Simplicius, Commentary on Epictetus 12.2

. . . Now the allusion he has made use of for this purpose seems to be exceeding proper and pertinent; for the old moralists in their fables have commonly chosen the sea to represent the mortal state. The roughness of its waves, its frequent ebbs and floods, the tempestuous weather to which it lies exposed, and the suffocating all that sink into it, do abundantly justify the metaphor. 

By the ship may be meant, that which unites the soul to the body, and brings her into this mortal state, whether it be fate, or fortune, or whatever else you will please to call it. 

The master of this ship is God, who governs and disposes all things, and commands the souls into their respective bodies, according as His own Infinite Wisdom and tender care sees fit, and in proportion to their own deserts. 

The bringing this ship into port is the assigning to these souls their proper station, and country, and family; by virtue whereof, some are born in one climate and nation, and some in another: some are descended from great and noble families, and others meanly born; some of virtuous or healthful parents, and others of vicious and diseased ones. 

The going out for fresh water, is the care we take for supplying the necessities of nature, without which it is impossible that life should be supported: and indeed, what is there in this state of mortality of such general use? What that we can so little want, both for the making of our meat and drink, as water? 

What is intended by gathering salads, or shellfish by the by, himself has very elegantly informed us, by instancing in a wife, and an estate; and acquainting us withal, that when Providence is pleased to bestow them upon us, we are not to refuse them, but so neither are we to receive or value them, as either the principal and most desirable goods, or indeed such as are properly ours. 

For the first and chief good is that disposition of mind, which is ever obedient to the master of the ship, ever attentive to his call. Nor must we lay ourselves out upon these matters, as we were allowed to do upon water, or necessary things, but look upon them as additional comforts only, and such as help to make life easy and convenient. 

Now if this master calls us to the ship, and gives order for our returning back to himself, and to that which is our true, our native country: make the best of your way, says he, to the ship; leave everything that relates to this mortal life, be ready to obey his first orders, and do not loiter, or hanker upon anything behind, for fear, when nature cuts the cable, your inclinations still be left on shore. 

Go you must, that’s most certain, and therefore it is that he tells you, if you do not follow readily and cheerfully, and quit all of your own accord, you shall be tied neck and heels, like sheep, and thrown under the hatches. That is, you shall be forced, and torn away, and thrust out of the world, like those foolish and sheepish wretches, who die with cowardice, and reluctancy, and unmanly lamentations of themselves and their friends. 

But there is yet another caution observable here, which is that the person to whom the enjoyment of marriage, and such others as are the additional advantages of life, are allowed, must be sure to indulge himself in such enjoyment of them only, as is seasonable; that so, when he has taken as much of these as is fit for him, he may remove without any delay, and readily comply with the master’s first call. 

But if a man be old, and draws near his end, he will do best to keep himself wholly disengaged, and entertain himself with nothing so much, as the constant thought and expectation of the ship’s sailing, and his quitting the shore; for fear, when the time of his return comes, and the master calls, he be retarded by his burden, and fastened down to land, and be forced, with a great deal of unbecoming concern, to leave a young wife, and pretty children behind. 

And surely an old man, upon all accounts, has much greater reason to prepare for leaving the world, than to entertain himself with vain projects of settling in it.