Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/250

 70 IX. Be not uneasy, discourag'd, or out of Humour, because Practice falls short of Precept in some particulars. If you happen to be beaten off your Reason, come on again ; and let your Fancy strike in at your second Trial ; and don't go like a School Boy to his Master, with an Ill-will. No, you must apply to Philosophy with Inclination, as those who have Sore Eyes make use of a good Receipt. And when you are thus difpos'd, you'l easily acquiesce, and be govern'd by Reason : And here you are to remember, that Philosophy or true Wisdom will put you upon nothing but what your Nature wishes and calls for : And can you be so unreasonable as to cross the inclinations of your Nature? Is not her Fancy the most agreeable of any Thing ? And does not Pleasure often deceive us under this pretence ? Now think a little, and tell me what is there more delightful than downright Honesty and Religion, than Generosity and Greatness of Mind? And once more, what can be more entertaining than Prudence ? than to be furnish'd with that Understanding which keeps a Man from making a false Step, and helps him to Good Fortune in all his Business?

X. Things are so much perplexed, and in the dark, that several considerable Phi- Rh