and may never change; and for him who is in affliction and his many dangers, that he may see some favourable change brought about to him, and be transported into a calm of consol- ation. Art thou in a calm? Then beseech God that this calm may continue settled to thee. Hast thou seen a storm risen up against thee? Beseech God earnestly466 to cause the billow to pass, and to make a calm out of the storm. Hast thou been heard? Be heartily thankful for this; because thou hast been heard. Hast thou not been heard? Persevere,467 in order that thou mayest be heard. For even if God at any time delay the giving, it is not in hatred and aversion;468 but from the desire by the deferring of the giving perpetually to retain thee with himself; just in the way also that affectionate fathers do;469 for they also adroitly manage the perpetual and assiduous attendance of children who are rather indolent by the delay of the giving. There is to thee no need of mediators in audience with God; nor of that much canvassing;470 nor of the fawning upon others; but even if thou be destitute, even if bereft of advocacy, alone, by thyself, having called on God for help, thou wilt in any case succeed.471 He is not so wont to assent when entreated by others on our behalf, as by ourselves who are in need; even if we be laden with ten thousand evil deeds. For if in the case of men, even if we have come into countless collisions with them, when both at dawn and at mid-day and in the evening we show ourselves to those who are aggrieved against us, by the unbroken continuance and the persistent meeting and interview we easily demolish their enmity—far more in the case of God would this be effected. 12. But thou art unworthy. Become worthy by thy assiduity. For that it both is possible that the unworthy should become worthy from his assiduity; and that God assents more 466 ̓Εκτενῶς. Like a racer, with every muscle “stretched out.” Antilochus exclaims to his horses in the chariot race, ̓Ειμβητον, κὰι σφῶι τιταινετον. Il. xxiii. 403. Comp. Philip. iii. 13; τοῖς žμπροσθεν ἐπεκτεινόμενος διώκω: the same metaphor. 467 Παρˆμεινον. Wait, as it were, at the door; παρ‡, until answered. Matt. vii. 7, τῶ κρουοντι (to him who continues knocking) ‡νοιγήσεται. 468 Αποστρεφόμενος. The Pagans adopted the expression literally, Diva solo fixos oculos aversa tenebat, Virg. Æn. i. 482. 469 Here we have ποιουσι, as in English, after κατ™χειν. See previous note. It might be κατ™χουσι, repeated. 470 Περιδρομῆς, running about for votes and favour. Lat. ambitio. “Non ego…Grammaticas ambire tribus et pulpita dignor.” Hor. Epist. i. 19, 40. 471 To understand this description we have to bear in mind that, at Rome at least, legal advocates could claim no fees. They were forbidden, at least before the Imperial age, by the Cincian law. Turpe reos emptâ miseros de- fendere linguâ. Ov. Amor. i. 10, 39. Hence, the obtaining the services of an eminent lawyer required interest and entreaty. So the Sicilians begged Cicero to undertake the prosecution of Verres. Cic. in Verr. Div. c. 12. 213 Concerning Lowliness of Mind.