Imaginary Conversations and Poems | Page 6

manner as that others shall see it as clearly as I do in the light of truth;
for, if they survey it as an ingenuity, my desire is ungratified, my duty
unfulfilled. I go not with those who dance round the image of Truth,
less out of honour to her than to display their agility and address.
_Seneca._ We must attract the attention of readers by novelty, and
force, and grandeur of expression.
_Epictetus._ We must. Nothing is so grand as truth, nothing so forcible,
nothing so novel.
_Seneca._ Sonorous sentences are wanted to awaken the lethargy of
indolence.
_Epictetus._ Awaken it to what? Here lies the question; and a weighty
one it is. If thou awakenest men where they can see nothing and do no
work, it is better to let them rest: but will not they, thinkest thou, look
up at a rainbow, unless they are called to it by a clap of thunder?
_Seneca._ Your early youth, Epictetus, has been, I will not say
neglected, but cultivated with rude instruments and unskilful hands.
_Epictetus._ I thank God for it. Those rude instruments have left the
turf lying yet toward the sun; and those unskilful hands have plucked
out the docks.
_Seneca._ We hope and believe that we have attained a vein of
eloquence, brighter and more varied than has been hitherto laid open to
the world.

_Epictetus._ Than any in the Greek?
_Seneca._ We trust so.
_Epictetus._ Than your Cicero's?
_Seneca._ If the declaration may be made without an offence to
modesty. Surely, you cannot estimate or value the eloquence of that
noble pleader?
_Epictetus._ Imperfectly, not being born in Italy; and the noble pleader
is a much less man with me than the noble philosopher. I regret that,
having farms and villas, he would not keep his distance from the
pumping up of foul words against thieves, cut-throats, and other rogues;
and that he lied, sweated, and thumped his head and thighs, in behalf of
those who were no better.
_Seneca._ Senators must have clients, and must protect them.
_Epictetus._ Innocent or guilty?
_Seneca._ Doubtless.
_Epictetus._ If I regret what is and might not be, I may regret more
what both is and must be. However, it is an amiable thing, and no small
merit in the wealthy, even to trifle and play at their leisure hours with
philosophy. It cannot be expected that such a personage should espouse
her, or should recommend her as an inseparable mate to his heir.
_Seneca._ I would.
_Epictetus._ Yes, Seneca, but thou hast no son to make the match for;
and thy recommendation, I suspect, would be given him before he
could consummate the marriage. Every man wishes his sons to be
philosophers while they are young; but takes especial care, as they
grow older, to teach them its insufficiency and unfitness for their
intercourse with mankind. The paternal voice says: 'You must not be
particular; you are about to have a profession to live by; follow those

who have thriven the best in it.' Now, among these, whatever be the
profession, canst thou point out to me one single philosopher?
_Seneca._ Not just now; nor, upon reflection, do I think it feasible.
_Epictetus._ Thou, indeed, mayest live much to thy ease and
satisfaction with philosophy, having (they say) two thousand talents.
_Seneca._ And a trifle to spare--pressed upon me by that godlike youth,
my pupil Nero.
_Epictetus._ Seneca! where God hath placed a mine, He hath placed the
materials of an earthquake.
_Seneca._ A true philosopher is beyond the reach of Fortune.
_Epictetus._ The false one thinks himself so. Fortune cares little about
philosophers; but she remembers where she hath set a rich man, and she
laughs to see the Destinies at his door.
PETER THE GREAT AND ALEXIS
_Peter._ And so, after flying from thy father's house, thou hast returned
again from Vienna. After this affront in the face of Europe, thou darest
to appear before me?
_Alexis._ My emperor and father! I am brought before your Majesty,
not at my own desire.
_Peter._ I believe it well.
_Alexis._ I would not anger you.
_Peter._ What hope hadst thou, rebel, in thy flight to Vienna?
_Alexis._ The hope of peace and privacy; the hope of security; and,
above all things, of never more offending you.
_Peter._ That hope thou hast accomplished. Thou imaginedst, then, that

my brother of Austria would maintain thee at his court--speak!
_Alexis._ No, sir! I imagined that he would have afforded me a place of
refuge.
_Peter._ Didst thou, then, take money with thee?
_Alexis._ A few gold pieces.
_Peter._ How many?
_Alexis._ About sixty.
_Peter._ He would have given thee promises for half the money; but
the double of it does not purchase a house, ignorant wretch!
_Alexis._ I knew as much as that: although