Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/25

 order'd just the same Thing? But tho' the Prescription would be the same, the reason of prescribing would be different. Now in Morality 'tis the End which gives the Form and Distinction to an Action : And here we shall find the Stoick and Epicurean Philosophers differ as much from each other in the main Drift, as they do from the Profession of Physick. The Physician's Business is to guard against Diseases, the Epicureans against Pain : and the Stoicks against Vice and Immorality : The first aims at the securing of Health, the second of Pleasure, and the third of Honesty. Nothing can be more remote than these two Clans of Philosophy, The one place Virtue upon the Throne, make her Absolute, and Independent; and scarcely admit Pleasure to wait upon her tho' at an humble Distance. Whereas the other make probity truckle to Appetite, and afford Reason no better Office than to cater for their Senses. Here Pleasure is the Queen of the Country, and Virtue allow'd no better Business than to whisper a little Caution to her Mistris; that she may not live too fast, wear up her Constitution; and destroy the Capacities of Enjoyment.

But there's a great deal of Religion and Probity in the Precepts of Epicurus, yes a great deal of Discipline and Bravery too, if they are closely examin'd. Rh