Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/349

 Rh XXIX. Nature runs Rapid like a Torrent, and sweeps All Things ; What wretched States-men are those Counterfeits in Virtue, and Philosophy ? Heark you Friend, no more Hypocrisie and Grimace, no prudential Knavery, no clashing between Politicks and Morals! Come! Let Honesty be serv'd first, Do what God requires of you, and Trust for the Issue and Event : Fall on then, as occasion offers, and ne're look about for Company, and Commendation : However, I would not have you expect Plato's Common-wealth : That Draught is too fine ; and your Mortals will ne're rise up to it. As the World goes, a moderate Reformation is a great Point, and therefore rest contented. If we can but govern Peoples Hands, we must let their Hearts and their Heads go free. To Cure them all of their Folly and ill Principles, is impracticable. And yet unless you can Change their Opinions, their Subjection will be all Force, and Dissembling. But you'l say, were not Alexander, Philip, and Demetrius Phalereus under the Rules of these pretended Philosophers? And what a Noble Figure do they make in History ? Granting all that, I have a Question, or two to ask them. Had they a right Notion of the Laws of Nature, and were they Just, and Generous in good earnest? Rh