Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/207

 Rh quiesce in the Distibutions of Providence; In as much as all Events proceed from the same Cause with it self; and above all to have an easy Prospect of Death, as being nothing more than dissolving the Composition, and taking the Elements to Pieces. Now if the Elements themselves are never the worse for running off into one another; What if they should all Unclasp, and change their Figure? Why should any Man be concern'd at the Consequence? All this is but Nature's Method; now Nature never does any Mischief.

Written at Carnuntum a Town of Pannonia, or Hungary.

 

E ought not only to remember, that Life is perpetually wearing off, and in a Litteral Consumption; but also to consider that if a Mans Line should happen to be longer than ordinary, yet 'tis uncertain whether his Mind will keep pace with his Years, and afford him Sense enough for Business, and Speculation, and to look into the Nature, Reasons, and References, of Things both Humane, and Divine. For if the Understanding falls off, and the Man begins to Dote, what does he signify? 