Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/322

 142 and distinguish the Quality of Things, and make use of them accordingly. These are all priviledges of Nature, and ought to be remembred as such.

XXX. When you speak in the Senate, or elsewhere, mind Decency and Charactar more than Rhetorick; And let your Discourse be always Sincere, and agree with your Meaning.

XXXI. Augustus his Court is buried long since ; His Empress, and Daughter, His Grand Children, and Sons in Law , his Sister and Agrippa, His Relations and Domesticks, Physicians, and Undersacrificers, His Favourites, such as Arius the Philosopher, and Mæcenas, they are all gone.

Go on from single Persons to Families, that of the Pompeyes, for instance , and you'l find the whole Line Extinct. This Man was the last of his House, is not uncommon upon a Monument. How solicitous were the Ancestors of such People about an Heir ; and yet the Family must of necessity sink, and the Blood fail at one time or other.

XXXII. Govern your Life altogether by Measures, and Rules : And if every Action goes its due lengths, and holds up to opportunity, rest contented : Now no Mortal can hinder you from putting your Rh