CHAPTER 4
Against a person who showed his partisanship in an unseemly way in a
theatre
The governor of Epirus having shown his favor to an actor in an
unseemly way and being publicly blamed on this account, and
afterward having reported to Epictetus that he was blamed and that
he was vexed at those who blamed him, Epictetus said: What harm have
they been doing? These men also were acting, as partisans, as you were
doing. The governor replied, "Does, then, any person show his
partisanship in this way?" When they see you, said Epictetus, who
are their governor, a friend of Caesar and his deputy, showing
partisanship in this way, was it not to be expected that they also
should show their partisanship in the same way? for if it is not right
to show partisanship in this way, do not do so yourself; and if it
is right, why are you angry if they followed your example? For whom
have the many to imitate except you, who are their superiors, to whose
example should they look when they go to the theatre except yours?
"See how the deputy of Caesar looks on: he has cried out, and I too,
then, will cry out. He springs up from his seat, and I will spring up.
His slaves sit in various parts of the theatre and call out. I have no
slaves, but I will myself cry out as much as I can and as loud as
all of them together." You ought then to know when you enter the
theatre that you enter as a rule and example to the rest how they
ought to look at the acting. Why then did they blame you? Because
every man hates that which is a hindrance to him. They wished one
person to be crowned; you wished another. They were a hindrance to
you, and you were a hindrance to them. You were found to be the
stronger; and they did what they could; they blamed that which
hindered them. What, then, would you have? That you should do what you
please, and they should not even say what they please? And what is the
wonder? Do not the husbandmen abuse Zeus when they are hindered by
him? do not the sailors abuse him? do they ever cease abusing
Caesar? What then does not Zeus know? is not what is said reported
to Caesar? What, then, does he do? he knows that, if he punished all
who abuse him, he would have nobody to rule over. What then? when
you enter the theatre, you ought to say not, "Let Sophron be crowned",
but you ought to say this, "Come let me maintain my will in this
matter so that it shall be conformable to nature: no man is dearer
to me than myself. It would be ridiculous, then, for me to be hurt
(injured) in order that another who is an actor may be crowned." Whom
then do I wish to gain the prize? Why the actor who does gain the
prize; and so he will always gain the prize whom I wish to gain it.
"But I wish Sophron to be crowned." Celebrate as many games as you
choose in your own house, Nemean, Pythian, Isthmian, Olympian, and
proclaim him victor. But in public do not claim more than your due,
nor attempt to appropriate to yourself what belongs to all. If you
do not consent to this, bear being abused: for when you do the same as
the many, you put yourself on the same level with them.
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