The five days debate at Cicero's house in Tusculum between master and sophister.

SECT. VII. Epicurus contradicts himself herein, the Tragi∣cal impatiences of Philoctetes.

BUT Epicurus speaks after that rate, that he seems to me desirous to move Laughter; for in one place he affirms; If a wise man be burnt, if he be wrack'd; you look perhaps that he should say, He will be patient, he will endure; he will not sink under it. By Hercules! a great Commendati∣on, and worthy that very Hercules by whom I swore. But this will not serve (x) Epicurus a rough and hardy man: If he shall be in Phalaris bra∣zen Bull, he will say, Oh! how sweet is this! How unconcern'd am I at all this! Is it sweet too? Were

it too little, if it be not better? But those very Persons who deny Pain to be Evil, are not wont to say, that it is sweet to any one to be put to Torture; they say that it is rough, hard, octious, contrary to Nature, and yet not Evil. He who saith this is the only Evil, and the utmost of all Evils, affirms, that a wise man would call it sweet. I do not require of you to speak of Pain in the same Language as Epicurus doth of Pleasure, who was himself, as you know, a great Voluptu∣ary. Let him say the same, with all my heart, in the Brazen Bull, as if he were upon a Feather-Bed. I do not attribute to Wisdom, so much strength against Pain. If perhaps it be sufficient discharge of Duty, to bear it patiently, I do not further demand that she rejoyce at it. For with∣out doubt, it is a sad thing, bitter, repugnant to Nature, difficult to be endur'd with any Patience. (y) Look on Philoctetes, who is to be pardon'd his groaning, for he had seen Hercules on Oeta yell∣ing through excess of Pains. The Arrows there∣fore which he had receiv'd from Hercules, did then nothing comfort him; when

(z) The Vipers Gall into his Marrow shed, Had through his Bowels griping Tortures bred.

Then he roars out seeking for aid, desiring to dye.

(a) Ho! down that Peek who doth me throw, Into the bring Waves below? Now, now I faint; the belking wound, The burning sore my Soul confound.

It seemeth a hard word, that he who is forc'd to roar out after this sort, should not be in evil Estate, and that very Evil too.

(x) Epicurus a rough and hardy man.] Spoken by way of Derision; for he was soft and voluptuous.

(y) Look on Philoctetes.] Hercules on Mount Oeta is said to have bequeath'd his Bow and Arrows to Philoctetes; he one day heedlesly let fall an Arrow on his Foot, which gave him such intolerable anguish, that with his roaring he disturb'd the Grecian Host, then on their March towards Troy. He may be look'd upon as a fit Emblem of the Gout.

(z) The Vipers Gall.] These and the following Verses are taken out of the Philoctetes of Attius, translated out of Sophocles. The Arrows of Hercules were strain'd with Poy∣son, shed upon them by Hydras, gnawing them, when he emptied his Quiver into her Body.

(a) Ho! down that Peek.] Ulysses, to rid the Grecian Camp of the Outcrys of Philoctetes, gets the Fleet to weigh Anchor, and leave him ashore in Lemnos, where he got on a Rock to look after them; and there took up his abode in a Grot, and lay on a Couch of Leaves.