XXX. When any Bodies Misbehaviour disturbs you, dismiss the Image of the Injury, and bethink your self whether you have not been guilty of the same Fault: For Instance, whether you have not over-valued Money, or Pleasure, or Fame, or the like. Such Reflexions will quickly make you cool, and come to Temper ; especially if you consider the Offender was not altogether his own Man , but under the force of some untoward Passion or other : You would do well therefore, if you can, to step in to the Rescue, and free him from the Cause of his Disorder.
XXXI When you consider Satyrion the Socratist, think upon Eutyches, or Hymen; [1] And when you remember Euphrates , think upon Eutychion, or Sylvanus ; And when Alciphron comes into your Head , carry your Thoughts to Tropæophorus; and when you are musing upon Xenophon , or Crito, let Severus come into the Contemplation ; And when you make your self the Subject of your Meditations , bring some of the Emperours your Predecessors into your Company ; And thus set the Dead and the Living of the same Character, and Profession, always one against another, then ask the Question; where are those Men that made such a Figure formerly? The Answer will be, they are no
- ↑ The first proper Name throughout this Enumeration, denotes a Philosopher that lived before the Emperours time the others those who were his Contemporaries.
