large/7215/moralia1_1301_librivox_64kb_mp3/morals1_13_plutarch_64kb_74
large/7215/moralia1_1301_librivox_64kb_mp3/morals1_13_plutarch_64kb
English
7215
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. 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
ublime things, which (as Plato tells us) tlie divine mind has exhibited to our senses as likenesses of things in the ideal world, having the principles of life and motion in themselves ; such as are the sun, moon, and stars ; rivers 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. ADE BY HUMAN HANDS BUT IS TO CONTEMPLATE SUBLIME THINGS WHICH AS PLATO TELLS US THE DIVINE MIND HAS EXHIBITED TO OUR SENSES AS LIKENESSES OF THINGS IN THE IDEAL WORLD HAVING THE PRINCIPLES OF LIFE AND MOTION IN THEMSELVES 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
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