The Stoic Creed - College of Stoic Philosophers

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CONCEPTION OF PHILOSOPHY 37
and be lost to the gaze of the beholder, Her garments,
woven by her own hands, were wrought of the slenderest
threads, with exquisite art and of imperishable material.
Yet withal the mist of antiquity and even of neglect had
overspread them. On the lower edge v/as inscribed
the letter TT ; and, on the upper, the letter 0. And
between these two letters there was a series of others,
by which you could ascend, as by the steps of a ladder,
from the lower to the higher. The vesture itself, how
ever, had been torn by violent hands, and fragments of
it borne away. In her right hand she carried books ;
and, in her left hand, a sceptre.
1
Now, all this was allegorical, and was intended to
indicate, as in a picture, the nature and pretensions of
conceived by one who may not unfairly
Philosophy, as
be designated the last of the Stoics, if also
the last of
the Romans."
The majestic Lady, with reverent countenance and
glowing eyes and exhaustless vigour and lively com
plexion, typifies Philosophy, and emphasizes its perennial
interest and worth. The exquisite apparel, woven of
indestructible material, points to the value, durability,
and excellence of philosophic thought. The changing
figure of Philosophy now human, now divine indicates
the twofold subject-matter, things of earth
and things of heaven. The lower letter TT
represents
Philosophy in its practical and more mundane aspect ;
while 6 is the region of theory of theology and
speculation. And the way from the one to the other
is unbroken ;
the ascent is made by a continuous grada
tion. Alas ! that men should have rent the garment,
1
See De Consolatione Philosophice, Lib. i. Prosa i and 3.