Chapter 22

The Ridicule of Philosophers

Epictetus prepares his students for the ridicule they will encounter as philosophers from the ordinary man in the street. He advises students to adhere to their philosophical principles, as eventually the ridicule will turn to admiration.

παρασκευάζου: > παρασκευάζω, “be prepared (for the possibility) that,” 2 sg. pres. mid. imper. followed by ὡς and the future participles καταγελασθησόμενος ... καταμωκησομένων ... ἐρούντων (LSJ παρασκευάζω II.2)

καταγελασθησόμενος: > καταγελάω, “(you) will be ridiculed,” fut. pass. part. nom. masc. sg.

ἐρούντων: ἐρῶ commonly serves as the future of λέγω in Attic.

ἐπανελήλυθε: > ἐπανέρχομαι, 3 sg. perf. act. ind.  

πόθεν ἡμῖν αὕτη ἡ ὀφρύς: ὀφρύς literally means “eyebrow,” but is extended to mean “a haughty attitude.” “Where did he get that haughty attitude?” ἡμῖν is dative of person affected (G. 523)

τῶν … φαινομένων: “the things (principles) which seem best to you,” genitive object of ἔχου > ἔχω

ἔχου: > ἔχω, 2^nd sg. pres. mid. imper.; in the middle voice, “keep to,” “adhere to” + gen.

ὡς ... τεταγμένος: “as if assigned,” > τάσσω, perf. mid. part. nom. masc. sg. (LSJ ὡς C.I)

τοῖς αὐτοῖς: the pronoun refers back to τῶν βελτίστων σοι φαινομένων.

ἡττηθῇς αὐτῶν: “yield to them”; aor. pass. subj. > ἡττάομαι, which normally take a genitive when it means “give way to”  (LSJ ἡσσάομαι I.A.4).

προσλήψῃ: > προσλαμβάνω, “you will receive,” 2^nd sg. fut. mid. ind.