Moral essays. With an English translation by J.W. Basore

ON PROVIDENCE, in. l4-iv. 4a hardship to engage in civil war ; then let himfiffht the whole world over for a just cause, everth ill success but with equal stubbornness. It.-- a hardsliip to lay hand upon oneself then let himdo it.;And what shall I gain thereby ? that all mayknow that these things of which I have deemed Catoworthy are not real ills."Success comes to the conmion man, and even tonunonplace abiUty ; but to triumph over thecalamities and terrors of mortal hfe is the part of agreat man only. Truly, to be always happy and topass through Ufe v\-ithout a mental pang is to beignorant of one half of nature. You are a greatman ; but how do I know it if Fortune gives youno opportunity of shoAving j'our worth ? You haveentered as a contestant at the Olympic games, butnone other besides you ;you gain the crown, thevictory you do not gain. / You have my congratulations—notas a brave mail, but as if you had obtainedthe consulship or praetorship you have enhancedyour prestige.;In hke manner, also, I may say to aEfood man, if no harder circumstance has given hime opportunity whereby alone he might show thelength of his mind, " I judge you unfortimatebecause you have never been unfortunate ;youhave passed through hfe without an antagonist ; noone \n\\ know what you can do,—not even yourself."For if a man is to know himself, he must be tested ;no one finds out what he can do except by trjang.And so some men have presented themselves voluntarilyto laggard misfortune, and have sought anopportunity to blazon forth their worth when it wasabout to pass into obscurity. Great men, I say,rejoice oft-times in adversity, as do brave soldiers in25