All the Works of Epictetus, Which Are Now Extant/Arrian to Lucius Gellius

by Epictetus

Layout 1

ARRIAN

TO

LUCIUS GELLIUS

Wisheth all Happiness.

I Neither composed the Discourses of Epictetus in such a manner, as Things of this Nature are commonly composed: nor did I myself produce them to public View, any more than I composed them. But whatever Sentiments I heard from his own Mouth, the very same I endeavoured to set down in the very same Words, as far as possible, and preserve as Memorials for my own Use, of his Manner of Thinking, and Freedom of Speech.

These Discourses are such as one Person would naturally deliver from his own Thoughts, extempore, to another; not such as he would prepare to be read by Numbers afterwards. Yet, notwithstanding this, I cannot tell how, without either my Consent or Knowledge, they have fallen into the Hands of the Public. But it is of little Consequence to me, if I do not appear an able Writer; and of none to Epictetus, if any one treats his Discourses^[1] with Contempt; since it was very evident, even when he uttered them, that he aimed at nothing more than to excite his Hearers to Virtue. If they produce that one Effect, they have in them what, I think, philosophical Discourses ought to have. And Should they fail of it, let the Readers, however, be assured, that when Epictetus himself pronounced them, his Audience could not help being affected in the very Manner he intended they should. If by themselves they have less Efficacy, perhaps it is my Fault, or perhaps it is unavoidable.

Farewell.

 

Footnotes

1. His means the Composition, not the Subject-matter of them.

 

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SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.

His Grace the Duke of Bedford, Lord Lieut. of Ireland, &c.
Her Grace the Dutchess of Bedford

A.

THOMAS Adderley, Esq;
Mr. John Abernethy, Merchant
Mr. James Armstrong, Merchant
Mrs. Ashworth

B.

The Right Honourable the Lord Bowes, Lord High Chancellor of Ireland
John Bourke, jun. Esq;
Bellingham Boyle, Esq;
Richard Baldwin, junior, Esq;
Samuel Brooke, Esq;
Thomas Blair, Esq;
The Reverend Mr. John Brownlow
Mrs. Sarah Bradley
Mr. John Butler
Master Edward Bacon
Miss Elizabeth Barret
The Reverend Mr. Robert Bryan
The Reverend Mr. Adam Blair
John Baily, A. B. T. C. D.
Oliver Bourk, Esq;
Christopher Bowen, Esq;
The Reverend Mr. Henry Blacker
Mr. Richard Branson
——— Beaumont, Esq;
Edmond Blackal, M. D.
Constantine Barber, M. D.
Mr. Randall Bourk, Apothecary

C.

The Hon. William Crosbie
The Honourable John Caulfeild
The Honourable Mrs. Crosbie
William Francis Crosbie, Esq;
John Cramer, Esq;
The Reverend Middleton Cornyn, D. D.
Captain Edward Corneile
Lieutenant John Corneile
The Reverend Dean Crowe
Mr. George Cottingham
Mr. Alexander Cunningham, Surgeon
Mr. David Courtney
Thomas Carter, junior, Esq;
The Reverend Thomas Carr, D. D.

D.

The Right Honourable Lady Doneraile
The Reverend Dean Delany, 6 Books
Mr. William Dennis, 6 Books.

E.

George Evans, Esq; F. C. T. C. D.
John Evans, Esq; F. C. T. C. D.
Mr. John Exshaw, Bookseller
John Eyre, Esq;
Francis Evans, Esq;
Thomas Eyre, Esq;
Mr. Gasper Erck, Junior

F.

John Foster, Esq; F. C. T. C. D.
William Fairtlough, Esq;
Mr. John Fairtlough
The Reverend Alexander Fulton

G.

The Right Honourable Charles Gardiner
Richard Griffith, Esq;
James Gildea, of Partry, Esq;
James Gildea, of Cloonigashell, Esq;
The Reverend John Graves
Mr. Boulter Grierson, Bookseller, 6 Books
Mr. Ben. Gunne, Bookseller, 6 Books
George Gunne, Esq;

H.

The Honourable and Reverend Archdeacon Hamilton
The Reverend Dean Harman

Mr. John Holliday, 6 Books

I.

The Reverend Charles Jones

K.

The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Kilmore
Mr. George Knox
Mrs. Jane King

L.

The Hon. Joseph Leeson
The Rev. Tho. Leland, D. D. Fellow of T. C. D. 6 Books
The Reverend John Leland, D. D.
Thomas Litton, Esq;
Mr. James Lindsay

M.

The Right Hon, and Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Meath
Thomas Montgomery, Esq;
Henry Marcus Mason, Esq;
Redmond Morris, Esq;
Mr. Folliot Magrath, Merchant
Mr. Robert Maxwell
The Reverend Mr. John Mears
Captain Mansergh
Mrs. M^cQuay
Mr. David Melville
Mr. Alexander M^cMahon, Merchant

N.

The Hon. Lord Newbattle

O.

Richard Olpherts, Esq;

P.

His Grace the Lord Primate
The Right Hon. John Ponsonby, Speaker of the Hon. House of Commons
The Right Hon. Lord Viscount Powerscourt
Mr. Robert Pettigrew
John Piggot, Esq;
Kingsmill Penefather, Esq;
Marcus Patterson, Esq;
Mr. Samuel Price, 6 Books
Narcissus Charles Proby, Esq; F. C. T. C. D.

R.

The Right Hon. Richard Rigby, 2 Books
Major John Rutter
Thomas Rutlidge, Esq;
Peter Rutlidge, Esq;
Andrew Rutlidge, Esq;
James Rutlidge, Esq;
William Rutlidge, Esq;
Mr. George Rogers, T. C. D.
Miss Esther Rogers, of Greenwood
Mr. John Rowlet, T. C. D.

S.

The Right Hon. the Earl of Shannon
The Honourable Hungerford Skeffington
James Semple, M. D.
Anthony Sterling, T. C. D.
Alexander Stewart, Esq;
John Smith, Esq;
Thomas Smyth, Esq;
Charles Smith, Esq;
William Smith, sen. 6 Books
William Smith, jun. 6 Books
The Reverend Barlow Scott

T.

The Most Hon. the Marquis of Tavistock
James Taylor, Esq; Crooked-Staff
George Thwaites, Esq;
Mr. Richard Thwaites
Mr. Joseph Thwaites
Mr. Nat. Thwaites
Mr. Ephraim Thwaites
Mr. Edwin Thomas

V.

Richard Vernon, Esq;
Mr. William Vance, Surgeon

W.

The Reverend John Wall, D. D.
Mr. Samuel Watson, 6 Books
The Reverend Isaac Weld, 6 Books
George Woods, Esq;
Matthias Walker, A. M. 6 Books

Y.

Barry Yelverton, A. B. 6 Books.