Just
as we must understand when it is said, That Aesculapius prescribed to
this man horse-exercise, or bathing in cold water or going without
shoes; so we must understand it when it is said, That the nature of
the universe prescribed to this man disease or mutilation or loss or
anything else of the kind. For in the first case Prescribed means
something like this: he prescribed this for this man as a thing
adapted to procure health; and in the second case it means: That
which happens to (or, suits) every man is fixed in a manner for him
suitably to his destiny. For this is what we mean when we say that
things are suitable to us, as the workmen say of squared stones in
walls or the pyramids, that they are suitable, when they fit them to
one another in some kind of connexion. For there is altogether one
fitness, harmony. And as the universe is made up out of all bodies to
be such a body as it is, so out of all existing causes necessity
(destiny) is made up to be such a cause as it is. And even those who
are completely ignorant understand what I mean, for they say, It
(necessity, destiny) brought this to such a person.- This then was
brought and this was prescribed
to him. Let us then receive these things, as well as those which
Aesculapius prescribes. Many as a matter of course even among his
prescriptions are disagreeable, but we accept them in the hope of
health. Let the perfecting and accomplishment of the things, which
the common nature judges to be good, be judged by thee to be of the
same kind as thy health. And so accept everything which happens, even
if it seem disagreeable, because it leads to this, to the health of
the universe and to the prosperity and felicity of Zeus (the
universe). For he would not have brought on any man what he has
brought, if it were not useful for the whole. Neither does the nature
of anything, whatever it may be, cause anything which is not suitable
to that which is directed by it. For two reasons then it is right to
be content with that which happens to thee; the one, because it was
done for thee and prescribed for thee, and in a manner had reference
to thee, originally from the most ancient causes spun with thy
destiny; and the other, because even that which comes severally to
every man is to the power which administers the universe a cause of
felicity and perfection, nay even of its very continuance. For the
integrity of the whole is mutilated, if thou cuttest off anything
whatever from the conjunction and the continuity either of the parts
or of the causes. And thou dost cut off, as far as it is in thy
power, when thou art dissatisfied, and in a manner triest to put
anything out of the way.
(podcast episode) (original Greek part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5)
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