Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/328

 148 her of the Hinges? To make her Mean, Craving, and Servile, and to fright her from the Privileges of her Nature? What is there that can justifie such Disorders, and make satisfaction for them?

XLVI. No Accident can happen to any Man but what is consequent to his Condition, and common to his kind. And the same thing may be affirm'd of a Beast, a Tree, or a Stone. Now if things fare no otherwise than according to Kind, and Constitution; what makes you complain, and grow uneasy? You may be assur'd Providence will never lay you in the way of an intollerable Evil, nor make your Being your Grievance.

XLVII. If Externals put you into the Spleen, take notice that 'tis not the thing which disturbs you, but your Notion about it: Which Notion you may dismiss if you please. But if the condition of your Mind disgusts you; who should hinder you from rectifying your Mistakes, and setting your Thoughts in order? Farther, if you are disturb'd because you are not Active and Bold in the Discharge of your Duty: If this be your Case, your way is to fall on, and doe something, and not lye growling at your own Omission. But you are under some insuperable Difficulty. If you have done your utmost, ne're vex Rh