Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/296

 116 your self what Notions he has concerning Advantage and Disadvantage. When you have found out this, you'l pity him, and neither be angry, nor surprised at the Matter. It may be upon enquiry, you may find your Opinions upon these points much the same, and then you ought to pardon him; for you would have done the same thing your self upon the same Occasion. But if your Notions of Good and Evil, are different, and more just than his, then your Passion will yield to your Good Nature, and you'l easily bear with his Ignorance.

XXVIII. Don't let your Head run upon that which is none of your own. But pick out some of the best of your Circumstances, and consider , how eagerly you would wish for them, were they not in your possession ; but then you must take care to keep your satisfaction within compass , for fear it should carry you too far , make you over-value the Object, and be disturb'd at the loss of it.

XXIX. Fortifie at home, and rely upon your self. For a Rational Mind is born to the priviledge of Independance. Honesty, and the Inward Quiet consequent to it, is enough in all Conscience, to make you Happy. Rh