large/7215/moralia1_1301_librivox_64kb_mp3/morals1_12_plutarch_64kb_83
large/7215/moralia1_1301_librivox_64kb_mp3/morals1_12_plutarch_64kb
English
7215
3. As for those who think there is one positive state of life, Avhich is always serene, — some fancying it to be of the husbandmen, others of those which are unmarried, and some of kings, — Menander clearly shows them their error in these verses : — I thouglit those men, my Plumia, always best, Who take no money up at interest; Who disenffaged from bushiess spend the day, And in complaints don't sigh tlie night away. Who, troubled, lamentable groans don't fetch. AS FOR THOSE WHO THINK THERE IS ONE POSITIVE STATE OF LIFE WHICH IS ALWAYS SERENE SOME FANCYING IT TO BE OF HUSBANDMEN OTHERS OF THOSE WHO ARE UNMARRIED AND SOME OF KINGS MANANDER CLEARLY SHOWS THEM THEIR ERROR IN THESE VERSES I THOUGHT THOSE MEN MY FANIA ALWAYS BEST WHO TAKE NO MONEY UP AT INTEREST WHO DISENGAGE FROM BUSINESS SPEND THE DAY AND IN COMPLAINTS DON'T SIGH THE NIGHT AWAY WHO TROUBLED LAMENTABLE GROANS DON'T FETCH
it, being mightily dis- turbed, after this manner : — I live an idle burden to the ground.il Hence it is that Epicurus adviseth those who aspire to glory not to stagnate in their ambition, but be in perpetual * Hesiod, Works and Days, 519. t Odyss. I. 19L } II. I. 488. II H. XVIII. 104. OF THE TRANQUILLITY OF THE MIND. 139 motion, and so obey the dictates of their genius in manag- ing the commonwealth ; because they would be more tormented and would suffer greater damages by idleness, if they were disappointed of that they weve in the eager pursuit of. But the philosopher is absurd in this, that he doth not ex(;ite men who have abilities to qualify themselves for charges in the government, but only those who are of a restless and unquiet disposition. For the tranquillity and perturbation of the mind are not to be measured by the fewness or multitude of our actions, but by their beauty or turpitude ; since the omission of Avhat is good is no less troublesome than the commission of evil. AY HEAVY ON HIS MIND IN HIS BLACK THOUGHTS REVENGE AND SLAUGHTER ROLL AND SCENES OF BLOOD RISE DREADFUL IN HIS SOUL AND HE HIMSELF COMPLAINS OF IT BEING MIGHTILY DISTURBED AFTER THIS MANNER I LIVE AN IDLE BURDEN TO THE GROUND HENCE IT IS THAT EPICURUS ADVISETH THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO GLORY NOT TO STAGNATE IN THEIR AMBITION BUT BE IN PERPETUAL MOTION AND SO OBEY THE DICTATES OF THEIR GENIUS IN MANAGING THE COMMONWEALTH BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE MORE TORMENTED AND WOULD SUFFER GREATER DAMAGES BY IDLENESS IF THEY WERE DISAPPOINTED OF THAT THEY WERE IN THE EAGER PURSUIT OF BUT THE PHILOSOPHER IS ABSURD IN THIS THAT HE DOTH NOT EXCITE MEN WHO HAVE ABILITIES TO QUALIFY THEMSELVES FOR CHARGES IN THE GOVERNMENT BUT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE OF A RESTLESS AND UNQUIET DISPOSITION FOR THE TRANQUILLITY AND PERTURBATION OF THE MIND ARE NOT TO BE MEASURED BY THE FEWNESS OR MULTITUDE OF HER ACTIONS BUT BY THEIR BEAUTY OR TURPITUDE SINCE THE OMISSION OF WHAT IS GOOD IS NO LESS TROUBLESOME THAN THE COMMISSION OF EVIL
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