Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/183

 Rh by writing Dialogues when I was a Boy, prevail'd with me to prefer a Couch covered with Hides, to a Bed of State ; and reconcil'd me to other resembling Rigors of the Stoick Discipline.

VII. 'Twas Rusticus that first set me upon correcting my Humour, and bringing it to a better State; who prevented me from running into the Vanity of the Sophists, either by writing pretendingly upon Learning and Life, Haranguing upon Moral Subjects, or making a fantastical Appearance of being mightily taken up with Exercises, Discipline, and Business. This Philosopher kept me from being smitten with the Charms of Rhetorick and Poetry, from affecting the Character of a man of pleasantry, or the Dress and Mien of a Beau ; or any thing of this kind which looks like Conceit and Affectation. He taught me to write Letters in a plain unornamented Stile, like that dated from Sinuessa to my Mother. By his Instructions I was perswaded to be easily reconcil'd to those who had misbehav'd themselves, and disoblig'd me. And of the same Matter I learn'd to Read an Author carefully. Not to take up with a superficial View, or resign to every Noisy impertinent ; but to look thro' the Argument, and go to the Bottom of the Matter. And to conclude with him, he procur'd me a Copy of Epictetus's Works. Rh