Page:All the works of Epictetus - which are now extant; consisting of his Discourses, preserved by Arrian, in four books, the Enchiridion, and fragments (IA allworksofepicte00epic).pdf/289

from Dainties; exercise your Body, whether you chuse it or not, at a stated Hour, in Heat and Cold: you must drink no cold Water; nor, some-times, even Wine^[1]. In a word, you must give yourself up to your Master, as to a Physician. Then, in the Combat, you may be thrown into a Ditch, dislocate your Arm, turn your Ankle, swallow Abundance of Dust, be whipt^[2]; and, after all, lose the Victory. When you have reckoned up all this, if your Inclination still holds, set about the Combat. Otherwise, take notice, you will behave like Children, who sometimes play Wrestlers, sometimes Gladiators; sometimes blow a Trumpet, and sometimes act a Tragedy; when they happen to have seen and admired these Shows. Thus you too will be, at one Time, a Wrestler; at another, a Gladiator; now, a Philosopher; then, an Orator: but, with your whole Soul, nothing at all. Like an Ape, you mimick All you see; and one thing after another is sure to please you, but is out of Favour, as soon as it becomes familiar. For you have never entered upon any thing considerately, nor after having viewed the whole Matter on all Sides, or made any Scrutiny into it; but rashly, and with a cold Inclination. Thus some, when they have seen a Philosopher, and heard a Man speaking like Euphrates^[3], (though, indeed, who can speak like him,) have a Mind to be Philosophers too. Consider first, Man, what the Matter is, and what your own Nature is able to bear. If you

1. St. Paul hath a similar Allusion to the public Games. Cor. ix. 25. Both Writers have them frequently in view.
2. Which was the Case, in any Violation of the Laws of the Games.
3. The Translation doth not follow the Pointing of Mr. Upton's Edition in this Place.
   Euphrates was a Philosopher of Syria, whose Character is described, with the highest Encomiums, by Pliny. See L. I. Ep. x.