Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/355

 Rh Her, but do you rather pray that you may have no such Inclination. Another invokes the Gods to set him Free from troublesome Superiour ; but let it be your Petition, that your Mind may never put you upon such a Wish. A Third is mighty devout to prevent the loss of his Son ? But I would have you pray rather against the Fear of Losing him. Let this be the Rule for your Devotions, and see if the Event does not Answer.

XLIII. When I was Sick says Epicurus, I did not Discourse the Company about my Diseases, or the Torment I was troubled with. No, my System of Natural Philosophy was part of my Subject. And my main Concern was, that my Mind might not give way to my Body , nor grow uneasie under Pain. I made no great business of a Recovery, nor gave any Handle to the Doctor to brag of their Profession, but held on with Fortitude, and Indifferency. Thus he. And when you are Sick, or under any other Disadvantage, can't you behave your self in this manner? 'Tis practicable to all Perswasions in Philosophy, to stand their Ground against all Accidents, and not to fall into the Weaknesses, and Folly of the Ignorant : We must always be prepared for the present, Mind the Thing before Rh