Volume 1 - Discourses - Books I - II - College of Stoic Philosophers

BOOK I. xxv. 4-1 1you bring with you when you cametions, then,, didfrom him into this world; what kind of an order ?Guard by every means that which isyour own, butdo not grasp at that which is another's. Yourfaithfulness isyour own, your self-respect is yourown ; who, then,, can take these things from yourWho but yourself will prevent you from using them ?But you, how do you act ? When you seek earnestlythat which is not your own, you lose that which isyour own. Since you have such promptings anddirections from Zeus, what kind do youstill wantfrom me? Am I greater than he, or more trustworthy?'But ifyou keep these commands of his,do you need any others besides ? But has he notgiven you these directions? Produce your preconceptions,produce the demonstrations of thephilosophers, produce what you have often heard,and produce what you have said yourself, producewhat you have read, produce what you havepractised. 1How long, then, is it well to keep these preceptsand not to break up the game ? As long as it isplayed pleasantly. At the Saturnalia a king ischosen by lot for it; has been decided to play thisecgame. The king gives his commands You :drink,you mix wine, you sing, you go, you come." Iobey, so as not to be the one to break up the game.tcCome, suppose that you are in an evil 1 plight." donot so suppose and who is there to compel me so to;suppose ? Again, we have agreed to play the storyof Agamemnon and Achilles. The one who hasbeen appointed to play the part of Agamemnon saysto me, " Go to Achilles, and drag away Briseis." Igo. He says, "Come," and I come. For as we159