The Golden Verses of the Pythagoras
The oldest verses are estimated to date from the -I while the whole would rather date from the III . Some parts being more recent, the whole is generally dated from the IV .
We find a version commented by Hierocles of Alexandria in his Commentary on the Golden Verses of the Pythagoreans ( ≈ 480) as well as another by Antoine Fabre d'Olivet in his work The Golden Verses of Pythagoras (1813). He used for his translation the Greek text reported by Hierocles of Alexandria in the aforementioned work, he attributes the original text to Lysis of Tarentum.
Translation 1: Antoine Fabre d'Olivet
Translation 2: Leonard Saint-Michel
Translation 3: Jean Voilquin
Translation 4: Ivan Gobry
Translation 5: EP Kaznacheeva
Translation 6: Grillot de Givry
Translation 7: Unknown
Translation 1: Antoine Fabre d'Olivet
PREPARATION.
Give to the immortal Gods the consecrated worship;
Then keep your faith: Revere the memory
Of the benevolent Heroes, of the demi-God Spirits.
PURIFICATION.
Be a good son, a just brother, a tender husband and a good father.
Choose for your friend the friend of virtue;
Yield to his gentle advice, learn from his life,
And for a slight wrong never leave him;
If you can at least: for a severe law
Attaches Power to Necessity.
It is given to you, however, to fight and conquer
Your mad passions: learn to tame them.
Be sober, active and chaste; avoid anger.
In public, in secret, never allow yourself
Anything wrong; and above all, respect yourself.
Do not speak or act without having reflected.
Be just. Remember that an invincible power
Orders to die; that goods, honors
Easily acquired, are easy to lose.
And as for the evils that Fate brings with it,
Judge them for what they are: bear them; and try,
As much as you can, to soften their features:
The Gods, to the cruelest, have not delivered the wise.
Like Truth, Error has its lovers:
The philosopher approves, or blames with prudence;
And if Error triumphs, he moves away; he waits.
Listen, and engrave my words well in your heart:
Close your eye and ear to prejudice;
Fear the example of others; think for yourself:
Consult, deliberate, and choose freely.
Let fools act without purpose or cause.
You must in the present, contemplate the future.
What you do not know, do not pretend to do.
Educate yourself: everything is in accordance with constancy, with time.
Watch over your health: dispense with moderation,
Food to the body, rest to the mind.
Too much or too little care is to be avoided; for envy,
To both excesses, is equally attached.
Luxury and avarice have similar consequences.
One must choose in everything, a just and good medium.
PERFECTION.
Let sleep never close your eyelid,
Without having asked yourself: What have I omitted? What have I done?
If it is wrong, abstain: if it is good, persevere.
Meditate on my advice; love it; follow it all:
To divine virtues they will know how to lead you.
I swear by him who engraved in our hearts,
The sacred Tetrad, immense and pure symbol,
Source of Nature, and model of the Gods.
But above all, let your soul, to its faithful duty,
Call with fervor these Gods, whose help
Alone Can complete your begun works.
Instructed by them, then nothing will deceive you:
Of different beings you will fathom the essence;
You will know of All the principle and the end.
You will know, if Heaven wills it, that Nature,
Similar in all things, is the same in all places:
So that enlightened on your true rights,
Your heart will no longer feed on vain desires.
You will see that the evils that devour men,
Are the fruit of their choice; and that these unfortunates
Seek far from them the goods whose source they carry.
Few know how to be happy; playthings of passions,
Tossed by opposing waves in turn,
On a shoreless sea, they roll, blinded,
Without being able to resist or yield to the storm.
God! you would save them by opening their eyes…
But no: it is up to humans, whose race is divine,
To discern Error, to see the Truth.
Nature serves them. You who have penetrated it,
Wise man, happy man, breathe in the harbor.
But observe my laws, by abstaining from the things
That your soul must fear, by distinguishing them well;
By letting intelligence reign over the body:
So that, rising in the radiant Ether,
In the bosom of the Immortals, you may be a God yourself!
Translation 2: Leonard Saint-Michel
separator
1
The immortal gods first,
as the law has established them
2
Honor them
and revere the oath,
then the heroes worthy of honor,
3
As earthly spirits worship them,
by executing the things of the law;
4
Honor also your parents,
and those who are near to you;
5
And among others
make your friend who is the best in virtue.
6
Yield to sweet words,
to useful works,
7
And do not hate your friend
because of a small fault,
8
As long as you can;
for power resides near necessity.
9
On the one hand, know that these things are so;
on the other hand, accustom yourself to mastering these:
10
The stomach first, and sleep
as well as sexuality
11
And wrath;
and do not practice shameful things at any time,
neither with another,
12
Nor in particular;
but above all respect yourself,
13
Then exercise justice
both in deed and in word;
14 And do not make a habit
of acting rashly in everything ;
15
But know that death
is the destiny of all.
16
As for riches,
be willing to gain them sometimes, and to
lose them sometimes.
17
And all that, by your divine destinies,
mortals receive of pain,
18
If you have your fatal share,
Bear it and do not be indignant;
19
But this is the healing that is fitting, as far as you
can;
and consider this way:
20
It is that to good people not many of these
Things are given by destiny.
21
Before men many
vile or virtuous words
22
Fall, do not be struck by it,
nor then allow
23
That you turn away from it;
and if a lie is spoken,
24
Show gentleness. What I say to you,
let it be done in all circumstances:
25
Let no man deceive you in word
or deed,
26
To do or to say,
which for you has no advantage.
27
Deliberate before action,
so that blameless things do not exist;
28
For it is the part of a weak man
to do or say foolish things;
29
But do not do these things,
which will not grieve you afterward.
30
Do nothing about what you do not know,
but learn
31
All that you need,
and it is your most pleasant life
that thus you will spend,
32
Neither must you
neglect the health of your body;
33
But let there be moderation in drinking, eating
and exercising
34
Be careful; I call measure
that which will not grieve you.
35
Accustom yourself to a pure way of life,
without softness;
36
And beware of doing all these things
which provoke envy.
37
Do not spend wastefully,
like one who is ignorant of beauty;
38
Do not be stingy either; for
the measure of all things is good.
39
Do what will not harm you;
and consider before you act.
40
Do not welcome sleep
under the sweetness of your eyes,
41
Before you have examined
each of your acts of the day:
42
Wherein have I erred? What have I done?
What have I not done that I should have done?
43
Starting from the first point
go all the way to the end; and then
44 If you have done
shameful things, punish yourself; but if you have done good, rejoice.
45
Give your labor and diligence to these things;
you must love them,
46
They will place you on the tracks of divine virtue;
47 Yes, by him who has transmitted the quaternary
to our soul ,
48
Source of eternal nature.
but undertake a task,
49
After having prayed (24) to the gods to complete it,
and having become master of these things,
50
You will know what is the difference
between immortal gods and mortal men,
51
The constitution,
And how far the elements separate
And how far they hold together;
52
And you will know
in the measure of justice,
that nature in all things is alike,
53
So that for you there may be no hope for
what is hopeless,
and nothing may be hidden from you.
54
And you will know that men
have the evils they themselves have chosen
55
These unfortunate people,
who do not see the goods that are near them
56
Nor do they hear them:
to free oneself from evil
few people know.
57
Such is your fate that misleads the minds of mortals;
and like objects that roll,
58
On either side they carry each other,
suffering infinite evils;
59
Sad companion, discord
leads astray without one noticing
60
Innate in them; it is not necessary to make it advance,
but to give way to it to flee.
61
Zeus our father,
you would certainly deliver all men from many evils
,
62
If you showed everyone what deity they are
using.
63
But take courage,
since mortals are of divine race,
64
To whom the sacred nature presents
the revelation of all things.
65
If you take part in it, you will triumph
over what I command you,
66
And after having healed your soul
you will save it from these pains.
67
But abstain from the foods
we have spoken of,
and from the purifications,
68
As in the liberation of the soul, decide,
and reflect on each thing,
69
Having established as a guide
the sense which comes from above
full of excellence;
70
Then after abandoning your body
if you reach the free ether,
71
You will be immortal,
a god who does not die,
no longer a mortal.
END
Translation 3: Jean Voilquin
1. First of all, worship the gods, according to the rank assigned to them;
2. keep your word and honor the noble heroes and the underground geniuses;
3. you will, in doing so, fulfill what the laws prescribe.
4. Honor also your parents and those who are closest to you by blood.
5. Among others, make friends with those who are particularly virtuous.
6. Give in to the sweetness of words and do not oppose useful acts;
7. do not go and take a hatred for a friend for a slight fault.
8. This, to the extent of your strength, for possibility lies alongside necessity.
9. Immerse yourself well in the above precepts;
10. but try to take it upon yourself to govern first your appetite and your sleep, then your passions
11. and your anger. Do not commit any shameful action, either alone or in collusion with another;
12. Above all, respect your own person.
13. Then train yourself to practice justice in your actions and words;
14. Also learn never to behave in a thoughtless manner.
15. Know that death is an inescapable law for all.
16. Accustom yourself both to acquiring goods and to losing them on occasion.
17. Among the evils that mortals endure, by the divine Destinies,
18. bear without indignation the share that has fallen to you;
19. but strive to remedy them to the extent of your strength; for tell yourself that
20. the evils that overwhelm the honest man are not so numerous.
21. Many words - both bad and good - strike the ears of men;
22. do not let yourself be frightened by them, nor turn away so as not to hear them;
23. If you hear a lie spoken, keep calm.
24. But what I am going to tell you, you must observe in all circumstances:
25. Let no one, by words or deeds, lead you
26. to do or say anything contrary to your true nature.
27. Think before you act, to avoid foolishness.
28. To act and speak without discernment is the work of a poor man.
29. On the contrary, accomplish what will not harm you later.
30. Do nothing without knowledge and learn what you need to know.
31.This is the rule for living most pleasantly.
32. Do not neglect your health either:
33. Take measure in your eating, drinking, and exercising.
34. By measure I mean that which will not harm you.
35. Accustom yourself to a healthy diet, free from softness
36. and beware of doing anything that arouses envy.
37. Avoid unnecessary expenditure, like one who has no experience of honesty.
38. However, practice liberality; measure in everything is excellent.
39. Do what does not harm your true nature and reflect before you act.
40. Do not let sleep invade your languid eyes
41. before you have proceeded to your daily examination of conscience:
42. "In what have I failed? What have I done? What have I omitted from my duties? »
43. Begin at the beginning and ask yourself, one by one, all these questions.
44. Then, if you have acted badly, blame your conduct; if not, rejoice.
45. This is what you must strive for, to which you must give all your care; this is what you must attach yourself to with fervor.
46. These preoccupations will put you on the path of divine wisdom.
47. I swear by him who gave us the Quaternary,
48. principle of eternal nature. Well! Set to work,
49. after having invoked the gods to carry it out. If you possess these principles,
50. you will know the essence of the immortal gods and the mortal gods,
51. the differences of all things and the links which unite them.
52. You will also know the limits of what is permitted, nature in all things similar to itself;
53. so you will not hope for what is beyond hope and nothing will be hidden from you.
54. You will also know men, victims of the evils they impose on themselves, their misery, to them who are unable to grasp either by sight
55. or by hearing the goods yet so close;
56. few among them know how to escape from misfortune.
57. Such is the fate that afflicts the spirit of mortals; like marbles,
58. they roll here and there, exposed to infinite sufferings.
59. Indeed, a distressing companion, Discord harms them without their noticing,
60.Discord appeared at their birth, which one must be careful not to provoke and which one must avoid, by yielding to it.
61. Zeus, universal father, you would certainly deliver man from many evils,
62. if you showed all mortals to which demon they obey.
63. As for you, have confidence, since mortals are of divine race
64. and that holy nature shows them and reveals to them all secrets.
65. If you take your part, you will observe my orders
66. and, by virtue of this remedy, you will free your soul from these worries.
67. Also abstain from the dishes that we have mentioned and, as well in the purifications
68. as in the liberation of the soul separated from the body, apply your judgment, reflect on each thing,
69. by raising very high your thought which is the best of guides.
70. If you neglect your body to fly up to the free heights of the ether,
71. you will be an immortal, incorruptible god and you will cease to be exposed to death.
Translation 4: Ivan Gobry
1) First, honor the Immortal Gods, according to the rank assigned to them by the Law.
2) Reverence also the Oath. Next, honor the glorious Heroes.
3) And the earthly demons by fulfilling the prescriptions of the Law.
4) Honor also your parents, and those who are born in your kindred;
5) Among others, make your friend of whoever is raised in virtue.
6) Yield to words of sweetness and salutary enterprises.
7) Do not hate your friend because of a venial fault,
8) As far as you can: for possibility dwells near necessity.
9) Know that it is so. As for what follows, accustom yourself to master them:
10) First of all, appetite and sleep, then lust
11) And anger. Never commit a shameful action: neither with another,
12) Nor alone; but above all, respect yourself.
13) Then observe Justice in deed and word;
14) And under no circumstances accustom yourself to act unreasonably.
15) But know that all are destined to die.
16) As for riches, exercise yourself alike in acquiring and losing them.
17) And whatever, by the Divine Destinies, mortals experience of suffering,
18) If you receive your share of it, bear it and do not be indignant.
19) It is fitting for you to remedy it, to the extent of your power: but note this
20) To good men, Destiny sends few of these evils.
21) Many inspirations, base or virtuous, come to men:
22) Do not be astonished at it, and do not allow yourself
23) To distance yourself from it. Likewise, if a lie is spoken
24) Maintain gentleness. As for what I am going to tell you, observe it in all circumstances:
25) Let no one, either by word or deed, induce you:
26) To do or say what is not most favorable to you.
27) Deliberate before action, in order to avoid foolish things;
28) And it is the nature of a weak man to do or say foolish things;
29) But act in such a way that you do not conceive of sorrow later.
30) Do nothing that you do not know, but learn;
31) Everything that matters to you, and you will thus lead the happiest life.
32)Nor should one neglect the Health of the body;
33) But keep moderation in drinking, eating, and exercise.
34) And I call Moderation that which will not bring you sorrow.
35) Accustom yourself to leading a pure life, free from softness;
36) And beware of doing anything that provokes envy.
37) Do not spend rashly, like one who is ignorant of Beauty;
38) Nor be stingy: in all things moderation is best.
39) Do what will not harm you, and reflect before you act.
40) Do not admit sleep into your languid eyes,
41) Before having examined each of your actions of the day;
42) In what have I faulted? what have I done, which of my duties have I omitted.
43) Go through all your actions beginning with the first; and then,
44) If you have committed cowardice, punish yourself; if you have acted virtuously, rejoice.
45) Apply yourself to these precepts; meditate on them: you must love them;
46) They will put you on the tracks of Divine Virtue.
47) Yes, by him who transmitted to our Soul the Tetrad,
48) Source of Eternal Nature. But apply yourself to the task,
49) After having prayed the Gods to complete it. In possession of these Teachings,
You will know the nature of the Immortal Gods and of mortal men,
50) In what beings are separated and in what they are united;
51) You will also know, insofar as it is Justice:
52) That Nature is in all things similar to herself
53) So that you will no longer have to hope for the unhoped for, and that nothing will be hidden from you.
54) You will know that unhappy men have the evils they have chosen,
55) They who do not see the goods that are near them,
56) Nor hear them; few among them know how to free themselves from their evils.
57) Such is the Fate that misleads the minds of mortals; like cylinders,
58) They roll here and there laden with innumerable evils.
59) For the sinister companion discord misleads them without their knowledge,
60) It which is congenital to them: One must not provoke it, but flee from the one who succumbs.
61) O Zeus, our Father, you would deliver all men from many evils,
62) If you showed everyone what demon is at their service.
63)But you, take courage, since mortals are a Divine race,
64) To whom the Sacred and Revealing Nature shows all things.
65) If you have your share of these revelations, you will make yourself master of my precepts.
66) And, having healed, your Soul you will deliver it from such evils.
67) But abstain from the foods of which we have spoken, in the purifications.
68) And in the liberation of the Soul, meditate on each thing by exercising your judgment,
69) And taking as a check the perfect Intelligence from above.
70) Then if, abandoning your body, you reach the free Ether,
71) You will be Immortal, incorruptible God and forever delivered from Death.
Translation 5: EP Kaznacheeva
Preparation
Worship the Immortal Gods by making your sacrifice: by keeping your faith, by honoring the Great Heroes, by living in harmony in the world.
Purification
Honor your father, your mother, and your family. Choose for yourself a wise friend; observe his advice and learn from his example; do not quarrel with him over trifles.
Remember the law of cause and effect in your life.
You have been given the ability to overcome your passions: avarice, sloth, lust, and anger; use this knowledge and show restraint.
Do nothing shameful, alone or with others. Preserve your honor!
Be just in your actions and words; follow the dictates of reason and law.
Remember that all people are destined to die.
Remember that earthly benefits can be easily given to people and just as easily taken away.
As for the misfortunes that are sent to people according to their destiny, you must bear them patiently. Nevertheless, try to alleviate the pain as much as you can. Remember that the Immortal Gods never send people trials that are beyond their strength.
There are many possibilities and choices that present themselves to people. There are good ones and bad ones. So, look carefully in order to choose for yourself the right path.
If among men illusion prevails over truth, the wise man withdraws and waits until truth reigns again.
Pay attention to what I am going to tell you:
Do not let the actions and thoughts of others confuse you; do not let them influence you to do or say anything wrong.
Listen to the advice of others and follow your own conscience. Only the unwise act without thinking and without consideration.
Do not attempt to do work of which you are ignorant, but first learn what is necessary—only then can you succeed.
Do not neglect the health of your body. Give him food, drink, and exercise in a proper manner—so that he may grow strong and not experience overabundance and lethargy.
Keep your life in order. Give up all luxury, for it may make other people envious.
Be afraid of becoming a stingy person, and also be afraid of wasting resources as careless people do.
Do only that which will not lead to your destruction. Therefore, before acting, deliberate on every deed and action.
Perfection
Before going to sleep, close your eyes and recall your actions of the day three times. Consider them as an impartial judge and ask yourself: “What good have I done? What have I failed to do and what should I have done?” Thus, review everything you have done throughout the day. Strictly reproach yourself for all your bad actions and rejoice over your good ones.
Reflect on these instructions and put them into practice. With their help you will be able to approach perfection. The guarantor of this truth is He Who initiates in us the foundations leading to Divine Realization and higher virtues!
Eagerly ask God for help and set to work!
By remaining firmly on this path, you will know everything about the Immortal Gods. You will know everything about man and what differentiates them from one another as well as everything about the One who contains them by being Himself their Foundation. You will know that the entire universe is a Single Whole, and that in the Eternal there is no dead matter.
Knowing this, you will no longer make mistakes, for nothing will be hidden from you!
You will also learn that people are responsible for their misfortunes due to ignorance. They are free to choose their own destiny.
Poor things! They do not see that the desired happiness lies within them, in their own depths!
Only a few can change their defects by their own efforts, for most people remain blind to the law that forms their destiny. Like wheels, they roll downhill, carrying the burden of their past misdeeds to others, the burden that controls their destiny until death comes…
Instead of seeking quarrels, people should avoid them by agreeing to make concessions among themselves without arguing…
O omnipotent Zeus, are You alone capable of saving the human race from its afflictions by showing it the veil of ignorance that blinds it?
But we should not lose hope of saving men from darkness and ignorance—for every human has a Divine root, and nature can reveal its mysteries to man. Once you know them, you will realize what I am talking about.
Heal your soul! This will show you the way to liberation.
Refrain from eating animal flesh: it is contrary to your nature and will prevent you from purifying yourself.
So, if you want to become free from earthly chains, follow the teachings given above. Let them direct your destiny.
And after you have completely transformed your soul, you will be able to cast off death and become an Immortal God!
Translation 6: Grillot de Givry
Honor first the immortal Gods, as they have been established by law,
And respect the oath; respect also the admirable heroes,
And even the infra-terrestrial Daimons who do just things.
Honor your parents and those who are close to you.
Among all those who have virtue, choose, as a friend, the best.
Yield to gentle words, and to useful acts.
Do not hate your friend because of a light fault;
As much as it is possible, for power dwells near the ananke.
Know then all these things; but make it a habit to tame the following:
Gluttony first; then sleep, debauchery,
Then anger. Do nothing shameful, either before others,
Or in private; but above all, respect yourself;
Then practice justice by acts and words.
Make it a habit not to behave without reflection in anything.
But know that it is in the destiny of all to die.
Love sometimes to gain riches, sometimes to lose them.
Whatever misfortunes fate overwhelms men with,
Bear your destiny as it is, but without getting angry.
Strive to remedy it as much as possible; and reflect
That fate does not send so many misfortunes to those who are good.
Many reasonings, whether good or bad, are made
Among men; you will not fight them, nor let yourself be seduced
By them. If something false is said.
Give in gently. Always observe well what I am going to tell you:
Let no one ever, by his words or his actions induce you
To do or say what is not best for you.
Take advice, then, before acting, so as not to do foolish action,
For it is the part of a vile man to do or say foolish things.
But do only those actions which will not harm you later.
Never do anything you do not know; but learn
All that is necessary to know, and thus you will spend a happy life. You
must not neglect the care of the health of the body.
But give it in moderation the drink, food and gymnastic movements
Which are necessary for it. I call moderation that which will not make you suffer.
Make a habit of using a clean and temperate way of life,
And avoid doing things which excite envy.
Do not be prodigal, like one who does not know the beautiful,
And do not be greedy, for moderation is the best in all things.
Do those things which will not harm you; reason before you do them.
Never grant your eyes the sweetness of sleep
Until you have examined with your reason, all the acts of the day:
What have I transgressed? What have I done? What have I omitted from what I should have done?
Beginning with the first of your actions, and so on.
If you find bad actions, reprimand yourself; good ones, rejoice.
Practice these things: meditate on them, love them deeply,
For they will put you on the path of divine virtue.
Yes, by him who has placed in our soul the sacred quaternary,
Source of eternal nature. But do not begin a work
Until you have asked the gods for a happy end.
If you keep all these precepts,
You will know the constitution of the immortal gods and mortal men,
What passes through each of them and what contains them.
You will also know, according to justice, that nature is everywhere similar
So that you will not hope for the unexpected and that nothing will be hidden from you.
You will know that men bring their evils upon themselves,
Unhappy ones, who do not see the good things that are near them
Nor hear them; and very few know how to free themselves from their evils.
Such is the fate that wounds the spirit of mortals; like cylinders,
They roll here and there, oppressed by infinite evils.
For the fatal discord that follows them and agitates them without their knowledge
Was born with them; it is not fitting to provoke it; it must be avoided by yielding.
Zeus Pater, you will deliver them all from many evils
If you tell them what daimon they use!
But you, take courage, for divine is the race of mortals
To whom sacred nature reveals the hidden mysteries.
If it reveals them to you, you will keep my commandments
And by the prescribed remedy, you will heal and free your soul from these evils.
Abstain from the foods we have mentioned, both in purifications
And in the liberation of the soul according to justice. And consider all things
By the guiding reason which must come from above.
And when, stripped of your body, you will arrive, free, in the aither
You will be an immortal god, incorruptible, and not subject to death.
Translation 7: Unknown
Honor first the Immortal Gods in the order assigned to them by the Law.
Respect the Oath. Then honor the glorified Heroes.
Also venerate the earthly Geniuses, by accomplishing all that is in accordance with the laws.
Also honor your father and mother and your near relatives.
Among other men, make your friend of him who excels in virtue.
Always yield to words of sweetness and salutary activities.
Never come, for a slight fault, to hate your friend,
When you can: for the possible dwells near the necessary.
Know that these things are thus, and accustom yourself to mastering these:
Gluttony first, sleep, lust and anger.
Never commit any action of which you can be ashamed, neither with another,
Nor in your own private. And, above all, respect yourself.
Then practice justice in deeds and words.
Do not accustom yourself to behave in the least of things without thinking.
But remember that all men are destined to die;
And come to know both how to acquire and how to lose the goods of fortune.
With regard to all the evils that men have to undergo by the august decrees of Destiny,
Accept it as the fate you have deserved; bear them with gentleness and do not be angry.
It is fitting for you to remedy them, as far as you can. But think well of this:
May Destiny spare good people most of these evils.
Many speeches, cowardly or generous, fall before men;
Do not welcome them with admiration, do not allow yourself to deviate from them.
But if you see that something is said that is false, bear it with patience and gentleness.
As for what I am going to tell you, observe it in all circumstances.
Let no one, either by words or actions, ever
induce you to say or do what would not be useful to you.
Think before you act, so as not to do foolish things,
For it is the nature of an unhappy being to say or do foolish things.
Never do anything, therefore, that you may have to grieve later.
Never undertake what you do not know; but learn
All that you need to know, and you will spend the happiest life.
You must not neglect the health of your body,
But with moderation grant it drink, eat, exercise,
And I call moderation that which could never inconvenience you.
Accustom yourself to a clean, simple existence;
And beware of doing anything that attracts envy.
Do not spend in vain, like those who do not know what beauty consists of.
Do not be stingy either: the right measure is excellent in everything.
Never take to task what could harm you, and reflect before you act.
Do not allow sweet sleep to slip under your eyes,
Before you have examined each of the actions of your day.
In what have I failed? What have I done? What have I omitted from what I should have done?
Start with the first to go through them all.
And then, if you find that you have omitted faults, chide yourself;
But, if you have acted well, rejoice.
Work to put these precepts into practice, meditate on them; you must love them,
And they will put you on the tracks of divine virtue,
I swear by him who transmitted to our soul the sacred Quaternary,
Source of Nature whose course is eternal.
But do not begin to take up a work,
Without asking the Gods to complete it.
When all these precepts are familiar to you,
You will know the constitution of the Immortal Gods and of mortal men, you will know
To what extent things separate, and to what extent they come together.
You will also know, to the extent of Justice, that Nature is in all things similar to herself,
So that you will not hope for the interpretable, and that nothing will be hidden from you.
You will also know that men choose their own evils and freely,
Wretched as they are; they know neither how to see nor hear the goods that are near them.
Few are those who have learned to free themselves from their evils.
Such is the fate that troubles the minds of mortals. Like cylinders,
They roll here and there, overwhelmed by infinite evils.
Innate in them, indeed, the afflicting Discord accompanies them and harms them without their noticing it;
One must not provoke it, but flee from it by yielding.
O Zeus, our father, you would deliver all men from the many evils that overwhelm them,
If you showed to all what Genius they use!
But you, take courage, since you know that the race of men is divine,
And that sacred nature reveals all things to them openly.
If it reveals them to you, you will succeed in all that I have prescribed you;
Having healed your soul, you will deliver it from these evils.
But abstain from the foods we have spoken of, applying your judgment
To everything that can serve to purify and free your soul. Reflect on each thing,
Taking as a check the excellent Intelligence from above.
And if you arrive, after having abandoned your body, in the free ether,
You will be an immortal god, incorruptible, and forever freed from death.