§. 5. What Good, then, did Priscus do, who was but a single Person? Why, what good does the Purple do to the Garment? What, but the being a shining Character in himself[1], and setting a good Example to others? Another, perhaps, if in such Circumstances Cæsar had forbidden his Going to the Senate, would have answered, "I am obliged to you for excusing me." But such a one he would not have forbidden to go: well knowing, that he would either sit like a Statue; or, if he spoke, he would say what he knew to be agreeable to Cæsar, and would overdo it, by adding still more.
§. 6. Thus acted even a Wrestler, who was in Danger of Death, unless he consented to an ignominious Amputation. His Brother, who was a Philosopher, coming to him, and saying "Well, Brother, what do you design to do? Let us cut away this morbid Part, and return again to the Field." He refused, and courageously died.
§. 7. When it was asked, whether he acted thus as a Wrestler, or a Philosopher? I answer, As a Man, said Epictetus; but as a Man who had been proclaimed a Champion at the Olympic Games; who had been used to such Places, and not exercised merely in the School of Bato[2]. Another would have had his very Head cut off, if he could have lived without it. This is that Regard to Character, so powerful with those who are accustomed to introduce it, from their own Breasts, into their Deliberations.
§. 8. "Come now, Epictetus, take off your Beard[3]."If I am a Philosopher, I answer, I
will
- ↑ Αυτω in the Original refers to ιματιω; but the Figure would have appeared harsh in the Translation.
- ↑ Bato was a famous Master of the Olympic exercises. Upton.
- ↑ Domitian ordered all the Philosophers to be banished. To avoid this Inconvenience, those who had a Mind to disguise their Profession, took off their Beards. Upton.
