ich is, indeed, the greatest enemy to our opinion. For I am
persuaded that we are prepared and fortified sufficiently, by the
disputations of the foregoing days, against our own death, or that of our
friends, against grief and the other perturbations of the mind. But pain
seems to be the sharpest adversary of virtue: that it is which menaces us
with burning torches; that it is which threatens to crush our fortitude,
and greatness of mind, and patience. Shall virtue then yield to this?
Shall the happy life of a wise and consistent man succumb to this? Good
Gods! how base would this be! Spartan boys will bear to have their bodies
torn by rods without uttering a groan. I myself have seen at Lacedaemon,
troops of young men, with incredible earnestness contending together with
their hands and feet, with their teeth and nails, nay even ready to
expire, rather than own themselves conquered. Is any country of barbarians
more uncivilized or desolate than India? Yet they have amongst them some
that are held for wise men, who never wear any clothes all their life
long, and who bear the snow of Caucasus, and the piercing cold of winter,
without any pain: and who if they come in contact with fire endure being
burned without a groan. The women too, in India, on the death of their
husbands have a regular contest, and apply to the judge to have it
determined which of them was best beloved by him; for it is customary
there for one man to have many wives. She in whose favour it is determined
exults greatly, and being attended by her relations is laid on the funeral
pile with her husband: the others, who are postponed, walk away very much
dejected. Custom can never be superior to nature: for nature is never to
be got the better of. But our minds are infected by sloth and idleness,
and luxury, and languor, and indolence: we have enervated them by
opinions, and bad customs. Who is there who is unacquainted with the
customs of the Egyptians? Their minds being tainted by pernicious
opinions, they are ready to bear any torture, rather than hurt an ibis, a
snake, a cat, a dog, or a crocodile: and should any one inadvertently have
hurt any of these animals, he will submit to any punishment. I am speaking
of men only. As to the beasts, do they not bear cold and hunger, running
about in woods, and on mountains and deserts? will they not fight for
their young ones till they are wounded? Are they afraid of any attacks or
blows? I mention not what the a