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for a Maxim, that Honesty unattended with Pleasure, is good for nothing : A meer Shadow [1] without any thing Substantial to fill the Grasp: And who looks upon [2] Fortitude without reference to Interest, to be no better than Whimsey, and Romance.
However, it must be granted, Epicurus has a great deal of Courage in some of his Sentences: Tho' after all, the Vanity of them seems more remarkable than the Greatness. His Wise-man, if you'l take his Word for't, must be Happy with the Scottish Boot. Yes, if he was roasting in [3] Phalaris's Bull, he would bellow with Satisfaction; and cry out what a delicious Torture is this? And how handsomely do I contemn it? Nay, he tells you of himself, [4] that the last Agonizing Day of his Life was the happiest in the World; 'Tis true the Cholick and the Stone, [5] raged to Extremity, and did their worst upon him. But then the Pleasure [6] he had in the Reflection upon his own Writings, overtop'd the Pain; and made his Imagination too strong for his Senses.
But we must not be too forward in believing a Rhodomontade, againft avow'd Principles. 'Tis true, if these Flourishes had been spoken by a Philosopher that confines the Notion [7] of Advantage to
- ↑ Torq. apud Cic. de finib. lib. 1.
- ↑ Epicur. apud Laert.
- ↑ Cicer. Tusc. lib. 2. lib. 5. Senec. Ep. 66. Epicur. apud Laert. Phalaris's Bull was made of Brass, hollow, and red hot.
- ↑ Epicur. Epist. ad Idom. Laert. lib. 10. Cicer. Tusc. lib. 2. Senec. Epist. 66. and 92.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Senec. Epist. 3.
