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

BOOK II. vin. 19-25what manner of person yon show Yourself to be ?And jet what comparisonis there between the oneartificer and the other, or between the one work ofart and the other ? And what work of an artificerhas forthwith within itself the faculties which itsworkmanship discloses ? Is it not mere stone., orbronze, or gold, or ivory? And the Athena ofPheidias, when once it had stretched out its handand received the Nike l upon it, stands in this attitudefor all time to come ;but the works of God arecapable of movement, have the breath of life, canmake use of external impressions, and pass judgementupon them. Do you dishonour the workmanshipof this Craftsman, when you are yourself thatworkmanship ? Nay more, do you go so far as toforget, not only that He fashioned you, but alsothat He entrusted and committed you to yourselfalone, and moreover, by forgetting, do you dishonouryour trust? Yet if God had committedsome orphan to your care, would you so neglectHim ? He has delivered your own self into yourkeeping, saying, (c I had no one more faithful thanyou ; keep this man for me unchanged from the characterwith which nature endowed him reverent,faithful, high-minded, undismayed, unim passioned,unperturbed/' After that do you fail so to keephim ?ef 'But men will Where say, do you suppose ourfriend here got his proud look and his solemncountenance " ? ' Ah, but my bearing is not yet whatit should be ! For I still lack confidence in what Ihave learned and agreed to ;I am still afraid of myown weakness. Just let me gain confidence andthen you will see the right look in my eye and the