perplexed and winding roots into the earth, and through its
coarseness abides there a long time; so pain disperses and
entangles its hooks and roots in the body, and continues there, not
for a day or a night, but for several seasons of years, if not for
some revolutions of Olympiads, nor scarce ever departs unless
struck out by other pains, as by stronger nails. For who ever
drank so long as those that are in a fever are a-dry? Or who was
ever so long eating as those that are besieged suffer hunger? Or
where are there any that are so long solaced with the conversation
of friends as tyrants are racking and tormenting? Now all this is
owing to the baseness of the body and its natural incapacity for a
pleasurable life; for it bears pains better than it doth pleasures,
and with respect to those is firm and hardy, but with respect to
these is feeble and soon palled. To which add, that if we are
minded to discourse on a life of pleasure, these men won't give us
leave to go on, but will presently confess themselves that the
pleasures of the body are but short, or rather indeed but of a
moment's continuance; if they do not design to banter us or else
speak out of vanity, when Metrodorus tells us, We many times spit
at the pleasures of the body, and Epicurus saith, A wise man, when
he is sick, many times laughs in the very extremity of his
distemper.

For Ithaca is no fit place
For mettled steeds to run a race.
("Odyssey," iv. 605.)

Neither can the joys of our poor bodies be smooth and equal; but on the contrary they must be coarse and harsh, and immixed with much that is displeasing and inflamed.

Zeuxippus then said: And do you not think then they take the right