Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/184

 4 VIII. Apollonius taught me to give my Mind its due Freedom, and disengage it from dependance upon Chance : And furnish'd me with such Precepts for Steadiness and Ballast, as not to Flote in Uncertainties, or be at a Loss about Design or Event ; nor so much as to look towards any thing uncountenanc'd by Reason and Truth : To maintain an equality of Temper under trying Circumstances, such as tedious Sickness, acute Pains, and loss of Children. To give him his due, his practice was a handsome Instance, that a Man may be Master of his own Behaviour, that he may be earnest and easy, force and unbend his Humour as occasion requires. To go on with him: The Heaviness and Impertinence of his Scholars could seldom throw him off the Hooks. And as for his Learning, and the peculiar Happiness of his manner in Teaching, he was so far from being smitten with himself upon this Score, that one might easily perceive, he thought it one of the least things which belonged to him. This great Man let me into the true secret of managing an Obligation, without either lessening my self, or being ungrateful to my Friend.

IX. The Philosopher Sextus recommended Good Humour to me, and to make Nature and Reason my Rule to Live by. He Rh