Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/302

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Marcus Antoninus's

derness, with variety of Barbarous People beyond it. Take it altogether, 'tis a strange medly of Business, Humour, and Condition ; And yet if you consider it throughly, you will find the Diversity and Disagreement of the parts, contribute to the Beauty of the whole."

L. By looking back into History, and considering the Fate and Revolutions of Government, you will be able to draw a Guess, and almost Prophecy upon the Future. For things Past, Present , and to Come, are strangely Uniform, and of a Colour ; and are commonly cast in the same Mould. So that upon the Matter, Forty years of Humane Life, may serve for a Sample of Ten Thousand.

LI. What's sprung from Earth, dissolves to Earth again. And Heaven born things fly to their Native Seat. [1]

If the Matter does not stand thus, either the Atomes will be untwisted, or the Elements scatter'd into insensibility.

LII. Wee feed our selves up for long Life with a great deal of Care and Expence; But alass! Fate will find us out, and when the Gods give the Sign, we must Embark, tho' never so unwilling. [2]

LIII. Can another Man Ride, or Fence, better than you ? it may be so. But tho' you may fall short in your Exercises, let

no
  1. Eurip. Chrysip.
  2. Eurip.