May I be found attending to nothing but my own faculty of choice, so that it may be free from passion, unhindered, unforced, and free.
I want to be found practicing these things, so that I may be able to say to God: “Did I transgress any of your commands? Did I use for other ends the resources you gave me—my senses or my preconceptions? Did I ever accuse you? Did I fault your government? I was sick when you wished it; so were others, but I willingly. I became poor because you wished it, but gladly. I did not govern because you did not wish it; I never desired office. Did you ever see me gloomier on that account? Did I not always approach you with a bright face, ready if you command or signal anything?
“Now you wish me to leave the festival. I go. I thank you wholly because you judged me worthy to share the festival with you, to see your works, and to follow your government with understanding.”
An editorial aid to reading, not a substitute for the original. About this rendering
For my own part, I would be found engaged in nothing but in the regulation of my own Will; how to render it undisturbed, unrestrained, uncompelled, free. I would be found studying this, that I may be able to say to God, “Have I transgressed thy commands? Have I perverted the powers, the senses, the instincts which thou hast given me? Have I ever accused thee, or censured thy dispensations? I have been ill, because it was thy pleasure, like others; but I willingly. I have been poor, it being thy will; but with joy. I have not been in power, because it was not thy will; and power I have never desired. Hast thou ever seen me saddened because of this? Have I not always approached thee with a cheerful countenance, prepared to execute thy commands and the indications of thy will? Is it thy pleasure that I should depart from this assembly? I depart. I give thee all thanks that thou hast thought me worthy to have a share in it with thee; to behold thy works, and to join with thee in comprehending thy administration.”
Compared with Perseus; corrected its OCR “snare” to “share” and omitted context outside 3.5.7–10.
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Sources & notes
Historical editions may include surrounding context or use different phrasing. Parallel columns compare passages; their lines are not word-for-word alignments.