Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/34

 more Eagerness afterwards, and be better prepared for a Luxurious Entertainment. But when the Design is thus mean, what Virtue or Credit can you exepect in the Practise? He is a poor Man of Morals that can rise no higher then Pleasure, and Cramming! A Man may find as much Philosophy in a Hen-coop, as this comes too.

Thus we have taken a View of the Rigour, Severity, and Mortification of Epicurus's Doctrine! Let us now proceed to his Flights of Fortitude. Yes, says Seneca, Epicurus had Mettal both in his Books, and his Practise: He was a finical Spark 'tis true, but a brave Fellow for all that. How do you prove it? Because there's Resolution; as well as Prudence in his Conduct. For notwithstanding he pronounces all Pleasure to be Good, and Pain to be Evil in it self, yet sometimes, when Interest and Convenience require it, he manages as if he believ'd the quite contrary. Upon this Account, he checks his Fancy, and denies himself in his Pleasure, when he foresees there will be Pain at the end on't; And on the other Hand, makes no difficulty to submit to Fatiguing, and Trouble when he has a fair Prospect of an over-ballance of Pleasure by the Bargain. And is not all this an Argument of Fortitude, as well as Understanding? Rh