large/7215/moralia1_1301_librivox_64kb_mp3/morals1_13_plutarch_64kb_86
large/7215/moralia1_1301_librivox_64kb_mp3/morals1_13_plutarch_64kb
English
7215
OF THE TRANQUILLITY OF THE MIND. 167 Men are delighted with the harmonious touches of an instrument ; they are pleased likewise with the melody of the birds ; and it is not Avithout some recreation that they behold the beasts frolicsome and sporting ; but when the frisk is over and they begin to bellow and curl their brows, the ungrateful noise and their angry looks offend them. MEN ARE DELIGHTED WITH THE HARMONIOUS TOUCHES OF AN INSTRUMENT THEY ARE PLEASED LIKEWISE WITH THE MELODY OF THE BIRDS AND IT IS NOT WITHOUT SOME RECREATION THAT THEY BEHOLD THE BEASTS FROLICSOME AND SPORTING BUT WHEN THE FRISK IS OVER AND THEY BEGIN TO BELLOW AND CURL THEIR BROWS THE UNGRATEFUL NOISE IN THEIR ANGRY LOOKS OFFEND THEM
ivers which are still supplied with fresh accessions of water ; and the earth, which with a motherly indulgence suckles the plants and feeds her sensitive creatures. Now since life is the introduction and the most perfect initiation into these mysteries, it is but just that it should be full of cheerfulness and tranquillity. For we are not to imitate the little vulgar, who Avait impa- tiently for the jolly days which are consecrated to Saturn, Bacchus, and Minerva, that they may be merry with hired laughter, and pay such a price to the mimic and stage- dancer for their diversions. At all these games and cere- monies we sit silent and composed ; for no man laments when he is initiated in the rites, Avhen he beholds the games of Apollo, or drinks in the Saturnalia. But when the Gods order the scenes at their own festivals, or initiate us into their own mysteries, the enjoyment becomes sordid to us ; and we wear out our wretched lives in care, heavi- ness of spirit, and bitter complaints. ES SUCH AS ARE THE SUN MOON AND STARS RIVERS WHICH ARE SUPPLIED WITH FRESH ACCESSIONS OF WATER AND THE EARTH WHICH WITH A MOTHERLY INDULGENCE SUCKLES THE PLANT AND FEEDS HER SENSITIVE CREATURES NOW SINCE LIFE IS THE INTRODUCTION AND THE MOST PERFECT INITIATION INTO THESE MYSTERIES IT IS BUT JUST THAT IT SHOULD BE FULL OF CHEERFULNESS AND TRANQUILLITY FOR WE ARE NOT TO IMITATE THE LITTLE VULGAR WHO WAIT IMPATIENTLY FOR THE JOLLY DAYS WHICH ARE CONSECRATED TO SATURN BACCHUS AND MINERVA THAT THEY MAY BE MERRY WITH HIRED LAUGHTER AND PAY SUCH A PRICE TO THE MIMIC AND STAGE DANCER FOR THEIR DIVERSIONS AT ALL THESE GAMES AND CEREMONIES WE SIT SILENT AND COMPOSED FOR NO MAN LAMENTS WHEN HE IS INITIATED IN THE RITES WHEN HE BEHOLDS THE GAMES OF APOLLO OR DRINKS IN THE SATURNALIA BUT WHEN THE GODS ORDER THE SCENES AT THEIR OWN FESTIVALS OR INITIATE US INTO THEIR OWN MYSTERIES THE ENJOYMENT BECOMES SORDID TO US AND WE WEAR OUT OUR WRETCHED LIVES AND CARE HEAVINESS OF SPIRIT AND BITTER COMPLAINTS
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