ALCIATUS.[1]
A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE ROMAN EMPEROR HADRIAN AND EPICTETUS, THE PHILOSOPHER, ABOUT A.D. 110.
TRANSLATED BY HENRY MEIGS.
Hadrian. Let us loose our girdles! examine our bodies naked, and
see what we can gain?
Epictetus. It is a mere note.
Hadrian. What sort of a note?
Epictetus. It is a silent messenger.
Hadrian. What is a picture?
Epictetus. A false truth.
Hadrian. Why do you say that?
Epictetus. Because we see pictures of apples, flowers, animals done
in gold and silver—but these are not true.
Hadrian. What is gold?
Epictetus. A servant of death.
Hadrian. What is silver?
Epictetus. The seat of envy.
Hadrian. What is iron?
Epictetus. The instrument of all arts.
Hadrian. What is a sword?
Epictetus. The law of camps.
Hadrian. What is a gladiator?
Epictetus. A lawful homicide.
Hadrian. What people in good health are yet sick?
Epictetus. Those who meddle with other people's business.
Hadrian. What is a man never tired of?
Epictetus. Of making money.
Hadrian. What is friendship?
Epictetus. Concord—agreement.
Hadrian. What is the longest thing?
Epictetus. Hope.
Hadrian. What is hope?
Epictetus. A waking dream! The expectation of a doubtful event.
Hadrian. What is that which a man cannot see?
Epictetus. Another man's thoughts.
Hadrian. What is the sin of men?
Epictetus. Covetousness.
Hadrian. What is liberty?
Epictetus. Innocence!
Hadrian. What is common to all kings and miserable men?
- ↑ Notes on the Provinces of Rome, in Latin, by Andrew Alciatus, printed at Basle in Switzerland, by Froben, in 1552, with the privilege of copy-right for five years. It has numerous coarse wood engravings. It finishes with an argument between the Emperor Hadrian and the Philosopher Epictetus, whose figures are drawn with the beards of 1857, in A.D. 100. (external scan) We translate it from the Latin.
