beian, were
words they had not--in that blissful place. And believe me, if that
blissful, that beautiful place, were set on a hill visible to all the
world, I should long ago have journeyed thither. But, as you say, it
is far off: and one must needs find out for oneself the road to it, and
the best possible guide. And I find a multitude of guides, who press
on me their services, and protest, all alike, that they have themselves
come thence. Only, the roads they propose are many, and towards
adverse quarters. And one of them is steep and stony, and through the
beating sun; and the other is through green meadows, and under grateful
shade, and by many a fountain of water. But howsoever the road may be,
at each one of them stands a credible guide; he puts out his hand and
would have you come his way. All other ways are wrong, all other
guides false. Hence my difficulty!--The number and variety of the
ways! For you know, There is but one road that leads to Corinth.

--Well! If you go the whole round, you [155] will find no better
guides than those. If you wish to get to Corinth, you will follow the
traces of Zeno and Chrysippus. It is impossible otherwise.

--Yes! The old, familiar language! Were one of Plato's
fellow-pilgrims here, or a follower of Epicurus--or fifty others--each
would tell me that I should never get to Corinth except in his company.
One must therefore credit all alike, which would be absurd; or, what is
far safer, distrust all alike, until one has discovered the truth.
Suppose now, that, being as I am, ignorant which of all philosophers is
really in possession of truth, I choose your sect, relying on
yourself--my friend, indeed, yet still acquainted only with the way of
the Stoics; and that then some divine power brought Plato, and
Aristotle, and Pythagoras, and the others, back to life again. Well!
They would come round about me, and put me on my trial for my
presumption, and say:--'In whom was it you confided when you preferred
Zeno and Chrysippus to me?--and me?--masters of far more venerable age
than those, who are but of yesterday; and though you have never held
any discussion with us, nor made trial of our doctrine? It is not thus
that the law would have judges do--listen to one party and refuse to
let the other speak for himself. If judges act thus, there may be an
appeal to another tribunal.' What should I answer? Would it [156] be
enough to say:--'I trusted my friend Hermotimus