also should perceive it.--It is true what thou sayest, but thou dost not
rightly understand what is now said: and for this reason thou wilt become
one of those of whom I spoke before, for even they are misled by a
certain show of reason. But if thou wilt choose to understand the meaning
of what is said, do not fear that for this reason thou wilt omit any
social act.

7. A prayer of the Athenians: Rain, rain, O dear Zeus, down on the
ploughed fields of the Athenians and on the plains.--In truth we ought
not to pray at all, or we ought to pray in this simple and noble fashion.

8. Just as we must understand when it is said, That Aesculapius
prescribed to this man horse-exercise, or bathing in cold water, or going
without shoes, so we must understand it when it is said, That the nature
of the universe prescribed to this man disease, or mutilation, or loss,
or anything else of the kind. For in the first case Prescribed means
something like this: he prescribed this for this man as a thing adapted
to procure health; and in the second case it means, That which happens to
[or suits] every man is fixed in a manner for him suitably to his
destiny. For this is what we mean when we say that things are suitable to
us, as the workmen say of squared stones in walls or the pyramids, that
they are suitable, when they fit them to one another in some kind of
connection. For there is altogether one fitness [harmony]. And as the
universe is made up out of all bodies to be such a body as it is, so out
of all existing causes necessity [destiny] is made up to be such a cause
as it is. And even those who are completely ignorant understand what I
mean; for they say, It [necessity, destiny] brought this to such a
person.--This then was brought and this was prescribed to him. Let us
then receive these things, as well as those which Aesculapius prescribes.
Many as a matter of course even among his prescriptions are disagreeable,