Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/403

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Meditations, &c.
223

XXXIX. 'Tis a saying of Socrates to some untoward People; "what would you be at? Would you have the Soul of a Man, or of a Beast in you? Of a Man without all doubt: Of what sort of Men, of those that use their Reason, or those that abuse it? Of the First, you may be sure. Why then continues the Philosopher, don't you look out for this Priviledge? Because we have it already. What makes you then Disagree, and fall foul upon each other?"



BOOK XII.

ALL those Things you Drudge, and Range so much Ground for, you may have at your Ease, unless you are afraid of making your self too Happy. Your Method to do your business, is not to concern your self about the time Past, for that is never to be recover'd; To rest the Future with Providence; And only stick to the Present, and improve that to all the Noble purposes of Piety and Justice. The Pious part will be discharg'd by being contented with your Fate; And why should you not, since Nature made you for each other?[1] And as to the Obligations of Justice, you'l acquit your self here,

  1. See Book 5. Sect. 8.

provided