will observe a story told of Epictetus by Celsus, in his books against the christian religion: that, when" his mas'ter tortured his leg, he, smiling, and not at all discomposed, said, "You will break it:" and when it was broke, he said, "Did I not tell you that you would break it?" This Celsus magnifies, as exceeding every thing recorded of our Saviour's patience.

Here again Tillemont hesitates. And indeed we might have been pleased to find this account in Aulus Gellius, or some other ancient author, not writing in controversy. However, there certainly is some foundation for it: though the story is not always told in the same way. Epictetus is several times brought in as an example of heathen patience in Gregory Nazianzen, and the Dialogues ascribed to his brother Cæsarius.

W

X

Possibly some may think that Epictetus himself refers to this occurrence of his past life, when in the first book of his Discourses, speaking of death, exile, imprisonment, and other pains, which men ought to endure patiently and cheerfully, he says: 'I must die--And must I die groaning too? Be fettered-Must it be lamenting too? Exiled-And what hinders me then but that I may go smiling, and cheerful, and serene? Betray a secret-I will not betray it: for this is in my power. Then I will fetter you-What do you say, inan? Fetter me? You will fetter my leg; But not Jupiter himself can get the better of my choice-These things ought philosophers to study, and in these to exercise themselves.'

However, though there may be some foundation for this story, we can perceive that the lameness of Epictetus was not owing to a violent fraction or dislocation: for we are in

" Ουκέν Επικτητον; ος τε δεσποτε πρεβλοντος αυτε το σκέλος, υπομειδιων, ανεπλήκτως ελεγε, Κατασσεις και κατάξαντος, Ουκ ελεγον, ειπεν, ότι κατάσσεις. Orig. Cont. Cels. 1. 7. p. 268. al. sect. 53.

▾ On trouve quelque chose de cela dans les Dialogues de Cæsareus, et dans Grégoire de Nazianze; mais non pas dans un endroit d' Aulu-Gelle, dont on le cite, et dont le témoignage rendroit cette histoire plus assurée. Tillem. as before.

W

w Sed ne crus quidem Epicteti silentio præterierim; quod cum ipsi a tyranno quodam vinctum fuisset, ac diuturno post tempore ille ex ipso quasivisset, an solvi vellet, inquit, An vinctus sum? &c. Eliæ Cretens. Comm. in Greg. Naz. Or. 3. p. 326. * Και το Επικτητο σκέλος. Gr. Naz.

X

Or. 3. p. 77. Vid. et ep. 64. al. 58. p. 822. y Epicteti vero crure, a moroso domino convulso, multis Philosophis silentii, et in periculis occasio doctrinæ fuit. Cæsar. Dialog. 4. p. 804. B. ap. Bib. PP. 2 Here I take Mrs. Carter's translation, p. 5.

T. V.

a

2 Αλλα δησω σε Ανθρωπε, τι λεγεις; εμε; το σκελος με δήσας την προαιρεσιν δε, εδε ο Ζευς νικησαι δυναται. L. i. c. 1. p. 85.

formed by Suidas that his lameness was owing to a defluxion, and by Simplicius that he was lame from early age.

We likewise perceive, from the writers above alleged, that Epictetus was not always a slave. In the latter part, and perhaps the longer part of his life, he was a freed-man. He was a philosopher, living at ease in his own house, attended by a woman, with the child of a friend whom he intended to bring up. All which particulars lead us to think that Epictetus had a sufficiency, or competence, though not superfluities. Nor can it be at all doubted that his friends and disciples would, and did, furnish him with all things necessary during his abode at Rome, and afterwards at Nicopolis; where we suppose him to have ended his life, and where he seems to have had many hearers and disciples, and some of good condition, who would not fail to allow him handsome gratuities for his instructions, which they highly valued.

III. We have seen what ancient writers say of the furniture of this philosopher's house. It consisted, they say, of a couch and mattress upon which he lay, and a lamp.' I have sometimes thought they should have added, and a library,' the books of which he carefully read and studied; for Epictetus was learned. I cannot say that I have seen this observation in any writers of his life: and yet it is very obvious. Nor is it reasonable to think that the only use of the lamp was to enlighten his room in the dark night, or to dress his victuals by the light of it: very probably he read and studied by it.

e

Epictetus's learning is conspicuous in his Discourses. He knows very well the history of Greece and Rome, and the_customs of all nations, Jews, Syrians, Egyptians, as well as Romans. He is intimately acquainted with the principles, the history, the sayings, the writings of the ancient Greek philosophers: the Iliad and Odyssey are familiar to him. Hed also quotes Hesiod. He had read the tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides, and the comedies of Menander, and the orations of Lysias and Isocrates. In a word, he was no stranger to any part of polite literature. And Mrs. Carter says; He often quotes, with great applause, the 'sentences of many writers not of his own sect.' But how could that be done without having read?

We have no distinct account of his education: but his

own discourses are a proof that he had read, and studied, as well as thought.

IV. I am not obliged to give a distinct account of his philosophical principles. I shall put down here only a few general observations from Mrs. Carter's introduction, sect. 33: Stoicism is indeed inferior to the doctrine of Socrates, 'which did not teach that all externals were indifferent; • which did teach a future state of recompence; and, agree' able to that, forbade suicide.' And, in another section of her introduction, the same philosophical lady says: There is, I think, very little evidence to be found that they believed future rewards and punishments, compared with that which appears to the contrary; at least the reader will 'observe that Epictetus never asserts either.' Sect. 20, p.

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xiii.

V. I must now give some account of Arrian, to whom we are indebted for what we have of Epictetus.

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k

In Photius are several articles concerning his works. One of the last of which was a history of his own country, Bithynia: wherein Arrian says he was born and bred, and educated, in Nicomedia: and that he was priest of Ceres and her daughter, to whom that city was dedicated.'

In another article Photius, having given an account of several of his works, says: Thism Arrian was by profession 'a philosopher, and one of Epictetus's friends. He flou'rished in the times of Adrian, Antoninus the Pious, and • Marcus Antoninus. He was called the young Xenophon. 'On account of his uncommon abilities he was intrusted ' with divers civil employments, and attained to the dignity of the consulship. Beside those already mentioned, he ' wrote other works, as Dissertations of his master Epictetus, ' in eight books, so far as we know; and Homilies [or Dis'courses] of the same Epictetus, in twelve books; and it 'must be owned that his style much resembles that of • Xenophon.'

n

Suidas mightily agrees with Photius, saying: Arrian, of Nicomedia, an admirer of Epictetus's philosophy, and 'called the young Xenophon, lived at Rome in the times of the emperors Adrian, Marcus, and Antoninus; and, upon • account of his distinguished abilities, attained the dignity i Vid. Suidam Voss. de Historicis. Gr. Fabr. Bib. Gr. L. 4. c. 8. T. 3. p. 269, &c. Biographia Classica. Vol. 2. p. 67, &c. Adrien. art xx. Dictionnaire de Morery. 91, 92, et 93.

1 Cod. 93. p. 233.

Lond. 1740. Tillemont k Cod. 58. p. 51. Cod. m Cod. 58. p. 52, &c.

Έγραψε δε βιβλια και έτερα, των μεν διατρίβων Επικτητε τε διδασκαλε, όσα ισμεν, βιβλια οκτω των δε ὁμιλιων τε αυτε Επικτητο βιβλια δωδεκα. Ib.

p. 53.

• V. Αρριανος.

of the consulship, as Heliconius says. He wrote very many 'books.'

Lucian says: Arrian, a disciple of Epictetus, was a 'man of the first rank among the Romans, who employed his whole life in the study of literature.'

I have no concern at present with any works of Arrian, excepting those relating to Epictetus. I therefore now proceed to Simplicius, who has been already cited more than once; who in the sixth century wrote a Commentary upon the Enchiridion of Epictetus. His preface to that work begins with these words: Arrian, who compiled the Dissertations [or Discourses] of Epictetus in several prolix 'books, wrote concerning the life and death of Epictetus. From him may be learned what a sort of man he was. The same Arrian composed this book which is called the Enchiridion of Epictetus, selecting out of the several parts ' of his discourses [Now] such things as are most important, and most necessary in philosophy, and most likely to 'affect men's minds. As the same Arrian says in his 'epistle to Mesgalenus, [or Messalinus,] his own friend, and ' especially a great admirer of Epictetus.'

Hence it may be concluded that Epictetus published nothing himself. Suidas therefore is mistaken when he says that Epictetus wrote many things,' unless he may be understood to mean by his disciples.

Learned men are now generally of opinion that Arrian published three or four books, one concerning the Life and Death of Epictetus, another called his Dissertations, and a third his Discourses, beside the Enchiridion. I rather think that besides the Enchiridion, he composed but one, called his Dissertations or Discourses,' whence may be known what • sort of man he was, how he lived, and how he died.' I understand Simplicius to speak of but one work only, which I suppose to be that which we now have in four books; though possibly something at the end may be wanting; as we have also lost Arrian's epistle to his friend Messalinus, which he prefixed to the Enchiridion.

Photius speaks of Arrian's composing two works, the Dissertations, and the Discourses of Epictetus. But he speaks doubtfully of the number of books of which the Dissertations consisted. And I am apt to think he had read none of them. He multiplies the works, being led into a

P Pseudom. p. 747. Tom. i. Græv.

4 Περι μεν τε βις τε Επικτητε, και της αυτε τελευτης, Αρριανός εγραψεν, ὁ τας Επικτητε διατριβας εν πολυτιχοις συνταξας βιβλίοις και απ' εκείνε μαθειν επιν, οποιος γεγονεν τον βιον ο ανηρ. κ. λ. Simp. p. 1.

mistake by the different titles of one and the same work, sometimes called Dissertations, at other times Discourses.

I do not perceive Marcus Antoninus to speak of more han one work, called by him Memoirs of Epictetus. Which title well suits the discourses now in our hands. Aulus Gellius quotes as long passage of the second book of his Dissertations, which we have: another oft the fifth book of the Dissertations, which we do not find. Simplicius, in his preface, useth both these words indifferently, Dissertations and Discourses. Arrian himself, in his epistle to L. Gellius, prefixed to the work which we have, useth the expressions of Discourses and Memoirs: Moyes

υπομνήματα.

Thus I had written long before I had met with Mr. Upton's edition of Epictetus: and it was not without some surprise as well as pleasure that I have observed how nearly we agree in sentiment upon this point. For he likewise supposeth that" Arrian published nothing of Epictetus beside the Enchiridion, and his Discourses, some books of which are now lost,

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I must now transcribe a part of what Arrian says in his preface or dedication to Lucius Gellius. 'I' neither composed the discourses of Epictetus in such a manner as things of this nature are commonly composed, nor did J 'myself produce them to public view any more than I composed them. But whatever sentiments I heard from his own mouth, the very same I endeavoured to set down in the very same words, as far as possible, and preserve as memorials, for my own use, of his manner of thinking, and • freedom of speech.

• These discourses are such as one person would naturally ' deliver from his own thoughts extempore to another, not

r

Τοις Επικτητίοις ὑπομνημασιν. L. 1. sect. 7.

Jussitque proferri dissertationum Epicteti digestarum ad Arriano secundum. librum. L. 1. c. 2.

t

Librum protulit Epicteti Philosophi quintum Acaλɛğıwv, quas ab Arriano digestas, &c. L. 19. c. i. Vid. et l. 17. c. xix. in.

T8T8

" Ex hisce locis credas primâ facie, plurimos olim exstitisse libros, quos de La cteto composuit Arrianus: I. Περι των Επικτητε διατριβων. βιβ. η. II. Περι των Επικτητε ὁμιλιων. βιβ. ιβ. III. Περι τα βιο Επίκτητε και της τετε τελευτης. IV. Επικτητε λογοι. V. Επικτητες εγχειριδιον. VI. Επικτητε ὑπομνήματα. VII. Περι των Επικτητε διαλέξεων. De hisce libris quid sentiam, palam profiteri nullus dubito, licet in aliam a doctis viris iverim sententiam: nempe esse a manu Arriani duo tantum inter tot memorata volumina, viz. Περι των Επικτητε διατριβων, cujus operis nonnulli interciderunt libri; et Επικτητο εγχειριδιον, cujus quoque ad Messalinum præfatio seu dedicatio interiit, &c. Upt. Not. in Epictet. p. 4, 5.

Here I use Mrs. Carter's translation, p. xli.