THE ENCHEIRIDION OF EPICTETUS
ought to remember how we feel when we hear of the same misfortune befalling others.
27. Just as a mark is not set up in order to be missed, so neither does the nature of evil arise in the universe.[1]
28. If someone handed over your body to any person who met you, you would be vexed; but that you hand over your mind to any person that comes along, so that, if he reviles you, it is disturbed and troubled—are you not ashamed of that?
29.[2] In each separate thing that you do, consider the matters which come first and those which follow after, and only then approach the thing itself. Otherwise, at the start you will come to it enthusiastically, because you have never reflected upon any of the subsequent steps, but later on, when some difficulties appear, you will give up disgracefully. Do you wish to win an Olympic victory? So do I, by the gods! for it is a fine thing. But consider the matters which come before that, and those which follow after, and only when you have done that, put your hand to the task. You have to submit to discipline, follow a strict diet, give up sweet cakes, train under compulsion, at a fixed hour, in heat or in cold; you must not drink cold water,[3] nor wine just whenever you feel like it; you must have turned yourself over to your trainer precisely as you would to a physician. Then when the contest comes on, you have to "dig in"[4] beside your opponent, and sometimes dislocate your wrist, sprain your ankle, swallow
- ↑ That is, it is inconceivable that the universe should exist in order that some things may go wrong; hence, nothing natural is evil, and nothing that is by nature evil can arise.—Thus in effect Simplicius, and correctly, it seems.
- ↑ This chapter is practically word for word identical with III. 15. Since it was omitted in Par., and not commented on by Simplicius, it may have been added in some second edition, whether by Arrian or not.
- ↑ That is, cold water not at all; while wine may be drunk, but only at certain times, i.e., probably with one's meals. Such prohibitions are still common in Europe, particularly in popular therapeutics.
- ↑ See note on III. 15, 4.
