Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/190

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Marcus Antoninus's

Not to Court the Populace, either by Prodigality, or Compliment; but rather to be Reserv'd, Vigilant, and welI-pois'd upon all Occasions, keeping things in a steady Decorum, without chopping and changing of Measures. To enjoy the Plenty and Magnificence of a Soveraign Fortune, without Pride or Epicurism; And yet if a Campaigne or Country happen to prove cross, not to be mortified at the loss of them : And to behave himself so, that no Man could charge him with Vanity, Flourish, and Pretendingness, with Buffooning, or being a Pedant; No, He was a Person Modest, Prudent, and well-weigh'd; scorn'd Flattery, and Fooling, and was throughly qualified both to govern himself, and others. In a word, he had nothing of the Sophist in him : And as for those that were Philosophers in earnest, he had a great Value for them, but without Reproaching those who were otherwife. To go on with him, He was Condescensive and Familiar in Conversation; and Pleasant too , but not to Tiresomeness and Excess. His Dress was neither Beauish, nor Negligent. As for his Health , he was not Anxious about it, like one fond of Living, and yet managed his Constitution with that Care as seldom to stand in need of the Assistances of Physick. Farther. He

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