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- Herausgeber: E-BOOKARAMA
- Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024
"The Golden Verses of Pythagoras" are a collection of moral exhortations comprising 71 lines written in dactylic hexameter.
They present a brief glimpse into the mind and the worldview of Pythagoras and probably formed part of his instructions to his disciples.
"The Golden Verses of Pythagoras" embody what we know about his teachings today. Besides exhortations to live a moral, simple and contemplative life, these pithy aphorisms allow a glimpse of a bit of the Pythagorean schools' deeper knowledge.
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Pythagoras
The Golden Verses of Pythagoras
Table of contents
THE GOLDEN VERSES OF PYTHAGORAS
Introduction
The Golden Verses Of Pythagoras
Notes On The Golden Verses Of Pythagoras From The Commentaries Of Hierocles
The Golden Sentences Of Democrates
The Pythagorean Sentences Of Demophilus
The Similitudes Of Demophilus
Pythagorean Ethical Sentences From Stobæus
Select Sentences Of Sextus The Pythagorean
Pythagorean Sentences From The Protreptics Of Iamblichus
The Symbols Of Pythagoras
Notes
THE GOLDEN VERSES OF PYTHAGORAS
Pythagoras
Introduction
The ripe sayings of the Ancient Wisdom, as spoken again in the world of Greece--a world so much vaster than the area of the Greek peninsula--are somewhat fading from the minds born anew into the hurrying life of the twentieth-century West. But the West cannot afford to let them fade away, for more than ever are they needed now to breathe their undying music into the ears stunned with the clashing discords of a materialistic and luxurious civilization. Life grows too crowded and too showy; crowded, not full--for crowd is from without, fullness from within; showy, not splendid--for show is the veneer of wealth covering a base metal, while splendour is the gleam of the golden thread of stateliness interwoven with the silken web of noble character. Sorely is needed in such a life the strong, pure teaching of the elder days, when learning was held to be richer than wealth, and simplicity finer than lavishness. The Greece of Pythagoras, with its mathematics and music--order and harmony--has a message for the modern nations, disorderly and discordant, and this message may best come through those who, their own natures attuned by brooding over the Pythagorean wisdom, can teach by life more than by word "the Beauty which was Greece."
This book, into which are gathered the extant Pythagorean teachings for those who would become disciples, contains much more than did Bridgman's Translations from the Greek, published in 1804, and is intended to serve as a manual for meditation on Pythagorean lines. As is usual in the teachings of antiquity, a whole mine of thought is indicated by a sentence that serves as a headstone, a pillar to mark the spot where the ore to be found, None will truly profit by the book who merely reads it through; a sentence should be taken as a thought to "sleep on," or as a note to which the day's work should be attuned, and, deeply meditated upon, should lead to the riches hidden beneath its words. Such use of the book will make it what it should be--a sign-post pointing the hidden way to wisdom, which is a treasure concealed.
One of the Master-Builders of old was Pythagoras; he brought from Ind the wisdom of the BUDDHA, and translated it into Greek thought, adding to its austere grandeur the beauty characteristic of Greece, as Grecian art made tenderer the stern outlines of Indian sculpture. Those whose thought runs on Greek lines will here find the oldest wisdom garbed in Grecian grace, retaining the beauty of simplicity and adding the fairness of form. May those who read be drawn to meditate; may those who meditate find the hidden treasures. So will modern western life become gradually permeated with a refining, ennobling influence, and schools of Pythagorean thought will do for the modern nations what the school of Pythagoras did for ancient Greece.
ANNIE BESANT,
The Golden Verses Of Pythagoras
1. First worship the Immortal Gods, as they are established and ordained by the Law.
2. Reverence the Oath, and next the Heroes, full of goodness and light.
3. Honour likewise the Terrestrial Dæmons by rendering them the worship lawfully due to them.
4. Honour likewise thy parents, and those most nearly related to thee.
5. Of all the rest of mankind, make him thy friend who distinguishes himself by his virtue.
6. Always give ear to his mild exhortations, and take example from his virtuous and useful actions.
7. Avoid as much as possible hating thy friend for a slight fault.
8. [And understand that] power is a near neighbour to necessity.
9. Know that all these things are as I have told thee; and accustom thyself to overcome and vanquish these passions:--
10. First gluttony, sloth, sensuality, and anger.
11. Do nothing evil, neither in the presence of others, nor privately;
12. But above all things respect thyself.
13. In the next place, observe justice in thy actions and in thy words.
14. And accustom not thyself to behave thyself in any thing without rule, and without reason.
15. But always make this reflection, that it is ordained by destiny that all men shall die.
16. And that the goods of fortune are uncertain; and that as they may be acquired, so may they likewise be lost.
17. Concerning all the calamities that men suffer by divine fortune,
18. Support with patience thy lot, be it what it may, and never repine at it.
19. But endeavour what thou canst to remedy it.
20. And consider that fate does not send the greatest portion of these misfortunes to good men.
21. There are among men many sorts of reasonings, good and bad;
22. Admire them not too easily, nor reject them.
23. But if falsehoods be advanced, hear them with mildness, and arm thyself with patience.
24. Observe well, on every occasion, what I am going to tell thee:--
25. Let no man either by his words, or by his deeds, ever seduce thee.
26. Nor entice thee to say or to do what is not profitable for thyself.
27. Consult and deliberate before thou act, that thou mayest not commit foolish actions.
28. For it is the part of a miserable man to speak and to act without reflection.
29. But do that which will not afflict thee afterwards, nor oblige thee to repentance.
30. Never do anything which thou dost not understand.
31. But learn all thou ought'st to know, and by that means thou wilt lead a very pleasant life.
32. in no wise neglect the health of thy body;
33. But give it drink and meat in due measure, and also the exercise of which it has need.
34. Now by measure I mean what will not incommode thee.
35. Accustom thyself to a way of living that is neat and decent without luxury.
36. Avoid all things that will occasion envy.
37. And be not prodigal out of season, like one who knows not what is decent and honourable.
38. Neither be covetous nor niggardly; a due measure is excellent in these things.
39. Do only the things that cannot hurt thee, and deliberate before thou dost them.
40. Never suffer sleep to close thy eyelids, after thy going to bed,
41. Till thou hast examined by thy reason all thy actions of the day.
42. Wherein have I done amiss? What have I done? What have I omitted that I ought to have done?
43. If in this examination thou find that thou hast done amiss, reprimand thyself severely for it;
44. And if thou hast done any good, rejoice.
45. Practise thoroughly all these things; meditate on them well; thou oughtest to love them with all thy heart.
46. 'Tis they that will put thee in the way of divine virtue.
