Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/352

 172 Things, bring a great deal of Vanity to Light ; yes, Mortals are very full of themselves; When they Commend, or Censure, do you a good, or an ill Turn, They are strangely conceited of the performance.

XXXV. The Dissolution of Forms, is no loss in the Mass of Matter, Things are Chang'd this way 'tis true, but they don't Perish. Providence by which all things are well contriv'd, Delights in these Alterations, They have always had their Range in the World , and always will have. What then? Will you blame the Conduct of the First Cause? Were all Things Made, and must they always be out of Order? What! Are there so many Gods in Being, and none able to Conquer, and Correct this Evil? And is Nature indeed condemn'd to an Everlasting Misfortune ?

XXXVI. The Materials of Bodies, if you examine them, are strangly Coarse : Those that are Animated have little in them but Water, and Dust, and Bones, and something that's offensive. And then if you go to Mettals, Minerals &c. Marble is no more than a Callous Excrescence, nor Gold and Silver any better than the Dregs and Sediment of the Earth. Fine Cloths are nothing but Hair twisted Rh