Page:Discourses of Epictetus volume 2 Oldfather 1928.djvu/467

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FRAGMENTS

of water." For, look you, if what I have is not sufficient for me, still, I am sufficient for it, and so it too is sufficient for me. Or do you not see that Polus[1] was not accustomed to act Oedipus the King with any finer voice or more pleasure to his audience than Oedipus at Colonus, the outcast and beggar? And then shall the man of noble nature make a poorer showing than Polus, and not play well any role to which the Deity assigns him? And will he not follow the example of Odysseus, who was no less pre-eminent in his rags than in his rich and purple cloak?


12

From Arrian

There are certain persons who exhibit their high spirit rather gently,[2] and in a sort of passionless manner do everything that even those who are swept away by their anger do. We must be on our guard, therefore, against the error of these persons, as something much worse than violent anger. For those who give way to violent anger are soon sated with their revenge, but the others prolong it like men who have a light fever.


13

From the Memorabilia of Epictetus

But, says someone I see the good and excellent perishing from hunger and cold.—And do you not see

  1. A famous actor of the fourth century. See J. B. O'Connor, Chapters in the History of Actors and Acting (1908), 128-30.
  2. Capps suggests that ἡσυχῇ is used here as it is in Menander, Hero, 20.
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