Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
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De Providentia<br />
down his arms forthwith; there is no need <strong>of</strong> all my<br />
strength against him; he is beaten by a feeble onset;<br />
he cannot bear even a look.<br />
4. Let another be selected for the struggle. It is<br />
a shame to fight with a man who wants to be beaten.<br />
A gladiator regards<br />
it as a disgrace to be pitted<br />
against an inferior antagonist for he knows there is<br />
no glory in overcoming one who is<br />
vanquished with<br />
out danger. Adversity does likewise; it seeks out<br />
foemen worthy <strong>of</strong> their antagonist <strong>and</strong> passes by<br />
some with disdain. It always attacks the doughtiest<br />
<strong>and</strong> boldest for a trial <strong>of</strong> its<br />
strength.<br />
5. It tries Mucius with fire, Fabricius with pover<br />
ty, Regulus with torture, Socrates with poison, Cato<br />
with death. It is misfortune alone that finds noble<br />
examples. Is Mucius to be commiserated because he<br />
put his h<strong>and</strong> into an enemy s fire <strong>and</strong> punished him<br />
self for his mistake? because he vanquished with a<br />
burned h<strong>and</strong> a king whom he could not vanquish<br />
with it armed? Would he have been happier if he<br />
had warmed it in the bosom <strong>of</strong> a mistress?<br />
6. Is Fabricius to be pitied because he tilled his<br />
own field when not engaged in public duties? be<br />
cause he waged war against riches as well as against<br />
Pyrrhus? because he ate, by his own fireside, the<br />
same roots <strong>and</strong> herbs that his triumphant old age<br />
pulled up on his farm? Can we say that he would<br />
have been happier if he had filled his stomach with<br />
fish from a far <strong>of</strong>f str<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> with exotic birds? or<br />
he had stimulated his jaded <strong>and</strong> nauseated stomach<br />
87<br />
if