On this account Decius was much troubled by the
philosopher's story. When the wound had been attended to, he
besought Simplicius not to go forth again to-day, and with some
difficulty prevailed.
'Why should it perturb you, O most excellent Decius,' said the sage,
'that a lover of wisdom is an offence to the untaught and the
foolish? Was it not ever thus? If philosophy may no longer find
peace at Athens, is it likely that she will be suffered to dwell at
ease in Rome?'
'Alas, no!' admitted Decius. 'But why, dear master, should you
invite the attacks of the ignorant?'
'I do no such thing. I live and act as seems good to me, that is
all. Should no one have the courage to do that, what hope would
there be, O Decius, for that most glorious liberty, the liberty of
the mind?'
The listener bent his head abashed. Then Simplicius began to read
from the manuscript, and Decius, who knew Greek fairly well--he
had lately completed certain translations from Plato, left
unfinished by Boethius--gave reverent attention. At a certain
point the philosopher paused to comment, for the subject was
difficult--nothing less than the nature of God.
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