Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/347

 Rh and Draws off a Faction from the Government.

XXIV. The Business of Mankind is strangely Trifling and Transient ; Things are so Hollow, and so quickly Hurried off, that the World looks somewhat like a Scene of Necromancy, and seems to be more Apparition than real Life.

XXV. Penetrate the Quality of Forms, and take a View of them, abstracted from their Matter ; And when you have done this, Compute the common Period of their Duration.

XXVI. You have been a great sufferer for Rambling from a Life of Reason, and for not being contented with Doing what you were Made for.

XXVII. When People treat you ill, blame your Conduct, or report any thing to your Disadvantage ; shoot your self into the very Soul of them; rummage their Understandings, and see how their Heads are Furnish'd; A thorough Enquiry into this Matter will set you at rest: You'l be fully convinc'd that the Opinion of such Mortals is not worth one troublesome Thought. However you must be kind to them, for Nature has made them your Relations. Besides, the God's give them all sort of Countenance, Advertise them by Dreams and Prophecy, and help Rh