desirable thing if men could be lulled and enchanted by the Stoics,
and sleep and present themselves to you and to those like you to be
shorn and milked? For this you ought to say to your brother
Epicureans: but ought you not to conceal it from others, and
particularly before everything to persuade them that we are by
nature adapted for fellowship, that temperance is a good thing; in
order that all things may be secured for you? Or ought we to
maintain this fellowship with some and not with others? With whom,
then, ought we to maintain it? With such as on their part also
maintain it, or with such as violate this fellowship? And who
violate it more than you who establish such doctrines?
What then was it that waked Epicurus from his sleepiness, and
compelled him to write what he did write? What else was it than that
which is the strongest thing in men, nature, which draws a man to
her own will though he be unwilling and complaining? "For since,"
she says, "you think that there is no community among mankind, write
this opinion and leave it for others, and break your sleep to do this,
and by your own practice condemn your own opinions." Shall we then say
that Orestes was agitated by the Erinyes and roused from his deep
sleep, and did not more savage Erinyes and Pains rouse Epicurus from
his sleep and not allow him to rest, but compelled him to make known
his own evils, as madness and wine did the Galli? So strong and
invincible is man's nature. For how can a vine be moved not in the
mariner of a vine, but in the manner of an olive tree? or on the other
hand how can an olive tree be moved not in the manner of an olive
tree, but in the manner of a vine? It is impossible: it cannot be
conceived. Neither then is it possible for a man completely to lose
the movements of a man; and even those who are deprived of their
genital members are not able to deprive themselves of man's desires.
Thus Epicurus also mutilated all the offices of a man, and of a father
of a family, and of a citizen and of a friend, but he did not mutilate
human desires, for he could not; not more than the lazy Academics
can cast away or blind their own senses, though they have tried with
all their might to do it. What a shame is this? when a man has
received from nature measures and rules for the knowing of truth,
and does not strive to add to these measures and rules and to
improve them, but, just the contrary, endeavors to take away and
destroy whatever enables us to discern the truth?
What say you philosopher? piety and sanctity, what do you think that
they are? "If you like, I will demonstrate that they are good things."
Well, demonstrate it, that our citizens may be turned and honor the
deity and may no longer be negligent about things of the highest
value. "Have you then the demonstrations?" I have, and I am
thankful. "Since then you are well pleased with them, hear the
contrary: 'That there are no Gods, and, if there are, they take no
care of men, nor is there any fellowship between us and them; and that
this piety and sanctity which is talked of among most men is the lying
of boasters and sophists, or certainly of legislators for the
purpose of terrifying and checking wrong-doers.'" Well done,
philosopher, you have done something for our citizens, you have