Part 5 (1/2)
”In the Schools, what didst thou call exile, imprisonment, bonds, death and shame?”
”I called them things indifferent.”
”What then dost thou call them now? Are they at all changed?”
”No.”
”Is it then thou that art changed?”
”No.”
”Say then, what are things indifferent?”
”Things that are not in our power.”
”Say then, what follows?”
”That things which are not in our power are nothing to me.”
”Say also what things you hold to be good.”
”A will such as it ought to be, and a right use of the things of sense.”
”And what is the end?”
”To follow Thee!”
LII
”That Socrates should ever have been so treated by the Athenians!”
Slave! why say ”Socrates”? Speak of the thing as it is: That ever then the poor body of Socrates should have been dragged away and haled by main force to prison! That ever hemlock should have been given to the body of Socrates; that that should have breathed its life away!--Do you marvel at this? Do you hold this unjust? Is it for this that you accuse G.o.d? Had Socrates no compensation for this? Where then for him was the ideal Good? Whom shall we hearken to, you or him? And what says he?
”Anytus and Melitus may put me to death: to injure me is beyond their power.”
And again:--
”If such be the will of G.o.d, so let it be.”
LIII