Thus you have imposed on us an eternal master, whom we must dread day and night.

For who can be free from fear of a Deity who foresees, regards, and takes notice of everything; one who thinks all things his own; a curious, ever-busy God?
Hence first arose your [Greek: Heimarmene], as you call it, your fatal necessity; so that, whatever happens, you affirm that it flows from an eternal chain and continuance of causes.

Of what value is this philosophy, which, like old women and illiterate men, attributes everything to fate?
Then follows your [Greek: mantike], in Latin called _divinatio_, divination; which, if we would listen to you, would plunge us into such superstition that we should fall down and worship your inspectors into sacrifices, your augurs, your soothsayers, your prophets, and your fortune-tellers.
Epicurus having freed us from these terrors and restored us to liberty, we have no dread of those beings whom we have reason to think entirely free from all trouble themselves, and who do not impose any on others.
We pay our adoration, indeed, with piety and reverence to that essence which is above all excellence and perfection.

But I fear my zeal for this doctrine has made me too prolix.

However, I could not easily leave so eminent and important a subject unfinished, though I must confess I should rather endeavor to hear than speak so long.
XXI.