Pagina 859 di 1391

But with the rich man this is otherwise; of him we do not say

that he has any specially appointed work which he must perform,

if he would live.

He is generally supposed to have nothing to do.

Then you never heard of the saying of Phocylides, that as soon as

a man has a livelihood he should practise virtue?

Nay, he said, I think that he had better begin somewhat sooner.

Let us not have a dispute with him about this, I said; but rather

ask ourselves: Is the practice of virtue obligatory on the rich

man, or can he live without it? And if obligatory on him, then

let us raise a further question, whether this dieting of

disorders, which is an impediment to the application of the mind

in carpentering and the mechanical arts, does not equally stand

in the way of the sentiment of Phocylides?

Of that, he replied, there can be no doubt; such excessive care

of the body, when carried beyond the rules of gymnastic, is most

inimical to the practice of virtue.