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thiswhat none may hinder； what is surely in my powerthat I
may be found raising up in myself that which had fallen； learning
to deal more wisely with the things of sense； working out my own
tranquillity； and thus rendering that which is its due to every
relation of life。 。 。 。
If death surprise me thus employed； it is enough if I can
stretch forth my hands to God and say； 〃The faculties which I
received at Thy hands for apprehending this thine Administration；
I have not neglected。 As far as in me lay； I have done Thee no
dishonour。 Behold how I have used the senses； the primary
conceptions which Thous gavest me。 Have I ever laid anything to
Thy charge？ Have I ever murmured at aught that came to pass； or
wished it otherwise？ Have I in anything transgressed the
relations of life？ For that Thou didst beget me； I thank Thee for
that Thou hast given： for the time during which I have used the
things that were Thine； it suffices me。 Take them back and place
them wherever Thou wilt！ They were all Thine； and Thou gavest
them me。〃If a man depart thus minded； is it not enough？ What
life is fairer and more noble； what end happier than his？
（APPENDIX A）
FRAGMENTS
Attributed to Epictetus
I
A life entangled with Fortune is like a torrent。 It is
turbulent and muddy； hard to pass and masterful of mood： noisy
and of brief continuance。
II
The soul that companies with Virtue is like an ever…flowing
source。 It is a pure； clear； and wholesome draught； sweet； rich；
and generous of its store； that injures not； neither destroys。
III
It is a shame that one who sweetens his drink with the gifts
of the bee； should embitter God's gift Reason with vice。
IV
Crows pick out the eyes of the dead； when the dead have no
longer need of them； but flatterers mar the soul of the living；
and her eyes they blind。
V
Keep neither a blunt knife nor an ill…disciplined looseness
of tongue。
VI
Nature hath given men one tongue but two ears； that we may
hear from others twice as much as we speak。
VII
Do not give sentence in another tribunal till you have been
yourself judged in the tribunal of Justice。
VIII
If is shameful for a Judge to be judged by others。
IX
Give me by all means the shorter and nobler life； instead of
one that is longer but of less account！
X
Freedom is the name of virtue： Slavery； of vice。 。 。 。 None
is a slave whose acts are free。
XI
Of pleasures； those which occur most rarely give the most
delight。
XII
Exceed due measure； and the most delightful things become
the least delightful。
XIII
The anger of an apethe threat of a flatterer：these
deserve equal regard。
XIV
Chastise thy passions that they avenge not themselves upon
thee。
XV
No man is free who is not master of himself。
XVI
A ship should not ride on a single anchor； nor life on a
single hope。
XVII
Fortify thyself with contentment： that is an impregnable
stronghold。
XVIII
No man who is a lover of money； of pleasure； of glory； is
likewise a lover of Men； but only he that is a lover of
whatsoever things are fair and good。
XIX
Think of God more often than thou breathest。
XX
Choose the life that is noblest； for custom can make it
sweet to thee。
XXI
Let thy speech of God be renewed day by day； aye； rather
than thy meat and drink。
XXII
Even as the Sun doth not wait for prayers and incantations
to rise； but shines forth and is welcomed by all： so thou also
wait not for clapping of hands and shouts and praise to do thy
duty； nay； do good of thine own accord； and thou wilt be loved
like the Sun。
XXIII
Let no man think that he is loved by any who loveth none。
XXIV
If thou rememberest that God standeth by to behold and visit
all that thou doest； whether in the body or in the soul； thou
surely wilt not err in any prayer or deed； and thou shalt have
God to dwell with thee。
Note。Schweigh剈ser's great edition collects 181 fragments
attributed to Epictetus； of which but a few are certainly
genuine。 Some （as xxi。； xxiv。； above） bear the stamp of
Pythagorean origin； others； though changed in form； may well be
based upon Epictetean sayings。 Most have been preserved in the
Anthology of John of Stobi （Stobaeus）； a Byzantine collector； of
whom scarcely anything is known but that he probably wrote
towards the end of the fifth century； and made his vast body of
extracts from more than five hundred authors for his son's use。
The best examination of the authenticity of the Fragments is
Quaestiones Epicteteae； by R。 Asmus； 1888。 The above selection
includes some of doubtful origin but intrinsic interest。Crossley。
（APPENDIX B）
The Hymn of Cleanthes
Chiefest glory of deathless Gods； Almighty for ever；
Sovereign of Nature that rulest by law； what Name shall we give Thee？
Blessed be Thou！ for on Thee should call all things that are mortal。
For that we are Thine offspring； nay； all that in myriad motion
Lives for its day on the earth bears one impressThy likenessupon it。
Wherefore my song is of Thee； and I hymn thy power for ever。
Lo； the vast orb of the Worlds； round the Earth evermore as it rolleth；
Feels Thee its Ruler and Guide； and owns Thy lordship rejoicing。
Aye； for Thy conquering hands have a servant of living fire
Sharp is the bolt！where it falls； Nature shrinks at the shock
and doth shudder。
Thus Thou directest the Word universal that pulses through all things；
Mingling its life with Lights that are great and Lights that are lesser；
E'en as beseemeth its birth； High King through ages unending。
Nought is done that is done without Thee in the earth or the waters
Or in the heights of heaven； save the deed of the fool and the sinner。
Thou canst make rough things smooth； at Thy voice； lo； jarring disorder
Moveth to music； and Love is born where hatred abounded。
Thus hast Thou fitted alike things good and things evil together；
That over all might reign one Reason； supreme and eternal；
Though thereunto the hearts of the wicked be hardened and heedless
Woe unto them！for while ever their hands are grasping at good things；
Blind are their eyes； yea； stopped are their ears to God's Law universal；
Calling through wise disobedience to live the life that is noble。
This they mark not； but heedless of right； turn each to his own way；
Here； a heart fired with ambition； in strife and straining unhallowed；
There； thrusting honour aside； fast set upon getting and gaining；
Others again given over to lusts and dissolute softness；
Working never God's Law； but that which warreth upon it。
Nay； but； O Giver of all things good； whose home is the dark cloud；
Thou that wieldesy Heaven's bolt； save men from their ignorance grievous；
Scatter its night from their souls； and grant them to come to that Wisdom
Wherewithal； sistered with Justice； Thou rulest and governest all things；
That we； honoured by Thee； may requite Thee with worship and honour；
Evermore praising thy works； as is meet for men that shall perish；
Seeing that none； be he mortal or God； hath privilege nobler
Than without stint； without stay； to extol Thy Law universal。
End