Great Games you look for

nothing else; there the victor's crown you deem enough。 Seems it

to you so small a thing and worthless; to be a good man; and

happy therein?





CXXVII





It befits thee not to be unhappy by reason of any; but

rather to be happy by reason of all men; and especially by reason

of God; who formed us to this end。





CXXVIII







What; did Diogenes love no man; he that was so gentle; so

true a friend to men as cheerfully to endure such bodily

hardships for the common weal of all mankind? But how loved he

them? As behoved a minister of the Supreme God; alike caring for

men and subject unto God。





CXXIX







I am by Nature made for my own good; not for my own evil。





CXXX







Remind thyself that he whom thou lovest is mortalthat what

thou lovest is not thine own; it is given thee for the present;

not irrevocably nor for ever; but even as a fig or a bunch of

grapes at the appointed season of the year。 。 。 。



〃But these are words of evil omen。〃。 。 。



What; callest thou aught of evil omen save that which

signifies some evil thing? Cowardice is a word of evil omen; if

thou wilt; and meanness of spirit; and lamentation and mourning;

and shamelessness。 。 。 。



But do not; I pray thee; call of evil omen a word that is

significant of any natural thing:as well call of evil omen the

reaping of the corn; for that means the destruction of the ears;

though not of the World!as well say that the fall of the leaf

is of evil omen; that the dried fig should take the place of the

green; that raisins should be made from grapes。 All these are

changes from a former state into another; not destruction; but an

ordered economy; a fixed administration。 Such is leaving home; a

change of small account; such is Death; a greater change; from

what now is; not to what is not; but to ehat is not now。



〃Shall I then no longer be?〃



Not so; thou wilt be; but something different; of which the

World now hath need。 For thou too wert born not when thou

chosest; but when the World had need of thee。



CXXXI





Wherefore a good man and true; bearing in mind who he is and

whence he came and from whom he sprang; cares only how he may

fill his post with due discipline and obedience to God。



Wilt thou that I continue to live? Then will I live; as one

that is free and noble; as Thou wouldst have me。 For Thow hast

made me free from hindrance in what appertaineth unto me。 But

hast Thou no further need of me? I thank Thee! Up to this hour

have I stayed for Thy sake and none other's: and now in obedience

to Thee I depart。



〃How dost thou depart?〃



Again I say; as Thoun wouldst have me; as one that is free;

as Thy servant; as one whose ear is open unto what Thou dost

enjoin; what Thou dost forbid。





CXXXII







Whatsoever place or post Thou assignest me; sooner will I

die a thousand deaths; as Socrates said; then depart it。 And

where wilt Thou have be me? At Rome of Athens? At Thebes or on a

desert island? Only remember me there! Shouldst Thou send me

where man cannot live as Nature would have him; I will depart;

not in disobedience to Thee; but as though Thou wert sounding the

signal for my retreat: I am not deserting Theefar be that from

me! I only perceive that thou needest me no longer。





CXXXIII







If you are in Gyaros; do not let your mind dwell upon life

at Rome; and all the pleasures it offered to you when living

there; and all that would attend your return。 Rather be intent on

thishow he that lives in Gyaros may live in Gyaros like a man

of spirit。 And if you are at Rome; do not let your mind dwell

upon the life at Athens; but study only how to live at Rome。



Finally; in the room of all other pleasures put thisthe

pleasure which springs from concious obedience to God。





CXXXIV







To a good man there is no evil; either in life or death。 And

if God supply not food; has He not; as a wise Commander; sounded

the signal for retreat and nothing more? I obey; I follow

speaking good of my Commander; and praising His acts。 For at His

good pleasure I came; and I depart when it pleases Him; and while

I was yet alive that was my work; to sing praises unto God!





CXXXV







Reflect that the chief source of all evils to Man; and of

baseness and cowardice; is not death; but the fear of death。



Against this fear then; I pray you; harden yourself; to this

let all your reasonings; your exercises; your reading tend。 Then

shall you know that thus alone are men set free。





CXXXVI







He is free who lives as he wishes to live; to whom none can

do violence; none hinder or compel; whose impulses are unimpeded;

whose desires are attain their purpose; who falls not into what

he would avoid。 Whe then would live in error?None。 Who would

live deceived and prone to fall; unjust; intemperate; in abject

whining at his lot?None。 Then doth no wicked man live as he

would; and therefore neither is he free。





CXXXVII





Thus do the more cautious of travellers act。 The road is

said to be beset by robbers。 The traveller will not venture

alone; but awaits the companionship on the road of an ambassador;

a quaestor or a proconsul。 To him he attaches himself and thus

passes by in safety。 So doth the wise man in the world。 Many are

the companies of robbers and tyrants; many the storms; the

straits; the losses of all a man holds dearest。 Whither shall he

fall for refugehow shall he pass by unassailed? What companion

on the road shall he await for protection? Such and such a

wealthy man; of consular rank? And how shall I be profited; if he

is stripped and falls to lamentation and weeping? And how if my

fellow…traveller himself turns upon me and robs me? What am I to

do? I will become a friend of Caesar's! in his train none will do

me wrong! In the first placeO the indignities I must endure to

win distinction! O the multitude of hands there will be to rob

me! And if I succeed; Caesar too is but a mortal。 While should it

come to pass that I offend him; whither shall I flee from his

presence? To the wilderness? And may not fever await me there?

What then is to be done? Cannot a fellow…traveller be found that

is honest and loyal; stong and secure against surprise? Thus doth

the wise man reason; considering that if he would pass through in

safety; he must attach himself unto God。





CXXXVIII





〃How understandest thou attach himself to God?〃



That what God wills; he should will also; that what God

wills not; neither should he will。



〃How then may this come to pass?〃



By considering the movements of God; and His administration。





CXXXIX







And dost thou that hast received all from another's hands;

repine and blame the Giver; if He takes anything from thee? Why;

who art thou; and to what end comest thou here? was it not He

that made the Light manifest unto thee; that gave thee fellow…workers;

and senses; and the power to reason? And how brought He

thee into the world? Was it not as one born to die; as one bound

to live out his earthly life in some small tabernacle of flesh;

to behold His administration; and for a little while share with

Him in the mighty march of this great Festival Procession? Now

therefore that thou hast beheld; while it was permitted thee; the

Solemn Feast and Assembly; wilt thou not cheerfully depart; whem

He summons thee forth; with adoration and thanksgiving for what

thou hast seen and heard?〃Nay; but I would fain have stayed

longer at the Festival。〃Ah; so would the mystics fain have the

rites prolonged; so perchance would the crowd at the Great Games

fain behold more wrestlers still。 But the Solemn Assembly is

over! Come forth; depart with thanksgiving and modestygive

place to others that must come into being even as thyself。





CXL







Why art thou thus insatiable? why thus unreasonable? why
小提示:按 回车 [Enter] 键 返回书目,按 ← 键 返回上一页, 按 → 键 进入下一页。 赞一下 添加书签加入书架