HOMILY I.] HOMILIES ON COLOSSIANS. 261 Come then, now that we have correctly drawn each table in its proper outline, let us see at which ye will seat yourselves. For I formy part am going to that of the blind, and the lame, but probably the more part of you will choose the other, that of the generals, that is so gay and splendid. Let us then see which of them doth more abound in pleasure ; for as yet let us not examine into the things of hereafter, seeing that in those at least this of mine hath the superior ity. Wherefore ? Because this one hath Christ sitting down at it, the other men, this hath the Master, that the servants. But say we nothing of these things as yet ; but let us see which hath the more of present pleasure. And even in this respect, then, this pleasure is greater, for it is more pleasure to sit down with a King than with his servants. But let us withdraw this con sideration also ; let us examine the matter sim ply by itself. I, then, and those who choose the table I do, shall with much freedom and ease of mind both say and hear everything : but you trembling and fearing, and ashamed before those you sit down with, will not even have the heart to reach out your hands, just as though you had got to a school, and not a dinner, just as though you were trembling before dreadful masters. But not so they. But, saith one, the honor is great. Nay, I further am in more honor ; for your mean estate appears grander, when even whilst sharing the same table, the words ye utter are those of slaves. For the servant then most of all shows as such, when he sits down with his master ; for he is in a place where he ought not to be ; nor hath he from such familiarity so much dignity as he hath abasement, for he is then abased exceedingly. And one may see a servant by himself make a brave appearance, and the poor man seem splendid by himself, rather than when he is walking with a rich one ; for the low when near the lofty, then appears low, and the juxta position makes the low seem lower, not loftier. So too your sitting down with them makes you seem as of yet meaner condition. But not so, us. In these two things, then, we have the ad vantage, in freedom, and in honor ; which have nothing equal to them in regard of pleasure. For I at least would prefer a crust with freedom, to thousands of dainties with slavery. For, saith one, " Better is an entertainment of herbs with love and kindness, than an ox from the stall with hatred." (Prov. xv. 17.) For whatsoever those may say, they who are present must needs praise it, or give offense ; assuming thus the rank of parasites, or rather, being worse than they. For parasites indeed, even though it be with shame and insult, have yet liberty ofspeech : but ye have not even this. But your meanness is indeed as great, (for ye fear and crouch,) but not so your honor. Surely then that table is deprived of every pleasure, but this is replete with all delight of soul. But let us examine the nature even of the meats themselves. For there indeed it is neces sary to burst one s self with the large quantity of wine, even against one s will, but here none who is disinclined need eat or drink. So that there indeed the pleasure arising from the quality of the food is cancelled by the dishonor which precedes, and the discomfort which follows the surfeit. For not less than hunger doth surfeit ing destroy and rack our bodies ; but even far more grievously ; and whomsoever you like to give me, I shall more easily destroy by bursting him with surfeit than by hunger. For thus the latter is easier to be borne than the other, for one might indeed endure hunger for twenty days, but surfeiting not for as many as two only. And the country people who are perpetually strug gling with the one, are healthy, and need no physicians ; but the other, surfeiting I mean, none can endure without perpetually calling in physicians ; yea, rather, its tyranny hath often baffled even their attempt to rescue. So far then as pleasure is concerned, this [table of mine] hath the advantage. For if honor hath more pleasure than dishonor, if au thority than subjection, and if manly confidence than trembling and fear, and if enjoyment of what is enough, than to be plunged out of depth in the tide of luxury ; on the score of pleasure this table is better than the other. It is besides better in regard of expense ; for the other is expensive, but this, not so. But what ? is it then to the guests alone that this table is the more pleasurable, or bringeth it more pleasure than the other to him who inviteth them, as well? for this is what we are enquiring after rather. Now he who invites those makes preparation many days before, and is forced to have trouble and anxious thoughts and cares, neither sleeping by night, nor resting by day ; but forming with himself many plans, conversing with cooks, confectioners, deckers of tables. Then when the very day is come, one may see him in greater fear than those who are going to fight a boxing match, lest aught should turn out other than was expected, lest he be shot with the glance of envy, lest he thereby procure himself a multitude of accusers. But the other escapeth all this anxious thought and trouble by extem porizing his table, and not being careful about it for many days before. And then, truly, after this, the former indeed hath straightway lost the grateful return ; but the other hath God for his Debtor; and is nourished with good hopes, being every day feasted from off that table. For the meats indeed are spent, but the grateful thought is never spent, but every day he rejoices