Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/242

 62 what to Face Death, and contemn it : For what are these long-liv'd Mortals more than those that went off in their Infancy? what's become of Cæcilianus, Fabius, Julianus, and Lepidus? Their Heads are all laid somewhere; They buried a great many, but came at last to't themselves. Upon the whole; The difference between long, and short Life is insignificant; especially if you consider the Accidents, the Company, and the Carcass you must go through with : Therefore don't let a Thought of this kind affect you one way or t'other : Do but look upon the astonishing Notion of Time and Eternity : what an immense deal has run out already, and how Infinite 'tis still in the Future: Do but consider this, and you'l find three Days and three Ages of Life, come much to the same Measure and Reckoning.

LI. Always go the shortest way to work; Now the nearest Road to your Business lies through Honesty. Let it be your constant method then to deal clearly and above Board. And by this means you need not Fatigue it, you need not Quarrel, Flourish, and Dissemble like other People. Rh