Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/367

 Rh the Bottom of every Thing; To pronounce upon its Nature, the Ingredients, 'twas made of, and the Weight it has in the World; To calculate its Continuance, who are likely to be affected with it, and what Powers they are which can both give, and take it away.

X. A Spider when she has catched a Fly thinks she has done some great Matter, and so does a Sports-man when he has run down a Hare, and a Fisherman too, when he has overeach'd a Sprat, or a Gudgeon : some others, must kill a Boar, or a Bear, before they can grow conceited; And a fourth sort value themselves extremely upon their Hunting the Sarmatian Moss Troopers : Tho' it may be in this last Case, if you go to the Definition of Robbing, the one, are as much Theives as the other.

XI. Sit closely to the Study of Physicks, that you may observe the steps, and learn the History of Nature, and trace the Progress of Bodies from one Form and Species to another : Contemplate often upon this Subject, for there's nothing contributes so much to Greatness of Mind, as a thorough Insight into these Matters. He that's rightly affected with this Speculation, has in a manner laid his Body aside and all that belongs to it. He considers Rh