Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/185

 Rh also gave me to understand, that good Usage and Authority were not inconsistent, but that a Family might be govern'd with the tenderness and concern of a Parent. By his Precedent I was instructed to appear with an unaffected Gravity, to study the Temper and Circumstances of my Friends in order to oblige them. To bear with the ignorant and unthinking; to be Complaisant and Obliging to all People, even up to the Smoothness of Flattery; and yet at the same time not to suffer in ones Quality, or grow a jot the Cheaper for't. Conversing with this Philosopher put me in a way how to draw up a true, intelligible, and methodical Scheme, for Life and Manners; and never so much as to shew the least sign of Anger, or any other disturbing Thought : But to be perfectly calm and indifferent, yet not in the latitude of letting my Fancy stand Neuter, and be unconcern'd for the Advantage of others : However, he let me see in himself, that a Man might show his Good-will significantly enough, without Noise and Transport, and likewise be very knowing, on this side Vanity and Ostentation. X. Alexander the Grammarian taught me not to be ruggedly Critical about Words, nor fall foul upon People for improprieties of Phrase, or Pronunciation. But to set Rh