All the Works of Epictetus, Which Are Now Extant

by Epictetus

ALL THE

WORKS

OF

EPICTETUS,

WHICH ARE NOW EXTANT;

CONSISTING OF

His Discourses, preserved by Arrian,

IN FOUR BOOKS,

The Enchiridion, and Fragments.

Translated from the Original Greek,

By  ELIZABETH CARTER.

WITH

An Introduction, and Notes, by the Translator.

 

DUBLIN:

Printed for Hulton Bradley, Bookseller, at the
King's Arms and Two Bibles in Dame-street.

---

M DCC LIX.

TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.  By the Translator		Page i
Table of Contents		xxxi
Arrian to Lucius Gellius		xxxvii
BOOK I.
Chap. I. Of the Things which are, and of those which are not, in our own Power		1
Chap. II. In what Manner, upon every Occasion, to preserve our Character		6
Chap. III. How, from the Doctrine that God is the Father of Mankind, we may proceed to its Consequences		11
Chap. IV. Of Improvement		12
Chap. V. Concerning the Academics		17
Chap. VI. Of Providence		18
Chap. VII. Of the Use of convertible and hypothetical Propositions, and the like		23
Chap. VIII. That Faculties are not safe to the Uninstructed		27
Chap. IX. How, from the Doctrine of our Kindred to God, we are to proceed to its Consequences		29
Chap. X. Concerning Those, who strove for Preferment at Rome		33
Chap. XI. Of Natural Affection		35
Chap. XII. Of Contentment		40
Chap. XIII. How every Thing may be performed acceptably to the Gods		44
Chap. XIV. That all Things are under the divine Inspection		Page 45
Chap. XV. What it is that Philosophy promises		47
Chap. XVI. Of Providence		48
Chap. XVII. That the Art of Reasoning is necessary		51
Chap. XVIII. That we are not to be angry with the Errors of others		54
Chap. XIX. Of the Behaviour to be observed towards Tyrants		58
Chap. XX. In what Manner Reason contemplates itself		61
Chap. XXI. Of the Desire of Admiration		63
Chap. XXII. Of Pre-conceptions		64
Chap. XXIII. Against Epicurus		67
Chap. XXIV. How we are to struggle with Difficulties		68
Chap. XXV. On the same Subject		71
Chap. XXVI. What the Law of Life is		75
Chap. XXVII. Of the several Appearances to the Mind; and what Remedies are to be provided for them		77
Chap. XXVIII. That we are not to be angry with Mankind. What Things are little, what great, among Men		80
Chap. XXIX. Of Intrepidity		84
Chap. XXX. What we ought to have ready, in difficult Circumstances		93
BOOK II.
Chap. I. That Courage is not inconsistent with Caution		95
Chap. II. Of Tranquillity		102
Chap. III. Concerning such as recommend Persons to the Philosophers		105
Chap. IV. Concerning a Person who had been guilty of Adultery		106
Chap. V. How Magnanimity may be consistent with Care		107
Chap. VI. Of Indifference		Page 111
Chap. VII. Of Divination		115
Chap. VIII. Wherein consists the Essence of Good		117
Chap. IX. That when we are unable to fulfil what the Character of a Man promises, we assume that of a Philosopher		121
Chap. X. How we may investigate the Duties of Life from the Names, which we bear		124
Chap. XI. What the Beginning of Philosophy is		127
Chap. XII. Of Disputation		130
Chap. XIII. Of Solicitude		133
Chap. XIV. Concerning Naso		138
Chap. XV. Concerning Those, who obstinately persevere in what they have determined		142
Chap. XVI. That we do not study to make use of the Principles concerning Good and Evil		144
Chap. XVII. How to adapt Pre-conceptions to particular Cases		151
Chap. XVIII. How the Appearances of Things are to be combated		157
Chap. XIX. Concerning Those, who embrace Philosophy only in Words		160
Chap. XX. Concerning the Epicureans, and Academics		166
Chap. XXI. Of Inconsistency		172
Chap. XXII. Of Friendship		175
Chap. XXIII. Of the Faculty of Speaking		181
Chap. XXIV. Concerning a Person, whom he treated with Disregard		188
Chap. XXV. That Logic is necessary		192
Chap. XXVI. What is the Property of Errors in Life		193
BOOK III.
Chap. I. Of Finery in Dress		195
Chap. II. In what a Proficient ought to be exercised: and that we neglect the principal Things		203
Chap. III. What is the Subject-matter to a good Man; and in what we chiefly ought to be Practitioners		206
Chap. IV. Concerning one, who exerted himself with indecent Eagerness in the Theatre		Page 209
Chap. V. Concerning those who pretend Sickness, as an Excuse to return Home		211
Chap. VI. Miscellaneous		213
Chap. VII. Concerning a Governor of the Free States, who was an Epicurean		215
Chap. VIII. How we are to exercise ourselves against the Appearances of Things		219
Chap. IX. Concerning a certain Orator, who was going to Rome on a Law Suit		221
Chap. X. In what Manner we ought to bear Sickness		224
Chap. XI. Miscellaneous		227
Chap. XII. Of ascetic Exercise		228
Chap. XIII. What Solitude is; and what a solitary Person		231
Chap. XIV. Miscellaneous		235
Chap. XV. That every Thing is to be undertaken with Circumspection		236
Chap. XVI. That Caution is necessary in Condescension and Complaisance		238
Chap. XVII. Of Providence		240
Chap. XVIII. That we ought not to be alarmed by any News that is brought us		242
Chap. XIX. What is the Condition of the Vulgar: and what of a Philosopher		243
Chap. XX. That some Advantage may be gained from every external Circumstance		244
Chap. XXI. Concerning those, who readily set up for Sophists		247
Chap. XXII. Of the Cynic Philosophy		250
Chap. XXIII. Concerning such as read, and dispute, ostentatiously		268
Chap. XXIV. That we ought not to be affected by Things not in our own Power		274
Chap. XXV. Concerning Those, who desist from their Purpose		291
Chap. XXVI. Concerning Those, who are in Dread of Want		Page 293
BOOK IV.
Chap I. Of Freedom		301
Chap. II. Of Complaisance		327
Chap. III. What Things are to be exchanged for others		328
Chap. IV. Concerning Those, who earnestly desire a Life of Repose		330
Chap. V. Concerning the Quarrelsome, and Ferocious		338
Chap. VI. Concerning Those, who grieve at being pitied		344
Chap. VII. Of Fearlessness		350
Chap. VIII. Concerning such, as hastily run into the philosophic Dress		357
Chap. IX. Concerning a Person, who was grown immodest		363
Chap. X. What Things we are to despise, and on what to place a distinguished Value		366
Chap. XI. Of Purity and Cleanliness		372
Chap. XII. Of Attention		377
Chap. XIII. Concerning Such, as readily discover their own Affairs		380
The Enchiridion		385
Fragments		413
Index.
Appendix.

The Translator of Epictetus owes the Permission of inserting the following ODE intirely to the Friendship of the Writer of it; who, when she favoured her with it, had no Thought of its ever appearing in Print.

An Irregular ODE.

To E. C. who had recommended to me the Stoic Philosophy, as productive of Fortitude, and who is going to publish a Translation of Epictetus.

I.

Come, Epictetus! Arm my Breast
With thy impenetrable Steel,
No more the Wounds of Grief to feel,
Nor mourn by others' Woes deprest.
Oh teach my trembling Heart
To scorn Affliction's Dart;
Teach me to mock the Tyrant Pain!
For see around me stand
A dreadful murd'rous Band,
I fly their cruel Power in vain!
Here lurks Distemper's horrid Train,
And There the Passions lift their flaming Brands;
These with fell Rage my helpless Body tear,
While Those with daring Hands

Against the immortal Soul their impious Weapons rear.

II.

Where-e'er I turn, fresh Evils meet my Eyes;
Sin, Sorrow, and Disgrace,
Pursue the Human Race!
There on the Bed of Sickness Virtue lies!
See Friendship bleeding by the Sword
Of base Ingratitude!
See baleful Jealousy intrude,
And poison all the Bliss that Love had stor'd!
Oh! seal my Ears against the piteous Cry
Of Innocence distrest!
Nor let me shrink, when Fancy's Eye
Beholds the guilty Wretch's Breast
Beneath the torturing Pincers heave:
Nor for the num'rous Wants of Mis'ry grieve,
Which all-disposing Heav'n denies me to relieve!

III.

No longer let my fleeting Joys depend
On social, or domestic Ties!
Superior let my Spirit rise,
Nor in the gentle Counsels of a Friend,
Nor in the Smiles of Love, expect Delight:
But teach me in myself to find
Whate'er can please or fill my Mind.
Let inward Beauty charm the mental Sight;
Let Godlike Reason, beaming bright,
Chace far away each gloomy Shade,
Till Virtue's heav'nly Form display'd
Alone shall captivate my Soul,
And her divinest Love possess me whole!

IV.

But, ah! what means this impious Pride,
Which heav'nly Hosts deride!
Within myself does Virtue dwell?
Is all serene, and beauteous there?
What mean these chilling Damps of Fear?
Tell me, Philosophy! Thou Boaster! Tell:
This God-like all-sufficient Mind,
Which, in its own Perfection blest,
Defies the Woes, or Malice of Mankind
To shake its self-possessing Rest,
Is it not foul, weak, ignorant, and blind?
Oh Man! from conscious Virtue's Praise
Fall'n, fall'n!———what Refuge can'st thou find!
What pitying Hand again will raise
From native Earth thy groveling Frame!
Ah, who will cleanse thy Heart from Spot of sinful Blame?

V.

But, See what sudden Glories from the Sky
To my benighted Soul appear,
And all the gloomy Prospect cheer?
What awful Form approaches nigh?
Awful: Yet mild as is the southern Wind
That gently bids the Forest nod.
Hark! Thunder breaks the Air, and Angels speak!
"Behold the Saviour of the World! Behold the Lamb of
Ye Sons of Pride, behold his Aspect meek![God!"
The Tear of Pity on his Cheek!
See in his Train appear
Humility and Patience sweet,
Repentance, prostrate at His sacred Feet,
Bedews with Tears, and wipes them with her flowing Hair!

VI.

What Scenes now meet my wond'ring Eyes!
What hallow'd Grave,
By mourning Maids attended round,
Attracts the Saviour's Steps? What heart-felt Wound
His spotless Bosom heaves with tender Sighs?
Why weeps the Son belov'd, Omnipotent to save?
But, lo! He waves his awful Hand!
The sleeping Clay obeys His dread Command.
Oh Lazarus! come forth!——"Come forth and see
The dear Effects of wond'rous Love!
He, at whose Word the Seas and Rocks remove,
Thy Friend, thy Lord, thy Maker, weeps for Thee!"

VII.

Thy Walls, Jerusalem, have seen thy King,
In Meekness clad, lament thy hapless Fate!
Unquench'd His Love, though paid with ruthless Hate!
O loft, relentless Sion! Didst Thou know
Who thus vouchsafes thy Courts to tread,
What loud Hosannas wouldst thou sing!
How eager crown his honour'd Head!
Nor see unmov'd His kind paternal Woe!
Nor force His Tears, His precious Blood, for thee to flow!

VIII.

No more repine, my coward Soul!
The Sorrows of Mankind to share,
Which He, who could the World controul,
Did not disdain to bear!
Check not the Flow of sweet fraternal Love,
By Heav'n's high King in Bounty given,
Thy stubborn Heart to soften and improve,
Thy earth-clad Spirit to refine,
And gradual raise to Love divine
And wing its soaring Flight to Heaven!

IX.

Nor Thou, Eliza, who from early Youth
By Genius led, by Virtue train'd,
Hast fought the Fountain of eternal Truth,
And each fair Spring of Knowlege train'd;
Nor Thou, with fond Chimeras vain,
With Stoic Pride, and fancied Scorn
Of human Feelings, human Pain,
My feeble Soul sustain!
Far nobler Precepts should thy Page adorn.
O rather guide me to the sacred Source
Of real Wisdom, real Force,
Thy Life's unerring Rule!
To Thee, fair Truth her radiant Form unshrouds,
Though, wrapp'd in thick impenetrable Clouds,
She mock'd the Labours of the Grecian School.

M. H.