unto art, since that all arts imitate nature. If this be so;
that the most perfect and general nature of all natures should in
her operation come short of the skill of arts, is most improbable.
Now common is it to all arts, to make that which is worse
for the better's sake. Much more then doth the common
nature do the same. Hence is the first ground of justice.
From justice all other virtues have their existence.
For justice cannot be preserved, if either we settle our minds
and affections upon worldly things; or be apt to be deceived,
or rash, and inconstant.
X. The things themselves (which either to get or to avoid thou
art put to so much trouble) come not unto thee themselves;
but thou in a manner goest unto them. Let then thine own
judgment and opinion concerning those things be at rest;
and as for the things themselves, they stand still and quiet,
without any noise or stir at all; and so shall all pursuing and
flying cease. XI. Then is the soul as Empedocles doth liken it,
like unto a sphere or globe, when she is all of one form and figure:
when she neither greedily stretcheth out herself unto anything,
nor basely contracts herself, or lies flat and dejected; but shineth
all with light, whereby she does see and behold the true nature,
both that of the universe, and her own in particular.
XII. Will any contemn me? let him look to that, upon what grounds
he does it: my care shall be that I may never be found either
doing or speaking anything that doth truly deserve contempt.
Will any hate me? let him look to that. I for my part will be kind
and loving unto all, and even unto him that hates me, whom-soever he be,
will I be ready to show his error, not by way of exprobation
or ostentation of my patience, but ingenuously and meekly:
such as was that famous Phocion, if so be that he did not dissemble.
For it is inwardly that these things must be: that the Gods
who look inwardly, and not upon the outward appearance,
may behold a man truly free from all indignation and grief.
For what hurt can it be unto thee whatsoever any man else doth,
as long as thou mayest do that which is proper and suitable to thine
own nature? Wilt not thou (a man wholly appointed to be both what,
and as the common good shall require) accept of that which is now
seasonable to the nature of the universe? XIII. They contemn
one another, and yet they seek to please one another: and whilest
they seek to surpass one another in worldly pomp and greatness,
they most debase and prostitute themselves in their better part
one to another.