Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/21

Rh stile is entertaining, and the Tale very handsomly told, but then the Cause is so banded from one hand to another, and pleaded with so much Colour, and Contradiction, that 'tis somewhat difficult, to come at the Truth, and know on which side the Verdict ought to be given.

And since Aristotle is more clear and intelligible, we shall apply to him for his Opinion concerning the Precepts of Life ; This Philosopher therefore shall Represent his Clan, and deliver the Sence of the Old Academicks, and Peripateticks. Now Aristotle, as Plato did before him, ranges the Notion of Advantage under three Heads, and throws it into the Divisions of Mind, Body, and Fortune. 'Tis true, He gives the Preferrence to the First, but then he lays great stress upon the two Latter, and makes them contribute very considerably to the satisfaction of Life ; Insomuch that he won't allow the best Man Living to be Happy if either his Health, or his Pocket, are out of Order, especially if he falls into any Remarkable Calamity ; This weight of Adversity is too much for the Mind , and forces a Man's Virtue to grow uneasie : It makes a breach in his Enjoyment, and crushes his Happiness to peices. Rh