go where I choose." Then he is set free; and forthwith having no place
where he can eat, he looks for some man to flatter, some one with whom
he shall sup: then he either works with his body and endures the
most dreadful things; and if he can obtain a manger, he falls into a
slavery much worse than his former slavery; or even if he is become
rich, being a man without any knowledge of what is good, he loves some
little girl, and in his happiness laments and desires to be a slave
again. He says, "what evil did I suffer in my state of slavery?
Another clothed me, another supplied me with shoes, another fed me,
another looked after me in sickness; and I did only a few services for
him. But now a wretched man, what things I suffer, being a slave of
many instead of to one. But however," he says, "if I shall acquire
rings, then I shall live most prosperously and happily." First, in
order to acquire these rings, he submits to that which he is worthy
of; then, when he has acquired them, it is again all the same. Then he
says, "if I shall be engaged in military service, I am free from all
evils." He obtains military service. He suffers as much as a flogged
slave, and nevertheless he asks for a second service and a third.
After this, when he has put the finishing stroke to his career and
is become a senator, then he becomes a slave by entering into the
assembly, then he serves the finer and most splendid slavery- not to
be a fool, but to learn what Socrates taught, what is the nature of
each thing that exists, and that a man should not rashly adapt
preconceptions to the several things which are. For this is the
cause to men of all their evils, the not being able to adapt the
general preconceptions to the several things. But we have different
opinions. One man thinks that he is sick: not so however, but the fact
is that he does not adapt his preconceptions right. Another thinks
that he is poor; another that he has a severe father or mother; and
another, again, that Caesar is not favourable to him. But all this
is one and only one thing, the not knowing how to adapt the
preconceptions. For who has not a preconception of that which is
bad, that it is hurtful, that it ought to be avoided, that it ought in
every way to be guarded against? One preconception is not repugnant to
another, only where it comes to the matter of adaptation. What then is
this evil, which is both hurtful, and a thing to be avoided? He
answers, "Not to be Caesar's friend." He is gone far from the mark, he
has missed the adaptation, he is embarrassed, he seeks the things
which are not at all pertinent to the matter; for when he has
succeeded in being Caesar's friend, nevertheless he has failed in
finding what he sought. For what is that which every man seeks? To
live secure, to be happy, to do everything as he wishes, not to be
hindered, nor compelled. When then he is become the friend of
Caesar, is he free from hindrance? free from compulsion, is he
tranquil, is he happy? Of whom shall we inquire? What more trustworthy
witness have we than this very man who is, become Caesar's friend?
Come forward and tell us when did you sleep more quietly, now or
before you became Caesar's friend? Immediately you hear the answer,
"Stop, I entreat you, and do not mock me: you know not what miseries I
suffer, and sleep does not come to me; but one comes and says, 'Caesar