BOOK V
place, and was prescribed for thee, and had reference in some sort to thee, being a thread of destiny spun from the first[1] for thee from the most ancient causes; the other, that even what befalls each individual is the cause of the well-faring, of the consummation[2] and by heaven of the very permanence of that which controls the Universe. For the perfection of the Whole is impaired, if thou cuttest off ever so little of the coherence and continuance of the Causes no less than of the parts. And thou dost cut them off, as far as lies with thee, and bring them to an end, when thou murmurest.
9. Do not feel qualms[3] or despondency or dis- comfiture if thou dost not invariably succeed in acting from right principles; but when thou art foiled,[4] come back again to them, and rejoice if on the whole thy conduct is worthy of a man, and love the course to which thou returnest. Come not back to Philosophy as to a schoolmaster, but as the sore-eyed to their sponges and their white of egg, as this patient to his plaster and that to his fomentations. Thus wilt thou rest satisfied with Reason, yet make no parade of obeying her. And forget not that Philosophy wishes but what thy nature wishes, whereas thy wish was for something else that accords not with Nature. Yes, for it would have been the acme of delight. Ah, is not that the very reason why pleasure trips us up? Nay, see if these be not more delightful still: high-mindedness, independence, simplicity, tenderness of heart,[5] sanctity of life. Why what is more delightful than wisdom herself,
