§8.51.1Μήτε ἐν ταῖς πράξεσιν ἐπισύρειν μήτε ἐν ταῖς ὁμιλίαις φύρειν μήτε ἐν ταῖς φαντασίαις ἀλᾶσθαι μήτε τῇ ψυχῇ καθάπαξ συνέλκεσθαι ἢ ἐκθόρνυσθαι μήτε ἐν τῷ βίῳ ἀσχολεῖσθαι.
Do not drag your feet in your actions, nor be confused in your conversations, nor wander in your impressions, nor let your soul be altogether contracted or leap out, nor be without leisure in your life.
Κτείνουσι, κρεανομοῦσι, κατάραις ἐλαύνουσι.
They kill, they cut in pieces, they pursue with curses.
τί οὖν ταῦτα πρὸς τὸ τὴν διάνοιαν μένειν καθαράν, φρενήρη, σώφρονα, δικαίαν;
What then does this have to do with keeping your mind pure, wise, temperate, and just?
οἷον εἴ τις παραστὰς πηγῇ διαυγεῖ καὶ γλυκείᾳ βλασφημοίη αὐτήν, ἡ δὲ οὐ παύεται πότιμον ἀναβλύζουσα· κἂν πηλὸν ἐμβάλῃ, κἂν κοπρίαν, τάχιστα διασκεδάσει αὐτὰ καὶ ἐκκλύσει καὶ οὐδαμῶς βαφήσεται.
It is just as if someone were to stand by a clear and sweet spring and curse it, but it does not cease bubbling up wholesome water; and even if he should throw in mud or dung, it will quickly disperse it and wash it away, and will in no way be stained.
πῶς οὖν πηγὴν ἀέναον ἕξεις καὶ μὴ φρέαρ;
How then shall you possess an ever-flowing spring, and not a mere well?
ἂν φυλάσσῃς σεαυτὸν πάσης ὥρας εἰς ἐλευθερίαν μετὰ τοῦ εὐμενῶς καὶ ἁπλῶς καὶ αἰδημόνως.
If you guard yourself at every hour unto freedom, together with being benevolent, simple, and modest.