Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers

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The Delay of the Deity
think it a fable, I will therefore keep to what is prob
able. By no means," said Olympichus, but
repeat When it entire." the others also joined in
the request, I said, Permit me to repeat what is prob
able in the story and afterward, if
you like, we will
take up the fable, granting, of course, that it is a
fable."
19. Now Bion says for a god to punish the children
of bad men w T ould be more ridiculous than if a phy
sician were to administer medicine to the son or
grandson, for the disease of the grandfather, or the
father. In one respect the conditions are unlike, in
another they are alike, or similar. Administering
medicine to one man for the disease of another does
not, it is true, cure the patient, and a person who is
suffering from a disease of the eyes, or a fever, does
not get better when he sees another annointed or hav
ing a plaster put on him; but the punishments of the
wicked make it evident to all men that it is the pur
pose of wisely=directed justice to restrain some by
the correction of others. In what respect the com
parison made by Bion is pertinent to the inquiry, lie
1
himself failed to notice ;
suppose, now. a man falls
sick of a painful but by no means incurable disease,
then gives himself up to intemperance and effeminate
habits, and dies; and suppose, again, that his sou does
not have the same disease but only a predisposition
to it, would not a physician, or a trainer, or even a
careful master, on learning this fact, put him on a
frugal diet, and keep him from dainties and pastry,