wisdom withstands death and gives peace from its pain. — Zeno said: Aristotle’s discourse leaves us no right to participate in pleasure or to endeavour to remain in the world, and the fact that he is more courageous about death than I — though I do not fear it very much — comes from his having been at greater pains than I to set his affairs right; had I looked after myself as he has looked after himself, and banished from myself avarice, desire, and anger, as he has banished them from himself, as great courage would be perceptible in me as we perceive in him. — Another said: Until this day I used to dread the approach of death; now what I fear is the protraction of life. — Zeno: You are better able to attain death than to protract life. — He answered: My weariness of life does not induce me to summon death myself, before it comes to me. — Zeno: We have known friends do much to see the friend who has not seen them; if you love death, what prevents your seeking it before it seek you? — He answered: Death is not a friend, but a bridge which men must pass before they can arrive at that which they desire and love. — Zeno: Then why do you remain, although you know for certain that death will make you nobler? — He answered: I am like a guardian of the frontier-pass who, if he abide, abides with regret, and if he advance and conquer, will attain to honour. — Zeno: What is the meaning of your parable? — He said: The soul of the philosopher is stationed at the pass, its pass being the body; on the other side are wants, lusts, and passions. Every soul has sore trouble in dealing with these enemies, and in keeping them away. The glory consists in the joy and pleasure whereto the soul attains at parting. — When their discussion had reached this point, another named Stephanus (?) said: If the name of ‘philosopher’ have no other use than to preserve its owner from the name of ‘ignorant,’ why should I make any effort to obtain it? — Another said: Merely for the sake of honour I would not seek this name. — Zeno: Did I desire this name for nothing else, I should desire it for the sake of obtaining security from the fear and horror of death. — Kriton said:
