The Works of the Emperor Julian, Vol. 1Julian, Emperor of Rome
Religion
The Works of the Emperor Julian, Vol. 1
Julian, Emperor of Rome
Speeches, addresses, etc., Greek -- Translations into English
But he who is the slave of pleasure and cannot
control his temper and appetites of all sorts, but is compelled to succumb
to trivial things, is neither brave himself nor strong with a man’s
strength, though we may perhaps allow him to exult like a bull or lion or
leopard(407) in his brute force, if indeed he do not lose even this and,
like a drone, merely superintend the labours of others, himself a “feeble
warrior,”(408) and cowardly and dissolute. And if that be his character,
he is lacking not only in true riches, but in that wealth also which men
so highly honour and reverence and desire, on which hang the souls of men
of all sorts, so that they undergo countless toils and labours for the
sake of daily gain, and endure to sail the sea and to trade and rob and
grasp at tyrannies. For they live ever acquiring but ever in want, though
I do not say of necessary food and drink and clothes; for the limit of
this sort of property has been clearly defined by nature and none can be
deprived of it, neither birds nor fish nor wild beasts, much less prudent
men. But those who are tortured by the desire and fatal passion for money
must suffer a lifelong hunger,(409) and depart from life more miserably
than those who lack daily food. For these, once they have filled their
bellies, enjoy perfect peace and respite from their torment, but for those
others no day is sweet that does not bring them gain, nor does night with
her gift of sleep that relaxes the limbs and frees men from care(410)
bring for them any remission of their raging madness, but distracts and
agitates their souls as they reckon and count up their money. And not even
the wealth of Tantalus and Midas, should they possess it, frees those men
from their desire and their hard toil therewith, nay nor “Tyranny the
greatest and sternest of the gods,”(411) should they become possessed of
this also. For have you not heard that Darius, the ruler of Persia, a man
not wholly base, but insatiably and shamefully covetous of money, dug up
in his greed even the tombs of the dead(412) and exacted the most costly
tribute? And hence he acquired the title(413) that is famous among all
mankind. For the notables of Persia called him by the name that the
Athenians gave to Sarambos.(414))
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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