consider what a victory he at last found that he had gained over himself; what an Olympian victory; in what number he stood from Hercules;[1] so that, by the Gods, one may justly salute him, Hail, wondrous man, you who have conquered not these sorry boxers[2] and pancratiasts, nor yet those who are like them, the gladiators. By placing these objects on the other side you will conquer the appearance: you will not be drawn away by it. But in the first place be not hurried away by the rapidity of the appearance, but say, Appearances, wait for me a little: let me see who you are, and what you are about:[3] let me put you to the test. And then do not allow the appearance to lead you on and draw lively pictures of the things which will follow; for if you do, it will carry you off wherever it pleases. But rather bring in to oppose it some other beautiful and noble appearance and cast out this base appearance. And if you are accustomed to be exercised in this way, you will see what shoulders, what sinews, what strength you have. But now it is only trifling words, and nothing more.
This is the true athlete, the man who exercises himself against such appearances. Stay, wretch, do not be carried away. Great is the combat, divine is the work; it is for kingship, for freedom, for happiness, for freedom from perturbation. Remember God: call on him as a helper and protector, as men at sea call on the Dioscuri[4] in a storm. For what is a greater storm than that which comes from appearances which are violent and drive away the reason?[5] For the storm itself, what else is it but an appearance? For take away the fear of death, and suppose
- ↑ Hercules is said to have established gymnastic contests and to have been the first victor. Those who gained the victory both in wrestling and in the pancratium were reckoned in the list of victors as coming in the second or third place after him, and so on.
- ↑ I have followed Wolff's conjecture πύκτας instead of the old reading παίκτας.
- ↑ Compare iii. 12. 15.
- ↑ Castor and Pollux. Horace, Carm. i. 12:—
Quorum simul alba nautis
Stella refulsit, etc. - ↑ Gellius, xix. c. 1, 'visa quae vi quadam sua sese inferunt noscitanda hominibus.'
