Still I remembered the words of the preacher which tell us that he who increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow, and moreover I could see little use in acquiring learning that was to be lost shortly on the stone of sacrifice.
As to this matter of my sacrifice I was at first desperate.

But reflection told me that I had already passed many dangers and come out unscathed, and therefore it was possible that I might escape this one also.

At least death was still a long way off, and for the present I was a god.

So I determined that whether I died or lived, while I lived I would live like a god and take such pleasures as came to my hand, and I acted on this resolve.

No man ever had greater or more strange opportunities, and no man can have used them better.