hat we mean when we say that things are
suitable to us, as the workmen say of squared stones in walls or the
pyramids, that they are suitable, when they fit them to one another in
some kind of connection. For there is altogether one fitness [harmony].
And as the universe is made up out of all bodies to be such a body as it
is, so out of all existing causes necessity [destiny] is made up to be
such a cause as it is. And even those who are completely ignorant
understand what I mean; for they say, It [necessity, destiny] brought
this to such a person.--This then was brought and this was prescribed to
him. Let us then receive these things, as well as those which
Aesculapius prescribes. Many as a matter of course even among his
prescriptions are disagreeable, but we accept them in the hope of
health. Let the perfecting and accomplishment of the things which the
common nature judges to be good, be judged by thee to be of the same
kind as thy health. And so accept everything which happens, even if it
seem disagreeable, because it leads to this, to the health of the
universe and to the prosperity and felicity of Zeus [the universe]. For
he would not have brought on any man what he has brought, if it were not
useful for the whole. Neither does the nature of anything, whatever it
may be, cause anything which is not suitable to that which is directed
by it. For two reasons then it is right to be content with that which
happens to thee; the one, because it was done for thee and prescribed
for thee, and in a manner had reference to thee, originally from the
most ancient causes spun with thy destiny; and the other, because even
that which comes severally to every man is to the power which
administers the universe a cause of felicity and perfection, nay even of
its very continuance. For the integrity of the whole is mutilated, if
thou cuttest off anything whatever from the conjunction and the
continuity either of the parts or of the causes. And thou dost cut off,
as far as it is in thy power, when thou art dissatisfied, and in a
manner triest to put anything out of the way.

[A] In this section there is a play on the meaning of [Greek:
sumbainein].

[Illustration: THE CAPITOL AND TEMPLE OF JUPITER]

9. Be not disgusted, nor discouraged, nor dissatisfied, if thou dost not
succeed in doing everything according to right principles, but when
thou hast failed, return back again, and be content if the greater part
of what thou do