Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/281

 Rh you are ranged, and whether you have joyn'd the Dutiful, or the disaffected Party. For he that Governs the World, will certainly make you good for something, and prove serviceable to his Scheme, one way or other. Have a care you don't serve for a Foyl or a Jest; and make such a ridiculous Figure in Nature, as that Doggril did in the Play Chrysippus mentions.

XLIII. Everyone should keep to his Post, and be contented with the Assignments of Providence. The Sun never covets the properties of a Shower, nor does one God interfere with another. Every thing is serviceable in his own Station; and unresembling Causes unite to advantage in the Effect. Are not the Stars different from each other? And yet their influences agree together upon Sublunary Productions.

XLIV. If the Gods have decreed me any thing, they have decreed my advantage. If not they must either be mistaken in their measures, or unbenevolent in their Design: Now as the first part of this Supposition is absur'd, so the latter is incomprehensible. For to what purpose should they intend me any harm ? What would themselves, or their Universe get by it? But granting they have made no Rh