Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/147

 Rh the News from his Army : But as soon as he understood it was divulg'd, that the Camp had taken the Alarm, and the Soldiers had Meetings about it : He order'd them to be drawn up before his Tent, and made a Speech to them as follows.

" Fellow Soldiers, My Business with you is neither to show my Dissatisfaction, nor make any Complaint: For why should we be displeas'd at the uncontroulable Power of Providence : 'Tis true, to complain when one's ill used as I am, is natural enough. In earnest, is it not a hard Fate to be perpetually embarrass'd, and embroil'd, to stand always with ones Sword drawn, and be toss'd from one Tempest to another ? Is it not a deplorable Business to be thus drag'd into a Civil War ? But is it not still a more lamentable Consideration, that there's no such thing as Fidelity in Nature, and that one of those Men whom I believ'd most firm to my Interest, should take the Field against me without the least Injury, or Provocation imaginable? At this rate what have we trust to? Where can Innocence and Honesty be secure? If I am thus serv'd, where is true Friendship, and Sincerity to be met with ? Has not Good Faith taken its leave, and what can we expect from Mankind after