Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/294

 114 XIX. All particular Bodies, are quickly Dissolved, and Hurried through the Universal Mass, where at last they incorporate, grow serviceable , and become a sort of Limbs to the World. How many such eminent Sages, as Chrysippus, Socrates, and Epictetus, have sunk in the Gulph of Time ? And the same Reflection will hold good concerning any other Person, or Thing whatsoever.

XX. I am only solicitous about one Thing ; And that is, lest I should not Act up to the Nature, and Dignity of a Man ; Lest I should fail in some of the Circumstances of my Duty ; and mismanage either in the Matter, Manner, or Time of doing it.

XXI. 'Twill not be long before you will have forgotten all the World; and in a little time, to be even, all the World will forget you too.

XXII. 'Tis the priviledge of Humane Nature above Brutes, to love those that disoblige us; To practice with Ease and Inclination, you mnst confider, that the Offending Party is of Kin to you, that Ignorance is the cause of the Misbehaviour; that the Will, and the Fault seldom go together, that you'l both of you quickly be in your Graves ; but especially consider that you have received no harm by Rh