Contents
-BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
Epictetus. (c.A.D. 50–c.A.D. 138). The Golden Sayings of Epictetus.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.
Appendix B. The Hymn of Cleanthes
| CHIEFEST glory of deathless Gods, Almighty for ever, | |
| Sovereign of Nature that rulest by law, what Name shall we give Thee?— | |
| Blessed be Thou! for on Thee should call all things that are mortal. | |
| For that we are Thine offspring; nay, all that in myriad motion | |
| Lives for its day on the earth bears one impress—Thy likeness—upon it. | 5 |
| Wherefore my song is of Thee, and I hymn Thy power for ever. | |
| Lo, the vast orb of the Worlds, round the Earth evermore as it rolleth, | |
| Feels Thee its Ruler and Guide, and owns Thy lordship rejoicing. | |
| Aye, for Thy conquering hands have a servant of living fire— | |
| Sharp is the bolt!—where it falls, Nature shrinks at the shock and doth shudder. | 10 |
| Thus Thou directest the Word universal that pulses through all things, | |
| Mingling its life with Lights that are great and Lights that are lesser, | |
| E’en as besemeth its birth, High King through ages unending. | |
| Nought is done that is done without Thee in the earth or the waters | |
| Or in the heights of heaven, save the deed of the fool and the sinner. | 15 |
| Thou canst make rough things smooth; at Thy Voice, lo, jarring disorder | |
| Moveth to music, and Love is born where hatred abounded. | |
| Thus hast Thou fitted alike things good and things evil together, | |
| That over all might reign one Reason, supreme and eternal; | |
| Though thereunto the hearts of the wicked be hardened and headless— | 20 |
| Woe unto them!—for while ever their hands are grasping at good things, | |
| Blind are their eyes, yea, stopped are their ears to God’s Law universal, | |
| Calling through wise obedience to live the life that is noble. | |
| This they mark not, but heedless of right, turn each to his own way, | |
| Here, a heart fired with ambition, in strife and straining unhallowed; | 25 |
| There, thrusting honour aside, fast set upon getting and gaining; | |
| Others again given over to lusts and dissolute softness, | |
| Working never God’s Law, but that which warreth upon it. | |
| Nay, but, O Giver of all things good, whose home is the dark cloud, | |
| Thou that wieldest Heaven’s bolt, save men from their ignorance grievous; | 30 |
| Scatter its night from their souls, and grant them to come to that Wisdom | |
| Wherewithal, sistered with Justice, Thou rulest and governest all things; | |
| That we, honoured by Thee, may requite Thee with worship and honour, | |
| Evermore praising thy works, as is meet for men that shall perish; | |
| Seeing that none, be he mortal or God, hath privilege nobler | 35 |
| Than without stint, without stay, to extol Thy Law universal. | |
