ing
me. My own peace of mind especially will never desert me so long as I do
not set myself to act in opposition to the fundamental convictions of my
inmost being, but obey the doctrines of Zeno and Chrysippus. This peace
every one may preserve, aye, even you, a woman, if you constantly do
what you recognize to be right, and fulfil the duties you take upon
yourself. The very god himself is proof and witness of this doctrine,
for he grants to him who obeys him that tranquillity of spirit which
must be pleasing in his eyes, since it is the only condition of the soul
in which it appears to be neither fettered and hindered nor tossed and
driven; while he, on the contrary, who wanders from the paths of virtue
and of her daughter, stern duty, never attains peace, but feels the
torment of an unsatisfied and hostile power, which with its hard grip
drags his soul now on and now back.

"He who preserves a tranquil mind is not miserable, even in misfortune,
and thankfully learns to feel con tented in every state of life; and
that because he is filled with those elevated sentiments which are
directly related to the noblest portion of his being--those, I mean--of
justice and goodness. Act then, my child, in conformity with justice
and duty, regardless of any ulterior object, without considering
whether your action will bring you pleasure or pain, without fear of the
judgment of men or the envy of the gods, and you will win that peace of
mind which distinguishes the wise from the unwise, and may be happy
even in adverse circumstances; for the only real evil is the dominion of
wickedness, that is to say the unreason which rebels against nature, and
the only true happiness consists in the possession of virtue. He alone,
however, can call virtue his who possesses it wholly, and sins not
against it in the smallest particular; for there is no difference of
degrees either in good or in evil, and even the smallest action opposed
to duty, truth or justice, though punishable by no law, is a sin, and
stands in opposition to virtue.

"Irene," thus Philotas had concluded his injunctions, "cannot as yet
understand this doctrine, but you are grave and have sense beyond your
years. Repeat this to her daily, and when the time comes impress on your
sister--towards whom you must fill the place of a mother--impress on her
heart these precepts as your father's last will and testament."

And now, as Klea went towards the well within the temple-wall to