New-York tribune., 1842-03-09
...Dmgcnts to Pienldlp.
LETTER Y

LETTER VII i...... Dlogcnt, to PtenlLr
After the Games went up,o OIympia. On tfc
following day met Cicerinus, the Pancrltiast com
ba,ant, on his way home. He was crowned with
the Olympic Garland, and accompanled,by nun
per Of friends As ! gavc him my hand, said ic
him Desist unhappy youth, from such folly, and
layosde, cntrcut you, this pride of heart seeing that
you would return utter stranger to your parents
were YOU to present Yourself TO them in such a
guisc. Now tell me, bc.cech you, what success
eatcs you-what mean those garlands-why this
palm-branch in your hand--and whence thi. crowd
Of artendant!' He replied" Because | have
been victorious all in TIE conbnts . o.
wonderful ,''s said l. :" have YOU then conquered
.jove and his broher?'' y Nothing Of the sort.
said he. /" Then wha, was done Did you chal-
leuge to he combat your opponents one by one :
q Not that either q How ii, len'-did
you only cast lots for yonr antagonists, and con
quer those who had been vnnquisled by others
:. Not so. Then how came you 20 say that you
vanquished those who We're overcome by others :
"Wfa, more would YOU have? -aidI.e Were
they men WHO conlendcd with You No. bot
BOYS likewise - Ma doubt yon stroye hard,
and beat them too in a gallant manner Not
at oil, for they were not matches for ne
" What then, were they all men Of yo'n' own
standing who conquered by YOU They
We're, " Tell me-, SAID |, = enlreat YOU, were
they ali men fully lnaicll tor you q yes.
indeed Now OF what standing were The men
that Cicerin,s beat? y Those Of equal Standing
TO myself . Therefore you conquered I,ice-
rinuS. -. BY means he replied. : If, ti,ri
You say that YOU conquered neither BOYS nerequlis
by what right dare yon to affirm that you conquer
ed all2' Whom. cnqurcd, chad you ad-
versaries -" The mos, illus,rious mcA from all
Greece and Asia. - Conc-were they braver
than you, or equal or Inferior = q Br,vcr. 9 Do
YOU call them braver who yielded 10 YOU Were
they equals If so by what possibility can you
have conquered equals since they We're not info
ror TO you ~" They We're then inferior, ne
said rhlt being the case, then, why do yon
not lay aside that pride of heart if YOU have CON
quered only interiors - You boast OF your
deeds Jus, as if yon alone had performed these
actions and no one else could Now what man
could not conquer his interiors? Lay aside lhcl
Ccernus these tokens of victory and bid them are-
well since you have no claims TO Them. neither
contend with men to whom in little while You
will be inferior by The load OF wears. But embrace
a course truly honorlblc and learn that they have
not courage bravery who endure merely the
buiclings Of men. but such only IL resist the tor
rent Of their passions; that patience Is Got 10 be
really aush, bl stripes and blows, but BY poverty
insult, ignoInrtv, and exile, Train Yourself to de-
,pisc these things, and by such course YOU will
both live happy and die with an untlimchlng soul.
But II you aspire 20 such honors as these, YOU
vii lead wrc'ched life.
Befor, had finished my udmonilion he threw
away the palm branches and the garland and re-
solving TO leave OIL his former habits and opinions
he took hs leave.